ThirdOne, a properly fitting underwire does not rest on, squeeze in, or pinch any breast tissue. It fits closely to the ribcage around breast tissue (an area that is one of the least fleshy on the body for most women) without putting any pressure on the breast itself. Here is a picture demonstrating the distribution of lymph nodes within the breast and around it. If you are in the right size the underwire is not restricting them in any way. Moreover you won’t be able to feel them, except that you will be better supported and your bust will be more nicely shaped than in a non-wired bra.
Of course, most women are wearing underwires that aren’t even close to the right size. And I don’t think it’s good for you - although I also don’t think it causes cancer.
Poking from underwires is generally caused by a too-large band size.
You live in LA, so I don’t have any specific bra store recommendations, but ask around. I’m sure someone among your acquaintanceship has a bra store they rave about. Go there and try on what they recommend for you, buy one (to pay them for the service), and then see if you can track down your semi-mythical $20 version of it on Ebay.
If you were in New York, I’d send you to Orchard Corset, where without even touching me, or making me remove the bra I was wearing, the woman who works there diagnosed the issue that I (a fairly slim woman) have been struggling with for years - the fact that I need a 36 band, but a 34B cup. The first bra she pulled out fit me better than anything else has in years, and I was out of the store about five minutes after I walked in. (My sister’s friend, who sent me there, compared it to Ollivander’s Wand Shop for bras.) But even I, not looking for a very obscure size, paid $35 for it, which is exactly what I’ve seen the bra in question sold for elsewhere, online.
I don’t have too much to say about bra finding since I have a pretty common size, but I’ve always kind of hated People of Color. (As a person of…color.) On my college campus I heard it a lot and it felt like people were trying so hard to be thoughtful and contemplative about race, and to me it just felt…I don’t know, just schmaltzy. Even writing it out makes me feel a little douchey. Nonwhite person sounds a little less pretentious I guess, though I suppose that could be considered white-o-normative.
ETA: OK I do have a bra related query. I’ve heard hate for the underwire but never understood it. Every bra I’ve ever tried on as been underwire. Where do you find non underwire bras? And what holds up your breasts?
I stand corrected rhubarbarin. Perhaps it is due to underwire bras NOT properly fitting that is bad for the body. I would hazard the guess that most women aren’t properly fitted. I admit, I’m lazy and right now, working only part time, I cannot really afford to go to a store with customer service women who will actually help me find a proper fit (where the cost of the bra is going to be pricey).
(Freudian Slit, I don’t know why “color” matters, anyway. I take exception to being referred to as “white.” My skin is certainly not white, and at my age, neither are my teeth ;p I am of the caucasian race, but geez, we’re all humans, so why do we have to specify [supposed] skin color?)
It is quite difficult to find a non-underwire, except perhaps sports bars like I have. I haven’t bra-shopped for a while, I’m sorry to say. It’s a hassle, so many are made with the wide bands and straps that I just can’t wear. As said upthread, it takes trying on a lot of different styles. But honestly, to get the right fit and size, I really believe it takes help. Unfortunately, there aren’t many places around where I live that I would find it.
Freudian Slit, my freshman roommate in college didn’t own underwires. I was pretty incredulous - she was a sizeable B cup, maybe 32 or 34. I asked her about it, innocently enough, one day - she said she just didn’t like them. I saw her at a wedding a yearish ago, and unfortunately she’s a bit saggy at this point, and only 24.
So maybe be thankful you don’t see non-underwire bras? I’ve seen them in training/middle school bras, but not otherwise.
I know this is mostly a mild pitting thread, but for those in the 32-42 C-DD range in need of a sports bra, this is the best one I’ve come across - and judging by reviews, it looks like I’m no longer alone!
I laugh everytime a thread comes up about bras and people complain and complain about how horrifically uncomfortable they are- underwires cutting off circulation til your tit turns blue, straps digging painfully into the shoulder, back straps digging deeply into back fat, the bra moving around all day.
Look, if any of the above is happening, YOUR BRA DOESN’T FIT CORRECTLY. This is probably not the bra manufacturer’s fault (unless you’re buying crap bras at Walmart), as it is more likely than not, you’re wearing entirely the wrong size bra.
Even if you don’t want to buy a fancy, custom, and expensive bra, go get a freaking professional bra fitting. No, this is not at Lane Bryant or Victoria’s Secret (who once told me I wear a 46 EEE. . . uh, no way, that shit would fall right off of me), but at a small, local bra shop. Look around, even small towns tend to have one. I’m betting if you’re saying you’re a 44A, you’ll be surprised to find out you’re more likely a very different size than that.
And if on the off chance you do just have wonky boobs (wonky meaning different or not standard, I don’t mean disgusting or offensive or any such thing), then sorry- you have to pay for nice bras. Thems the breaks. My super tall friend can only buy herself expensive pants because they just don’t make her size on the regular. If my boobs were at either end of the spectrum- crazy small or crazy big- I’d just accept that I can’t buy Target bras like everyone else (fuck, my tits are in the “normal” range and I still can’t buy Target bras). Just like if my feet were a size 12, I wouldn’t be able to buy discount shoes like all my friends. That’s what happens when you’re an outlier, sadly.
Does not wearing underwire make you saggy, though? For years I rarely wore a bra. If ever. Three or so years ago that changed, and I either wear a bra or a top with built in bra all the time. Or tops where I don’t really need one. I’m still really perky, though. I’m about the same size as your roommate it sounds. I think my official size is a 34B. I know they say so many women wear the wrong one, but all my bras are comfy. Sure, not wearing a bra is comfier, but more in the same way that going commando is.
Well, in the meantime I’ve adapted one of my insanely uncomfortable underwires to a wirefree. I yanked the wires and ties the straps into a racerback formation and I’m happy for now.
And for the record, it’s way more comfortable and breast-supporting now than it was in the original configuration of wire and regular straps.
Actually, maybe that’s what I should keep doing…because having been built to hold wire, the fabric that held the wire is very firm and molded, yet flexible, making it even better, it seems, at supporting my breasts.
Cool! Cuz I have a bunch of these Cacique bras I can de-wire…
Cacique bras tend to not be the most…sturdily constructed, so I always end up having a wire or two eventually pop its way out. When that happens, the bra usually loses its entire shape, leaving me with my tits being pulled down in a very uncomfortable manner. Rock if it works for you, but I’m just saying to be careful.
Sigh. Tits have different sizes, but also different shapes. Those of us who have broad bases can’t stand underwires at all. I’m the same size (34B) as my sister-in-law and my primary-school BFF, but we need completely-different shapes of bra. I have cleavage even lying flat and can’t wear any underwire; SiL has enough room to wear full-around underwire and still lie a finger between the two circles of wire; BFF is in-between and wears half-wires.
One of the things I do whenever I’m in Spain is go chase a few Cruzados Mágicos, by Playtex, or their Peter Pan ripoff. No underwire, minimum amounts of lace (I’m mentally allergic to lace), great support.
Hmm, I mean, it could have been genetic or somesuch, I just don’t recall her being that way as a freshman. Hell, it coulda been her lifestyle too.
Anyways, what Diosa said is right. I have big hips for my comparably small waist (which, typed out, now makes me sound like a barbie), and I have to buy premium jeans to fit it all in there. Every two years I’ll go to a mall and try on a bunch of $20-40 pairs, but they always end up nuts on me. No use complaining about what I can’t change.
I took a look, and while some of the styles have my size (a chunk don’t, because of my smaller band size to larger cup size), they’re… really ugly and matronly bras. Sorry. I get that not everyone will give a shit, but I do. My bras need to be attractive.
I know I’m harping on this, but if the underwire in your usual size is too narrow for comfort, you’re in the completely wrong size. Have you ever tried on 32Cs? 30Ds? Same total volume of breast as 34Bs and 36As, but the underwires scale up in width (usually by 5/8") with every increase in cup letter.
I have broad boobs that don’t hang down or project much. 32A underwires are far too narrow, and painful - 28Cs are just right.
I’ve found back-band extenders at Macy’s and also at Target. The ones at Macy’s cost $10 or so for a package of 6, for 2-hook and 3-hook bras. I forgot how much they cost at Target. They come in black, white, and tan. You can find them in the lingerie section of both stores.
Thanks Green Bean - I’ll have to figure out my size, but that looks really nice. It’s also not ugly ;p I don’t really care for lace, but I also don’t want matronly, even if I am matronly lol
