[Travelinglady]

So, let's talk about bras. First off, I like to go without a bra when I'm at home and not planning on going anywhere. However, that said, I don't like my nipples to be obvious, so I do wear a bra when workers are around or wear a sweater or robe on top of my shirt to cover my braless state.

I don't like underwire bras. They are uncomfortable, As are a lot of other bras. So, I stick to more old ladies' bras, like the standard Playtex. But I don't like white bras, so I get beige. I wish these bras had more colors.

What do you have to say about bras?

Bras are optional. It is about what each woman is comfortable with.

I have D cups and only wear expensive brand name sports bras. No underwire here unless I need a strapless bra, but by the end of the night I am so done with that.

I find a style I like and tend to collect every color they release for variety. Purple, pink, blue, black, white, grey, plain, stripped, etc.

Proper fit, support and comfort is key.

[Nammu]

Always wished I was an A and could wear the prettier cheaper bras or just go without. At my size there's not lots of choices. I hate under wires and would like them to invent jock straps with under wire for fairness! that said I often go bra less at home alone.

I don't like bras. For me they are very uncomfortable and it's a myth that they actually prevent sagging...the research is there. I realize that some women get physical support from a bra if they have larger breasts and it can be more comfortable for them...less movement etc. Though with regard to breasts sagging with age and time, they will eventually sag whether we wear a bra or not....gravity takes over after while....older women are very clear about that. Some research actually suggests that sagging can happen faster or be more pronounced with continual use of a bra in younger years because the breast tissue becomes dependent on the bra to hold it up.

I never wear one at home. Sometimes I go out without one provided I'm comfortable in the top I have on. I always wear a bra at work....not for comfort but because it's expected and I'd be judged as unprofessional if I didn't.

Personally, I wish the bra had never been enforced by some cultures as something women are expected to wear. I was raised to wear one all the time so even though I am much more physically comfortable without one, I still feel compelled to wear one in certain settings due to societal bias against women going braless.

That said, I have friends who say they feel more physically comfortable wearing a bra all the time so I always say each to their own.

If anyone knows of a great bra brand, please let me know. I cannot wear sports bras...I think maybe they work better with larger breasts. I am a B cup and any time I tried sports bras they crushed me and I immediately needed to take them off. So, any tips on a regular bra with an underwire (I tried without...I didn't like how it looked) that is actually softer, smoother, and somehow more comfortable would be great. In the past, I've worn Victoria's Secret bras (not the big padded ones....I don't wear padded bras). VS bras seemed to be the best of a bad bunch that I tried...on my budget anyway. Though at this point I'd be willing to fork out some extra dough for a more comfy bra for work.

[downandlonely]

I have very large breasts and my back tends to hurt without the support of a bra, so I wear one all the time, even at night. I sleep in a T-shirt, bra, and panties. I actually prefer underwire to sports bras. I find it offers more support and looks better too. I'm not sure why people say underwire is uncomfortable. I have never found that to be the case except if it pokes through the cloth, at which time I just replace the bra.

That said, if I had very small breasts, I probably wouldn't wear a bra at all.

I get bra extenders because they are always tight and I feel like it cuts circulation/ smooth breathing.

Originally Posted by ennie

I get bra extenders because they are always tight and I feel like it cuts circulation/ smooth breathing.

What are bra extenders Ennie? I feel the same way about circulation and breathing....it's a tight band of fabric across the chest....

[Travelinglady]

I find if I don't wear a bra in hot weather or if I get too hot and sweat a lot without one, I'm prone to a fungal infection under each boob. Not a fun thing to have.

Maybe underwire bras work better for women with bigger breasts. That makes sense to me---more support.

Originally Posted by SilverTrees

What are bra extenders Ennie? I feel the same way about circulation and breathing....it's a tight band of fabric across the chest....

Hi SilverTrees, bra extender makes the bra extend horizontally, so it's not so tight that it's cutting your circulation around your lungs.

I buy them Online:

https://www.amazon.com/Bra-Extenders/s?k=Bra+Extenders

[LustStarrr]

I'm one of those rare women with a small band size, large cup size. . . wait. . . we're not actually that rare, but if you try shopping for a bra when you're one of us, you'll certainly feel like it! And don't even get me started on the size differences from brand to brand which make one brand's E cup fit me when another's G-GG won't even come close to being passable!

Anyway, while Googling bra-related queries, I came across a website called Bra database | Bratabase & OMG, it's been such a helpful resource for me, you should all have a look at it! It has a size comparison tool from brand to brand, which is great for online shopping, & you can enter your measurements, current bras, how they fit, etc. & it'll develop recommendations for you personally, by utilising the data of all of us members who have contributed across the world. A fantastic effort, overall, by a very smart woman - highly recommended.

[LadyShadow]

I am a braless girl, mostly because I spend a lot of time at home now. I have TWO really nice DD Victoria Secret bras that are indeed uncomfortable, but I love the support and beauty of the bras and how they make my boobs look, lol.

That aside, I saw an infomercial for this: Miracle Bamboo Bra and it was a total GODSEND for me. I bought three and never looked back. However, my mom hated them because she was much bigger and the straps were too loose for her, I guess its not for everybody. But I love mine and those are the most comfortable bras for me when I am just "roughin" it, lol.

[luvyrself]

A fun fashion statement to me is that I have a few black , burgundy , pink, and aqua bras with which I will purposely allow the strap to show if my top slides down to show my shoulder, that is those roomy tops will sometimes slide down to the level of the armpit. Woo-hoo, big rebellion on my part! I wouldn’t do this with a white or beige bra becoz that looks like I am just sloppy letting my bra show. I am 42D so I like underwires.

[Fuzzybear]

I almost never wear a bra.

I like the pretty lacy bras, I can’t wear them though (very sensitive skin)

And extremely sensitive nipples.

I’m sure y’all wanted to know that (sarcasm)

[Travelinglady]

I saw a reference to an internet site for bras even sold in half sizes. Alas, I've now forgotten what it's called. Maybe the commercial for it will come on again when I'm watching.

Have you seen the commercial that purports that many of us are wearing the wrong bra size? I had my size measured one time at a department store (Belk's). But I've gained weight since then and I'm sure my size has changed.

Anyone know where I can get bras like the standard Playtex ones in pretty colors?

[sarahsweets]

Originally Posted by SilverTrees

What are bra extenders Ennie? I feel the same way about circulation and breathing....it's a tight band of fabric across the chest....

They are pretty cool. You can get them in different numbers of hooks. I am a 36/38 and even those bras are snug but the higher band sizes are loose.

[sarahsweets]

I used to be self conscious about my breasts especially when I was heavy because they are smallish(36/38B) and when I was heavy I was very out of proportion. And I think even as a child I was "sexualized" to think that gorgeous meant large Barbie boobs and perfect waist meant you were pretty. And really, up until the early 2000's it seemed like it was still that way. I think that defining my beauty with only the outside was ingrained in me by my father/men growing up so that I developed a complex about it. My first long term boyfriend before my husband used to watch porn and I tried to play it off like I didn't mind when really I did.
Back to bras though.. I feel two ways. Certain bras make me more confident in how I look in certain clothes(and I do like Vic Sec Bombshell bras) and they aren't too uncomfortable-but I love being able to free my girls when I am at home. Going braless is coming back into style and I have been brave enough to wear no bra a couple of times going to the store but only with a loose shirt. I hope things become like they were in the 70's where free breasts were considered modern and beautiful an acceptable. There is nothing wrong with my breasts or a woman's breasts. And really if you want to be specific they are meant for breast feeding.

[splitimage]

I despise bras with a passion, and never wear one, when I'm at home, unless I'm having company over.

Part of my problem is my breasts aren't equal size, one is a full cup size larger than the other, and that makes finding right size bras almost impossible.

I've finally settled on a sports bra which not exactly sexy, is at least reasonably comfortable and provides good support.

[lizardlady]

LOL, my first reaction when I say the thread title was "Let's not!" I hate the dam things.

I rarely wear one when I'm home, only if someone is coming to do work around the place. I get self conscious without one if a worker is here. Might be part of my survivor history that I'm afraid a male worker in the house will get the wrong message if I'm not wearing one.

I mostly wear racer back sports bras. One of my shoulders is lower that the other. If I wear the regular straight over the shoulder straps that one falls off my shoulder no matter how much I adjust the strap. Another advantage to the sports bras is that I can take my top off if I'm working outside and get hot.

If I'm wearing a top that a sports bra would not be right (i.e. would show) I wear an underwire. Call me crazy, I like the fit better than non-underwire.

A couple of personal gripes about bras... what moron (has to be a male!) came up with the idea of having a seam go across the nipple?!?! I absolutely refuse to wear those. Would also like to know who decided we small breasted women have to have augmentation? I wear a 34B. I have no need for padding in my bra! I'm fine with what I have. I don't need to make them look bigger! It is dam near impossible to find bras in my size that don't have padding!

[downandlonely]

My left breast was quite a bit bigger than my right, but I had breast reduction surgery and they are pretty much equal now. Since the surgery, I can fit into a 34DD. Before that I was stuffing myself into a 36DD, but I was really more like a G.

Originally Posted by lizardlady

LOL, my first reaction when I say the thread title was "Let's not!" I hate the dam things.

I rarely wear one when I'm home, only if someone is coming to do work around the place. I get self conscious without one if a worker is here. Might be part of my survivor history that I'm afraid a male worker in the house will get the wrong message if I'm not wearing one.

I mostly wear racer back sports bras. One of my shoulders is lower that the other. If I wear the regular straight over the shoulder straps that one falls off my shoulder no matter how much I adjust the strap. Another advantage to the sports bras is that I can take my top off if I'm working outside and get hot.

If I'm wearing a top that a sports bra would not be right (i.e. would show) I wear an underwire. Call me crazy, I like the fit better than non-underwire.

A couple of personal gripes about bras... what moron (has to be a male!) came up with the idea of having a seam go across the nipple?!?! I absolutely refuse to wear those. Would also like to know who decided we small breasted women have to have augmentation? I wear a 34B. I have no need for padding in my bra! I'm fine with what I have. I don't need to make them look bigger! It is dam near impossible to find bras in my size that don't have padding!

Here here! Thank you Lizardlady! I also wear a 34B bra (when I'm not avoiding bras like the plague!) and I find it bizarre when women in my life have made comments either about my breasts (or theirs of same size) that we have "no boobs" are "flat-chested" or "look like a boy." Eh, of course we do have breasts, they are breasts, no better or worse than anyone else's. Who decided that anything less than a C cup is not actually a breast??? I don't get it. One of my friends is very thin and wears a very padded B cup because she says she needs to look like she "has something"...she's in her 60s by the way.

I tried padded bras when I was ~ 15. After a few months I thought to myself, "Why am I doing this? My breasts are my breasts." and that was the last time I ever wore a padded bra.

I honestly think part of this is cultural. The U.S. seems to be the least accepting culture of breasts that are not C cup or larger. I've lived in several countries. In other places, people honestly don't care. Though I also want to point out that I've never received anything but compliments on my breasts from men I have dated. It seems to be women doing a number on themselves. Though I realize there could be men making negative comments and I don't happen to date men like that.

Sidenote. I hate the following words: boobs, boobies, tits, and titties. (My mother says "diddies" sometimes and that's even worse hahaha)

Some of the funny words like "knockers" are good and make me smile but those four words I listed make me cringe. I can't really explain it! Haha. Maybe we need a thread for 'favorite words for breasts.' I once had a teacher with larger breasts who referred to her bra as her "over the shoulder boulder holder." I laughed so hard when she said that. It's marvelous!

Just my thoughts. If someone loves a padded bra or likes to say "tits" or "boobs" then fair play to them! Each to their own!

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by SilverTrees

I once had a teacher with larger breasts who referred to her bra as her "over the shoulder boulder holder." I laughed so hard when she said that. It's marvelous!

Oh gawd, I laughed out loud and am still chuckling over this. I am going to share it with a friend who is well endowed.

I have a friend who refers to breasts on animals as nunus, or maybe it's newnews? Not sure how to spell it. I have no idea where she got the name.

Originally Posted by splitimage

I despise bras with a passion, and never wear one, when I'm at home, unless I'm having company over.

Part of my problem is my breasts aren't equal size, one is a full cup size larger than the other, and that makes finding right size bras almost impossible.

I've finally settled on a sports bra which not exactly sexy, is at least reasonably comfortable and provides good support.

I definitely have one breast somewhat bigger than the other though not a full cup size. I read that most women's breasts are not of equal size. Though I could see how it would be really tricky for you with bras. I have the same problem with my feet! There is a half-size difference between them so I have to buy a pair of shoes of the larger size and use an insole in one shoe. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. I recently had to return a great pair of winter boots...one was perfectly comfortable and the other ripped my ankle apart.

I wonder if there's anyone out there who specializes in bras for women with two different cup sizes? They should!

Originally Posted by lizardlady

Oh gawd, I laughed out loud and am still chuckling over this. I am going to share it with a friend who is well endowed.

I have a friend who refers to breasts on animals as nunus, or maybe it's newnews? Not sure how to spell it. I have no idea where she got the name.

Fantastic!

I just remembered another word I love! Bazoombas! It is a great word for larger breasts! And I don't mean that as a pejorative. Although I'm comfortable with my 34Bs, I do sometimes wonder what it would be like to have a couple of bazoombas! You folks know Sophia Vergara? I think she is so beautiful and the way she fills out a V-neck dress....I can't imagine what that would be like. My body is not built like hers at all. She strikes me as very confident in her own skin which is such a wonderful trait. But a couple of my friends with larger breasts say they feel they have to cover them most of the time because men stare too much. What a shame!