A good bra will give a woman the support she needs, a great bra will work wonders for her figure. My whole life, I’ve had issues with bras. First off, because my size (32E) isn’t carried by your mainstream lingerie boutiques. Even in department stores, maybe they’ll have one or two of my size in stock. But when I’m lucky enough to find my size, it’s amazing what a great bra can do. I’ve felt like it *visually* takes a few pounds off, it transforms from dowdy to voluptuous, it makes me feel pretty.
About three years ago, I was fitted and sold the Prima Donna Menton bra. The boutique charged $130 for the bra, and I was hesitant to spend so much on a bra, but, loved how it has the low plunge, pretty lace, and a single hook closure on the back. A single hook closure is unheard of in the D+ world, so that was enough to sell me on this bra. Three years later, I have purchased quite a few of these, and will never look back. They’ve gone down in price, the Prima Donna Menton at Amazon is now $88., or on Bare Necessities, it’s $72 if you don’t mind over seas shipping (or if you’re in the UK/Europe, I’d buy from this site). which is a great price for high quality lingerie.
I would suggest getting fitted in a specialist boutique if you aren’t sure about your size. Shopping at specialty lingerie boutiques has always been the best bet, not only because they’re usually very pretty, but because they often have knowledgeable staff that can do a proper fitting. Trust me, don’t go to Victoria’s Secret, I’ve been ‘fitted’ there, only to have them suggest a size that never works. Specialty boutiques are great if you need a bit of lingerie therapy, I always ask a million questions every time I go in for something new.
Have you ever invested in an expensive bra? Was it worth it?
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Single hook! Holy cow! I haven’t bought a bra that expensive (yet). After that Oprah bra-sizing show, I got myself properly sized. I had been squishing my 34DDs into 36Cs! Insanity! The instant comfort and overall change in my look has been worth having to shell out some extra loot for bras that fit. Victoria’s Secret has taken care of me for my 34DDs (I think DD is as large as their cups go) but I soooo wish I could find pretty lacy bras in my size, without more than 2 hooks in the back. VS doesn’t make the gorgeous lacy sets (I always have to get a few matching panties) for my size. I’m in the market for a new nude bra. Will have to check them out! Thanks!
Lara´s last blog .. & –
wow, that’s a big leap C to DD! t’s funny how women have their cupsizes wayyy off. like people think if you’re a D or a DD you’re ginormous… christina hendricks perpetuates this by telling people she’s a D.
Yeah, she’s a crazy liar!
Lara´s last blog .. & –
I was a huge doubter of fancy bras — until I got one. Now I’m hooked. I think they are so much better in fit and form than a VS or Target or anything else. I feel like a confident woman and I’m not worried about what my underwear is doing all day. I definitely agree with having a professional fit you too. If you’re going to spend that much, you want it to fit.
P.S. In San Diego, I am a fan of Intimacy — every once in awhile they have Cleavage and Cupcake events where you can get a $25 discount. They usually advertise on Facebook.
Natalie ´s last blog ..One dollar
oh, my sister goes to intimacy, she says it’s the best place for bras! but i agree, the quality plays a big part in how well they hold up over time (no pun intended!)
Yes, to plunge bras! I feel like no matter what size a woman wears, they always make a gal feel sexy. I don’t think I’ve ever spent more than $40 for a bra, but just finding one that FITS makes all the difference….
Ashe Mischief´s last blog ..IFB Presents- Links a La Mode
i agree! plunge bras are the best. i used to be a fan of balconette bras, which are just as sexy, but they sometimes leave an awkward silhouette. the plunge bra is probably the best of both worlds.
I’m a fan of the San Diego Intimacy store as well. That’s where I found out I was wearing the wrong size, and where I discovered Chantelle bras. They seem to be the best-fitting brand for me.
I just recently discovered Chantelle bras, and also really like the fit. I’m not too unusual of a size, so I’ve found a Victoria’s Secret line that works consistently for me. I always stock up during their semi-annual sales, so I usually don’t spend more than $20 on a single bra. 32’s aren’t the easiest to find, but at least being a B/C isn’t as rare as larger cup sizes.
gina´s last blog ..Green & Blue
amazing! thank you for sharing. a few years ago i was wearing a 32B, got fitted and told i was a D, then just last year i found out i’m an F. i ONLY wear plunge bras…they are the best! i didnt know about prima donna - i’m definitely going to check them out!
thanks for posting about sizes - its definitely something not enough women know about!
Lisa´s last blog ..So Close- Yet So Far
Never spent that much on a bra before, but it could really be worth it as when you get fitted at high-street stores (easier and cheaper) you could be one size in one shop and one size in a different shop so you never know your true size!
Holy moly! When i first read this I was amazed to read that your chest was so large. In all of your pictures it never seems that way. I consider myself to have a pretty decent size chest (36D) and a lot of times I find it hard to buy shirts because of how they look on me. I also have to be careful how i pose for weardrobe pictures otherwise I tend to come off 10 pounds heavier than i am. I think this is a great post and I will definitely be checking out these bras. What i was wondering though, is would you please open to doing a post about dressing for your figure (Large-chest)? A lot of times when its talked about dressing for your big-chest its assumed that if you have a big chest you are big everywhere else as well, which isn’t always true. If you don’t want to do one on your own site I would be glad to do it on mine. Thanks for this post. You really opened my eyes! I appreciated your frankness as well!
Jennifer´s last blog ..A new day!
haha, you know, a lot of people say that, but that’s why a great bra is soo important. i’ve never been much for showing of the girls, so i’ve become an expert in playing them down. so yeah, i should do a post about dressing for your figure! well, i’m not so sure, because the truth is, i really don’t ‘dress for my figure’ but will try to quantify how i think about clothes. it’s true, that some things will make me look dowdy, or fat (like crew neck sweaters, baby doll dresses) but i always think that the right cut will make an exception out of anything.
thanks for inspiring a new post!
Yes, especially when you want something that is NOT padded! I have a relatively small bust size and I have no desire to pump it up. However, finding a well-fitting, pretty, non-padded bra for a small bust is sometimes challenging. So, like you, I upgraded. I still think there are some things where you have to pay for quality and it’s worth it.
Alice Olive´s last blog ..Im talking about liquid
yeah, what’s up with padded bras? even in the big bras, it’s hard to find non padded. who’s making these things?
Well, you know my whole life is in pursuit of beautiful lingerie and getting the word out about how size and beautiful options need not be mutually exclusive. I haven’t tried Prima Donna, though a number of peeps have suggested it. I think it might be time to give this brand a try.
K-Line´s last blog ..Administrative Update
One other thing: Lara’s new / correct size is not actually that much bigger than the one she thought she was originally. The cup size on a 36C is the same as that on a 34D - so she really only went up one cup size. Remember, going down a back size means going up a cup size. 32B=34A=30C. It sounds crazy, but that’s the way it works.
K-Line´s last blog ..Administrative Update
it’s true that if you go up or down a cup size, you go up or down a band size and vice versa. but never underestimate how important the band size is. i’ve tried to wear 34D or DD (depending if I’m up or down a few pounds) and the thing is, the band size is just too big, and then it ends up riding up my back. so for laura, i would imagine, that in the 36C’s not all the breast tissue was being supported because some of it was being absorbed in the band. which is a common problem.
also, i’ve noticed that the cup sizes, even though they hold the same volume, the shape on a 36D is different than a 34D, it can make all the difference in the world.
Oh, I totally agree with you! I wasn’t trying to imply that it isn’t wretched to be in the wrong back size. It totally wrecks everything. And I hear you about the volume / cup shape issue, though I haven’t found that to be the case with the brands I buy (Freya, Panache, Charnos) - ones designed and constructed with large breasts in mind. Maybe I’ve just got lucky?
K-Line´s last blog ..Administrative Update
A conversation between me and a ‘bra fitting specialist’ recently:
Her: Ok, this one fits you, it’s a 32DD.
Me: No, this one is seriously too tight and I can see flesh bulging out from over the band at the sides.
Her: I’ve had training, I know what fits. This fits you.
Me: It’s VERY tight, it hurts! You had to practically wrestle it shut. And I look like I have 4 boobs.
Her: It fits.
Me: It hurts.
Her: That’s a sign it’s working.
I left without buying anything…
where was that? some places teach their sales people this formula, measuring around the rib cage, then measuring around the boobs, and then add 5 inches, and wella! or so they think.
i used to work in a lingerie store, and they made me use the measuring tape, but i was so much better at just eye-balling it, bringing a few extra sizes, and it worked every time. i was so good, in fact, i saw an agent provacateur bra in TJ Maxx for $20, and knew it would fit one of my girlfriends without knowing her size. and it fit her perfectly.
what i’m saying, is that in the better boutiques, the sales people will know how to do a proper fitting, and they won’t try to sell you anything that doesn’t fit, if they’re good anyway.
I am quite large in the chest department and to get any nice bras that do not look like granny bras i have the shell out the $$$. I frequently spend that much on a bra because that is how much they cost. It is a worthy investment for sure though.
I’m with Laurie - I regularly spend around $100 per bra because that’s just how much a good bra in my size costs. People don’t believe I spend so much on underwear when I’m a budget shopper for almost all my other clothes…but a bra has WORK to do and it’s a feat of engineering - worth the $$!!
Oh, and I totally agree that VS is shit. Here’s a post I did for The Lingerie Post about how incompetent and/or deceptive they are: http://www.the-lingerie-post.com/2010/07/getting-fitted-at-victorias-secret/
Kelly´s last blog ..Daily Outfit - Even Traci gets mopey