Let's design the perfect sports bra

[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 ); 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?