Bras Bras Bras...

I HATE bra shopping. I was a B in 5th grade and have hated my boobs ever since. They cease to stop growing. I hate getting fitted too. Ugh! But it is a necessary evil (like the bras themselves). I like the cacique bras from Lane Bryant. They will do a fitting for you. I suggest finding an actual cacique store to be fitted as opposed to an LB store that has bras. Right now they have a particular bra that is buy one get one free. So that may be nice. 2x a year they have a buy 2 get 2 free. The next will probably be June or July. I also know Avenue is doing fittings and they are having a special too. (but I don't know exactly what it is) Good luck. I keep telling my hubby that when I am done having kids I am getting normal size boobs. (who knows if I'll actually go through with it.) Good luck.

I see you are from San Diego. Call My Intimacy and you will have the best bra fitting and the best bras you have ever had. I have stuggled all my life with finding the right bra and it wasn't until last year I found this place. I can't remember which mall they are in, but you can find it on their website and even sign up for a fitting online. Good luck! I got 4 bras and I LOVE them.

I am a 36DDD, I like the Bali Minimizer. It is good support, straps don't dig and ok to look at. Good Luck.

For cute bras in larger sizes I love Freya, Panache and Fantasie. I wear a 36H and my favorite bras are:
Fantasie of England Smoothing Molded T-Shirt bra (#4520) --great for everyday wear
Panache Tango II Underwire Balconette (#3251)--comes in fun colors
and any balcony/balconette bra made by Freya.
I live in a small town in Montana, where trying to find a bra in my size would be an exercise in futility, so I order online. I really like figleaves.com and breakoutbras.com. They have good selections, and the sizing instructions on the breakoutbras site are excellent, you can fit yourself at home with a tape measure, and they provide photos of how bras should and shouldn't fit.
Unfortunately I have found that most of the bras I love are in the $50-$60 range, but I am willing to spend the money to for a really good supportive bra. I have found good bras on sale or clearance, sometimes in discontinued styles or colors for $25 or so, you just have to keep your eyes open for a good deal.
Good luck in your search!

The only bra I have found is Wacoal. Unfortunately it is not under $50. about $60.00, but 4 bras last me one year. So I get 3 months out of one. Model #85122. It takes my once nice tear drop shape boobs up off my belly and lifts them and gives them the appearance that they aren't deflated. Straps stay put & nothing pooches out of the top of the cups, which I call pop-n-freshes. It does have an underwire & a bit of lace, which i like. I get it at Dillards & they will ship to your house if you need. I try & get them on sale. I am a 34G. I buy all four bras at one time & rotate them everyday so each bra has time to bounce back between wears. Hope this helps. Oh. I found this one also didn't create back boobs, which I can't stand. :D

I don't have a great suggestion for a bra, but I can tell you that I'm big also and was H (that's for HUGE) when pregnant. I went to a store that specializes in fitting women after mastectomies and had a really good experience with finding the best fitting bras ever. They took lots of time with me and got it right, then had to special order the bras (oh, did I mention that I needed nursing bras?). But they were about $50. That store was in Illinois, but I would think that you could find one near you. Good luck. I really empathize.

I am just going to say - I just had breast reduction surgery and it is the BEST thing I could have ever done for myself!!

I am sure many women love having their larger breasts - but I wasn't one of them - I am average height and weight and very active - and was suffering back pain and chronic neck pain and headaches!

It is a good idea to be professionally fitted - 80% of women wear the wrong bra size! You might be in a band that is too big and cup sizes vary from one manufacturer to the next.

I have been told that Wacoal is the standard in bra sizing - they fit truest to size.

Good luck!

Sigh... I've yet to find any "perfect" bras under $100 (36dddd). The upside is that they last several years... the downside is that my lingerie collection is quite small.

No, it's not too much to a ask. I have sort of your problem as I am on the borderline between a 38DD and a 40C. I HATE underwire bras. I found one bra I liked at Lane Bryants but it didn't come SMALL enough for me! They had discontinued the only nonunderwire bra that fit. I also had sidewire bras. I found a bra a JC Penney's that fit, but had a side wire, which was really a hard piece of plastic like a swizzle stick flattened. I just took a pair of nail scissors and from the indise cut a small slit and pulled the plastic out, and the bra was much more comfortable. I found another bra in the Roaman's catalog and it was perfect and of course they discontinued that one. Forget Victoria's Secret or Frederick's of Hollywood, they have nothing. So it is pretty much Lane Bryant, Penney's, maybe Sears, or a specialty store or catalog's like Roaman's, Jessica London, Woman Within, or other online stores for large woman. You are just going to have to try on bras everywhere and get yourself at least three, one to wear, one to wash, and one in the drawer, as my grandmother used to say. I know what you mean about someone trying to fit you. It never works. You just have to try them on, one at a time. I also forgot that you can also try outlet malls that have a Hane's outlet in them. Hanes also has a large women's line that has a large supply of products. I went to the Hane's outlet store at the outlet place near the City of Industry on Telegraph Rd where the old tire factory used to be, and they tried to fit me and I just had to try on about a dozen bras before I found one that fit right. As a diabetic, I cannot have a too tight bra and it cannot rub or I break out in infection. I prefer cotton bras, preferably knit. The nonwire Lane Bryant bra they discontinued was just brought back due to popular demand. It holds me in pretty well and doesn't rub and has no underwire and has wide padded straps for comfort. . You might try it. Good luck. All I can say is shop, shop, try, try, and if you find one that is THE ONE, see if you can get it cheaper online. You never know!.

wacoal is known for making "big bras". But, they are not cheap. Have you tried Nordstom's rack? (no pun intended) You can take them home try on and then rtn.

•Le Mystere Tisha Bra "Oprah's favorite bra"
Visit www.lemystere.com for more information.
•Susan Nethero helps women find the right bra size at her Intimacy stores in New York City, Chicago and Atlanta. Visit their website to find a fitting location near you.
877-A2HHCUP (877-224-4287)
www.myintimacy.com

I too continue to search for the "right bra". Ophra says she has the best bra in the world. I don't remember what it is so will see if I can find that episode and let you know. In the meantime, if you find something, please, please let me know. IS THERE NOONE OUT THERE WHO CAN MAKE A COMFORTABLE AND FITTING BRA?" HAS WOMEMS BODIES CHANGED THIS MUCH? I DON'T THINK SO... I DON'T REMEMBER MY GRANDMOTHER COMPLAINING ABOUT HER BRA.

I nursed for total of over 4 years, so I understand! I'll second the "go to Nordstrom" advice. I was fitted many years ago at Victoria's Secret and spent the next several years trying to wear the size they told me. But nothing ever fit right, so I thought it was just me. Then one day I was shopping at Nordstrom and when the lady asked my size and I told her, she said "Are you sure? I don't think so. Can I measure you?" Sure enough, I was wearing the wrong size all along. I actually needed a smaller band size and bigger cup size, which I'm told is very common. That woman changed my life! Finally my bras fit!

Anyway, I know it's not fun but it might be worth a Nordstrom fitting just to be sure. And while I'm not very big, I have heard the Wacoal bras are the best for full figures.

Maidenform - my mom, who is very well endowed - swears by them. Her girls are still perky and she is 60!

Go to Nordstroms. They will size you correctly, and they have a huge selection of bras for big-breasted women (I'm an H). I can't imagine buying a bra someplace else. I don't think that you will find one for under $50, to be honest, but there are a bunch in the $65 range, and they will last way longer than a couple months. At first I balked at that price, but it was so worth it. I had two that I liked so much I wore them practically every other day. I think that the brand that I liked was fantasie, but there really is a good selection.

Hello,

Funny you should post this question. I'm a distributor for the perfect bra! You can maximize or minimize upon your preference. it holds the girls up and eliminates any back fat you may have. They are a little costly and I think with you being the size you are it may be almost impossible to get everything you want really cheap. Give me a call and I can personally fit you in the perfect bra. ###-###-#### (Angela)

i have the same problem except reversed. the only place I can find good bras that fit are the buststop. its in tulsa ok but they will ship but its not going to help your $50 a bra problem i pay the same thing. I need a 28 c so I totally sympathise with you.

Hi 40F. I wish I had an answer. I just wanted to offer support of the bra kind. I too have the same desire. I am a 38 DD and while I don't have an answer I thank you for your candidness. I agree 100% with everything you said and your request and look forward to the perfect fit answer.

wow do I ever understand I have NEVER in years had a bra that fit right let alone was comfortable let ME know what you find

I would try Layne brant. I think I spelled that wrong but I saw their stuff and it seemed wearable. I myslef am looking for bras for after nursing. I have some but My sizes have changed so much that I went from a C to a DD. So when I stop Nursing I am going to look in the Layne Brant or Maidenform as suggested below.

wacoal.. sometimes they go on sale at Macy's or I use my macy's coupon like the 20 percent off.. from my macy's card.. also I really like a racer back style bra.. adds so much support and doesn't slip off my shoulders.. never thought I would like that style but I do!! Try a racer back style they look cuter on than when looking at them on the hanger.. (I am 32 yrs old.. and want a little bit of fun)
Lenc

I get mine at Nordstrom but the only time they are under $50 is when they have their Anniversary sale. I want to go to Monrovia and see this store http://www.wizardofbras.com/ because the news has talked about it several times and Gillian on the Fox morning show raves about it. Maybe that is worth a try. On the website, it goes step by step how to measure properly so you could measure yourself at home if you don't want to get measured at the store. Every brand fits different though. Good luck!

Here is the link to the place that Oprah had discussed on her Bra Revelations show... http://www.myintimacy.com/

I have made it a pit stop while I will be in Miami next stop as I too amd so tired of "guessing" about bras. Good Luck!

Lane Bryant is my favorite place to find bras that fit right and make me look good in clothes with my full breasts.
-Measure your ribs under your chest and if you measure 36 inches add 2 or 4 inches so you wear a 38 or 40 inch band. Then, measure your breasts all the way around the fullest part and the difference between your band measurement and your bust determines the cup size your wear. However, once you're above a D cup, different companies use different labels for their cup sizes. Here's a link showing why you might be finding some bras don't fit like others. An F can be anywhere from 6 inches different to 8 inches depending on the company.
http://www.herroom.com/full-figure-bra-cup-sizing,905,30....
Good luck!

I don't have large breasts, but I know my friend that wears a DD loves the maidenform bras. I wear a A cup and I love them too! I think they are made to be comfortable for any size. And they have some cute prints too. Good Luck. Everyone deserves the "perfect" bra : ).

I've never found the 'perfect bra' but I definitely sympathize with you. Doesn't seem the manufacturers know how to truly make bras for large busted women. That being said, I do really like the Balconette style from both JCPenny and Lane Bryant. They hold me up nicely but I don't have to worry about falling out when I'm out playing with the kids. I know they have larger sizes but I don't know how large. I'm currently a 36DD. I'm anxious to read the other posts. Maybe the perfect bra is out there somewhere.

I SECOND everything "Victoria" (other poster) said about Wacoal bras. I'm a 34DDD naturally, so I have the droopy boob and back boob problem! I was fitted at Macy's, and they did a fantastic job getting it right and recommending a bra for my size, shape and challenges. The bras are very pretty and lacey and you can get the more standard ones too. They offer amzing lift that picks up and pulls those babies up and in front where they should be. I bought a few and will not go back to Victoria Secret EVER! Good luck!

My mother sent me to Nordstrom's too. They're good over there and you can return at any time if they don't work out.

I have searched high and low for the perfect bra - comfort and style. I also nursed 3 kids for a total of almost 5 years....so I hear ya sister. 38DDD for me. Lane Bryant. I was hesitant to go in there, but I am SOOOOO glad I did. They have tons of styles to choose from. The don't ride up in the back and they don't look like the Playtex 18 hour bra. Most of the time you can get a deal there, buy 1 ($38) and get 1 half off. I've had some of mine for a year or more.