(via)
(Just so you know: 1.) I chose all the images so if you're wanting more info on them, be sure to click the source link below each one AND 2.) The blog text has Cora's affiliate links in them which means if you purchase anything from them you'll be supporting a kick-ass blogger! Rad!)
--------------
For years, I wore the wrong bra size and I had no idea.
The lack of support left me with tension headaches, back pain, and boobs
hanging lower than necessary. And it’s not just a big boob problem: As long as
I’ve been a person with boobs, the struggle has been real. The difference for
Big Boob Betties, is that improper support can cause health issues, and many
times stores and their sales staff are ill-equipped to help: The don’t carry
larger sizes and they don’t really know what our needs are. For years I
was shopping at chain bras stores in the mall, where they carry up to cup size
DDD or F- if I was that lucky. Even in the plus size stores the options above a
F are dismal.
They’d measure me and say I wore a 44F and so I wore that
for years- but the band would ride up, the cups / boobs would droop, the center
would gap, underwires would poke and it would dig into my shoulders. It didn’t
help that when I was younger I was obsessed with all my bras being sexy, lacy,
push up, etc. While I worked at Costco I constantly had quad boob or needed to
readjust because my bra style was inappropriate for the activity, and was
completely the wrong size.
(Really REALLY love this image from WYV Mag)
(Really REALLY love this image from WYV Mag)
One thing that helped me immensely was getting a proper bra
fitting. I got mine done at Nordstrom. I had bought Oprah’s favorite bra
online, on recommendation of my friend, who’s name also happens to be Cora. (Hi
Cora!) It didn’t fit so I went to return it to Nordstrom. BTW Nordies has
a great return policy. The gal was like- I can see this is the wrong size for
you, let’s measure you. I’ll admit I figured she was just trying to sell me
stuff but I went along with the ruse anyway. In the private dressing room with
patience and zero judgement, she said my size was actually a 42G UK, 42H US.
She brought me a ton of different styles to choose from. They all
fit!
From minimizers, retro inspired bullet bras, smoothers, to sexy lacy
numbers! In each of them my boobs were back up where I’d like them to be, and
the band felt pleasantly snug but didn’t ride up. The center rest against
my breast bone. I nearly cried in the dressing room- finally bras that fit. I
couldn’t believe it. It bought 5.
Three factors led to this watershed moment: 1.) A store that
carried my size, 2.) a store that carried a huge selection of high quality,
well designed bras build for my body from many different brands, and 3.) a caring
and most importantly knowledgeable sales assistant. I cannot stress
that last one enough.
You can measure yourself at home but a true bra fitting is
more of an art than a science. Two women with different breast volumes and
levels of muscle tone might wear the same bra size on paper but have different
support and shaping needs. Well trained bra experts will be able to determine
your needs.
Another thing I cannot stress enough- cup sizes are not
equal across the spectrum. A 32G is a smaller breast volume than a 42D. Don’t
get hung up on your size, just find what works for you- all boobs are awesome.
If you have a Nordstrom, I highly recommend them because
it’s free, and they have wonderful Customer Service across the board. If you
don’t have one near you, I recommend a bra specialty shop, vs just popping into
your local lingerie chain (especially if you have a feeling they don’t make
things in your size, I’m looking at you Victoria’s Secret). You might get
lucky and find a well trained and honest person at a retail store, but in my
experience, they will try to fit you in what they have available because they
need to make a sale. I wore a bra with a band too large and my breasts overflowing
or constantly popping out for years due to this. Another thing to consider, if
you’re feeling pressured to buy, you’re not going to make the best decision for
your needs. Go into the store thinking I’m not buying something if it’s not
perfect. Keep the receipt just in case.
GENERAL BRA MEASURING GUIDE:
If you decide to measure yourself at home, have a friend assist you. Measure around your
body just under the bust, keeping the tape as straight as possible. This if
your band size. You might try taking two measurements, loose and super tight
and then using the number in-between. Next, measure around the fullest part of
your bust. Try measuring when you’re standing up relaxed, one bending over at a
90 degree angle. The reason to do this is because if you have less perky boobs,
you may have trouble measuring around the fullest part of your bust when
standing, and that may hang lower than your band measurement. Again take
the number that is in between both if they are different. Ok- have this number?
Subtract your band number from your cup number. Each inch is a cup size, so if
you have 7 inch difference that’s a G cup US. Now to finish, band sizes are
even numbers so if you wear a 41 you’ll want to round up to a 42, or down to a
40 depending on the bra itself. A tip for the over 30 crowd: If your breasts
aren’t as perky as they once were, you may want to move down one cup size due
to the lack of volume to ensure better support.
Conversion chart:
Conversion chart:
The support of a bra should come from the band and the cups-
the shoulder straps are just for a little extra help in keeping the bra in
place. If they are digging in, you’re causing unnecessary strain on your
shoulders, neck and back, particularly if you have heavy breasts. If it’s
digging in, you need to loosen the straps. That’s a general rule and some
people are just more prone to digging in based on their muscle tone and age,
and I’ll have more info about how to ease this that in the accessories section
below.
The wider the band is, the more support for your heavy
boobs. Sadly this also means more hooks. We’ve all seen the “grandma bra” jokes
in movies. Nowadays I don’t give a damn- just give me that support. For my
younger friends, I know this can be difficult to accept. As a teen in the
locker room I was already sporting double D’s and it was really embarrassing to
not have two hooks like everyone else. But less support isn’t doing anyone any
favors. Just do what’s right for your body; Poor support can lead to life long
back pain, tension headaches, and a whole host of stuff much worse than having
3, 4 even 5 hooks in the back of your bra. On the flipside, if it’s too tight
you could be over-squeezing your body and it can cause breathing issues. Having
boobs- it ain’t for sissies.
While this isn’t always possible, I do recommend doing a bit
of due diligence and looking for the best quality bras you can afford. Note I
didn’t say the most expensive- there are tons of poorly constructed bras that
cost a small fortune. Trust me that you’ll know quality construction and a good
fit when you see it. Buy quality, and take excellent care of them, and they’ll
last.
When you first purchase a bra, it should fit snugly on the
last row of hooks- meaning the right row. You shouldn’t be able to get more
than two fingers in there comfortably. sometimes this is down to poor
quality/overly stretchy materials used to make bras. The extra rows of hooks
are for when the bra inevitably stretches out so that you can fasten it
tighter. The standard is 3 rows, so just keep moving it on down to the the left
as the bra become looser.
Now let’s talk about different bra types that might be
useful depending on your lifestyle and the silhouette you’re hoping for.
Minimizer/Smoother/Full Coverage – I like ones that are
smoothing, and pack the girls in with full coverage. I wear these when I need
to move around and not worry about over the cup spillage, such as when I’ll be
out and about all day running errands, or when I’m wearing a t-shirt, or
something where I’d like my boobs to be more contained, like when
wearing certain dresses or a button up shirt that is otherwise tight in
the chest. These are also great for when your boobs hurt your back- by keeping
them up and right up against the body it makes it easier to support their
weight.
My favorite is the Basic Beauty by Wacoal- this is sold in
lots of sizes so it’s good for everyone. A little pricey but they last for
years (solid construction, good materials). Another thing I like is it packs
flat; A lot of molded cupped bras can be a pain in the ass to store when you
have big boobs .
T-shirt Bra – everyday bras that provides comfort and
support but aren’t very noticeable under clothes. The Wacoal is OK for this but
because it is full-coverage, it comes up higher and might show under a tank or
other wide neck tops. I tend to prefer an Elomi Etta under just about anything.
It does give a slight retro boob look though, so if you like a rounded
silhouette you want to look for something lightly padded, molded supportive
cups like the Lane Bryant Balconette. A few other styles I love and also recommend: Elomi Cate, Elomi Caitlyn, Elomi Amelia and Elomi Hermione.
Strapless/Multiway – The number one bra related
question I get is somehow related to strapless bras for the well endowed. For
my plus size friends, the Lane Bryant Multi-Way is a godsend. For everyone,
what you want are molded cups to add volume and shape, a rubberized band to
minimize slippage, and boning on the sides to add support.
Longline – perfect for under fitted bodice dresses,
vintage clothes and if you can find a strapless one, perfect for under
strapless dresses. This whittles your waist and makes you stand up straighter
so it’s excellent for posture. A must if you like vintage styles.
Unfortunately, mine was discontinued but I’ve heard great things about the
Goddess Longline- they use a different sizing guide so be sure to check before
you order.
Sports Bra- I like hella support for my big boobs because without it running on an elliptical is unbearable. I love the Glamorize Double Layer Sports bra because it has a firm hold and this double layer allows you to customize the hold. Sadly this is the only one I can strongly recommended- however it comes in most sizes, a black and white version as well as a pink and orange one I just bought while researching this video. My Favorite workout Bra –This one!
Lounge Bras – For general paling around the house and
comfort, I tend to favor underwire-free bras as well as those with a thicker
band for support. With that said it can also drive me nuts when my breasts
touch too much on a hot day. Most of the time I just wear the Elomi Etta as I
feel it’s the perfect combination of sexy, comfort and support. Another great
option is this No-Wire Cooling Bra.
Bralettes- Torrid!!!! I know other places have them, but
this is where I bought several different styles. Now in terms of real support-
these aren’t doing much for my "tig ol bitties", however they are great for
around the house when I just want a little support, or for when I want to add
some sex appeal to an outfit, I’ll wear one over a regular bra. Speaking of
sexy Torrid bralettes...
Sexy bras- when buying these I’m less concerned with support, and
more with what looks amazing. I’ll fudge bandwidth, number of hooks and cup
size for instance.. Sexy is subjective and I can’t say this is what a sexy bra
looks like but here’s where I like to shop for them: Hips and Curves- Sexy Bras, Lingerie, Stockings, fishnets,
corsets and costumes. It’s like a naughty candy store! Lane Bryant- great for contemporary lingerie, nice for
chemises and the odd sexy bra and Elomi- vintage inspired styles like the Etta. (Jes adds: Curvy Couture and Curvy Girl for plus lingerie- just for kicks!)
Binders- Jes would like to add binders to this list! Shapeshifters Inc. has custom made (send 'em your size!) binders in a variety of (awesome!) designs, Love Boat Shop has binders up to 3x and this clip on chest binder goes up to 6x! Sam of Lets Queer Things Up also has a great review of inexpensive binders and Bustle has an article titled "9 Tips For Chest Binding As A Plus Size Person"!
BRA ACCESSORIES:
(via)
Rubber strap cushions- keeps them in place and also helps minimize dig-in. Down side it they are pretty visible so not great for under all clothes. Comfy Straps $12.50 here.
Chicken cutlets or other boob enhancers. These are little silicone or fabric pieces you put in your bra to give you a boost in volume and cleavage.
Bra extenders – a handy tool, lots of places have these,
just make sure the hooks of the number match the number hooks on your bra- and
uneven amount can cause uneven tension on the hooks and wear out your bra
faster. You can find hook bra extenders $8.00 here and assorted sized of bra extenders $15 here.
Strap Clips: to clamp the two straps together when your top
is narrower than your bra naturally lays (these rarely work, they usually itch
the shit out of me. Best to get a multi-way bra or a bra with a J-hook. Elomi
and a few other higher end bra brands included these in several styles.
BRA CARE:
I invested time, money and research into finding the perfect
bra for each need- I want to keep them in tip-top shape! With that said, I’m
not a sucker for fancy delicates soaps or gingerly washing them by hand, under
the full moon by candle light or whatever the cool kids are doing. Good bra
care is as simple as washing in a machine on gentle cycle in a delicates bag.
You can get these at a dollar store- I found a cute Minnie Mouse one at
Daiso. Then to dry simply hang them up to air dry- Do not put your bras in the
dryer- this will make the underwire more prone to snapping and wear down the
fabric and stretch them out. DON’T DO IT.
My hope is that this bra guide has helped you in someway.
I’ve poured months of work into this!
Thanks Cora!
JES WANTS TO KNOW: What awesome plus size bras, binders, or accessories have YOU found? Leave your suggestions below and I'll give you at least dozen internet high fives in exchange!!!
JES WANTS TO KNOW: What awesome plus size bras, binders, or accessories have YOU found? Leave your suggestions below and I'll give you at least dozen internet high fives in exchange!!!
No comments