Fashion

[Blondie50]

There is only one thing I hate as much as bathing suit shopping and that is bra shopping.

Does anybody make a nice bra anymore that doesn't have foam lining in it? I am big enough already (44D) and really don't need to add more girth to my bustline. I also hate foam because every one I have ever had bunches and crinkles, which shows through a t-shirt anyway. Lane Bryant used to make some, but most of them have foam now, and are shaped, too. Shaping doesn't work for me either ... always leave a gap at the top. Every store I shopped at the mall had foam and/or permanent shaping to the bras.

All I want is a pretty bra, nothing like my mother used to wear, and something without foam! HELP!

[Sunshine Kate]

I really like Wacoal Bodysuede bras and I'm a 38DD.

Once I tried Wacoal, I never went back to Vanity Fair or Olga.

[bj042499]

Hi Kate~ My best advice is to find a reputable lingerie shop in your area and go in for a fitting. I recently had a fitting in a local lingerie shop and was amazed by how knowledgeable the shop owner was. She measured me and came back with a bra for me to try as a starting point. Each "issue" that she noticed, was remedied by the next bra I tried on. By the 4th bra, I was in heaven. Ultimately, I purchased a bra by Chantelle in 42G (I would never have found that size in a department store). Best of luck!

[okiebug]

There's also a great website, which I found out about on these boards, HerRoom dot com, which takes you through a questionnaire and gives you some suggestions for bras that might solve the issues you are having. One of the questions was about gaping at the top. I still want to go to a lingerie shop, but it's 50 mi away.

[gidgetgh]

After losing quite a bit of weight, I FINALLY went to Nordstrom for a professional fitting. The bra I was wearing was giving me zero support. I had put off going before I lost weight because I was uncomfortable with the thought, but am so glad that I finally just did it.

They said I was wearing a band size that was 2 sizes too big, which shocked me. And the cup size I was wearing was too small. They went out to the bras and brought in about 5 for me to try on and I liked the first one best. I have to say that I thought it was way too tight, but she said I'd been wearing mine too loose. This bra has an underwire and I don't even know that it's there.

It's been about 4 months now and I'm totally used to the bra and love it. No foam at all and it provides great support. I bought 2 at Nordstrom that day and found three other colors online and ordered them. I love this bra. The straps don't slip and it gives me great support.

If you're interested, look for Wacoal, Style # 855192.

[brii]

I have been buying all my bras and panties from Soma. They have some excellent bras that fit well.

Their panties are on sale for 7/$35. They are so pretty and well made and have a ton of different styles.

[bells4me]

I only wear Bali. Great deals at Kohl's when on sale & 30% coupon.

[sidsmom]

Yes, spend the time to get a free bra fitting from a professional bra fitter. Here I thought I was the standard 36C when in reality, I was a 34DDD!!! It made such a difference...in not only the bra they suggested (Wacoal is the gold standard), but for every different manufacturer I purchased going forward to this day.

[KathyPet]

posted a thread the other day about the terrors of bra shopping. Bali discontinued the bra I had been wearing for years so went to L&T and bought 2 Wacoal Awareness under wires on sale. worn them the last couple of days and so,far I really like them.

[Moonlady]

I had to laugh at the thread title, because my SIL and I were talking about this on Easter Sunday.

The brand I like is available in many varieties locally but, even so, I shudder when I have to go bra shopping. I feel like I'm venturing through a maze of bras, falling all over the place as I squeeze past the 6" space allotted for browsing. I spend more time bending over and picking up the bras I inadvertently knocked off the racks than I do trying to find what I'm looking for among the 50 or so brands/styles available.

I remember heading to a local store, B. Forman Co. to shop for one bra with a friend when I was a teen. There, we'd tell the clerk behind the counter our size, she'd pull out a plastic shoe box-type container, and show us about 5 (!!) bras from which to choose. Sometimes, I wish it were still that simple.