Meanold lady,
Absolutly nothing. She will measure you and determine your size. If you would like to try a few bras on just tell her. Let her know if you want to purchase something and what you would like to spend. She can find something for you. A fitting is absolutly free.The best way to care for your intimates is to use a gentle fabric wash. Forever New is best, it is organic and biodegradable. I wash my bras and panties in my bathroom sink with luke warm water then hang to dry. Never machine wash, the heat from the washer and dryer will break down the elasticity in the bra. I wash my bras every 7 or 8 wears or when they need it. If you sweat alot then wash more often. Just make sure to clean the underarm area of your bra well. Forever New also makes a great stain remover. It is so gentle I even do my silk and cashmere with it, I have saved $20- a week on dry cleaning charges.
Also , if you must machine wash your hoisery or panties then ask your local dept. store for a lingerie wash bag.
Hi, Stomp, I’ve got the basic bra thing figured out, but I had to go to a specialty store to get the right thing and they cost a fortune. I talked to a very helpful fitter at Victoria’s Secret who recommended the place. 32G, and 32XXPS in a minimizer. However, the store I patronize can’t help me out with a (1) sports bra, (2) front clasp–why did they put it in the back? Who thought that one up? or (3) strapless. Any ideas? (Note: would be especially fine to combine (1) and (2). When dancing I used to use this godawful arrangement of sports bra and Ace bandage. Yuk.)
Stomp, you’re my new hero! Thanks for the great information. I’m somewhere in the neighborhood of a 44DD (and I will go for a fitting now, you’ve calmed most of my anxiety and there’s a Nordstrom’s on my way home from work). Anyway, I’m fond of seamless cups, but I always feel that I’m sacrificing support, leaving me bouncy (which can be ok) and sagging (always a bad thing). I’ve never met an underwire I could wear for more than an hour–any suggestions? Can I be seamless and supported? Or can you recommend a seamed (?) bra that doesn’t turn my assets into torpedo tits (I don’t want to put an eye out, after all)?
If it’s not too much trouble, is there a fitter in the Salem, Oregon area I should ask for? I’ll go up to Portland if I need to to get a good fit.
hijack!
what a great screen name!!! I remember that movie from when I was a teen (I can’t remember the name of it, but I remember it being a cartoon sleazy version of the “Aristocats”.
Very cool, thanks! The last time we were there, they basically acted all snooty and said “nope, what’s on display is what we have”.
I could live with 60 bucks if the bra lasted 5 years. You’re my new hero!!!
Kallessa,
I am so glad to be of help. I love what I do, it is really rewarding. There is a lady in your area. She is both specialized with fitting and prosthesis. Her name is Barb. She does all of the stores in Oregon. I do know that their is a Nordstrom in Portland and Washington Square. I can check into Salem for you. She has been doing this for many years so will feel very comfortable with her.
When looking for the best bra for you is to look for one where the straps are located directly above the cup , this will offer support and lift. A bra your size will have wider straps for comfort and many even have padded straps. Wacoal makes a bra with hidden underwires so that you will not even know that they are there. Look for a bra that has a "leotard back" this is when the straps continue in a U shape across the back and meet at the hooks. This will offer twice the support and will keep your straps from falling off your shoulders. Also try to find one that has 3 to 4 hooks in the back. You do not need a bra with seams. Many brands offer great seamless bras that will give you the support you need and provide a nice, natural rounded shape. Remember to hand wash so that the bra does not lose it's shape and strength. A bra that would be great for you ( we sell over a million a year) is the Hedona. You can see it on my companies web site. This is a perfect example. Let me know if you have any other questions. Good Luck.Thanks CanvasShoes. Let me know if you have any other questions. 
cicada2003,
A company named Glamorise makes a front closure full busted sports bra. It is called the "magic lift full figure front hook, style #1200". It comes in your size. Wacoal makes front closure bras as well. Goddess makes strapless bras in your size. You will have to look these brands up on-line in your search engine.Stomp, I have read in women’s mags that a good T-shirt bra–or a bra that will look best under a white or pale shirt–should be a nude/sand/beige color, vs. a white. Is this true? I’m going bra shopping soon and I’d like to know; I don’t wear many white T-shirts b/c the bra is always so visible, and when I read that a nude bra will look less visible, I thought I’d give a whirl but I haven’t bought one yet. (I always assumed you wear a white bra under a white shirt, but it seems to me that when you do this, all you see is bra!)
The mag also said that if you can’t find a bra in your precise skin shade, you should go one shade darker vs. lighter. True?
Thanks! I’ve always thought that the less obtrusive/noticeable your lingerie is, the better.
Yes, Audrey, it’s true. I don’t know why it’s true, but it is. I don’t know if it has something to do with the reduced contrast (beige to skin vs. stark white to skin) but natural colored bras just don’t shine through like white ones do. It might show a little in some cases, but you don’t get that complete over and under bra outline you tend to have with white ones.
Thanks Stomp for the info!
From your advice, I gather it might be possible to find a strapless bra in 34 E that won’t fall off (non-padded, with the silicone inside and 3 hooks in the back) but what are the chances of such a bra actually giving some support, a.k.a. passing my “jogging-sur-place-test” in the fitting room?
Well, that’s just too damn bad about the machine washing thing.
This REALLY irritates me - why can’t bra designers make a bra that can handle this treatment? I’m not a homemaker or some celebrity who can afford someone else to wash my dainties. I’m a busy working woman. Even if I had time to hand wash, I have no place where I can hang these to dry in a decent amount of time. And that’s important, because in my part of the country we get a lot of humidity and I kept getting mildew growing in the lacy bits when I tried line-drying. So in the washer they go. I do dry them on “low” heat, which doesn’t destroy the elastic too fast (can’t convince the husband NOT to dry on “Volcanic Heat” setting, though). Basically, though, if I own it, in the machine it goes. Same as the panty hose, which also go in the machine. Yes, I use a lingerie bag. I get about 2-3 years out of a bra. Especially if I don’t let my husband do the drying.
I will not wear an underwire bra - period. They hurt. The last time I went for a fitting the gal talked me into trying one. So I did. No effing way was I going to buy it - it hurt. And her oh-so-helpful comment of “you’ll get used to it” did not help at all. Or her “but your breasts are starting to say already”. Excuse me? I am almost 40, I’m just not going to have the same perkiness I had at 18, OK? But I’m hardly a 34C extra long.
This, by the way, is the point at which I told the lady running the fitting I wasn’t happy, could I please have someone else assist me.
I don’t want a lacy, frilly bra. Yes, I want boring earth tones and plain, plain, plain. For me, bras are strictly utilitarian, for holding up the boobs when I’m active. I don’t need lacy underthings to feel more feminine, and when it comes to “intimate activities” twixt me and my husband clothes aren’t involved anyway.
How do you feel about sports bras vs. regular bras? When I’m flying in the summer time the cockpit gets beastly hot (no AC on the planes I fly) and the two sisters have to deal with the occassional increased g-loading in the 1.5-2 g range. It’s not the jiggle-bounce of dancing or running, more of a steady, heavy, downward pull. Currently, I’m having my best success with a wide band/3-hook support bra (no underwire). The support works, problem is, they get really really sweaty after an hour or so. Icky-poo. Think a sports bra would work better or not? Maybe handle the sweat better?
First, a white bra will create a shadow under white so it is best to wear a skin tone under white. The skin tones come ibn many different shades these days. Toffee, moacha, skin, nude, cappuccino, rose, taupe etc. so pick one that best matched your skin tone. Yes, I would recommend going to the darker shade if you can’t find one exactly your tone. Ask the associate to bring you a white t-shirt for you try on in the fitting room. T-shirt bras are best because they hide the nipples and give you a seamless and natural look under all t-shirts and sweaters.
Maastracht, I don't think you find a strapless bra to offer the ammount of support you are looking for. A good strapless will hold you up and keep you in place but if you want to excersise in it then I am not sure what to suggest. They are designed for special occassion. I can do some research and let you know what I come up with.
Broomstick, Well I am relieved to hear that you are using a wash bag. Make sure that you fasten your bras before you put them in the wash so that they don't get snag and pull everything. Use a delicate cycle. Just as important as machine washing is using the proper fabric wash. Something gentle, I suggest Forever New and I don't recommend Woolite. I know it is not easy to find the time to hand wash everything and thats o.k. but it is my responsability to educate everyone. There are so many bras out there for you that don't have an underwire and still offer alot of support. I have many customers that will not wear an underwire and I understand, sometimes they make me uncomfortable. I don't blame you for asking to be assisted by another associate. You told her what you were looking for and she tried to sell you something that you clearly said you did not want. Like you said, you are almost 40...you know by now what feels good and what dosen't. Neiman Marcus carries the largest selection that I know of , if there is one near you I would call ahead and ask them to pull a few aside for you that way when you go in they have a selection ready to show you. I would look for a microfiber because it is designed to pull moistrue away from the body keeping you dry. Their are a few sports bras that will give you the support you need and that use innovative fabrics designed to keep you dry. I would ask about Donna Karen sports bras. Stay with 3 hooks.Maastracht, Chantelle makes a strapless in your size. The bra is set on a frame and has a low-cut neckline with a thin center front. For perfect stay the bra envelopes the body below the arm. The sides and back are doubled in a blocked knit inside to ensure stay and support. Their is a stay(little bone) in the back between the knits so it can’t be seen, this will keep it in place. It also has the anti-slip silicone border inside. I would give it a try on when you have time, it may just work for you. If you want to see it on-line check my company’s website. It is part of the Impulsion collection.
Stomp, I’m a 34FF (or G depending on the brand), and not only do I have a hard time finding a bra that fits that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, I have yet to find any “sets” with matching panties. Also is there anything out there in my size that doesn’t come up so high? The bra’s I have right now come up really high in the decologe (sp?) area so if I wear a top that has any scoop at all in the neck line my bra peeks out.
Thanks! Er, does this mean I will have to order them online? I would buy the brands/sizes I’m using now sight unseen, but I’d wonder about the fit in a different brand.
Stomp, how do certain movie stars and singers get that boost in their bustline? Sometimes it looks just too big for them to have been using simply a push-up bra. My cousin has a small bustline (32-34A, I think) but wants to enhance majorly without surgery. I know they sell inserts like Curves or Pals Raindrops, but what is the best and least conspicious insert for this purpose? She wears a lot of tank tops so I wasn’t sure what kind of insert would work for her.
Stomp,
Hope you can recommend something for me. I have a halter-top dress that also has a low back. I’ve tried halter-style bras but the back/clasp is too high. Unfortunately, I can’t go without a bra or something of that sort. I know I can wear a strapless corset-style bra, but all that boning is really uncomfortable. I’m your average 34C.