Bras for the Busty

[gia0202]

i think that women with over a c cup have different needs they look to be fulfilled by their lingerie collection, and have to dig much longer to find something that works. i am a 30dd, so i have struggles with the small back size, bigger cup dilemma.
lets list places where we can get great functional bras--even reviewing them for each other, and then great 'sexy' ones---that don't totally through support out the window.

 

[fashionista-ta]

My favorite is La Mystere, which I believe Oprah wears as well. (I'm positive we talked about this before, but it's been awhile ...)

The best thing you can do, though, is to find a specialty shop where they do fittings and carry unusual sizes. Mine does alterations on the spot and I've never walked out without something. Unfortunately my size is a common unusual size so it seems like there's never enough to choose from.

This covers functional ... as for the rest, let me know what you find out I've never been a fan of lacy lacy, what I wear today isn't that much different from what I've always worn. The manufacturers could do better, tho, that's for sure ...

 

[gia0202]

i tried the superbra tango by panache. it was very tight---and failed to really seperate and define the girls. on the upside---fun colors, and it has that cheap risque look (loads of vs style cleavage/oomph)--- great for a evening in with the boy after some drinks. as a side note i am used to american sizing.
www.figleaves.com

 

[gia0202]

fashionaista--we very well spoke about this before--but i think the subject deserves its own thread---how are we to adequately interpret fashion if we don't even have the foundations down?

unfortunately le mystere doesn't offer my size--adn the cup placemetn makes it hard for me to jsut alter... (no tto mention its cheaper jsut to buy it in my size)

brands i look into are fantasie, freya, rigby adn peller, adn miss mandalay--- what about girls with over 32, or even 38 inch backs--suggestions?

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Btw, the store I go to offers free alterations--not sure about sale stuff, but nothing in my size is ever left to go on sale. I take your point if the size isn't even offered tho (For the record, 38D or DD)

(I was thinking it might have been a separate thread, I remember softgrey, QuirkyCool, and I posted ...)

 

[thesiren]

le mystere is the best for larger sizes. i use the tisha bra, and it recently was launched in a lacy version, which is available on figleaves (fantastic site, CS, btw!) if price is a problem, be on the lookout for the nordstrom anniversary sales. le mystere is almost always on sale, which makes them reasonable. that said, even at full price, they're well worth the price. i'm a 36ddd/f and i've never found a bra that fits me better.

 

[gia0202]

this bra was a top pick by essence magazine and oprah. there is a model for fuller figured women seeking to be minimized as well. this is the balcont version. adds great cleavage. thesiren, did you find you had to go up a back size--as was recommended?
www.herroom.com

 

[Amara]

I wear a 34D, which while not as tough as I'm sure a 32 or 30 D would be to shop for is still a pain in the butt or the bust rather...

I find the best place of all to find 34D bras easily is Target, no idea why that is, but I have an easier time there then I do at Victoria's Secret. My main complaint is that D cup bras tend to lack padding or even a lining. Having D's doesn't make them less prone to the effects of cold weather on them.
Other complaint is that VS is actually my preference for bras, But I also prefer black. I often have to settle for colors I don't want because they are out of the color I do want. Which amounted to a collection of beige and pink bras that I noticed started getting this weird blue staining effect on them and I finally realized that since 70% of the undershirts and blouses I wear are black the blue stains were caused by dye from the shirts. I have one shirt in particular that will do that to my arms as well...very strange.

Today was my day though, I had given up finding the bra I wanted at VS in my size in any color much less black and had gone to look through the clearance items after finding several nice slips and bustiers to try on I went back to look at a second choice bra though I figured I wouldn't get it and low and behold at the very back was the original bra style I had been looking for and in black!!! It also seems more comfortable then my old one which was pre-infinity edge.

I use to do the minimize thing when I was younger and uncomfortable with them, but now I'm all about enhancing the way they look via bra. Though my non-bra complaint is that because I'm small around but have a larger cup size blouses that button up are a pain to find with a good fit.

I have 3 (now 4, but 1 I never ever wear) Victoria's Secret Very Sexy push-up bras this is the one I got today and I have 1 Body by Victoria IPEX wireless bra, 1 Very Sexy Secret Embrace bra that I loathe (pinches in the front), and 1 VS Sexy Sport work-out bra that I adore over all my other work-out bras. Also 4 of the same push-up padded style lace bras but in different colors and 1 white one that borrows heavily from the VS Very Sexy line; all from the line Gilligan & O'Malley at Target and 3 random strapless bras I never wear. Wow! I didn't realize I owned so many. Yet I always seem to wear the same 3 bras all the time...

 

[Trista]

Yeah I'm a 36D but I am 18 so anything with wide straps or seams on the cups is out of the question. Target used to have a lot of really great ones but as time has gone on their selection of bras that meet my standards-no seams, no wide straps, and not cut too close to the armpit (because I wear tank tops a lot)-has gone down. I was able to find a really good gel push-up bra though recently and I love it.

However I'm sticking to Victoria's Secret because a) I get a discount there, and b) they actually have cute bras that meet my standards-something many other stores do not have.

 

[sleepy]

34D and VS IPEX wireless bra works the best for me. Triumph is also great.

Btw, how do you manage to buy dresses? I find it really difficult because most of fashionable dresses are either strapless or with really tiny straps and I cannot wear a dress without a bra. Any suggestions?

 

[gia0202]

i think that is wherea good strapless/convertible bra come s in .. supposedly fantasie has a great one.
www.herrroom.com
its on clearance now

 

[gia0202]

also try to find ways to incorporate shrugs/wraps

 

[Trista]

34D and VS IPEX wireless bra works the best for me. Triumph is also great.

Btw, how do you manage to buy dresses? I find it really difficult because most of fashionable dresses are either strapless or with really tiny straps and I cannot wear a dress without a bra. Any suggestions?

I wear strapless, spaghetti-strapped, halter dresses all the time and the best trick I have for dresses that lace up in the back:
1. Make sure your boobs are where you want them in the dress. Lift them if necessary so that they don't look saggy.
2. Lace it up, but go a little tighter around there.

I even have strapless dresses without a bra but my problem is that strapless bras either have seams (which if you read my previous post is a fashion sin to me) or fall right off-so I just suck it up because it's only for a few hours.

 

[gia0202]

trista--do u think ur strapless bras are falling off cuz the back size is too big, and ur seamewd bras cause problems cuz the cups are fitting to tight? a good reference to keep in mind is small framed women vary in backsize from 28-32. medium size frames are 34, and larger frames are 36 and up. maybe you nee to increase the cup size, decrease the back size. you can pm me for fitting advice.

 

[Meg]

how is a larger size from 36 and up? This seems a pretty normal size to me. I have quite a small back/shoulders (my shoulders are about 15 inches) and I'm a 34. I don't think i've ever known anyone to be a 28. I would say 34-36 is fairly normal. Anyway there are some great suggestions here. If possible i would say also check out agent provacateur - they have some great stuff and if you try lots on you are bound to find something.

 

[gia0202]

most women in america atleast wear a bra that is too broad in the back. the same is true in the uk. so, the reason why 34-36 is the most populasr size is due to wmen wearing too large of a back size. when one buys a bra make sure you can't pull the band more than two inches from the back. that is a good test.

also meg, i have helped to fit various women-most thought they were a 36 back, yet endedup being a 32-34. the women who were a 36 were generally taller.

 

[Meg]

I've been fit before back in the day and was a 34/36 then and when i got some bra's from AP i was a 34 as well but that is interesting and maybe it is time for a proper refit which I will do but what is the best way to do it at home (obviously not a fool proof method but interesting none the less)

 

[gia0202]

sometimes fitters gie u the size they have in stock--- i figured that out the hardway for myself--try goign to rigby and peller--- they are great. or nordstroms if in america.

 

[Meg]

I had a 36 on at the time so don't think that was the problem. Rigby is a good suggestion but no time to go before I leave the UK. I think there are some lingerie shops near where my mom lives.

 

[thesiren]

this bra was a top pick by essence magazine and oprah. there is a model for fuller figured women seeking to be minimized as well. this is the balcont version. adds great cleavage. thesiren, did you find you had to go up a back size--as was recommended?
www.herroom.com

i did go up a band size when i first started wearing le mystere because the 36 felt a tad snug in the store. that was in 2004 i guess, but when i went back for a few more i got 36s simply because the 38s felt OK around but too big in the straps even after they were adjusted to the snuggest fit. the 36 fits just fine and i'd rather be a little too supported than have gaping straps going on. the bra pictured is the exact one i wear. it's low enough to wear with v-necks, but still has sturdy straps if you're busty.