Boobs and Bras

JadziaDax

I went to Victoria's Secret after work today to buy a strapless bra to wear under my wedding dress. Every time i'm in that store, I notice that 95% of the bras are either padded or HEAVILY padded. Is this the norm now? Is everyone walking around with these padded bras? I figured i'd post here since the friends i've asked all say they wear padded bras so this will give me a more diverse sample. I actually bought one of the heavily padded ones and I just look ridiculous. 

BunnyChii

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_boobs-bras?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:46f43bbf-25d6-43fd-9f47-9af6842a8be0Post:69e0789f-9c87-4d8d-92ce-2ae8aa8fa08f">Re: Boobs and Bras</a>:
[QUOTE]I wear padded bras.  Not crazy padding, but some.<strong> I find non-padded bras too thin and I get cold easily so that can be embarrassing at times.  THO is not what I want my co-workers focused on when I am giving a presentation.</strong>
Posted by ILoveMilkDuds[/QUOTE]

<div>This exactly. I wear just enough padding so that if it gets cold (I'm always cold, so y'know, all the time) no one will notice. 

Although I'll admit, I don't shop at Victoria's Secret. I go to a small business and get my bras fitted to my size. I find it difficult to find bras that fit in a lot of department stores.</div>

arwo

Huh. I'm surprised by the answers so far!

I never wear padded bras. My breasts are too large as it is; I would rather my nipples show a little than make my breasts appear any larger. (It actually didn't really occur to me that my nipples might be prominent on a regular basis. Oopsies!)

Simply Fated

I thought this was the norm for awhile now. It's so frustrating because I can't stand heavy padding, but it's all I can find. I have to do some serious hunting at Kohls to find only lightly padded bras. The ONLY reason why I wear bras at all is for when I get cold, so although I hate any padding, I'm good with the thinly padded kind. The worst is when I took my 90 year old grandmother bra shopping. She doesn't like any padding at all. There was only one company that made it like that in all of JcPenneys.

StephBeanWed61502

I am a D-cup and wear padded bras anyway because I find they help "shape" my girls in a way that I like.

JadziaDax

I guess in the winter some slight padding would make sense. I was just really shocked to see this huge difference when I tried on the bra I bought today. If I wear this to work tomorrow, it will be very obvious that I "stuffed my bra". I figure women who wear such heavy padding must have to keep it up on a daily basis. 

chalfacre

I buy the Victoria's Secret Cotton Lingerie bras and I'm very happy with them.. light padding and super comfy.

colstj1

I wear padded bras with a little bit of push up in them. I need a little umph sometimes since I am a little smaller chested. I am even having my seamstress sew "push up" padded cups into my wedding dress.

LizziebeeUT

I love their bras. My breasts aren't extremely different in size, but its enough to make one side always "fold." VS is the only ones I can find that don't do it.

Simply Fated

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_boobs-bras?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:46f43bbf-25d6-43fd-9f47-9af6842a8be0Post:37993172-debf-424d-9431-6e196190ebc2">Re: Boobs and Bras</a>:
[QUOTE]Simply, SIL and I took H's 87-year-old grandmother to a Hanes/Bali outlet store to go bra shopping.  Tons of "old lady" type bras at that store.  Might be worth seeing if there is one in your area next time grandma needs to go shopping.
Posted by ILoveMilkDuds[/QUOTE]


Thanks for the tip!

JeremyHeartTrena

I remember doing the same thing about a year ago. I asked what they had in strapless/convertible bras, and they handed me a bunch of  ridiculously padded push-ups! I felt silly even trying them on. Especially since I'm a size D, but also a size 0 in pants, so I'm pretty busty. They only showed me one that had just the minimal shaping padding, so I got it. But I agree, who wants big boobs?? Especially since I have always been athletic. They just get in the way! haha

BunnyChii

I don't think my grandmother has bought bras in at least 20 years. My mother, grandmother, and I were talking about bras the other day and my grandmother said, "Well, you can't be more than an A, MAYBE a B cup."

I'm a DD. =/

RyansBelovedBride

Victoria's Secret doesn't make bras large enough for me. I'd like padded bras (I remember they were comfortable) but I just wear what I can find in my size that I can afford. It's a beggers-can't-be-choosers situation.

My younger sister only buys Victoria's Secret because she hates, hates, hates bras that aren't very thickly padded. I dont' know why.

RamonaFlowers

I'm a 32B, and I pretty much only shop at VS for my bras.

I discovered push-up bras when I was in college and I never looked back, lol. I don't wear anything insane, but some padding definitely gives me a little bit of "oomph", as well as prevents any nip from showing when I'm cold.

Dannitra01

I absolutely LOVE VS but I have the same issue with their bras. I am a DD and the excessive padding really isn't something that I need. So, the bras that I buy from them have very little padding, just enough to keep me modest in frigid climates.

Michellea86

I love VS, I live in Toronto and they've opened up a few stores here recently. I am not a fan of these super padded bras, but the new showstopper bra is amazing. It has no padding, but its thick enough material that it doesnt show the temperature LOL

:http://www.victoriassecret.com/ss/Satellite?ProductID=1265669925320&c=Page&cid=1321712148717&pagename=vsdWrapper

kimberlyb33

I'll agree that the bras available are mostly padded and heavily padded... I'm a natural type of girl so I'm happy with the size I am and I don't want to make them look any bigger than they are. The bras I wear daily are just made out of a slightly thicker type of fabric... mostly for the prevention of THO.
I found these ones at Kohl's... I had to dig a bit, but they are quite comfy.
I need to get something for my wedding as well... and I was planning on going to VS but now I'm having second thoughts. I don't want to be popping out of my wedding dress... that's just tacky IMO. Maybe I'll go looking and if i don't find anything, I can just ask the seamstress what options she can give me.

redheadfsu

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_boobs-bras?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:46f43bbf-25d6-43fd-9f47-9af6842a8be0Post:69e0789f-9c87-4d8d-92ce-2ae8aa8fa08f">Re: Boobs and Bras</a>:
[QUOTE]I wear padded bras.  Not crazy padding, but some. I find non-padded bras too thin and I get cold easily so that can be embarrassing at times.  THO is not what I want my co-workers focused on when I am giving a presentation.
Posted by ILoveMilkDuds[/QUOTE]

This.

I can't have headlights at work...that would be very very bad.

Cupcakes4life

I have noticed that as well. I only have one bra I like to wear because it isn't padded. Any padding at all makes me pop out the top. It's annoying. I guess I might be on the verge of going up a cup.

2012FutureMrsB

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_boobs-bras?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:46f43bbf-25d6-43fd-9f47-9af6842a8be0Post:a4629030-73ec-4912-8d0c-6c2f07ca1c34">Re: Boobs and Bras</a>:
[QUOTE]I am a D-cup and wear padded bras anyway because I find they help "shape" my girls in a way that I like.
Posted by StephBeanWed61502[/QUOTE]

Same here! I'm a DD and LOVE a little padding - not a lot, but just enough to give me the support and lift that I desparately need. otherwise, I'd be sagging or hanging out the sides - not good.

ETA: Plus, my breasts aren't quite the same size - at least 1/2 a cup size different, so wearing a little padding actually helps to even them out :)

DeadUtopia

I didn't read the whole thread, just the OP, but I just feel the need to add this. Even LITTLE GIRLS bras are padded. Like, training bras, have padded cups. I was buying undies or socks or something for my daughter and it's next to the little bras and I was like WTF?! There's still the simple cotton ones, but there's wayy more options in the padded cup style. Is it just me, or am I crazy for not wanting my 10 year old walking around in a padded bra when that time comes? It kind of upset me.

As for big girl bras, I wish there was a better selection of non-padded bras with good support that didn't have the granny style going on. I have D's, and while I like wearing a moderately padded bra for the extra oomph for a night out or something, there's not anything nice for me to choose from without padding. I've broken down and bought those "18 hour" bras without padding and it's comfortable, but it looks like something my 50 something year old FMIL would wear. I still wear my (obviously unpadded) nursing bras around the house and such because they're so comfy.

SheSincerely

I'm just a bit busty myself & prefer not to wear push up bras, but I love light padding. Mostly for the same reason other ladies have posted (the cold). If you are looking for lightly padded VS bras, the BIOFIT and the IPEX are my two favorites. Both of the these are full coverage bras, with great support, & no push up. Unfortunately, I was informed at the VS Semi Annual sale, that these bras were being discontinued.  I know for a fact that there are a ton of the BIOFITs available at the semi annual sale right now, but I didn't see the IPEX.  The sales girl told me that there is a new bra that was very similar to the IPEX, but I can't remember the name. I tried the new one on while I was there and it feels almost just like it. 

lkirby85

I used to be a store manager at VS and so I will offer up an explanation of their line for those that are interested...

VS mostly carries what are called "Lightly Lined" styles. To some, these may be considered lightly "padded" but really, they are not meant to add to your cup size the way a truly padded bra is.  The idea of a Lightly Lined bra is to prevent show-through while providing batter shape and support.  If you have a larger bust (or not, to be honest) I HIGHLY recommend VS's Body By Victoria lighly line demi or lightly lined full coverage.  I still wear both of these.

They do offer several padded bras which will add to the appearance of your cup size.  One nice thing about most of their padded bras, though, is that the padding sits to the outer sides of the cups which provides cleavage enhancement. 

The unlined bras that are almost non-existent at VS have lost popularity with the brand because they provide support and little else.  The fabric also stretches more easily due to its lack of shape and inevitably creates a quality issue that the brand does not want to be associated with.  

I personally am a 32D and wear a mix of lightly lined and padded.  I don't need the extra size of the padded ones but I like the umph it gives to my cleavage.  I find he lightly lined bras to be the most flattering and comfortable, regardless of brand.