My SIL is a DDD and is having difficulty finding comfortable bras that fit. The cheapo K-mart ones aren’t doing it, and she suffering some back and shoulder pain due to lack of support.
She visited Victoria’s Secret in another state while she was on vacation, but once the salesclerk realized the store didn’t carry her size she disappeared. I guess they get paid on commission.
I’m looking for an actual store, since my SIL is going to have to try on the bras to find the proper fit. Would a boustier (sp?) work better for her?
Where do our well-endowed lady Dopers go to find good-fittin’ bras?
My mother also wears a DDD – actually she is larger than that, but DDD is the best she can do without going custom-made. She has found a bra she can wear at JC Penney. However, it isn’t commonly available in the largest sizes at the retail stores, but needs to be ordered from the catalog. Anyway, that’s no real problem as Penneys has a very liberal return policy and items ordered from the catalog come very quickly. I recommend that your girlfriend get a catalog and choose several likely-looking prospects in her size. My mom, when she did this the first time, ordered 6 different bras – every model available in her size except the ‘minimizer’ styles, which she knew she didn’t like. Of the 6, she found one style she really liked and one she sort-of liked. The one she really liked was available in nude or white, the sort-of one was available in black also. So she kept the one she really liked and took the rest right back to the catalog department of her local store. They took them back with no problem and while she was there she ordered 6 more of the bra she really liked, 3 in white and 3 in nude, and 2 of the one she sort-of liked in black. Well endowed women are harder on bras than their smaller-endowed sisters, so 8 bras will last my mom about 18 months. When they start getting ratty, she just calls the catalog and orders in another load, sight unseen.
Victoria’s Secret is a terrible place to buy large bras, BTW. Half of the sizes don’t even come in D (my size) and, of the few that do, only one fits me properly. She might do better at Fredericks of Hollywood – they used to carry some larger sizes. I bought a bra there years ago, but they never had anything that worked for my mom. Your gf’s miliage may vary, of course.
And a bustier probably will not work for her. I’ve never found one to fit me and I’m only a D, as I said.
Here’s a link to my mom’s favorite bra. And here’s her second favorite. The first bra is comfortable and supportive, but also really pretty – which is nice because large bras do tend toward the ‘granny bra’ side.
Lane Bryant carries one bra in a DDD, and it’s the only one I’ve ever found that fits me properly. It’s very comfortable too (despite it being an underwire), and it actually comes in fun colors and prints other than granny white.
Here’s a link to the bra, which you can buy online, but they also carry it in the brick and morter stores, so she can go try it on if she’d like.
If all you need is DDD then Sears is often a good bet. I order my bras from decent exposures and from the Silhouette Shoppe in Quincy, IL, but that is because I wear over an H cup. Last time I ordered from Quincy, I got a 48 I right off their rack.
Make sure she gets the bra properly fit. It will look better and feel better if she does.
I’ve found DDDs at Nordstrom, and Dillards. Are you anywhere near outlets? I’ve had good luck at some of the women’s underwear outlets (Bali etc.)
Have you looked in the phone book? I found one in Orlando, by looking on line. (I went by your location)
CAMEO & PENNYRICH CUSTOM FITTED BRAS (407) 896-3232
3048 UNKATERRI LN
ORLANDO, FL 32806
THE best bra catalog www.ladygrace.com they have just about any size and style you can think of.
Seriously, though, as one myself, I have to second the JC Penney catalog.
useful, if not so pretty. I have a problem with bras with more than 2 back hooks (makes me feel like a grandma), so I usually stick to Walmart. They have a fairly decent selection. They don’t last as long, of course, but there’s a couple there that are very comfortable and attractive.
My favorite bra in the wide world (and i’m nearly thirty, and a 38DD, have been sprouted since early teens. You can bet your boobs I’ve been looking a long time.) is the Satin Tracings Minimizer by Bali brand. I just shopped for some today, and they have DDD’s. This particular bra is the only kind that lasts throughout my 12 hour workday, feels comfy, and helps clothes fit better.
By the way, I am not a bra saleswoman nor is a SO an employee of Bali. I’m just a big-titted woman offering advice.
In my experience, I’ve been able to find this bra in any department store.
Wow, thank you so much LunaSea for this! I did a search and came up with 4 bras that will fit me. I don’t know why Lane Bryant’s catalog offerings are so limiting for anything above a 48, but they are. I’ve been trying to find -anything- and this site has given me at least three to choose from (the fourth was a long-line… shudder).
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Let me just rant a bit about Lane Bryant (and other large size clothing stores and catalogs): what bras do they think larger size women are wearing?! They carry clothing up to size -6X-, why the heck aren’t there more styles of bras above the 48 size?! Someone who wears a 4X or 5X top surely must be over a size 48…
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whew, thanks again, LunaSea. I’m placing my order tomorrow!
