The Shallow-Projected Breast Shape

In my previous post, I discussed how to take various measurements for determining your bra size and breast shape. (You can find it here)

Today, I would like to discuss the shallow-projected breast shape.

What is a shallow-projected breast shape?

The general assumption is that a standard-projected breast is roughly spherical in shape where the Bottom Cup Depth (BCD; distance from nipple to wireline) is approximately half of the Horizontal Hemisphere (HH; distance from wireline to wireline across the nipple). If your BCD is significantly less than half of your HH, you likely have a shallow-projected shape.

A shallow dome constructed of cardstock representing a shallow-projected breast shape.

Problems you may face with RTW bras:

• Bras with cups that fit volume wise may have wires that are too narrow for you and poke into your breast tissue;

• Bras with wires that fit the base of your breast may have cups with too much space at the apex of the cup;

• You may find sports bras significantly more comfortable than regular bras.

Any specific advice for this shape?

When shopping RTW bras, seek out minimizer styles as these bras are designed with a wider frame and shallower cup volume that is a much better match for your breast shape than a standard cup is. Sports bras are often designed as minimizers in order to pull the breast tissue towards the chest to help stabilize it during activities.

Sewing your own or seeking out a custom bra maker are also good options. When making your own, you may need to grade between the HH of one size to the BCD of another size. This blog post by Lily of LilyPaDesigns describes this process well.