This made me giggle. I think those phrases are meant to make us bigger girls feel better about the fact that we need to eat a few less sammiches. 
I do hate that phrase, but didn’t mention it because no one else had. I’m glad I have your permission to dislike meaningless politically-correct terms.
Always. The only thing I ever ask is consistency.
Great, I run about four - five miles an hour for thirty minutes three times a week at 5am. You’ll have to manage to cup my tits, keep up with me and not get in my way. Not sure how you are going to be able to manage that, I suspect it will be more uncomfortable for both of us than if I just wear that damn bra. I should also warn you that I’m pretty chesty, you’ll be supporting about ten pounds of boob while you try and keep me supported and keep up with me. :rolleyes:
Extenders can usually be found at maternity shops as well.
The problem with back-band extenders is that they throw off all of the geometry of a bra. They change where and how the cups lay, especially if the cups are molded at all, and thus change the support value of the bra. If you’ve got a moderate bust, extending the band can make a bra that used to make you look good all but worthless.
No, it’s a nod to the fact that sizing in the fashion industry has always been “juniors” “petities” “ladies” and “womens” and it’s not just* size* but cut that’s in question. Deeper rise in trousers, deeper pockets, wider neckbands, shifted shoulder angles, shifted armhole construction, that’s the difference between juniors/ladies, petites/ladies and ladies/womens, respectively. If you laid a ladies 14 on top of a womens 14, even though they’re the “same” size, they should be appreciably differently cut garments.
And meanwhile, where do people of color and/or people of size apply for your permission to identify ourselves however we want? :rolleyes:
Wow, people are grouchy today.
group hug
Maybe people would be less grouchy if their bras fit properly.
So I went into the bakery and asked how much a loaf of rye bread was. The baker said “5 dollars.”
I said “the bakery across the street sells rye bread for 3 dollars!”
The baker said “Why don’t you buy it there, then?”
I said “they’re out of rye bread.”
The baker said “well, when we’re out of rye bread, we sell it for 3 dollars too.”
Where’s Otto Titsling when you need him?
You’ll either slow down to keep pace with me or you’ll be flappin’ in the wind.
Guys, could you excuse us please? The ladies are talking in here. kthxbai.
Ahem. Now that that’s taken care of . . . that enell bra looks a lot like the “Serious Motion Control” that I used to get from Junonia. I haven’t seen it for several years which sucked because it was the ONLY bra that could keep these puppies in check. It never fit perfectly, but it did allow me to go jogging without blackening my eyes. (Ba-dum-boom.) (No pun intended.)
Ahem. The sizing indicates that I’d have to custom order, and right now all my money is dedicated to the custody fight, but I will be trying both that and the Decent Exposures sites when life gets simpler.
Here’s another place I’ve had a lot of luck finding my size: www.amplebosom.com also, to a lesser extent www.herroom.com. I basically love any site which allows me to search the merchandise by size. What a relief! ! !
It really sucks that I’m forced to order certain styles/sizes from Amplebosom in England, to get products that are made here in the US. But there it is, waddaya gonna do? I can’t find a US retailer for some of them.
No. The real problem is that no place that sells dresses to women ought to have the word *barn *in its name.
There are sizes out there from 28AA to 42M (or larger), and the vast majority of women can find something which fits perfectly (which also depends on the styles in the brand) in a small size range, if only they can find it. The problem is that bras in sizes out of the 32A-36DD norm are not widely available, even in Britain where most brands that have a decent size range are based. Because it’s more cost-effective to carry a very limited range, and have women stuff themselves into something that approximates a decent fit. Often this is extremely uncomfortable.
Anyway, I am now wearing 28Cs unstead of the 32As which poked, chafed, and usually didn’t fit quite right -and it’s been wonderful. I’m able to get them at good prices these days ordering online and on ebay, but only because I’ve become familiar enough with the brands that carry my size and the styles that tend to work well for me that I know what I order will fit.
The best advice I ever got was to wear a band that is very close to your actual ribcage measurement - how close depends on the brand and your personal comfort level. None of this ‘add 5 inches’ nonsense, that’s dated. Bra bands need to be snug to provide support, and the right band size will ensure that the cups are spaced properly for your frame. Cup size, and style, is more trial and error. There is no equation which will provide anything more than a rough estimate of your size range.
First of all, unless you’re an A cup, how do you not need an underwire? Sure if it’s a cheap one it’ll poke ya, but you get what you pay for.
Secondly, where the hell are you finding new bras under $20? Wal-Mart and Ebay don’t count, for reasons which should be obvious. I’ve been to l’eggs/hanes/bali/playtext outlets, and you’d be hard pressed to find anything other than a teenager’s bra for under $20. And that shit is at an outlet!
Best advice yet.
I don’t think any woman has an easy time finding bras. I am a 34DD (or F depending on the brand) and those are hard to find. I especially just cram them in if I need a sports bra.
The big key that I have found is to shop until you have found the right one, buy every one they have (regardless of price) and then take care of them.
A 60 or 70 (or 100) dollar bra can last for years. They don’t stretch like the cheap ones.
However, don’t put them in the dryer (ack!, I know so many women who do this!) and for the really pricey ones, you will have to hand wash them.
perfectparanoia:A related video as to why we don’t put bras in dryers.
I buy bras in a variety of sizes, as it seems like every six months or so, I am a different size along a narrow range (36D-38DD, but lately I’m either a 36DD or 38DD). Sometimes I’ll spend the extra money and get an expensive bra, and sometimes I’ll get something cheaper, but I’ve never paid less than $30 for a decent fitting bra unless it was on clearance. I also agree with pbbth that you have to try on a variety of styles in addition to a variety of sizes; I can’t wear plunge bras (the boobies try to escape in the most inconvenient and embarrassing way possible) or balconette styles (instant quadraboob or way too much room in the cup), but demis and full coverage bras work better. Underwires are optional for me, but then again, even at my size, so are bras in general. I just take my time and hope I’ll come out with something that works and fits well; if it doesn’t work after taking it home, I return it. (This has happened on more than one occasion with cheap and expensive bras alike.)
I think you mean ‘boys’…
The bra fight sucks for everyone.
The thing I hate the most about it is that when you do finally find the holy grail of bras, the bra you can wear for 20 hours and not be sore, or flapping, or find that the shoulder straps have adjusted themselves, or that you’ve got quad-boob if you bend over, is that, in my experience, I’ve got maybe two or three years of bra goodness until the style I like is discontinued.
I’m in between styles right now, having gone through three discontinued lines in the last 12 years or so. I’d just stock up for the rest of my life, but if my weight changes (or doesn’t- I started going to the gym, haven’t changed in actual weight, but my band size is looser than it was, but the cups haven’t changed), then the ones I have might not even work for me in a smaller size.
At this point, I just accept that I’m going to try on everything in the store when I go bra-shopping.
I found some bras that I LOVE several years ago. They fit, I liked the material, the style, were easy to fasten, etc. So naturally they discontinued them immediately. I’ve been wearing them ever since and they are starting to get worn out and icky. But I’ve tried several others and they are all uncomfortable!
Why oh why is it so difficult to find a comfortable, well fitting bra???
Underwire is not good for the body. I used to wear that style. They squash the hell out of your lymph glands that are around the bust area. That is not good for them. I even asked my dr. if any research had been done into causing or contributing to breast cancer. I believe they’re looking into that.
No, all women do not need underwire bras. And, since I had cancer (non-invasive, but still), I absolutely refuse to even consider them.
I’m currently wearing a pull-over sport bra that has seen better days, but until I find a non-underwire bra that fits properly, I’d rather have a slightly saggy profile.
It’s really a shame there isn’t a better design for holding our boobs in check without causing pain and general discomfort. Who decided we need to wear torture devices anyway? ;p
I am having a tough time finding a bra that doesn’t have underwires and isn’t so bulky. I’m short and the space between my bust and my waist is small, so those really wide bands just don’t work for me. I also can’t take 2 inch wide straps and who the hell decided to put the adjusting part on the back of the strap? Honestly, the only way I found to make the straps fit properly is taking off the bra, adjusting the strap and putting it back on. What a pain that is. I wish they’d go back to having it in front. Why yes, I am a “plus size” woman, so I need a wide band and generous cups.