My Problem With Wacoal

So, as we've already established, there are not a whole lot of options for larger boobs, at least not in Central Kentucky.  Now, if you've got a band size between 36 and 50 and are at least a B, you've got Lane Bryant, where they know how to fit a bra and they usually have some pretty colors and designs (which, of course, get limited on the ends of that size range).  Still, you can at least get more than black and nude.

If you're under that magic size 36 band, though, there are not a lot of options.  You're stuck with your local department stores, who may or may not know what they're doing.  I have had both the best and worst fitting experiences of my life at my local Dillard's, years apart.  (The worst involved telling the bitchy old lady in lingerie my size--a 38C at the time--and her flat out denying that I was that big.  I cried.)  However, even if you do get a good fitting, the bras in the small band/large cup range are extremely limited.  Locally, I can find three brands--Chantelle, Lunaire, and Wacoal.  Now, Chantelle we briefly touched on in a review, and I will say, they make a nice bra.  But it'll cost you your first born child and a leg.  Lunaire, well, they make a lot of sheer bras.  And unlined bras.  And bras that offer less support than a crack dealer at an NA meeting.  There's a reason the sales girls never suggest a Lunaire bra.

Wacoal, on the other hand, has a pretty wide selection at the upper end of the size range.  And the sales girl will always tell you about how a lot of women really like this one, or this one offers great support.  And some of them really do offer great support, on the rare occasion that they fit.

And that's my first problem with Wacoal--I can never find one that fits.  Maybe my boobs are weird, or maybe it's because Wacoal is originally a Japanese company.  While they do have a branch in America, I just have trouble trusting a company founded in Japan with bras for bigger breasts.  I'm not trying to be racist here, but Japanese women are not exactly known for having enormous gazongas.  Despite what you may see in anime, most Japanese girls do not have exceptionally large breasts.  I'll admit, it could totally be my boobs--it probably is.  I mean, surely those bras fit some women.  Otherwise, they'd've gone out of business years ago.

However, the fit is not my only complaint.  I'll admit, my standards are a bit high--I want good fit and support, a reasonable price, and I want something pretty. Every woman deserves pretty underthings, regardless of her size.  I don't care if you weigh 500 lbs and the paramedics have to haul you out with a crane, you deserve a pretty bra that fits.

Wacoal makes some of the most hideous bras I've ever seen.

It doesn't even look good on the mannequin.

The really terrifying thing is how well their bras photograph.  If you look up some of their stuff online, it doesn't look half bad.  But when the fitter brings you a handful of them to try on, it will make you cry.  The one above is one of the ones that was available in my size at the time--it gave really good support, just like the fitter said.  But it was so hideous on that I wanted to cut off  my boobs.

This is actually one of their more attractive bras.  It's unlined, with massive straps, no lining, and scratchy fabric. I've actually tired this one on, and the straps were also insanely short.  Maybe I just have abnormally high shoulders?

This one is typical for what passes for pretty in a bigger size in department stores.  The picture really doesn't do it justice--like I said, this brand photographs really well.  You need to go to your local department store to experience the true hideousness.

I'd have more pictures, but the old lady working at Dillard's was eyeballing me funny so I had to take off.

I realize that there are certain features that you really need on a full busted bra.  The straps do have to be wider to distribute weight, and you have to have at least three hooks or it's completely useless.  You have to have larger underwires, and the bra just has to be bigger in general.  But, as we've seen in previous posts, having big boobs doesn't mean you can't have a pretty bra that fits.  There are plenty of bra manufacturers who manage this--why can't our stores stock these bras?  The problem with Wacoal is that they, like most American bra shops, have this crazy idea that full busted bras have to be ultilitarian, nude or black, and hideous.  While they have been making some attempts at making them prettier, I still question the fit--am I the only one who finds they bag toward the top of the cup?  Whose boobs are they making these things for, anyway?  I have never tried on a Wacoal bra that fit properly, so they certainly aren't making them for mine.

Either way, the problem remains that the largest maker of full busted bras in America has no idea how to dress a full bust, much less how to do it with style.  And, let's face it, this is a problem that is encouraged by department stores, and it's not a problem that solely exists with Wacoal.  America has this idea that anything over a D cop is enormous, and anything that uses the rest of the alphabet is impossible.  If we had more options, companies like Wacoal would have to step up their game and start producing bras that are not only supportive, but also help women feel confident and sexy.

Bra Review--Parfait Angelina

I tend to be a creature of habit, so when I find a style or brand that consistently fits, I tend to stay with it obsessively.  In keeping with that, I impulsively ordered one of the newest additions to Affinitas' Parfait line--the Angelina.

It's not often I impulsive spend $50 on a bra.

I'll be honest, I saw it, fell in love, and had to have it.  I ordered it in a 34FF, which was the size that fit in in the Charlotte and the Honey.  I am happy to report that Affinitas appears to be consistent in their sizing and I didn't have to return it for a different size.  This also means that you definitely want to order a band size bigger than usual (adjust your cup accordingly).

I'd also like to report that this bra is even sexier in person than in the photo.  The lace detail and contrast is exquisite.  It has the flattering plunge cut that the other bras I've tried in the Parfait line have, so if you're looking for a minimizer this will not be the bra for you.  Of course, I generally don't support the use of minimizers, anyway--if you've got 'em, flaunt 'em.

My only regret is that the matching panties are a little...revealing.  The whole sheer ass thing is not something I particularly care for--if I wanted it hanging in the breeze, I'd wear a thong.  Still, plain black works pretty well with this one, so my OCD isn't completely screwed over.  To be honest, this is a problem I've noticed with most of the super sexy/fun and exciting bras I've seen--the matching bottoms tend to be skimpy and revealing.  That's all well and good for the bedroom, but I like my drawers a bit more practical.

Pros:

--super sexy

--supportive

--available in up to a 40G (UK)

--not eighty bajillion dollars ($48 @ Her Room)

Cons:

--only one color available

--still not a cheap bra--when, oh when will they make $20 bras in my size?

--matching panties are sheer

Bra Reviews! Affinitas' Parfait Honey

Now, this is the same product line that the Charlotte came out of, and I'll be honest, I love the look of pretty much everything in Affinitas' Parfait line/division.  They're super pretty, come in  color, and are relatively affordable.  I may have found my brand here.

The Honey Molded Bra is also a plunge and it has the most adorable lace trim on the shoulder straps.

It looks like a butterfly!  Without all the legs! (If you want it.)

I wasn't sure if just the Charlotte ran small or if the brand in general did, so I took a chance and ordered a 32FF--in purple.  Do you know how rare a color purple is for big boobs?!  Usually you can find pink, most will throw in red, but purple?  Inconceivable!  They don't have a picture of it in purple at the link, but it's about the same shade as the color section box.

Unfortunately, it looks like the running small thing is a brand thing, not just the Charlotte, so the Honey didn't fit.  Both the band and the cup were too small, so I'm exchanging it for a 34FF.  I feel pretty confident that will fit, so I'm exchanging one of the others that didn't fit for a second Honey in ivory (I need something I can wear under light colored shirts).  Assuming those fit, I'll order a third and some panties and have a total of six sexy bras that hold up my melons.

PROS:

• reasonable price ($48)
• adorable trim!  Love the lacey straps, and the cup trim is even cooler in person
• comes in red and purple
• comes in purple
• wide set shoulder straps ideal for more open necklines
• wide size range

CONS:

•  runs small, so I won't know until my exchange goes through if it's going to provide the support I need (I'm assuming it'll fit like Charlotte, so it should be okay)
• lacey straps might show under clothes
• no nude for wearing under white

CONCLUSION:  Yeah, I fell in love with this one a bit.  I feel pretty good about it, but must withhold judgement for now.  I will say, I might cry a little if the 34FF doesn't fit, or if it doesn't support me.  Also, as a bonus, they had a package deal going on where if you ordered two Affinitas bras (not sure if it's styles or straight quantity), you got a free pair of panties.  Not sure how long that's going on, but the freebie hot pink panties with lace trim may be amongst the most exciting underwear I own.

EDIT: My exchange just arrived, and the 34FF fits great!  The straps could be a bit longer, so if you're really tall in the shoulder you might want to skip this one (i.e. if on most bras you have the straps at full length, they won't be long enough).

Bra Reviews! Panache SuperBra Tango II

I'll be honest, I was disappointed when I pulled this one out of the box.  I'd heard some good things about Panache, and the SuperBra Tango II Underwire Balconette Bra looked like a good starting place for something that I could wear under a t shirt (I wear a 50/50 mix of  t shirts and button downs).

If you like that sort of thing.

I ordered it in black in a 32FF.  Now, before we address the fitting issues, let me explain why I was disappointed.

Sheer cups. 

Every photo I could find of it makes it look pretty solid.  The specs did mention sheer sides and back fabric, but it's not unusual for a bra to have that and solid cups. 

I despise sheer cups. 

I think they are the ugliest thing possible in a bra, as well as most useless.  They don't cover your nipples at all, so if you get caught without a bra you can still see 'em, and if it gets cold, they stick out everywhere.  Sheer cups provide no additional support (a padded or foam cup helps a smidge), and they are almost always the absolute ugliest bras in existence due to poor fabric choices and colors.  Also, the seams rub my nipples raw.

That said, I still tried it on, just in case.  I'm going to say this bra runs small, because I could barely do up the strap.  The cups were also too small.  I would go up in both if it wasn't a hideous sheer bra that couldn't possibly ever compare to the gorgeous Charlotte by Affinitas' Parfait.

PROS:

• not insanely expensive ($54)
• available in a wide range of sizes

CONS:

• sheer cups. Did I mention I hate sheer cups?
• runs small
• all the pretty colors are being discontinued in the larger sizes
• unlined sheer cups

CONCLUSION:  I'm biased.  I hate sheer cups and could never, ever, recommend one, not even if it was made of platinum and on sale for $20.  But I guess if you ordered it bigger it might be okay.   It would probably be okay under a t shirt.

Bra Reviews! Curvy Kate Daily Boost

Among the bras in my recent order was Curvy Kate's Daily Boost Balconette Bra.  From what I've read, Curvy Kate is an up and comer in the bras for big boobs arena, and I was curious to check them out (especially since almost none of the brands that carry large cup sizes are available locally).

If you want it.

Again, I ordered the 32FF.  I actually ordered it in white, because it's been long enough since I had a white bra that it's almost an exotic color.  One thing I really liked about this bra was the trim--it's subtle, but thoughtful.

Unfortunately, I had the same problem with this one as I did with the Freya Deco.  Major quadraboob, although the band was fine.  I would definitely need to go up to a 32G (UK), and maybe beyond.  I'm not enthused enough to bother.

PROS:

• cute trim
• good coverage (or it would be in the right size)
• side coverage
• nice basic bra
• good tshirt bra (assuming correct size)

CONS:

• pricey for what it is ($65)
• only two colors--nude and white (I would make this complaint for the brand)
• only two hooks--questionable support, esp. long term

CONCLUSION:  Not a bad bra, but you can probably do the same thing for less in more colors with someone else.

Bra Reviews! Freya Deco Underwire

Among the bras I recently tried was Freya's Deco Underwire Molded Plunge Bra.  Since I've had some band trouble, I decided to go with a 32FF.  Actually, I ordered four of the bras in this shipment in a 32FF.  My reasoning--while I technically measure at a 34G (US), I've actually measured at home and consistently run from 32.75in to 33.75in, depending on the time of the month.  This makes me a smallish 34, and most of the 34s I've tried on haven't provided support from the band (if I want a bra that supports with the straps, I'll keep my old ones and take more painkillers, thank you).  The cups usually fit okay in a 34G (US), so by going up a cup size, that should, theoretically, preserve the fit of the cup (although we've already seen this disproven once).  So, theoretically, the best new starting point would be a 32H (US) or a 32FF (UK).

 

Linkie. 

Yeah...about that....  I'm starting to think the whole cup grading thing breaks down after G (US), because while the band fit nice and snug, I had major quadraboob.  I would probably need a 32G (UK).  It would probably fit then--there wasn't anything weird in the shape of the cups (like Wacoal.  I hate Wacoal.  I'll eventually make a post about why I hate Wacoal).

PROS:

• Would be a nice t-shirt bra if it fit
• the bows are cute
• less than $75 ($60)
• side coverage would have been decent in the proper size

CONS:

• only two hooks.  I'm pretty sure a strap that's only wide enough for two hooks is not going to be up to the strain of holding UK F's+
• larger cups sizes only come in nude, grey, and black.  No pretty red or purple for us
• I don't want to pay $60 for a bra

CONCLUSION:  Not a bad little bra.  If I hadn't found something I liked better that fit, I'd muck about with the sizing on it.

Bra Reviews! Affinitas Parfait Charlotte

So, my first batch of bras from Her Room contained five bras by four companies, mostly so I could see how they fit.  One of the five fit, so I feel like I did pretty good.  Most of the manufacturers of larger sizes on the web use British sizing, which is loads of fun, as you have the same letters as we do here, but they mean completely different things--a UK G cup is two sizes bigger than a US G.  Now, I had been trying on 34Gs in the few local shops I've been able to find them in, but while the bands are close, they still haven't been supporting the girls--the straps have been doing all the work, which is not how a bra is supposed to fit.  So, I decided to play around with my sizing a bit.

The first bra that went into my order was the Charlotte, from Affinitas' Parfait collection.

You can buy your own here.

Yeah, I'm totally in love with that.  Seriously, how often do you see a bra that sexy in something bigger than a 36D?  I literally prayed the entire week I was waiting on it to ship that if anything in the box fit, it would be this one.

I got really lucky.

Now, the site (and every review I saw) said it tends to run small and recommended ordering a bigger size.  Since I'd been looking at ordering a 32FF, I sized up to a 34FF (remember, cup gets bigger with the band).  It fits snug in the band (maybe tight, but I like my bands on the tight side for support reasons), the cups were the right size, and, of course, it's super sexy.  I also really like the wide set shoulder straps--a pet peeve of mine is how so many bras have the straps set right by your neck--maybe I don't want to wear turtle necks and t-shirts all the time.  Now, I will admit, it does leave a little mark around the middle after I've worn it a while, but the band actually supports my girls.  I'm thinking it just needs to break in a little.  And, frankly, I feel so sexy in it, I don't care.  This is the first plunge style bra that has ever fit and supported my breasts.  I'm exchanging two of the bras that didn't fit for two more of these (a second red one, and a peach/black one).

PROS:

• super sexy
• comes in red
• wide set straps
• good side coverage
• affordable ($38)
• sufficient nipple coverage

CONS:

•  runs small, so finding the right size might be tricky
• only comes in two colors--maybe not so good under a white shirt

CONCLUSION:  I'm in love with this bra, so my judgement my be a bit skewed.  Some girls might not like the cup style--as a plunge, it doesn't cover as much breast as other styles, so if you don't like displaying your girls it may not be for you.  If you want to flaunt what you have and feel extra sexy, you want this bra.  Matching panties are available.  I'm so ordering those.

Bra Reviews! Chantelle Rive Gauche

So last November I discovered my band size had shrunk down to a 34, meaning I could no longer buy my bras from Lane Bryant (their smallest band size is a 36).  This hit me pretty hard, because I had really liked my full coverage Cacique bras--they were affordable, had a foam cup, gave good support, and came in a variety of colors. 

But, alas, no more.  So, I called up my mom for moral support and we went to Dillard's--they have the widest selection of sizes in town.  A wonderful and very patient salesgirl helped me try on almost every bra in the place, and we finally settled on Chantelle's Rive Gauche T shirt bra in  US 34G.

Photo courtesy of Her Room.

About four months later, they just weren't fitting right.  I'm not sure if they just stretched out, or my band size dropped like half an inch.  I went back and still measured a 34G, but they just didn't fit right.  Neither did anything else, so I said screw this, I'm going home.  Fast forward to June--the straps are now digging into my shoulders, causing a pretty good amount of pain.  I tried ordering it in a 32H--since the band was apparently too big, I went down a size.  The cups were still okay, so I went up one to preserve the size.  I'm not really sure what happened, but when the 32H (US) came in, the cups were far to small and I was spilling out all over the place.  It doesn't come in a cup larger than a US H, so I couldn't just go up another cup size (the band was pretty good).

As for the rest, here's a pro/con list:

PROS:

• not a minimizer
• comes in cup sizes up to a US H
• lacey trim and contrasting stitching on straps make for an attractive bra
• provided good support
• provided good coverage (especially on the sides--I love a bra with side boning)

CONS:

• [insert expletive of your choice] expensive--$76 is a bit high, but it was available locally
• unless my body has morphed in a bizarre manner (which is possible), they either started to wear out way too fast for a $76 bra, or their sizing is inconsistent from batch to batch
• doesn't come in a cup size higher than a US H
• cup grading is inconsistent (a 32H and a 34G should have the same size cup)
• only comes in two colors--nude and black 

CONCLUSION: Chantelle makes a pretty bra, and they know how to support a larger breast.  They're a bit expensive for what they are, though.

Bra Reviews! Online Retailers

Well, hello again.  So, my first shipment (technically my second, but we'll get to that in a moment) of bras came in this weekend, and I thought I'd share the joy.  I'll start off with a couple of online company reviews (with linkies), and then I'll be doing a separate post for each bra, for ease of googling.  I've found bloggers to provide some of the best information in bra reviews, but it's hard to find reviews for specific bras without doing a lot of digging.

So far, I have technically tried two online retailers, but I'm sort of not counting the first one, since I only ordered one bra.  For an extensive list of shop that carry bras online, I love Busty Girl's FAQ.  Not all them carry all sizes, though, so consider yourself warned.  A lot of them are also in Britain, which kinda sucks if you live stateside.

My first experience was with Bare Necessities.  I ordered a Chantelle Rive Gauche (review will be in the next post), since that's what I'd been wearing, and I wanted to try it in a different size.  Their website was laid out well, and it was easy to find what I was looking for.  They're not real great on the communication end of things, though, and their shipping is on the slow side (Jersey to Kentucky took a full week).  I never got an email for my receipt or to notify me that my package shipped.  Their exchange policy is also a bit weird.  Still, they came pretty highly recommended by a lot of other bloggers, so I gave them a try.  The bra didn't fit (of course), and they had a promotion offering free return shipping on Chantelle bras, so it's currently en route back to them.  I'm a bit nervous, as I still haven't heard from them, and it's been a week since I sent it back.  I'll probably be calling them next week to verify they got it.  I actually did call to check on whether they shipped it and spent a bit longer on hold than I'd've liked.  I'd also like to point out that I sent them an email asked for advice re:bra styles and fit last weekend, and have yet to hear back.  I'm not impressed, and am really just hoping I get my money back at this point.

The next lot, the one that came in this weekend, I ordered from Her Room.  I promptly received my receipt, and it even shipped the same day.  I ordered Monday or Tuesday, and it arrived on Friday, which is a reasonable speed for Texas to Kentucky.  I was able to have a live chat on their website and they did their best to answer my questions and give me some suggestions (which were mostly based on their sales numbers, but at least they made an effort).  Bonus: they provide free shipping on exchanges.  Their exchange policy could be better worded ("We gladly pay for the re-shipping cost of exchanged merchandise (one exchange per order, please)" that last bit is a little sticky), but I was able to verify that what they mean by that is basically, if you want to exchange stuff, do it all at once, not one bra now, then another a week later.  I also inquired (via phone) about what happens if the exchange doesn't fit, and pretty much they run it as a return and new sale at that point--I believe the girl said shipping will still be free at that point.  Not sure how they are with returns yet, but I'll be shipping the bras that didn't fit back tomorrow.  While their size guide is a bit wonky (they add inches to the band), I really like how their website compares how each brand's cup size compares to various standards (UK, US, etc).  They also have a section on each bra's page with specs on the bra, fitting tips, and a section for customer reviews.

Assuming my exchange with Her Room goes well, I'll probably stick with them (I'm a creature of habit).  One thing I have noticed is pretty consistent with most of the various retailers is that pretty much all of them have loads of complaints around the internet regarding the return process, which I would expect to be a problem to some degree, anyway.  Bras are extremely hard to fit, and women are crazy--those two facts combine for a powder keg.  I will point out that of the two stores I've tried, Bare Necessities is BBB accredited and Her Room is not--I find this very interesting, considering I've had better service so far from the latter.   If you've tried some of the other shops online (especially if you live in the US), feel free to post a review about your experience there in the comments--I'm hoping we can build up a bit of a following here, and the more information there is in one place, the better. 

On a completely unrelated note, I'd also like to point out that girls with smaller chests are more than welcome here.  While you guys generally don't have the should and back pain issues, I know it can be very hard to find cute bras in very small sizes--just because you're little doesn't mean you don't deserve something pretty, and I don't know anyone who enjoys it when their nipples poke out of their shirt.  While I am looking for a good bra in a larger size, I am also trying to figure out a better design (which, having started, I can tell you is much harder than you'd think), and I'd like to eventually cover all the girls who don't fit in a so-called normal size range.  Boobs are boobs, and every woman deserves to be comfortable and look and feel pretty, regardless of their size.  (You're probably going to hear that a lot, consider yourself warned.)

Fit and Sizing--Why So Many Of Us Are Wearing the Wrong Size

We've all heard the statistic about how so many women are wearing the  wrong size bra.  The general assumption is that you just need a good fitting and then you're on easy street.  And that makes sense, doesn't it?  Once you know what size you are, it's just a matter of finding a bra you like in it, right?

Don't make me laugh.

Aside from the fact that every style is going to fit differently--so differently that you might need a completely different size--many fitters are poorly trained and actually have no idea how a bra should fit.  In addition, our sizing system is just insane, and it get even worse when you go online because there are a number of different sizing systems.  Here's a link to a couple of charts that illustrate exactly how much sizing varies throughout the world.  For the most part, though, you can get along with just knowing the difference between UK, US, and European cup sizes (thank god, I don't think I could handle dealing with metric).  And that is a very important difference--a UK G cup is fully two sizes larger than a European, and half of America doesn't even recognize anything past the letter D--we use DDDD interchangeably with G, which is, frankly, just a little ridiculous.  There is so much variation in between countries and manufacturers that the size your fitter arrives at is really just a starting point.  Well, that's okay, isn't it?  It's better than nothing, right?

Riiiight.  Until you realize the numerous ways "fitters" arrive at that number and letter.  There are currently three ways people measure for size.  All involve two measurements--one for the band, and one for the bust.  You then subtract to get the cup.  Now the problem comes in with the band measurement.  Some fitters will measure under the bust and then add inches to it (four seems to be the most popular number), others will measure above the breasts (Victoria's Secret does this, if you're having trouble wrapping your head around that), and still others will just take a straight measurement under your boobs.  In my experience, this last one has been the most accurate.  Some women will swear by the +4 method--I have generally found these girls to have smaller breasts.  If you have big boobs, your best starting point is to just go with a straight measurement, and round to the nearest size (since bands only come in even numbers).  Lane Bryant measures this way, most of your better specialty shops will, and some department stores will as well.  Measuring above the breasts pretty much never results in an accurate size.

Oh, and before you think bra sizing makes no sense, let me throw this one in there for you--cup sizes are graded and relative to the band.  That's right.  The cups for a 36A and a 40A are completely different.  In order to have a cup that's physically the same size, you have to either go up a cup and down one band size, or down a cup and up a band size.  This chart illustrates how this works quite well, although sources will argue whether it's accurate above a US DDD (which makes me wonder how the hell they size large cups, if not in that manner.  I was actually looking at a bra parts place online, and their wires and cups appeared to be scaled differently.  My head exploded).

So, now that you're thoroughly confused and you have some arbitrary number to start with, how do you know the bra actually fits?  There are a number of different markers to look for, and most of the internet seems to agree on these standards.  Do you fill the cups?  Are you overflowing?  Is the band riding up?  Does the gore (that bit between the cups) lie flat on your chest, or can you see your belly when you look down your cleavage?  Are the straps digging into your chest, or is the band actually supporting the girls like it's supposed to?  Is anything poking or digging into you?  This is stuff you're looking at for fit.  And, at least in America, this is all stuff that bad bra fitters will say is normal. 

As an example, allow me to relate a recent experience of my own.  Having learned that Soma actually does carry a G cup, I decided to try the one style they carried in the store (they have three on the website in a G).  I tried on the US 34G that I measure (I've had three fitters at three different stores agree on this).  The band was far too loose (it was also even uglier than it looked online).  Better fitters will advise to buy a bra that fits on the loosest hook--that way, as it ages and stretches out, you can tighten it and it lasts longer.  The first thing the girl "helping" me did was move the hooks to the tightest setting.  When I inquired about what I just told you, she nodded and dodged it.  "This band actually fits you pretty well."  Really?  because the back was sitting much higher than the front, a common sign that the band is too big.  There was also the fact that it felt like I wasn't wearing a bra--and by that I mean it was offering virtually no support.  All the weight of my girls was on the straps.  When I mentioned this, the girl suggested trying a different band size--not a smaller one, but a bigger one (and she really tried to me sell me on this).  Yes, the cup on a US 36F (DDD) is the same size, but if the 34 band size wasn't giving me the support I needed, how in the world was a larger band size going to do it?  I still have some old 36Fs lying around, and they hurt my shoulders like the dickens.  This is a classic example of a) a fitter who doesn't know what they're doing or b) a fitter who is more interested in making a sale than supporting your boobs.  If you wander the internets in search of odd size bras, you will find countless bloggers who have had this experience.  You will find many testimonials from girls who realized that the reason their bras didn't fit right was because they had been told to go up in the band and down in the cup.  There is no way a bra band can support your breasts if it is too loose.  This also supports a suspicion of mine--a small breasted woman cannot properly fit a bra to a large breasted one.  They don't realize how much more support is necessary, because they haven't experienced it.  I'm not saying you should run away if you go into a boutique and the fitter has small boobs, but I would take what they say with a grain of salt.  I have yet to be poorly fitted by a large breasted fitter (I cannot recommend Lane Bryant enough in this area--they will also be honest about your size, even if they don't carry it).  And frankly, if I had very small breasts, I would reverse that advice.  If your fitter has experienced a fitting issue like your first hand, she will be much better able to advise you. 

This is all stuff you need to take into account when you go bra shopping, regardless of size.  No one should have to endure the pains and discomfort of an ill fitting bra.




Coming soon: bra reviews (I have a package in the mail!), brand commentary, and (hopefully) preliminary mockups of bra designs

Welcome to the Bra-dyssey!

Hello there!  Thanks for coming!

My reason for starting the bra-dyssey is two fold.  Firstly, everyone I know is sick to death of hearing me talk about my boobs and the problems I have finding bras and I would like to keep my friends (and my poor, poor husband).  I'm hoping that maybe, just maybe, if I put it on the internet for all to see, I can shut up about it.

The second reason for starting the bra-dyssey (which is my attempt at being clever: bra+odyssey=bra-dyssey) is very simple: I cannot find a bra that fits me in a physical store in my region.  Plenty exist online, but you can't know if a bra will fit you without trying it on, which means a lot of returns and a lot of time.  It also means a lot of money, because, so far, I have yet to find an online bra retailer who provides free shipping on exchanges that will let you exchange more than one item on an order.  Now, while I am girding my loins for this particular hell (because shopping for bras in person isn't bad enough), I am also working on another solution: building a better bra.  This is the long term solution.  Can we create something better to hold up our boobs?  There has to be a better solution, even if we lack antigravity technology on a small enough scale to do it.  Failing all else, there at least has to be a better way to size bra, one that actually takes into account measurements and is slightly less arbitrary.  Oh, and while we're at it--let's make it pretty.  And maybe even affordable.  And in America, so we don't have to import from England or Poland.

Is there a way to design a bra for boobs outside the "normal" range that will provide consistent sizing?  There has to be.

For reference, we'll be defining the normal range as band sizes 30-40 and cup sizes AA-DDD, as these are the most common sizes that most manufacturers make.  I'll also be using as a secondary normal scale the size range offered by Cacique, the only widely available line that caters to girls outside the normal range.  The secondary scale provides band sizes 36-50 and cups from B-H; not all cups are available in all sizes.  There are some pretty obvious gaps in here, as far too many ladies are aware.  My ultimate goal is to address those gaps so that girls who fall outside of these ranges will have somewhere to go.  I plan to address the smaller band size/larger cup size group first, as that is the one I fall into. 

So let's get started.  Join me on my bra-dyssey for the better bra.