[missladyj]

I am wearing a Fantasie bra right now and I love it!!

It is my favorite bra. I find that it is totally worth it to buy good expensive bras that make me look fabulous

I would suggest if you want to wear something low cut, get a 34 D this will also give you spectacular cleaveage.

[booties]

hey girls! I, too, have big batwiddicals (gravy train, anyone??) and it seems like everytime I buy a new bra, after a while it just doesn't fit right, or it rides up, or is just plain uncomfortable. like, if I buy one with underwires, after wearing it all day I'll get this mean indentation across my upper ribcage that hurts like hell, like the girls need to be supported more or something (I'm around a 40D/DD I think, but I could be wrong). or the straps dig into my shoulders, which I know isn't good. I did buy a nice comfortable bra from lane bryant without underwires (sounds crazy but it kinda works), but sometimes I feel a bit too saggy in it. so it seems like I gotta choose between comfort and appearance.
why do they make it so hard for us?! you know if they tried a little harder they could make awesomely comfortable bras, I mean it IS 2006 already...
and on a side note, does anyone even know if there are any sweatshop-free bras available anywhere? it seems like an urban myth to me.

[tatiana]

hey girls! I, too, have big batwiddicals (gravy train, anyone??) and it seems like everytime I buy a new bra, after a while it just doesn't fit right, or it rides up, or is just plain uncomfortable. like, if I buy one with underwires, after wearing it all day I'll get this mean indentation across my upper ribcage that hurts like hell, like the girls need to be supported more or something (I'm around a 40D/DD I think, but I could be wrong). or the straps dig into my shoulders, which I know isn't good. I did buy a nice comfortable bra from lane bryant without underwires (sounds crazy but it kinda works), but sometimes I feel a bit too saggy in it. so it seems like I gotta choose between comfort and appearance.

Loosen your straps, go down a band size and up a cup size (I think I need a macro for this ).

Band should be parallel to the floor on the loosest hook when you buy it. Tight enough to stay put, but loose enough that you can get a finger under the band and run it around underneath. Bands loosen overtime, so you eventually have to move to a tighter hook as the bra ages. If it rides up the band is too big. If you're at the tightest hook when you buy it, it will become too loose and start to ride up.

If you go down a band size, you automatically have to go up a cup size (it's a stupid system, but it is what it is). A 38 D is equivalent to a 40C, while a 38DD is equivalent (in cup size) to a 40D, a 38DDD is a 40DD, you see where this is going.

Your straps should be tight enough to stay on your shoulders. That's all. The support comes from the band, NOT the straps. It sounds counterintuitive, but that is how it works. The straps are for comfort, not for carrying the load. It took me a while to get used to this, but it works and I'm a similar size though smaller band/different cup size.

Underwires should lay flat against your body. That means the wires should be laying against your skin between the girls. If they aren't, then your cup size is too small.

Get fitted, you'll likely be surprised at what your real bra size is. Go to a specialty shop, the department store staff don't know what they are doing and aren't like to carry the right size in any case.

[erinjane]

Loosen your straps, go down a band size and up a cup size (I think I need a macro for this ).

Band should be parallel to the floor on the loosest hook when you buy it. Tight enough to stay put, but loose enough that you can get a finger under the band and run it around underneath. Bands loosen overtime, so you eventually have to move to a tighter hook as the bra ages. If it rides up the band is too big. If you're at the tightest hook when you buy it, it will become too loose and start to ride up.

If you go down a band size, you automatically have to go up a cup size (it's a stupid system, but it is what it is). A 38 D is equivalent to a 40C, while a 38DD is equivalent (in cup size) to a 40D, a 38DDD is a 40DD, you see where this is going.

Your straps should be tight enough to stay on your shoulders. That's all. The support comes from the band, NOT the straps. It sounds counterintuitive, but that is how it works. The straps are for comfort, not for carrying the load. It took me a while to get used to this, but it works and I'm a similar size though smaller band/different cup size.

Underwires should lay flat against your body. That means the wires should be laying against your skin between the girls. If they aren't, then your cup size is too small.

Get fitted, you'll likely be surprised at what your real bra size is. Go to a specialty shop, the department store staff don't know what they are doing and aren't like to carry the right size in any case.

Just wanted to second everything you said! It makes a HUGE difference once you start wearing a proper sized bra...sooo comfy. Up until about 3 or 4 years ago I was wearing a 36D, which some girl at La Senza sized me at. The first time I went to a specialty shop the ladies who were helping me actually laughed at what I was wearing...I was/am actually a 32E.