For the fabulous "blessed", can we talk bras? - YouLookFab Forum

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For the fabulous "blessed", can we talk bras?

Peri

Veteran

I feel like I'm exceptionally difficult to fit due to my narrow-ish rib cage and larger cup size. I was 34DD but not loving the fit of what I tried last year, then I gave up. Yesterday I used two online fit quizzes (Cuup and Thirdlove) and they both said 34F (DDD). Gasp! I guess it's the pandemi-pounds, but interesting the band size didn't change. The second fit issue is despite that F I'm not that projected...it's the side to side width that gets me, so wires often cut in. The third fit issue is that I'm long torso so sometimes shoulder straps are too short. I noticed that particularly with Thirdlove.

Something else I've come to realize is that T-shirt bras may not be for me. That's the kind I've been trying because I'm am so behind the no-show look, but in my size those thicker molded cups are so substantial I feel like I'm wearing a suit of armor. Heavy and hot!

Can anyone relate? Have you found a bra you like? I'm taking recommendations.

General

27 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

Irina

Veteran

Absolutely can relate I’m 32 DD (actually 30 DDD but try to find those).
T-shirt bras are my go to style but I dislike the thickness. I’m at loss, honestly, didn’t want to order online and planning to check Nordstrom but have no idea what style to try. Wireless bra that I tried before and have one by Stella McCartney don’t work well for me, bralettes are always come too big in a band for my cup size

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Bra shopping is tricky! You have my empathy, Peri.

I did not have a good experience with Third Love. Terrible fits and discomfort. Yet my clients have had great experiences! It's soooooo varied.

Have you tried Knix and Soma Intimates? Bare Necessities online bra fitters are good too.

I went through this two years ago. Long story short, I stick to classic French underwire bras. They make my size - 28C/D or 30C/D - fit well, and are very comfy.

doggeh lover

I've found Elomi bras to be very good quality and have a nice variety of styles and sizes. I've gotten my last few fittings done at Nordstrom's and they did a great job, but this was a while ago. A good tip is after you find some bras you like, check eBay where you can often find NWT (new with tags) for about half-price! Be sure and check seller's ratings and make sure they *are* new bras. I once accidently bought a used one, was all stretched-out and NOT clean! Yuck....

Sloper

Veteran

36G here. The best luck I've had is go to a lingerie store for a fitting, and to try on several brands, though of course COVID has restricted this.

Fortunately I live in a major metropolitan area (near Los Angeles) so this type of shop was relatively easy to find. My experience only but I feel the most accurate way to measure is to have someone else do it.

I haven't had any luck with the newer online-only brands - they just aren't designed to provide the support I'm used to, and often aren't generously sized enough (Knix in particular). While many feature photos of more endowed models, the fits look sloppy (droopy) to me.

I was converted to underwires once I found a brand that worked for me, though now am trying their non-wire sport bras also. The brand is Prima Donna.

But more and more brands are expanding their size ranges to include us full-figured gals (does anyone remember Jane Russell's commercials from the 1970's?). Bare Necessities carries many brands in a wide range of sizes.

And I agree with you on the t-shirt styles with molded cups - ick!!!!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I sympathize. I’m sort of borderline these days — but in the range of 30-32/F-G. Yeah, that’s a total pain in the behind to find. I don’t know why more makers don’t carry small band/large cup sizes — I really don’t think it’s all that unusual to have a narrow back and big boobs, is it?? Haha!

I stocked up last year on two Wacoal styles that work well for me — one underwire and one not. The underwire provides more support and a nicer shape but the others were more comfortable for the months at home, and they look acceptable under all but the most fitted tee shirt styles, which I don’t wear a lot anymore anyway. So I would definitely look into Wacoal.

I have given up on molded cup bras, with the exception of a strapless bra I keep for occasion wear and a special Marlies Dekkers set. I have come to hate that armor feeling. If anyone is bothered by my occasional headlights, oh well! LOL

Janet

(website)

Veteran

A word of warning — I went into Soma to look for a loungewear piece and cruised over to see if there were any racerback bras. A well-intentioned SA was determined to prove that I do not know my bra size so that she could fit me into a 34, which is the smallest band size they carry. It was a bit off-putting that she did not seem to believe me when I told her my band size. Might just be that individual SA, but I would treat with caution there.

Anonymous

I am the same size as you , Peri : 34DD. Bras that give me the look I want are seemingly impossible to find , and every year I spend a decent amount of money trying to get it right . Even if I go to a professional bra fitter , I come away with a seamed French thing that is too lumpy and revealing ( I’ll die a conservative in that regard ) . Honestly , when I want the best lift and less projection , my $130 Lululemon zip front high impact sports bra does the trick . I wish I knew how to find bras that make me look less matronly - but I just don’t . As you can tell , this is a sore spot for me I’m reading the comments here with great interest .

Anonymous

And as to the “ blessed” part ? No . It’s probably the part of my body I like the least . Hate hate hate them .

Anonymous

I'm slowly going back to my normal amount of "blessings"- good thing cause DH hit the roof when I suggested a surgical reduction lol! Mine are wide set too, and often bras don't lay flat on me. Natori rose dream works for me, but 2 different styles of Knix are on the way because Natori's "nude" shades are Really light. Knix nude 3 looked like a reasonable color. Will review when they arrive.

Peri

Veteran

Thank you all, it's good to have the support. (yes, joke).

Lisa p and suntiger...the "blessed" was definitely tongue in cheek. I don't feel blessed about it either. It would be so much more convenient to be less blessed.

Sloper, I have tried a few local boutiques in the past but really no success there. Just like Janet's Soma experience, the staff are hard set on selling me what they have in stock but each place was so small there really wasn't a lot to choose from. Of course, the one or two they do have they feel are just the most perfect magical bras for me. And no returns when they turn out not to be. In theory I'd love to support local but in reality, no.

I will look into a few of the brands mentioned. I've had no luck with Soma. My local Nordstrom does not at all fit that store's reputation but I'm thinking of ordering these. The first looks like the type I've felt better about in the past, and the second at least claims to be cool.

CHANTELLE LINGERIE C Magnifique Seamless Unlined Minimizer Bra

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2

Wacoal Keep Your Cool Undewire T-Shirt Bra

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Anonymous

I knew it was tongue in cheek

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Me too. I have stuck to Chantelle Rive Gauche t shirt bras for years, but they are exactly that thick armor.
https://www.chantellebrashop.c.....a_3286.htm
But that is what I need to get support apparently. I like that the straps are pretty. One of my DDs is similarly "blessed" and I have promised to take her bra shopping at an American department store where we can try on lots of styles without talking to the little old man that seems to run all the lingerie shops around here .

DonnaF

Veteran

I am 28/30 F/FF so online is generally my only option. Nordstrom may carry my size but only online. Freya seems to work best for me but with so narrow a band size and my need for support, I don’t have many choices.

Bratabase is a really good review site that describes how particular makes and models are cut and reviews by size since bras may fit differently at opposite ends of the scale. Once you find a bra that fits well, you can search for others with a similar fit. Or eliminate others.

anchie

Veteran

.

April

Veteran

Peri, Simone Perele does a good job with bras for the "volume from side to side" sort of bust. Also, look for a tee shirt bra that says contour cups instead of molded cups and you'll find them softer and less suit-of-armor-ish.

I never could understand the difference between contour and molded but it's pretty much as it sounds. A contour cup shapes itself to your contours; a molded cup tells you where the flesh should go -- and that generally means forward projection.

Gail

Veteran

I feel your pain. I am a 32DD sometimes 32DDD. Underwire bras are really bothering me, I just ordered the True and Co bralette from Nordstrom. I usually find that the bands are too big in this style and and everything I have skids down underneath which is NOT a flattering look I might add. Do not get me started on bathing suits, the problem is even worse with them haha.
Fingers crossed the True and Co bralette will work.

Peri

Veteran

April, thanks for the info and rec! I didn't know those terms were different and didn't know that about that brand.

Gail, I'd be interested in a review. I've never considered bralettes at all. Just the diminutive term was enough to make me write them off!

kkards

Veteran

30D or DD depending, or at least i was 2 years ago…the pandemic pushed me out of underwire and i found this bra, which is part bra and part bralette…it feels like its more size forgiving than an underwire, and it’s certainly more comfortable.
I’ve tried and initially liked the True bra’s. However over time, i found that they didn’t work under all tops, and that it was a pain to insert and get the pads to lie flat. And i would not wear them without the padding, modesty is one of the main reasons i wear a bra…also, i found that they stretch out. YMMV

Natori Bliss Perfection Contour Soft Cup Bra

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Anonymous

So the Knix arrived-Wingwoman and Luxelift. Neither have molded cups nor underwires, they are modest enough though. But they were a Struggle to get on, don't know if they'll stretch over time. Plus Wingwoman pushed things in a way that added back flab. Color- looked light but was doable. I don't exactly have a lot of options in that area :/ Why do these companies have all sorts of random colors but not a consistent range of warm and cool toned browns- in All the styles. Grr!

Sloper

Veteran

At least Knix is decent about trial period and returns - if I remember correctly. Hope they work out.

sarah

Veteran

I'm a 32DD/F, and I have been searching for the right bra for years. I cannot say enough about this Natori bra. I truly love it. It's SO comfortable, and I love the shape, and the shoulder straps stay put, and....did I already say that I love this bra?

I did have to size up to 32DDD, but once I did that, it was/is perfect.

Good luck! It's such a painful process.

Natori Zone Full Fit Smoothing Contour Underwire Bra

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8

elpgal

Veteran

I don’t have any good suggestions to offer because I have been wearing the True&Co bras for the last year or so. A lot of the bras with all-elastic straps and thin cups don’t seem to do the trick if your breasts are not self-supporting in which case the only option is the armor-plate molded cups or the seamed styles. Like LisaP, I just don’t enjoy the seamed cups. Some womwn seem to wear them well without visible bumps. I just can’t seem to manage despite wearing loose fitting wovens.

Suzanne (ambergreen)

Veteran

32DDD / 32F here, and the struggle is real. Though I've gone with other lines in the past, my best options these days have been with Wacoal, as has been mentioned, in T-shirt lightly lined styles...and, a really big surprise lately...Victoria's Secret.

I have a friend who is umm, augmented, and she said she wears VS and I was really surprised because years ago, nothing they had fit me, so I had dismissed them. Well -- I looked, and I tried, and there's one style that although it is lace covered and has some darts that aren't completely invisible with some tops, I find super comfortable and gives a nice look. So my knowledge is limited, but they do at least have more sizes these days.

My theory on the new availability of small band/large cup there is that so many women are getting "work done" that such sizes are now more marketable and therefore available. Whatever...I don't care where my bras come from, I just want them to function in all the ways I require!

RobinF

Veteran

Ugh, bra shopping is my absolute least favorite thing to do. I have had the best luck with Wacoal but I may have to try the Natori that Sarah posted. I need to feel like I'm being held in firmly and honestly spent many years in sports bras but they aren't the best for under normal clothes so that was when I got some Wacoals. They work pretty well, not perfect though and are getting worn so I'm about ready to look for new ones again.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Natori bras used to work well for me, but I think I crossed some threshold of fit with them — they just don’t work for me anymore, post menopause.

The Wacoal “stark beauty” is my current favorite — it’s pretty and lacy looking but smooth under tops and has good support. https://www.wacoal-america.com.....bra-855225

RobinF

Veteran

That's a really pretty one Janet. Do you find that it fits like other Wacoals? I am often between a 34 and a 36.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I find Wacoal pretty consistently TTS — although I’d say the underwire bras I have are a good fit in a 32 band, but in the wireless ones I can go down to a 30.