Ask Angie: Bathing Suit Top Dilemma - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Ask Angie: Bathing Suit Top Dilemma

Natalie

My 14 year-old stepdaughter needs a bathing suit top. I've taken her bra shopping for the last several years, so I know she wears a 30DDD, although can also wear some 32DDs in a pinch. She prefers a bikini style top, in a boned or seamed style. We're having a hard time finding anything appropriate. On line ordering is fine, and separates would be preferable because she already has some 2 pair (black, cobalt) of boy-short style bathing suit bottoms she likes. Any suggestions? Thank you so much! (No one in my family has this issue, so I'm not sure where to look.)

Shopping

16 replies

Latest reply was from This is water.

Ginger

Veteran

As another with small ribs/large cup, I sympathize! Herroom.com has tops in bra sizing. They use a "Uniform Cup Size" to reduce confusion between US, UK, and European brands. (DDD is D3, which can be E or F in some brands.)

Here's some cobalt ones that I think are cute:
http://www.herroom.com/curvy-k.....-top.shtml
http://www.herroom.com/freya-a.....-top.shtml
http://www.herroom.com/freya-a.....-top.shtml

Marina

Maybe you can find something at http://www.herroom.com
They have a bra sized swimwear section and many options with bigger cups if I'm not mistaken

Natalie

Ginger, These all are great! Thank you so much. We're off to a swim vacation for spring break, and she really needs one (or more) that fit. Thanks again!

Natalie

Marina, thank you. I'd never heard of Her Room before this!

catgirl

Veteran

Athleta has some good ones although I can't do the halter top style - I think they go up to DD and their band/cup are pretty true to bra size.

Natalie

Thanks, alaskagirl. I've bought running gear from Athleta, but I didn't think of it for bathing suit tops. I'll give it a look!

Ginger

Veteran

Awesome, I hope she finds one! I usually wear about 30F, and so far I've had good luck with Cleo by Panache and Freya. I've heard that Curvy Kate bras aren't as supportive as they should be, but not if that applies to their swimwear. HerRoom does not have free return shipping, but it doesn't cost much to ship back even 10 bras. I just figure it's part of the cost of finding a couple of good ones.

Natalie

I ordered two (one each in a blue- and black-based print) from herroom.com. I think these will have the best chance of fitting well and passing teenaged muster. Fingers crossed. Thanks again!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Natalie, you need bra sized swimwear and Freya is another great option on bare necessities.

http://www.barenecessities.com.....&ft=1

Natalie

Thanks, Angie. We'll try it!

Marina

You are welcome, Natalie.

I discovered her room because I'm (probably) a 30DD in a country where bras have only band sizes and everything is roughly a B cup [Brazilian regular bras are roughly equivalent to American's 30B, 32B, 34B, 36B, 38B, 40B and 42B. And that's all - no A's, C's or D's, just B's].
I spent some years fighting with bra sizes and using gym tops until 2 local brands started producing "special sizes" (those sizes are not that special, but they cost 3x more than a regular). Nowadays it's possible to find some very basic models with a few cup size options, but only for most common sizes. I consider myself lucky when I find the equivalent for an american 32D (I'm most probably a 30DD, but I can't be sure since I never found one :/ )
I tried to find some online option and found her room, but a U$30 bra with shipment to Brazil and our absurd taxes would cost 15% of my monthly earns after money conversion and I really can't afford that much, but I hope this finding will be more useful to you and your daughter

Kari

Veteran

Try Bare Necessities; HerRoom; Figleaves; and also look at Bravissimo in the UK. Like Angie said, Freya makes some great swimwear for large bust sizes. Look at Panache and fantasie as well. The downside to having a large bust, particularly with a very small band size, is that it's very hard to find bras and swimwear that fit in person. Be patient, and don't be hesitant to return something that doesn't fit perfectly, but there ARE options out there.

Kari

Veteran

If she wants to venture into one pieces, in addition to those brands, Land's End also makes cup size suits with underwire. They may not be youthful enough for her in terms of cut but they occasionally have fun prints and great colors. I have been wearing a one piece style with beautiful ruching at the bust and waist for the past couple years.

Natalie

Thanks, Kari. I agree that the answer is to order and try several, and to return any/all that don't work. It IS frustrating for her not to be able to just walk into Target with her friends and find several that work for her. But being a special/specialty size means having to work a little harder to find what works. This has been a big help; thank you to all.

DonnaF

Veteran

If she finds one or more bras that fit very well, bratabase.com is a database that can help you find other bras that are likely to fit. Or, as the case may be, if she tries a make and model that most definitely doesn't fit (cut too wide/narrow, too big on top, etc.) it will help you avoid making the same mistake on another poor unsuspecting bra. Bratabase has reviews on particular sizes (band+cup) since a particular style may size weirdly in the upper and/or lower sizes.

This is water.

Chiming in to say that Title Nine offers cup sized swimwear in her size range too. (I am a 32F myself and on the hunt for a suit too.)