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Tuesday 28 August 2012

HerRoom.Com Makes Me Want To Punch A Seagull

Note: Readers, I've just found an email I received from Herroom asking me to remove the copyrighted images from this post, as I did not receive permission to use them. I regret not checking my blog email account more often, as I would have found their message sooner. I had intended to show the images for what they are, as they are useful and well done in certain ways (albeit offensive in others), while taking issue with Herroom's phrasing. Legally, I do have the right to use their images without permission in a post that is critical of them. It is not as though I did not mention the source of the images. But it was my mistake to not realize they would react strongly and go on the offensive. The images are removed for now. I'm going to replace them with images of my own that explain what I'm trying to get across. For now, there will just be spaces there--hopefully I'll be able to replace the images with my own images soon.

*Note about the title. I asked my sister if it was a weird title and she said yes. My boyfriend gets really annoyed about noise pollution when he's studying and once said "If I hear another saxophone I am going to punch a seagull." I thought it was hilarious so I'm using it now in my moment of rage. I actually think seagulls are awesome and will not be punching any. I might punch my computer screen, though. Read on to see why:

On a reader's suggestion, I just went to Herroom.com to try out their new "Know Your Breasts" feature. You can check it out here if you're feeling like you've got a thick skin today and can handle some bizarre textual insults about features you never knew you needed to be insecure about.

On the surface, this is an awesome idea--a website that sells bras teaches you how to identify your shape and what works for that shape, and then directs you to those bras. Of course, they are just doing it to try to raise sales for themselves--they obviously don't link you to the cheapest source for a bra, or to better bras that they don't carry, but still. I was actually kind of miffed at first because it would have sort of negated the whole purpose of my blog if it had worked, ha ha. This freaking thing was apparently even featured in the New York Times. Well, BEWARE, girls! We still need blogs because bra sellers and manufacturers STILL don't understand how boobs work! Rage courses through my veins!

To start with I'm going to just go through the problems with the results I got for my shape. I will go into further detail about the results for different shapes later... hopefully with help from you guys, if you do try it out.

The first thing I should mention is that at first I was super impressed by the quiz! They asked a lot of pertinent questions in the first part of the quiz and the illustrations are AWESOME. They show the differences between full-on-top and full-on-bottom better than I could, plus hopefully it will bring those concepts to a wider audience (and help people to realize that full-on-top is NOT a synonym for perky). Of course, the images were all extremely nipply, so here's my slightly less NSFW censorship to show how well they did with these images:

(Image removed)

The boobs on the top left are the shape I consider "full on top". These images are a pretty similar, but more detailed, less teal version of the images I drew in my post on how to figure out the shape of your boobs:


There's a reason I made my image teal, too, by the way... Humans don't have just one skin color, and since none of us have teal skin, I figured it would apply to all of us equally. HerRoom didn't do the same... why are all their boobs white? ALL of them?

My next prickling of discomfort came when, instead of calling full-on-top boobs "full-on-top", they chose to go with "oversized upper breasts."

(Image Removed)

As you might know from my blog, I really hate terms like "oversized," "huge", "abnormal", etc. Seriously, HerRoom, why not just say "FULL upper breasts?" After all, that's what you MEANT--and that doesn't carry a connotation that there is an ideal "normal-sized upper breast" and I fall outside of that golden category. This sort of linguistic subtlety is pretty basic, folks, especially when you're writing about boobs and trying to convince women to pay your high prices.

After establishing your shape, the quiz then goes through some more questions with varying degrees of interest and relevance. Some of the questions regard things I never thought about before, like protruding versus inverted collarbones, and loose skin near the armpit which apparently is common in older women. Some of the other stuff just seemed kind of awkward and unecessary. Do not even ask me why they need to know whether or not you have "large areolas." That affects the fit of a bra how??? It sort of seemed like it was just another opportunity for Herroom to draw attention to "normal" versus "abnormal" features. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't see how an areola of any size or shape would have any effect on bra fit. It's just skin that's a different color, really not a big deal at all.

They make you enter an email address to get your results. I fortunately have an email account that I use just for spammy things like this, so I used that--I'd advise doing the same unless you want Herroom to be your newest pen pal. I was still pretty hopeful about my results at this point--not hopeful because I need help, since I know what works for me, but hopeful that the quiz would be awesome and I could recommend it to people.

NOPE!

The bra styles they suggested for my full-on-top boobs (which are NOT oversized, thank you very much) were the total OPPOSITE of what works for me. They are, for the most part the bras I would suggest for someone who has lower fullness. Not one of the shapes they suggested would work for me. Let's examine.

(Image removed)

So first, they give your "very personal results", which are actually just a summary of all the things YOU selected in the quiz... things you already knew. (This also includes a flash of the other thing I LOATHE about HerRoom, their pathetic "Universal Cup Sizing" initiative. Post on that coming later on.)

(Image removed)

 First off, seamless bras. Okay, seamless bras could, in theory, work for full-on-top boobs, but in my general experience, they don't. That's because they are generally made with a lot of space in the apex that is either evenly distributed between the bottom and top of the cup (leaving full-on-top girls looking pointy because they can only fill out the top, and vice versa) or mostly at the bottom, meaning epic quad-boob. Not their worst suggestion (just wait) but a slightly odd one.

(Image removed)


 Multi-what under-who? I assume by this they just mean "seamed bras." Okay... seamed bras can work for every shape, but it is the seam PATTERN that makes or breaks the fit on a particular shape. In the upper sizes, seamed bras are just about all there is, so this suggestion doesn't exactly narrow it down for someone who might be looking for guidance.

(Image removed)

 Say what? Bandeau bras? HerRoom declares that strapless bras will be difficult for me because of my "bountiful upper breast". Okay, "bountiful" is better than "oversized," but a kinda pervy word. It's true, by the way, that strapless bras are tricky. They're tricky for ALL shapes, just for different reasons. Strapless bras are tricky for full-on-top boobs because there is so much weight pushing down from the top, it tends to push the bra into a torpedo/football shape. Strapless bras are difficult for boobs with lower fullness because it is hard to lift the weight at the bottom. I guess I just don't think that a bandeau bra would be any better, or even any different, really. I will also bet you a million dollars that HerRoom doesn't sell any bandeau bras in my size.

(Image removed)

 Okay, that one is basically the same as the first suggestion. I'm baffled by their description, though. These bras "will provide modesty and help mask your lower apex"? Um, NO. You don't "mask" a lower apex--that would mean squashing your boobs down and pretending the apex is somewhere else, which is really bad for your breast tissue and will increase sagging over the years. Instead, you should seek a bra that is lower-cut and hence has an apex that more closely matches your own. (By 'apex', HerRoom and I both essentially mean "where the nipples hit", by the way.) Bras that have less volume in the cup can also help for some people, but that's not true for everyone.

(Image removed)

This gave me a bit of a laugh. Nipple concealers? This was after I had selected "No" to the question about whether I struggled with nipple show-through. So.. not really in need of this "smooth look", but thanks anyway.

And finally, THE ULTIMATE WORST ADVICE I'VE EVER HEARD:

(Image removed)

 HerRoom suggests full-coverage bras. For full-on-top boobs. THE WORST PAIRING EVER. Full-coverage bras will basically NEVER work for full-on-top boobs because they are DESIGNED to cover and contain all of your upper breast tissue. Those of us with upper fullness will always struggle to find a good fit in full coverage bras like this because there just isn't enough space for our "bountiful", "oversized" upper breast tissue. Full-coverage + full-on-top = horrible quad boob. Just... never. Not even. No.

Because HerRoom failed so spectacularly at giving any reasonable advice, I'm going to give my own. I've given these same tips before, but not all in the same place, so here they are.



The most important thing to note is that these styles are the OPPOSITE of what works well for boobs with lower fullness! The bras I've pictured, especially the vertical-seam bras, often can give a ton of gaping on full-on-the-bottom boobs. I'll do another post later where I check out what HerRoom has to say about boobs with lower fullness.

One thing I'm glad HerRoom brought up, though, is the question of distance between boobs. I do best with the bra styles I've pictured above, but I don't have a lot of space between my boobs, and several of those bras have very wide gores. That's why I alter my center gores. Distance between boobs is definitely a topic deserving its own post later!



70 comments:

  1. I was also looking at my results with a great deal of consternation. It seemed to suggest pretty much everything, which was highly odd. Including full coverage for shallow profiles- I don't fill out the top of a full-coverage bra, thankyouverymuch!

    Additionally, results weren't actually personalized, as you said.

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    1. Glad I'm not alone! As (perhaps) the first person to see it, what do you think of the layout/background changes I've just made? They're kind of just a placeholder but I wanted to be able to use wider pictures for this post. I think it's a bit better than before, at least.

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    2. I do like the wider layout! The print is cute! Teminds me of some Freya prints, or, oddly enough, there's a Czech computer game called Botanicula which does a lot of its plants in a similar artistic style.

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  2. I wasn't too enthralled with the HerRoom survey, either. It seemed like it had a lot of potential... but none of the bras recommended to me came in my size. -_- I'm pretty sure I got the "full coverage" recommendation, too.

    I also agree that they could've worded some things rather better...

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    1. I also had that problem! Being a 28GG, it is difficult to find bras in my size. None of the bras they recommended for me came in my size, which makes it pretty useless to me!

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  3. I appreciated the teal boobs the first time around, and doubly so now. Honestly, couldn’t they have thrown in a few different shades of nude? Is it that difficult? Pale is not and has never been neutral.

    I was courteously informed that "contour cup bras", aka t-shirt bras, will "break down with larger and heavier breast sizes". My Deco and Casey and I beg to differ.

    I was also told that I should buy breast enhancer pads. Because 32GG isn't big enough, apparently. Oh, and my "lack of upper breast tissue" (not even remotely a problem) should be corrected by push-up bras, which a) would damage my breasts even more than they already have been by squishing beyond recognition, and b) they kindly inform me aren't even made in my size!

    Herroom kept trying to sell me on seamed bras because *apparently* by having seams bras magically become more supportive. As if! The size and shape of the sections and direction of the seams make all the difference! In the examples shown were the Cleo Lucy and Panache Tango. The Tango has always been a miserable failure on me because of the bottom sections that do not connect to the strap and thus create no lift, while the Lucy works wonders because of the long “horizontal” seam curves diagonally to meet the strap. But it appears that the folks at Herroom fail to appreciate such subtleties.

    Hidden amongst the insanity were two sound bits of advice: I should look for seamed underwire bras with vertical center seams and demi or balconette styles. But beware! My exposed upper breast tissue "could look jiggly!" Clearly the worst thing for a pile of fat to do is jiggle.

    As for the “large areolas”, Herroom apparently just wanted to point out that areolas exist. GASP. HORROR. They get points for acknowledging that there are no fit issues associated with areolas of any size, but that some women may not want theirs on display and that some bras have a tendency to reveal said “large areolas”. For once, Herroom is not judgmental. Must be a fluke.

    It’s when we get to so-called “Omega” breasts that I really lost my temper.

    “Your omega breasts can also be overly large for your body’s frame - breasts touch in the center and extend beyond the sides of your body. If this is your case, it's because of massive weight gain and loss over your life which left you with breasts proportionately larger than your frame.”

    EXCUSE ME?! MY BREASTS ARE NOT TOO BIG. They are perfect for me because they are the direct result of my genetics. They are a part of the code that culminates in me. They are not a mutation. They are not the result of chemicals in my food. They are not because of my weight, which has been normal and healthy my entire life. MY BREASTS ARE THE RESULT OF MILLIONS OF YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL REPRODUCTION BETWEEN HUMANS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE CARRIED THE CODE FOR LARGE BREASTS WITHIN EVERY CELL OF THEIR BODIES. So don’t tell me I’m what’s wrong. I’ve heard it since I was twelve years old and I will not stand for it any longer.

    I’m sick and tired of hears such idiotic, insulting commentary, especially coming from people whose entire business is knowing about breasts.

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    1. Don't forget the "tennis ball in tube sock" analogy for the "Omega" breast "problem".
      Together with the assumptions that this unfortunate disproportionality of breasts to chest which apparently is my omega-shaped 32GG/H boobs was caused by some "massive weight gain and loss over my life " (not true in my case either, I have been average-sized and healthy all my life)... it is safe to say I will not be shopping at HerRoom.com any time soon.

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    2. !!! I can't believe they said that about "omega" breasts! Who comes up with this misinformation?

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    3. I don't know Veerukka. I have a sneaking feeling it's the same people who promote a single ideal of female beauty. Either way, they've certainly lost my business.

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    4. This is what brought me here. I am okay self-esteem wise, but I was tearing up reading that 'no woman starts out with this breast shape' and it's due to improper bra wearing and it's not a common breast shape. Jeeze.

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  4. Very informative and helpful, thanks! You also made some really good points about the illustrations and wording used by HerRoom.

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  5. Great article!
    I personally will never ever ever understand the nipple cover thing, being a smallbusted girl I love going braless in summer (did I really say this, as a LINGERIE blogger? but yes, I did ;) ).

    I think it's just educating people that nipples are WRONG and HORRIBLE and DISGUSTING if you recommend those nipple pads everywhere. Don't get me wrong, if you feel uncomfortable without them, just go with them! It's great you have this opportunity if this makes you feel better.

    so. ramblings. ahm: I just did the questionnaire.
    the results weren't completely horrible, though nearly none of the bras comes in my current size. (30C).

    and wooow, they really know how to talk a woman down, don't they? disgusting.

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    1. Yeah! The nipple thing! What is THAT about? Guess who has nipples? Everyone. Calm down, HerRoom. (But I mean, yes, if you're self-conscious to the point that it's disrupting your life, carry on with the nipple pads. I just don't get why HerRoom would make it a blanket recommendation for everyone.)

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    2. I don't have nipples. I mean... I DO, obviously, but they don't stick out - at ALL. The average man's nipples are more prominent than mine are. Which actually makes me feel like a freak. HerRoom still recommended nipple shields for me. I have literally nothing to shield...

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  6. 1) I somewhat enjoyed the quizz. I'm so jaded that I just ignored the jugdmental language and all white boobies. The questions helped me figure out my shape better.
    2) Based on their pictures, it seems that full on top boobs always have a downward pointing apex. I am not sure that this is the case. What do you think?
    3) Love the print of the new layout, it reminds me of Freya Teagan. :-) But I really liked it that you could see the latest blog post from the blogroll in the old layout.

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  7. I was confused by the breasts top shape part. Why did they show side-views of full on top, but not the others? Not helpful!

    Me:
    Semi-full: OK, that seems about right, although I debated full since I do look a lot like the center picture of the full one.


    I will say some of the advice I got made sense. Seamed bras with a triangular center, check. They even recommended the Fantasie Florence, which I own three of. Side-support panels are something I'm a fan of too, having a wide root. I like everything pulled front and center. They also mentioned vertical center seams, which works.

    But why did they recommend a balconette because of its lower wires while also recommending tall sides? I'm also confused as to why they recommended arched center panels since I did not mention having a problem with a high stomach (and in fact I really hate bras that have wires that extend more than a little bit below the band.) I also don't need a push-up bra, a bra with good support gives all I need.

    They also left off another important thing to think about: if your breasts are high or not. Mine are high on my chest. High breasts + semi-full = all the issues with full on top breasts, especially as you support where it's settled, because it so easily pushes up.

    They should also have asked how much difference there is between cup sizes. I'm about a half-cup difference, and it usually works out fine without any enhancers.

    I also think they failed in actually bringing all the information together. I feel like they recommended every single type to me.

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    1. Thank you so much for pointing out the high breast issue! While I fall into semi-full I also have the full on top issues with a lot of bras. I didn't understand where my breasts fit into this classification system (not herroom's survey) and have been confused and felt somewhat lost regarding fit. Based on everything I had read I should fit into X type of bra - but it doesn't work for me. Thank you Stacy! I have a much better idea of how to go forward finding the bra style that works best for me : )

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    2. Oh, this would explain a lot! My boobs are also high on my chest (I have spent a lifetime shortening camisole and tank top bands and need really high cut tops to not show any cleavage) - I also usually fare better with bra types that should be best for "full on top"-boobs, even though don't think mine are very full on top.

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  8. Whoops, editing and not scrolling back up is a bad idea :) I also got:
    Splayed and outward pointing apex: I thought that was pretty normal with larger breasts, they tend to fall outwards when they're not surgically enhanced

    Settled: Um, yeah, I am 39, a GG and breastfed for two years.

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  9. I've been getting very, very frustrated with HerRoom lately. They're offering more and more sizes and styles, which is great, and they're really pushing lately to become a major online fitter/retailer, but they just keep shooting themselves in the foot. The universal cup size thing I frankly find loathsome, and said so on my blog. It doesn't promote a good understanding of fit and it STILL subtly stigmatizes fuller busts. My survey helped me figure out the shape of my breasts, but the language was judgmental, some of the conclusions were bizarre, and many of the suggested bras aren't made in my size. HerRoom, how is this any different than Victoria's Secret, just trying to make a sale at any cost? Really irritating. Thanks for writing about it in such detail!

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  10. I think they asked many important things in the test, but they didn't relly use that information. o.O
    They didn't say anything about how, for example, the semi-full or separate shape works with bras. They only recommended me stuff for narrow/sloping shoulders and uneven breasts, when I really wanted to now what bras would be good for my breast _shape_!

    I also agree with Stacy that it was difficult how they didn't show side-views on other than full on top shape, I'm not quite sure if I chose the right one because of that. But oh well, it didn't really seem to have an effect on my result anyway.

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  11. I really wished there were more info out there on different shape of boobs. I run between here and June because when it comes to shape issues you are the most thorough. But even more so your different shape issues relates to me.

    Like June I've a long torso and need high wires. But like you I really want to carry my boobs closer to my body. And I need wide wires.

    I wish all of the bra bloggers would team with bratabase and do a test or a resource page about shape.

    Size almost doesn't tell a thing if one are not aware of ones shape.

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    1. I wish exactly the same thing! The quiz part of the HerRoom survey taught me a lot about my boob shape, but the recommendations were an utter failure.

      If someone were to undertake a project to amalgamate all of the bra blogger's own breast shapes and corresponding bra style recommendations, I would be in heaven.

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    2. Do you know that bratabase could give recommendation based on breast shape? Click 'By tag and shape' under 'By brand'. And you can narrow it down by adding up to three characteristics of shape, not only one. It's not ultimate solution, but still could be helpfull.

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    3. Bratabase is helpful if the women knows the shape of their boobs. A lot of women don't. I certainly didn't before I took this test so I'm very happy at least it's out there :)

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  12. I just took the quiz. It says that for my "settled" full on bottom G cups they recommend breast enhancement silicone pads. If it is one thing my boobs do not need, it is being larger than they already are. They did have some worthwhile information concerning petite sizes, but overall, not terribly helpful.

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  13. Completely agree with your points. Their recommendation are not very polite, they are definitely not personalized or even correct.

    And the funniest thing: some of their suggestions contradict! E. g. I have separated boobs with outward pointing apex and they recommended me wide central gore and plunges for separated boobs and narrow central gore for outward pointing apex at the same time. And push ups. Why they recommended them to me? Thank you very mush, I'm quite happy with my 32E and not so full on top, but naturally uplifted shape and in fact I can wear push ups only with tight tops (because my boobs usually pushing cups away from my chest and straps can't fix this if they are far apart - nothing strange for firm self supporting breasts, hah?).
    I also got full cups (no-no), cups just too high and wires are wrong and bandeau bras and balconettes (wires poke like hell in the center because of prominent breast bone).

    But what they said about bending wires was correct. And that would be the only usefull thing if I didn't know that already.

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  14. I took the quiz about a week or so ago, and it said that a prominent breast bone is supposedly "very unusual" for anyone over a C cup. Uh, gee, thanks, HerRoom. Mine's courtesy of genetics.

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    1. O_o What a nonsense about C cup! It's totally about bone structure. It may be not visible in larger cup sizes, but it still affects fit. A lot!

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    2. For real. It's more obvious in those with smaller cup sizes, but in all fairness, HerRoom did acknowledge that. Still doesn't make it any less insulting, tho.

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  15. I'm having trouble with my browser, I think, and my comment keeps not showing up. Argh. Anyway, I took the Know Your Breasts quiz and agree about the offensive language. The drawings helped me learn more about my boobs' shape, but herroom.com's recommendations? Full cup bras with low sides because I'm under 5'3"?! I told them my breasts from the front view are wider than my torso (wide root). My problem is often wires don't come up high enough under the arms or are too narrow. This causes the unsightly bulges under the arms. I only have one Freya for this reason. It's like herroom asks about all kinds of features but only takes some of them into account when recommending specific bras. And some of my recommended bras don't come in 28F.

    I appreciate herroom.com's photos of bras from multiple angles, especially the back. I also like the overlay photos where they show how relatively wide the straps are placed and how high the top edges of the cups are. They could've done so much with this tool. Don't they read any bra blogs?

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  16. With all due respect, I think your rule that full-on-top breasts can never work with full-coverage bras is as much a generalization as any of HerRoom's. I am very full on top and happen to look best in full coverage. I have no idea why. Please--do not assume that your breasts are everyone's breasts and that what works for you must be gospel truth for all women.

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  17. I definitely suggested that people use this tool as a starting point for getting to know their breasts....I think, despite maybe poor suggestions for some (not all), it can be a great way for women to actually LOOK at their breasts and figure out what their shape is. I feel like there are a lot of women who don't know why some bras don't fit and why some do fit, so some help is definitely warranted.

    From my results (as I am definitely someone who posted this for people to consider on my blog), I was actually quite happy with what they gave me to try as they were all bras that I have tried and love. No, it wasn't necessarily "personalized", but I did find it accurate in my case.

    Sorry you were so offended :-/

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  18. Bra Hater, I agree with almost everything you said. I also enjoyed your irreverent sense of humor, as always. I do wonder about the word "bountiful," as I've never heard it was kind of pervy. Is there some famous pervy use of it? If so, I may try to stop using it. In any case, herroom's new sizing system confounds me and reminds me of this xkcd strip: http://xkcd.com/927/

    I wish the bra companies would all use the U.K. sizing system. Since just about the only companies that make bras in my size are U.K. ones, that's the only sizing syste I can reliably remember.

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  19. Against my better judgement, I took the silly test and like you I found the results laughable. I also have full on top breasts but my "very personal results" with a downward pointing apex and slightly uneven breasts that are evenly spaced yielded recommendations that are almost the same as yours. The bandeau is a real crackup! Anyway, I'm with you on your recommendations--balconettes are by far the bras that work best for me (in Panache and Freya) and the Cleo Lucy is my all time favorite. Not one of my recommendations were for bras from those companies and they're the only ones that ever fit me--I'm a 32G but used to think I was a 34 or 36DD.

    I also find the language fairly insulting. It makes women sound like there's something wrong with them--thankfully I've been told I have "great breasts" by others! :)

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  20. I love the new look of the site but what happened to your side bar? I used to check your blog everyday for new posts and so I could keep up with all the other bra blogs in one convenient place, but now it only shows the name of the blog and not the title of the latest post which makes me so sad! =( Please change back that function! Also the latest activity no longer brings you to the latest reviews etc, it just goes to the front page :(

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    1. Changed it back! I simply didn't realize that anyone used that other than myself, so I was thinking it was just taking up space. Thanks for letting me know! I'll keep that feature there :)

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    2. Thanks! That's what I meant in my comment, but I wasn't as clear.

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  21. I miss the old side bar, too. That way I knew which other blogs I should check out. Go to Bras I Hate first, which has frequent posts, read, and find out where else I should go...Love your blog, by the way...

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    1. Changed it back! Like I said to the other Anon, I just didn't realize you guys liked it! Thanks for letting me know :)

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    2. Just wanted to let you know I also rely on your sidebar the same way.

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  22. We should send them e mails with what we think about our results. Who's up for that?

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  23. I'm the anon two comments ago who missed the old side bar. Thanks for changing it back!! Your blog is my first read of the day. Yes, I'm that obsessed with bras and bra blogs, and that big a fan of yours! :)

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  24. Oh hahahahahah! I was just researching a bit for my own bra struggle I've decided to address (narrow ribcage, big ol' boobs, post-breastfeeding body) and ran across this blog post. I headed over to the site and it's SUCH a classic example of advertising to women by first subtly breaking down their self confidence. I had a laugh at its unintended hilarity. Great blog, I look forward to reading everything. :)

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  25. This is FANTASTIC.

    Absolutely adore your blog, style of writing, sense of humour, etc. Keep it up :)

    Georgi at 7wonders
    www.7wondersblog.net

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  26. I too had to laugh at this quiz. There are quite a few things that really bugged me about this quiz.

    1. The use of the term shallow. I feel that shallow means boobs that don't have a lot of projection, not boobs that aren't full on top. I have full on bottom boobs with a swooping profile and lots of projection so they look very conical. Yet according to them my boobs are shallow?! Um if that were the case Panache should work great for me and they don't.

    2. Self supporting boobs = firm breast tissue. Really? I must be a freak then because my breast tissue is very squishy and soft but they are still self supporting. I never even had firm breast tissue as a teen which leads to...

    3. Apparently my 28DD conical boobs are strange since they aren't seen above a C cup? I guess I don't exist? Also this is usually a breast shape seen on teens whose boobs haven't fully developed yet. Well I'm in my 30s so my boobs never fully developed? Wow, I feel confident now!

    4. The generalisation that most women start off with full on top boobs as teens and loss of fullness on top comes with aging. Really? Wow! I'm really racking up the "freak" points because I never had fullness on top even when I was a teen.

    Despite all of this craziness and the fact that I basically got recommended every style of bra ever seen they did manage to get one thing right. They did rec the one bra that fits me perfectly: Freya Arabella. Just weird.

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    1. Well, if 1 000 000 monkeys type the whole eternity then once one of them will type a copy of "War and Peace". )))

      Delete
  27. What I found most offensive about this survey, is the dishonesty in not being upfront about the fact that the survey requires an email address. There is no mention of this at the start, and no mention of what they want it for, no link to a privacy policy etc.
    Since they flash a NWS warning before it starts, they obviously consider its content private and/or offensive, so a company that combines this attitude with no respect for their survey-takers is not one that I would consider purchasing from.

    And if they wanted to be truly useful, and not simply appear to be nosy, that would have been quite easy. Take all the nipple, shoulder, assymetry-questions, for example. They could have had the option, on all these, to say "this is of no concern to me when I choose a bra" to mark this a neutral.

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  28. I'm reassured that such a well-meaning and extensive site exists, and that it's getting profiled in big presses. But yeah, it doesn't seem like it knows what it's talking about (except I will say it looks like it knows more than, say, Victoria's Secret), and I think I will stick with you. Actually, I am a bit of a lurker, so I didn't know you had such extensive suggestions. Going to dig around now. Thanks!

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  29. I tried this thing and the one thing I liked was that I do think I learned some about different shapes and some fit problems I have, and the illustrations do generally do a relatively good job at explaining the various shapes.

    HOWEVER, the results are 100% useless, since they pay no attention to whether or not the suggested bras come in the size(s) I might need!!! I don't freaking care if a lovely bra that stops at a GG, for example, would be great for my shape, given that I need a JJ/K/KK. In fact it makes me even more annoyed and frustrated to have it thrown in my face all the things that might work, but I can't have, because the companies don't make enough sizes.

    Additionally, they ask what your current "best-fitting" bra size is, but they don't ask whether you are actually happy with the fit! Nor do they ask any questions that might reveal poor fit for someone who is less knowledgeable about fit.

    So while I appreciate that their focus is on shape, they should really either fully incorporate size requirements/information, or else leave it out entirely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They do have a section on the site that addresses fit, including tips for picking a better size based on what you are not happy about with your current fit. I agree that the size question in this quiz does nothing useful. The bras they showed were most useful as illustrations of the features they were describing. Still, as someone else commented, it is useful as a starting point.

      Delete
  30. [whiny voice] When are you going to post again?

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  31. Wow that *quiz* is awful. I'm anywhere from a 28F to G and although they carry that size range they did not suggest one single bra in my size --- not one! Who ever set up their data mining needs to be shown the door. Love how I'm pretty deformed - I have a spinal curvature and they have all kinds of things that are going to help my posture. LOL

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  32. I liked the idea, but they lost me at "deflated"...and things just got worse from there.

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  33. It's my understanding that, according to copyright law in the USA, you have every right to use their copyrighted images for the purposes of criticism. I could be wrong, but I would look into it if I were you.

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  34. I was completely sceptical about my results purely because their initial question on which bra fitted me best didn't even encompass my size

    I just followed through on curiosity alone

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  35. Their suggestions for me were all over the place. I cannot wear a full coverage bra because it gaps up top, but a lot of their suggestions were just that. There were some good points though. Their suggestions for where straps should start in the back for me were right on, the gore being close together because I too have little room there and the wire style for omega breasts. One thing I wish these companies provided was a review of how each brand/style runs. For those of us delegated to online shopping that information would be incredibly valuable.

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  36. I know this was witten like two years ago but I have to respond! I once wrote a negative review for a sports bra on HerRoom, like, 7 years ago. And the OWNER who is also the creator of the TopsyTail (if you remember from 90's TV ads) personally responded to my review in a highly negative and offensive way. I am not at all surprised that they made you take their photos down. They, she, whoever, has some serious issues.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Serious issues? Here's a serious issue: copyright infringement. Like someone or hate them don't steal their intellectual property.

      Delete
    2. Oh look comments comments are screened on this site just as they are on herroom.com No different. Both have an agenda.

      Delete
    3. As mentioned in the post, it was not copyright infringement because criticism falls under fair use.

      Read my comment policy in the "About This Blog" and you'll learn that I publish all comments that are not spam or pornographic. I just have to screen them because I get so much spam. See? I'm publishing your comment.

      Delete
  37. I know I'm behind the curve, but I just took the Herroom know your breasts and they told me at the end that the description I have of my boobs doesn't exist in my cup size. I've spent a lot of time with my boobs and I know them pretty well. I also spent some time in the mirror making sure to answer their questions correctly. I suppose I'm not so upset about not getting product recommendations, because everyone seems to say they're useless anyway. Glad to see I'm not the only frustrated one!

    ReplyDelete
  38. PLEASE tell me how you alter your central gore. That is my #1 problem with bras, from both personal experience and every fitter ever.

    I can get the cup to at least sort-of fit, but then my gore is floating around out front, or worse, tipped forward.

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  39. Please, please, PLEASE explain how you alter your central gore. That is my #1 problem with bras, based of personal experience and every fitter ever.

    I can get the cup to at least mostly fit, but then the gore is just floating around out front or worse, tipped forward.

    Seriously, bras in general just kinda make me want to give up sometimes, but then HerRoom adding "You have terrible tennis ball boobs because you wear bras wrong!" on top of it is just... /sigh. Sadly I keep finding myself looking because they actually carry a small selection of my size.

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  40. I like all boobs.

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  41. Their customer service is the worst in the world. They are insulting and talk down to you. Good luck getting your money back if you have to send something back. I spent hundreds of dollars with this company in the last two years and had nothing but problems. I'm done.

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  42. I took that quiz to see how bad it was and it basically implied that I was fat, and that it was 'unusual' for someone young to have breasts like mine. There was definitely a judgmental tone to it.

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  43. Ditto on the worst customer service ever. Their prices aren't necessarily cheaper than elsewhere, and I wouldn't subject my worst enemy to what I had to go through (with no helpful resolution). AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

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  44. Hi! Have you made a 'full on bottom' version of your image guide? I am new to finding a bra that fits (and apparently seem to be a DD when I thought I was barely a C...) and my first round of shopping was useless. :(

    ReplyDelete
  45. TERRIBLE customer service!!!!! DON'T BUY A THING FROM THEM!!!!

    I really wish I had read the reviews out there on this company before I wasted my money ordering from them.

    Poor packaging- they pack these expensive items in a cardboard box. Then, when the box is left at your door in the pouring rain and it is damaged from the bleeding colors on the tag, they won't accept a return, blaming it on the post office instead of their poor packaging.

    The customer "service" people I talked to were incredibly rude, condescending and completely unsympathetic and unhelpful. I was a first-time customer and would have likely spent lots of money with them on future orders since I have a hard-to-find size if they had valued customer service at all.

    I will NEVER shop there again!!

    ReplyDelete