Bra Recommendations?

kms6169

Hey all...I'm mostly a lurker and have gotten amazing advice regarding clothing in the past few weeks (i.e. Levi's Straight Jeans for $40 from Macys! Thanks @JCbride2015, purchased a few minutes ago!).   

I'm in desperate need for advice regarding bras.  I'm going to go ahead and preface this by saying that I, as a 26 yr old professional, have worn a 'normal' bra twice in the past two years....

The last time I was measured was at Macy's and I measured at a 36C.  I wore a yoga type bra and the woman scolded me for not wearing a normal bra and said that my 'real size' was altered because I didn't wear a normal bra. WTF?  I have only ever been measured at VC (34D) and Macy's (consistently a 36C).  I was pretty dedicated to VS for about 5 years and thought they were awesome until I realized that I didn't fit into them anymore no matter what the girl measured.  My girls are two different sizes with the left being noticeably (to me, not to FI) larger than the right.  With VC, I notice that the bra always significantly shifts to the right so much that I have to go to the bathroom to reshift so that I don't run into a nip slip. Macy's has been better, but still not 100% perfect with coverage and staying in the right place.  I have been wearing VC's lace bralettes for the past year but they are totally unprofessional and do not give the right lift for any woman with a noticeable chest size.  Any recommendations?  I really don't want or need to wear bralettes anymore, especially since stretch marks are looming from not having enough support.  At the same time, I need comfort AND support and not just something that looks pretty on VS models.

If this has been discussed recently, please please send the link!  I start a new job job on October 6th and want to be more put together, so to speak.  Please help!

theartistformerlyknownas

Honestly, you need a lot of trial and error. Go to Macy's or another department store with a good selection and take armfuls into the dressing room. This is a good guide for all the things you should look for. I like to hold my arms up and jump up and down to make sure everything stays put!

http://www.breakoutbras.com/sizing

lyndausvi

I so read this as BAR recommendations.  I'm like I can help with that!!

My bras come from Vanity Fair. 

JCbride2015

I'm a VS girl, so no help to you.  I'm glad you found the Levi's though!

hikebikebemerry

I just bought some Wacoal bras and I am big fan.  Macy's carries them.

penguin44

I like Calvin Klein. I get them at Nordstrom Rack, but you can get them at Macy's too.

larrygaga

Is a yoga bra a sports bra? WTF is a yoga bra???

I am also a VS girl

iloveotters2014

Calvin Klein is my favorite

hellohkb

I love this one bra from Maidenform. I don't know that it's called but they brag that it's made out of super soft material, but I find that the fit and lift are phenomenal. I got mine at Macys but you can also find them at Kohls.

Also, I went to Nordstroms and a woman fitted me there. She also brought me back a ton of bras in my new correct size and I picked one that fit like a dream. I look several pounds thinner in it.

HaileyDancingbear

Usually the problem is that many american brands like VS have a different way of sizing than anywhere else.  We do this lame thing where we end up going up band sizes instead of cup sizes in order to cram the most boobies into the fewest number of sizes.  

You may want to look into bras made in europe.  I was measured as a 34 D, then 34 DD, then 32 DDD in american stores.  I self-measured, and used the handy sizing chart on the Kinga website to double check, and ended up in a 70F, which in our sizing would be a 30F.  Not finding that in VS.  Kinga is based in poland and they are honestly the only bras I like.  NO quad boob.  NO gapping.  NO funky shape that makes my boobs pointy or cross-eyed.  They also have removable foam padding- What they give you is a pretty thin foam sheet that you can remove from the lining.  You may be able to take the foam out of one side, and double up on the other side in order to even out your chest a bit if you wish.  (So get something to fit the larger breast) 

The only drawback is that shipping is a pain, but honestly I think it's worth it to get a really well-fitting bra.  

Inkdancer

Go to Nordstrom. They have the best selection ever. My boobs are bigger than my head (not exaggerating) and they still had comfortable things in stock to fit me.

I strongly recommend Chantelle as a brand. Very very comfortable. I'm a little larger on the left than the right and my Chantelle never shifts at all.

hellohkb

@HaileyDancingbear Yes! Exactly! I always thought I was a 36-38DD, but I finally got a proper fitting and turns out I am 34G. I started to give the woman giving me a fitting some serious side-eye when she said that but then she made try on like 9,000 bras and they made my girls look seriously on point. 

Getting your boobs properly fitted and getting a bra in that size is practically a life changing moment. 

wandajune6

Inkdancer said:

Go to Nordstrom. They have the best selection ever. My boobs are bigger than my head (not exaggerating) and they still had comfortable things in stock to fit me.

I strongly recommend Chantelle as a brand. Very very comfortable. I'm a little larger on the left than the right and my Chantelle never shifts at all.

Seconded! I love Chantelle, Freya, Walcoal, and Primadonna (I think that's the name, they're crazy expensive).

A good fitting can change how you look- I wear different shirt sizes depending on the bra I wear.

climbingsingle

I mostly have VS, but I do have a few from Aerie that I love. 

doeydo

I can't say enough good things about this website: http://www.butterflycollection.ca/free-bra-size-consultation/

I was wearing a 38E, turns out I'm a 34GG.  It is so much more than just your measurements though, density, types of breast (ie. splayed, more heavy at bottom and side, etc.) too.  

holyguacamole79

PSA - I LOVE Soma.  Today and tomorrow they have a sale where you get 1/2 off your highest priced item when you get 2 or more (code 15463).

loveislouder

Someone posted a while back a video how to correctly size yourself... who was it!

levioosa

Soma is a good store.  Nordstrom's is a big store that has a lot of sizes.  I also like VS, but they don't have a great range of sizes.  VS girls also have no frickin' clue how to size you correctly.  You're better off measuring yourself at home with a chart for reference.  

Remember that a fitting is good, but you still need to try on bras in a wide range of sizes until you find one that fits right.  They're more of a guideline than a be all end all.  Especially because two different bras by the same manufacturer can fit completely different.

The bra should fit on the outside of your breast tissue so your lymph nodes can still drain.  There shouldn't be any boob "muffin topping," and there shouldn't be any side boob.  Nordstrom's has offered the best chain bra fitting I've seen (I also like independent bra stores).  

ElcaB

Hmmm, I read this as "Bar Recommendations." Can I be of help in that area?

sarahufl

all my underware comes from Gap

Ndelible

Wacoal, Wacoal, Wacoal. Pretty and support. Macys is an excellent place to start.

emilyroxin

I’ve purchased bras through Roamans on several occasions without any problem. Their prices are low, comfortable & fitted bras. They have good many sales on bras too. Click here to view their latest deals on bras and other products. I have also done several returns (to get right size) and never had a problem with the returns. I'm happy with them.