The Bra, Reinvented

[Skippyak]

I think a big issue is that bras are suffering from vanity sizing issues, I have always used the band size as per my measurement and the cup size is per measurement, and I have have enough trouble finding something in stock as simple as a 34dd good help you lot with petite fits. I don't understand padded push up bras for anything beyond a b cup, VS don't have 3 clasp closures. If I am a DD I want a wider band strap and no push up or padding, I want smooth lock and load preferably with separation. I don't have to much trouble with sports bras with a compression fit but the uniboob is tolerable when working out. Online is easier for finding something in stock. Heck, my teen needs a non sports bra and even bras in her size are padded to the max in the kiddie bra area.

[colorisnt]

I think a big issue is that bras are suffering from vanity sizing issues, I have always used the band size as per my measurement and the cup size is per measurement, and I have have enough trouble finding something in stock as simple as a 34dd good help you lot with petite fits. I don't understand padded push up bras for anything beyond a b cup, VS don't have 3 clasp closures. If I am a DD I want a wider band strap and no push up or padding, I want smooth lock and load preferably with separation. I don't have to much trouble with sports bras with a compression fit but the uniboob is tolerable when working out. Online is easier for finding something in stock. Heck, my teen needs a non sports bra and even bras in her size are padded to the max in the kiddie bra area.

VS still has SOME that have a 3-clasp but they are in the minority. I am wearing a 3-clasp one now, actually. A biofit from about a year and a half ago that is in great shape. My roommate works for VS and is a DD as well so she has the knowledge with these things and can point me in the right direction. I'm lucky! I got a bra there that allows me to convert it yesterday. It was one I'd already bought before but it was SAS and I lucked out getting another nude bra. I can't ever have enough of those despite my love of all things lacy and pretty.

I feel you on the padding. My roommate loves the padding and pushup and I think it's too much. I like unlined bras, too. She thinks they are uncomfortable but I like to have a nice unlined bra that is supportive but not too full-coverage. My favorite choice with those is wacoal, though. Super pricey but sometimes I find them at Marshall's for cheap.

[shootingstar]

I haven't bought a new bra in ages...because I stocked up about um....8 yrs. ago. However, my new stock is running low and so I've been hunting. I'm appalled by the pricing and um..for an A size, how:

*plain,ugly a lot of bra styles are. Sorry I don't want to wear tank-like, jogging racer like bras under my clothing. But nor do I want a lot of lace. I like thin adjustable straps. I don't want tank top like straps. (This might be more possible perhaps for smaller breasted women.)
*how much I don't want a cotton/mix fabric bra. I don't want bras made from T-shirt lycra material.
*how overly- padded/push up many styles are. (Yea, ok it's nice to have lift.....occasionally. But this makes dearie actually laugh.)
*how expensive (for a quality bra even for smaller women)
*weird bright colours. Do these women romp around in neon coloured bras?

Maybe I'm old...and don't "get" the current fashion of wearing these under see-through tops. I don't wear a colourful bra then layer on another different type of coloured tank top where all the straps show.

[Crankin]

Personally, I like the light padding, because as a small person, I like to feel a little more proportional in my clothing. I don't want to be huge (in fact, I would hate it), but it's nice to look good in a t shirt. I also like my bras to be a little luxurious, not super lacy, but not like a sports bra, either. For years, I had trouble finding good fitting bras in my size, but, in the past 2-3 years, it's become easier. While I have paid up to 60.00 for a bra, most of the ones I buy now are around 40.00. Since changing sizes (from a 32A to a 32B), everything just looks better; this is why I go to a real lingerie store. Every year I get a 20% discount from them on my birthday, and then I go bra shopping. I also buy my Hanky Panky panties there, and a couple of La Mystere thongs. They always have to order those in my size for me, as apparently, the suburban ladies in Acton and Concord don't wear thongs .
The bright colors, well, I don't like that, either.

[OakLeaf]

I don't understand padded push up bras for anything beyond a b cup

I kind of wish they *had* them for smaller b00bage, we're the ones who really need them! I tried on some push-up bras at VS once and they didn't have anything that I could fill out enough to get "pushed up." I tried a variety of sizes, too. And I'm typically much closer to a B cup than an A, though on the small side of B. Sigh.