[hamster-bamster]

I need bras, size E-F. I usually go to Nordstrom but it is very pricey. I like being fitted properly there. But - pricey. That is my only complaint about Nordstrom.

Where do you go?

I threw out all my bras back in 1993 and have been free fallin' ever since ... !!!

[hamster-bamster]

You must be in good shape for that.

Ha! Ha! Hardly ... !!!

However, I'm too old to care ...

If it ain't baggin' or draggin' ...

It's saggin' ...

[hamster-bamster]

The reason I go to Nordstrom is precisely so that it would not sag - they do a remarkable job at giving me the perfect look. If only it did not cost 90 dollars per item.

But you are a brave fearless woman.

[unaluna]

You can find bargains online. You just have to be persistent. Even on amazon. But you can find a $40 bra for $15.

[hamster-bamster]

Wow, so Amazon is not just for cat food. But you have to be sure, right, no returns?

Man, if I were to wear a bra today, my boobs would be turning the corner in the hall 5 minutes before the rest of me got there ... !!!

If I didn't fall over first ... !!!

Hmm ... Could always wear the high heels backwards I guess ... !!!

[Insignificant other]

I've got to pee .. laughing so hard! I set my girls free long ago!

During a public poker tournament for a local charity, a man at the table rudely asked me why I didn't have a bra on ... I asked him if he had on a jock strap, to which he replied no ... I told him that when men started wearing those contraptions 24-7, that I might consider wearing a bra again ... The rest of the players at the table were hooting and laughing at him so hard that he got his poor self all flustered and embarrassed and asked to be moved to another table ... !!!

[JLarissaDragon]

Nordstroms is not known for cheap prices on almost anything. Sometimes you can find things at the Nordstroms Rack that are less expensive though. I have never gone there for bras though. I have tried a lot of cheaper places, but they never seem to fit right or something.

I suppose what you wear or do not wear is your choice for that matter. Personally I do not want my boobs flopping around and I like the support of a good fitting bra

[lynn P.]

Pfrog - I just wanted to thank you for your posts that made me laugh so hard. Its been gloomy here since my SIL's funeral was 3 days ago and I soo needed these laughs. You're hysterically funny.

[nicoleb2]

I can't go braless for too long. Being large-breasted, i hurt if I don't wear something supportive!

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by JLarissaDragon

Nordstroms is not known for cheap prices on almost anything. Sometimes you can find things at the Nordstroms Rack that are less expensive though. I have never gone there for bras though. I have tried a lot of cheaper places, but they never seem to fit right or something.

I suppose what you wear or do not wear is your choice for that matter. Personally I do not want my boobs flopping around and I like the support of a good fitting bra

Thanks, Larissa, I will try the rack. Also... I found excellent jeans for $8 at Goodwill today. I buy a lot of clothing at Goodwill. I guess with such thrifty overall apparel buying habits I should not feel bad about spending close to $100 on an excellent bra every once in a while. I think bras as a clothing piece are as important as jeans if not more so, because the right support is so crucial.

At the Rack I would be on my own, right - no fitters?

[Maven]

I'm astounded about all of you who posted that you go braless! In public, no less! I did that when I was younger sometimes when I didn't feel like wearing a bra, and my mom would tell me how "awful" I looked. (She's always felt quite comfortable to tell me when she doesn't like the way I look/what I'm wearing/the makeup I have on.) In public, I always wear a bra, except if I don't have any and it's cold out; then, I can kind of hide my free-wheelin' ladies under a jacket or coat.

I have heard that constant bra-wearing can reduce sag, but I learned that lesson too late. I have low self-esteem, and one reason is my saggy boobs. I can joke about them, but in truth, I'm quite sensitive. Oh, to be young again! For that matter, I don't know if I'd stick to constant bra-wearing, even if I were young again. I feel such relief when I come home after shopping or doing whatever it is I do when I go out and undo my bra and slip it off (all without taking my shirt off, for any guys who might read this...they seem fascinated that women can do this, LOL!). And I always go bra-less when I'm in bed. I need to be free!

[shezbut]

I buy all of my bras at Victoria's Secret. They have customized fitters there, who know how to size properly and their prices are lower than Nordstrom. Victoria's Secret bras go for $50 or so (unless they're 100% cotton, those are cheaper - but they aren't as supportive imo) and it's well-worth the price! If you know your size for sure, I'd recommend checking them out online. They carry a larger range of sizes and styles online than they do in the store. Shipment is very fast and reasonable too.

Best wishes!

[Eliza Jane]

Originally Posted by shezbut

I buy all of my bras at Victoria's Secret. They have customized fitters there, who know how to size properly and their prices are lower than Nordstrom. Victoria's Secret bras go for $50 or so (unless they're 100% cotton, those are cheaper - but they aren't as supportive imo) and it's well-worth the price! If you know your size for sure, I'd recommend checking them out online. They carry a larger range of sizes and styles online than they do in the store. Shipment is very fast and reasonable too.

Best wishes!

They are not good for busty women. In store they have a narrow range of sizes. I don't know much about their online offerings, but I suspect that they are the same bras in bigger sizes, right? Bigger breasts need a different structure and not just a bigger size. For example, "demi" cups are a disaster on me. And skinny straps provide no support. VS is a real pet peeve of mine. They pretend to specialize in bras, but there are so many women that can't shop there. When I was younger it made me feel like a freak that nothing there fit me.

I shop at cacique (spelling?) that is attached to Lane Bryant. They have decent things in bigger sizes. They can measure you there, but idk that they really know what they are doing.

Best,
EJ

[Anika.]

Winners is also a good choice Hammy. I find really good quality name brand bras there for $10-15 canadian all the time. I don't have the easiest time finding a proper fit either. Most stores around here have little selection if you are smaller than 32 in the band. It's worth looking tho, they just might have something nice in your size. They do seem to have more selection for bigger cup sizes than small. And even tho I am small, I need a bra that provides a lot of support and comfort. I usually pick ones with a racer back as I find them a lot more supportive and less pull on my shoulders.

They have a lot of well constructed bras made from good materials, not just your pretty and frilly but flimsy bras.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by shezbut

I buy all of my bras at Victoria's Secret. They have customized fitters there, who know how to size properly and their prices are lower than Nordstrom. Victoria's Secret bras go for $50 or so (unless they're 100% cotton, those are cheaper - but they aren't as supportive imo) and it's well-worth the price! If you know your size for sure, I'd recommend checking them out online. They carry a larger range of sizes and styles online than they do in the store. Shipment is very fast and reasonable too.

Best wishes!

They end at D, that is the problem. I asked the other day when I was buying panties at the brick-and-mortar store at Stanford. At least in my area they stop at D and the rest is online, without an opportunity to be fitted. But I will try online - do you know their return policy?

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Eliza Jane

They are not good for busty women. In store they have a narrow range of sizes. I don't know much about their online offerings, but I suspect that they are the same bras in bigger sizes, right? Bigger breasts need a different structure and not just a bigger size. For example, "demi" cups are a disaster on me. And skinny straps provide no support. VS is a real pet peeve of mine. They pretend to specialize in bras, but there are so many women that can't shop there. When I was younger it made me feel like a freak that nothing there fit me.

I shop at cacique (spelling?) that is attached to Lane Bryant. They have decent things in bigger sizes. They can measure you there, but idk that they really know what they are doing.

Best,
EJ

I will try that. I think I have seen a mention of Cacique spelled exactly as you did.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Maven

I have heard that constant bra-wearing can reduce sag,

I have heard the opposite - that bras do nothing to prevent the sag. So what - they fully hide it (good bras are great at that). Because in the end a TINY percentage of people would ever see me naked, right? For the rest - I have perfectly shaped breasts, thanks to the bras. So I am definitely not going to willingly give up this wondrous piece of clothing even though there is no respective equivalent of it in the male wardrobe.

[Fresia]

I will get a lot of mine from LadyGrace.com for the fuller figure bras. Their prices are somewhat to much less than Nordstom's depending on the brand with a good return/exchange policy. They can have really good sales. There is a mailing catalog as well that also advertises their sales. Perhaps this might help.

[shezbut]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

They end at D, that is the problem. I asked the other day when I was buying panties at the brick-and-mortar store at Stanford. At least in my area they stop at D and the rest is online, without an opportunity to be fitted. But I will try online - do you know their return policy?

They carry sizes online (and in the catalogs) from 30A - 40DDD. Here's their link: http://www.victoriassecret.com

[fixedatzero]

As someone who wears at 30FF(UK)/30H(US), I feel your pain . I mostly get my bras from online as Nordstrom and specialty bra shops are the only places in the US to buy in my size and the prices are outrageous. Most stores (at least in the US) only sell a limited size collection and will fit you into a poorly fitting bra to make a sale. Victorias Secret tried to fit me in a 36D which is three band sizes too big and one cup size too small (remember every time you go down a band size, you go up a cup a size). Here are some of the places I shop:

Brastop- its a UK site but you can get bras for $25-30 bucks per bra (plus shipping) and they often have shipping deals for the US. Great return policy as well
Figleaves- another uk company but also has a US site so it ships quicker. Tends to be a little more expensive than Brastop.
Amazon- a bit of a mixed bag but I've found bras that usually go for $70+ in the US for around $30-$40 and Amazon often has free shipping.
Bare Necessities- also sells DD+ but partners with Amazon. Last time I ordered Bare Necessities bras, I ordered thru Amazon. You will also have to shop the sales as their regular prices are $50-80 per bra but their sales are usually over half off. Also they are currently offering free shipping.
Nordstroms Rack -can also have some deals but tends to be limited selection

Since you went to Nordstroms you are probably in the right size (as they are about the only place that even comes close to properly fitting women) but I would remeasure on your own just to make sure. Make sure you DO NOT ADD INCHES TO YOUR UNDERBUST. The 4+ inches rule is an outdated model of measurement and was created before the use of elastic in bras. Most women cram themselves into ill fitting bras because bra companies never changed their sizing to accommodate the elastic in bras. Issues like not being able to bottom up tops, back pain, shoulder pain, rashes in the bust area, quadboob, arimpit fat, back fat etc. are generally actually due to the bra .

You can use Sophisticated Pairs calculator at sophisticatedpair dot com slash bracalculator dot htm to find out your size. Most places that sell above DD use UK sizing so I would definitely find out your UK size at least. Also remember that you made not be the same size in all brands as bra companies also unfortunately participate in vanity sizing. For example, the Freya deco tends to run large in the band and cup and Curvy Kate in general runs small in the cup (especially for the showgirl collection). So don't be surprised if you're one size in one brand and a different one in another.

Lastly here are some signs of a properly fitting bra:

the back band lays flat/doesn't ride up
the center gore lays flat on your chest
all the breast tissue is in the cup
no quadboob
no discernible armpit fat or back fat (this is actually migrated breast tissue from wearing poorly fitted bras!)
the straps are not digging in
you can only pull out the band 2 inches at the most
there is no wrinkling in the cup
your bra feels supportive without being too tight
when you take off your bra marks that go away are fine, bruising/pain are not

Have a great day!

fixedatzero

[hamster-bamster]

Wow, thanks, fixedatzero, I took note.

I hope you at least get to enjoy the beauty of 30H and not just suffer the pain of finding appropriate garments!!