question re: bra fit

[Crankin]

Go to a real lingerie store. They know their stuff.
I buy the Calvin bras in 32A. They are just a teeny bit snug in the band, but I learned that a 34A is really a B cup, so those were huge on me. These bras are the cheapest and best fitting ones I have found.
I wear the Handful riding and running, but not sure if I would like it all day.

[ny biker]

I went to a real lingerie store a few years back and they had nothing that fit me.

Googling around, I've found a few more, but most of them state up front that they specialize in large cup sizes.

There is one open today in the Maryland suburbs so I'm on my way there now. I don't have much hope of finding something that fits, though.

I also found a website that sells different bra extenders than the ones I bought yesterday, and it looks like they have the right width extender for the bras I have.

Sigh. Finding a properly-fitting garment that almost every in this country wears every day should not be this hard.

Thanks everyone.

[mhami]

I'm another one who has that problem. However, for me it is 38 too tight, 40 good. Thirtyeight has Bs and 40 doesn't. Arrgg. Pre kids I was a nice perfect 36B, now I am frustrated.

The bra extentions sound like a good idea. I'll have to look into that.

Also, I don't know anything about these, but will Pasties help for those of you who don't wear a bra?

[Ana]

Go to a real lingerie store. They know their stuff.

+1

Go to a knowledgeable lingerie store instead of VS

Bra sizing, like all womens' clothing, varies by manufacturer Also, the traditional sizing system is to determine cup size by the difference (in inches) between the rib cage measurement right under the bust and the fullest bust measurement but after being fitted by a specialist, I realize that it depends greatly on the shape and spacing of your breasts. By conventional methods (inch difference), my cup size is completely wrong and has been for some time--two or more sizes off Luckily, I found someone who fit me well and carried nice bras in my size Her knowledge and skills helped me find some bras that work wonderfully for me (for the first time in my life!)

[ny biker]

Okay, today's shopping trip was actually a success! The store was Sylene of Washington, located in Chevy Chase, MD (just north of the DC border, near Mazza Gallery for those of you in the DC area).

I bought several of these:

http://www.sylenedc.com/detail.aspx?...&TopCategory=3

It's not exactly what I wanted, for the same reason I was hesitant about the Handfuls bras -- the band is very wide in back, and I would prefer something prettier. But the wide band makes it very comfortable and it has removable cookies to provide coverage and a little bit of shape. Under a thin t-shirt, it looks very smooth and pretty much invisible. Also it's very inexpensive. So it should work very well for everyday wear.

I can't find a brand for who makes them, although the woman at the store said they are not specific to that store. But if anyone wants to try them, you could order them online.

I got them in white, black, beige (which is slightly different -- no lace), gray and purple.

The woman at the store was very helpful. Unlike the last time I went to a (different) lingerie store, she did not try to convince me that I should wear a bra with underwires because the pain is all my imagination -- as soon as I started to say that I have never been able to find an underwire bra that didn't hurt, she said she could tell that was the case because I have a high rib cage. (And here I've just been describing my ribs as "weird" for all these years). She measured me as a 36, but did not argue when I tried one style in a 36 and it was too tight -- she could see it as well as I could feel it. She also was very good at emphasizing the positive things about my shape while acknowledging the hard-to-fit aspects -- unlike other stores where they act like there's just something wrong with me if I'm not happy with the size they think I should wear.

I also bought some extenders today, because Sylene had 2-hook extenders that are narrower than the ones I found at Victoria's Secret. And just for fun, I bought a pair of these:

http://www.sylenedc.com/detail.aspx?...&TopCategory=3

VPL is not a big issue with most of my clothes, but they could come in handy sometimes.

Another thing I tried today but didn't buy was these:

http://www.sylenedc.com/detail.aspx?...&TopCategory=3

I tried on one 38A bra that was pretty and fit across the back, but the cups were too big. We tried these cookies to fill things up better, but they didn't fill up enough for that particular bra. However, I might buy them to see if I can get some of my old bras to fit better.

This store also sells swimwear, so I might head up there someday to see if I can find a swimsuit that actually fits me. But I've spent enough money this weekend, so that adventure will have to wait...

BTW if anyone is looking for extenders in different sizes, these are the ones I was considering buying before my shopping trip today:

http://www.herroom.com/Braza-5000-Cl...xtenders.shtml

And there are also these:

http://www.herroom.com/Braza-5002-Br...tml?cm_vc=0201

Anyway, thanks again for all your comments and support (no pun intended...).

[Grog]

I'm so glad you had a good experience!

I think there is no better place to buy a bra (or three!) than a real, independent lingerie store. There are two really good ones here in Vancouver where they have a lot of stock from previous years, so if you're looking for, say, 36A you have not only this year's models but also previous years'. It's worth paying the extra $$ for me.

Which reminds me that it's been a while since I have bought some proper underwear. I'm overdue for bra shopping.

[ny biker]

I just tried two bras that were unwearably tight with the new extenders -- they're now comfortable!

And I tried them on with a thin summer-weight t-shirt, and compared them to the new spa bras. The spa bras actually give a smoother, better look.

So I'm even happier!

BTW the extenders I bought are the Braza brand that I had found online at herroom.com. The ones I'm going to return to Victoria's Secret were a different brand -- they would have worked fine if the they had been a different width. But Braza sells 2-hook extenders in two different widths, which made the difference.

[marni]

back when I was a dancer and going braless we used to use a bandaid on each taata to cover up the nipple. Personally my are so old and shriveled, it's not much of an issue.

I have to fight the bullet and find a strapless bra to wear with the new dress I bought for son's upcoming Phd graduation and wedding.

there are no indipendent lingerie stores in the area so I will be stuck with Macy's, Sears or Penny's- I might wait until I get to California. I can wear the dress braless but it will look better and hang better with a bit of something.

Sigh.......

marni

marni

[Bike Chick]

Sounds like you had a successful trip, NY! Good for you.

[JennK13]

Question - could you be allergic to the materials in the bands??? I am a hard fit - well, let me correct that - when measured they say I'm a 34c - so not true!! I can wear a 36d just fine without issues. Due to weight loss, I do have issues with fit around my sides, but a good bra works just fine.
They are made differently, as all of us women are some cups are too close together in the front; some too far apart; some cups aren't shaped like me; etc. I dont typically have issues with redness unless I'm irritated by the bra material itself. Even if it fits well, it can bother me and I get the red marks. It took me a while to figure out what materials bother me and what don't, and I just try to pay attention to how I'm feeling on a particular day with a particular bra!! Sweating does make it worse with some bras, so I'm mindful of my activity when in a bra, too.

[Selkie]

I might have to buy one of these bras and try them out. Look like a pretty version of the handful bra!