Let's design the perfect sports bra

[roadie gal]

Let's brainstorm the perfect sports bra. Maybe someone will go out and make it...

First, no inside seams to chafe. Even flatlocked seams will attack at some point.

Second, a chest band that doesn't crawl up.

Third, SUPPORT without being constricting.

Anyone else?

[bmccasland]

and super at wicking away moisture. I don't want wet clammies next to my skin :eek:

[Zen]

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/corsetfromhellcopy.jpg

Complete with instructional diagram

[Eden]

should be wearable without a shirt (doesn't look overtly like underwear)

maybe available in a bra and camisol format? I would love a technical fabric cami for cooler weather!

chest band made to not interfere with HR monitor straps (maybe an option to insert your chest strap into the band, but not a built in)

[roadie gal]

Are the clips at the bottom for your race number? Or to attach your gels?

I like the "quick pee" open bottom.

lol

[SlowButSteady]

I met a friend recently for a weekend of gal-pal debauchery in Dallas-Forth Worth. We're talking gauchos in Brazilian restaurants here (fit in a few trips to LBS's, too).

Anyway, we went around all weekend trying to "invent" our new retail franchise:

"Brassiere World."

And our slogan "Because fit matters." :cool:

Then we came up with other slogans...and more slogans....and more.

The bottom line "No two are alike!"

Myself, I like sports bras but I don't like the cotton blends they use. I like the texture "silky" that will slide freely under street clothes and athletic clothes alike.

But I can't locate a "Brassiere World" outlet in my neighborhood.

Too much chardonnay tonight...I'm not sure I can spell brassiere. But then, maybe I couldn't spell it before the chard.

~jackie

[blueskies]

I think that there probably need to be a couple different designs, because we have different issues.

I've got big ribs & shoulders, small breasts that have been with me long enough to be showing the effects of gravity, and prominent nipples. I want something that holds me in place, smooths over the "headlights", but doesn't compress me even flatter than I am. So, I want some shape, some coverage, some support. But I don't need anything like the support of my more well-endowed sisters.

And it needs to be big enough for my ribs, but small enough for my (lack of) boobs! For some reason the sport bra makers seem to think that women with small boobs also have teeny tiny little rib cages... Not me!

I went into the local Macy's, and asked about a specific Champion sport bra in a 36 A. The lady says "Oh, you wouldn't be able to get that." I say, "Well, I already have one, so I know they make them. Can you check if they have any in stock at any of your other stores?" She says "Oh, no need to call... I'm sure they wouldn't carry anything like that." Did she learn this at their How to Drive Away Potential Customers Seminar?

[mimitabby]

Blueskies you're on to something.
And I don't know about anyone else, but the skin around my chest, under the breasts is SENSITIVE. don't want metal wires digging in there; don't want scratchy fabric in there either. I mean, it's a light layer of skin that is sitting on ribs for crying out loud.
It's a trick to hold the weight and not abrade the skin.
and something like wool...

nothing worse than wearing nice breathable wool or whatever jerseys are made of everywhere except the bra, where it's cold wet and clammy...

[sundial]

I'm for a bra that offers customized lengths in shoulder straps and rib cage sizes. Why? I have a long torso and broad shoulders, hence the need for long(er) straps everywhere.

I like having a *lift and seperate* quality in a bra. I'm not as comfie in a camie style bra--I end up with the Una Boob. Plus in hot, humid weather, it's nice to have something wicking between the girls.

[margo49]

1. Front fastening
2. Ready-made to fit silicon titty (prosthetic, post-mastectomy), but those who still have "both" can wear it too. My FILA sports bra has a kind of cotton-y, wick-y semi-lining at the sides and bottom of the cups and "titty" just slpis in and sits there all day quite happily
3. Options for racer back or regular straps (over-the-shoulder)
4. Colours - as many as possible

My $0.02

[indigoiis]

The most comfortable non-bra support I ever got was when a girlfriend and I taped our boobs with med/athletic tape to wear backless dresses on a double date.

I didn't feel it at all all night long.

But taking the stuff off was a bear. I still have the pictures.

[Tuckervill]

There exists a tape just for taping up boobies. I think it's called Hollywood tape or something like that. I saw it in the hoity toity clothing store my son used to work in.

Karen

[OakLeaf]

And room for a heart monitor!

I know someone (Nike?) already makes one that has a holder for a Polar transponder. But just generally, they should have a... under-breast band... there have to be names for all the parts of a bra!... that's wide and elastic enough to hold any brand of heart monitor strap in place and not push it out of place, or be pushed out of place by it.

I like the Champion Double-Dry myself, but it's a little more constricting than I need for cycling.

But see, I think the deal is there *is* no "perfect sports bra." There might be a perfect sports bra for me, but it's probably not the perfect one for you. Margo wants front fasteners; I want a pullover bra with no fasteners to jab me in the sternum or back. It sounds like I'm built a lot like Blueskies... but I don't mind a sports bra that compresses my barely B-cup breasts into training bra size. When I'm wearing a sports bra I'm showing off my biceps, my delts, my traps, maybe my abs (and if I flatten my boobs enough they look like extra pecs :D); when I want to show off what boobs I have, I'm wearing something sexy and I don't need the same type of support. Sundial wants adjustable straps; I don't want those digging into my shoulders either.

SbS, I think you're onto something. Could TE have a Brassiere World outlet?

[latelatebloomer]

and could it pleeeeze come in a 42B? Not every curvy gal carries big'uns!

[spokewench]

I'd pay big bucks to find a bra that will support a 34 C and not turn into a wet turkish towel after a little sweating!!!

[SlowButSteady]

The basic design flaw in sports bras as I see it: most are more or less racer-back cut. The shoulder straps lie close to my neck and tend to ride up towards the neckline. They almost always peek out of street clothes that don't have collars.

Which means I can't wear my fave--it's multicolored polka dots--under street clothes unless I want to look like Bozo the Clown.

Oh yeah, Brassierre World will allow you to take 27 bras into a fitting room so that you don't have to try two on...get dressed...go pick up two more...get undressed...try them on...get dressed....................

[chialea]

Have any of you tried Title 9 sports? They carry the best sports bras I've ever found, even lots in unusual sizes. They're not kidding about the rating system, btw. If they say something is really supportive, it is REALLY supportive. Now if I could find something in 32E that doesn't look like a bra (and some jerseys that fit), I would be really set.

[annie]

Have any of you tried Title 9 sports? They carry the best sports bras I've ever found, even lots in unusual sizes. They're not kidding about the rating system, btw. If they say something is really supportive, it is REALLY supportive. Now if I could find something in 32E that doesn't look like a bra (and some jerseys that fit), I would be really set.

LOL! Please let me know if you find ANY 32 band sports bras in a larger cup size. I don't care what they look like. As for jerseys, as long as they aren't mens' cut, I don't have much problem wearing a womens' sm or md, depending on the brand. Just need to try them on.

Annie

[Bklynmom]

So great to finally hear from women my size! The only sports bra that come close, for biking is the Donna Karan one with the underwire on the front - I got a 34 DDD that was as close as I could get. Saks actualy carries it in a 34 DDD. Nordstrom also has some of these brands.

For running I wear the Egnell - that one in which you really don't move at all. Really make running an opton for me for the first time. I think I got a size one. Kind of hard to squeeze yourself into, but once it's on it works. I find it kind of too tight for the bike, but it may be worth another try. Saw one in red the other day at the local running store.

Title 9 is good. Also if you are in NYC the Bra store the Town Shop on the upper West side is the best Bra store in the world - and I have been to all of them:).

For a regular bra I love the company Fantasie AKA Freya - good for 2 piece bathing suits too.

My cousin jokes that in my prior like I had a Bra sore on the lower east side and wore a tape measure around my neck.

Please if you have found anything else that works for you let me know - it's been a lifelong battle - I have a great nursing bra story too for another day.

[latelatebloomer]

Any one have this problem? If I wear the properly supportive bra to a spin class and work as hard as I like to work, about 1/2 way through the class I want to scream GET THIS THING OFF ME!!!! and tear it off my body! Even while wearing my lightest bike jersey. I need the support, otherwise you don't have to watch my LEG to count my cadence. :eek: I just try to put it out of my mind, but oy! how I envy the guys as they pull off their sopping Tshirts and change into dry for stretching. and me with the steaming, brine-soaked corset....(end of rant, LLB falls backward off chair)