For the ladies only...

sweet tea wrote: orchard corset center. amazing.

Seconded. You can't beat the Magic Bra Rabbi.

I agree. The guy at Orchard was rude to me too, and when I told him that I wanted the fabric between the cups to touch my breastbone (rather than hovering an inch away from my chest) he told me that I was wrong and didn't understand how a bra is supposed to fit. I told him the bra he gave me was not comfortable and he told me that I was wrong and just had to get used to it. What he was doing was giving me a bra with too large a band-size and too small a cup (as the reviewer sweet tea links to says is common, and as I knew was ill-fitting) and he refused - REFUSED - to show me sizes other than the one he thought I should be wearing. I left feeling ripped off and bad about my body. I'm fat - I wonder if that makes a difference on the Magic Bra Rabbi's ability to properly fit a woman's body? Maybe he's used to seeing fat women in bras that don't fit so he assumes that's how they're supposed to fit? In any case, his arrogant refusal to let me try anything other than what he deemed my size and his dismissal of me and what I told him was pretty upsetting.

That being said, I had to be firmer than you would imagine with the lady at Town Shop to convince her that I wanted the fabric between the cups to touch my skin and would not take a bra that did not fit properly. She was at least willing to bring me lots of different sizes, and when we found the one that fit properly she admitted that THIS is how a bra is supposed to fit. Then she brought me more in that size and had me try on other sizes (since different styles fit differently). They didn't have many lower-budget options, though, I thought...

It makes such a big difference. Wearing a bra that fits makes a big difference. So does dealing with a salesperson who doesn't tell you you're wrong when you tell them how you feel.

in defense of orchard street:

- i'm not skinny by any means, and i have several friends who are varying degrees of large and love the place.

- i was fitted and assisted by a woman when i was there (not the owner's wife, although she came in later, but a caribbean woman) -- did those of you who had trouble have someone helping you? i ask because you both only mention him, and i'm guessing he didn't see you in just the bra.

- this is the best -- although not the prettiest (low stock) -- bra i've had in ages, and it cost about $25. which means that, except for the $4 bra i got from an outlet a while back, it's also the cheapest i've had in ages.

ev965 wrote: I didn't like Orchard at all. I insisted the bra he gave me didn't fit--it rubbed under the cup and caused welts after just a few minutes, and I bulged out the top--but he rather aggressively and condescendingly said that was my size (it wasn't), and that Oprah recommended that bra.

I had better experiences at Frishman's in the Bronx (now closed, I see) and at Town Shop (http://www.townshop.com/merchandise.shtml) in Manhattan (Upper West Side).

I strongly recommend you measure yourself with an open mind (information and technique at http://www.wikihow.com/Measure-Your-Bra-Size) before shopping. Even if it's not 100% correct, if you do this you will at least have a starting point. (Depending on your size, you might be able to shop at a regular department store. Orchard and Town Shop carry a wider variety of sizes.)

Wherever you go, when they show you certain bras, don't be shy to ask for cheaper ones (or more expensive and fancy ones, or different colors and styles), and definitely don't be shy to ask for a different size than what they think you should wear. You have to wear it comfortably, not them! Good luck. --E.

That has GOT to be wrong. According to the link, that makes me a 30DDD, a size I assure you isn't sold in stores. I've always been told you get the band width by measuring around your breasts at about the nipple, and then you get the cup size by measuring ABOVE the breasts and subtracting. So if I'm 36 inches around boob-wise, and 32 inches above the breasts, that makes me about a 36D.

If I wore a 30DDD, my boobs would probably look great, but I wouldn't be able to breathe. I had a Victoria's Secret lady measure me wrong and I was put in a 34DD bra. My tits never looked better, but I almost passed out from lack of oxygen.

And does anyone sell anything OTHER than under-wire bras for large-breasted women? I HATE them. I hate the way they dig into my ribcage, particularly when I sing. It's really uncomfortable and I don't feel supported anyhow. The under-wires dig into the rib cage. They don't seem to hold my boobs up.

The thing is, I'm not small, at least in the boobage. But if I go below 36 inches in the bandwidth, I CAN'T BREATHE!

You may be right, but then that measurement system is about making your boobs look good, not actually being able to breathe. Corsetry returns. Not to mention that I have a hard enough time trying to find a good bra in my size. How the hell am I to find a 30DDD, which doesn't exist in stores? I can't afford $50 a bra!

To me, breathing is important, and singing would be impossible if my rib cage was not allowed to swing freely because my bra is too tight. If I had to choose between a "perfectly" fitting bra according to this sadistic system, or a less well-fitting bra that my boobies would swim in a little, I'd much prefer the latter. This is why I generally wear the sports-type bras with the spaghetti straps. Very comfy. I wish I could find more of them. My mom told me Target had some, but all they had were camisoles that have no support at all.

I need to check out the link shish gave me and see if those bras come in my size....

Has anybody tried these? I want to..

http://www.spanx.com/pls/enetrixp/!stmenu_template.main?complex_id_in=477024.479037.479037.488919.cat

they have another model which is only $34

ladies, there are two things you cannot put a price on:

a great pair of eyeglasses
a well-fitting bra

when you consider the fact that these are items you will wear each and every day and they are items that will either enhance your beauty or seriously detract from it, the expense doesn't seem all that much. i'd rather buy 3 $50 well-fitting bras than 6 $20 bras. the investment is well worth it. what's that old adage about throwing good money after bad?

I checked out Town Shop on the UWS. Some of my coworkers swear by it too.

It was a bit odd to have a lady put my bra on for me and see me all nekkid.
Also, they choose the bras for you. I wanted a molded push up. They do molded bras but not much or anything in the way of super sexy stuff. So I was only shown some rather boring t-shirt bras and some lace ones.

The older lady fitting me was very insistent but I did find a $74 bra I liked.
I feel guilty paying that much for a bra.. but as Flexi mentioned, ya gotta give the girls some love.

Well I know for a fact that I'm NOT a 36DD!!

I went and dug out all my old bras and their various sizes and tried them on. I fell out of the 36Ds, swam in the 38Ds. But the 38Cs fit perfectly.

Now if only I could find an affordable bra that didn't have those *(*&*&! underwires in them, I'd be happy.

I agree about showing the tatas love, but basically, I'm on the razor's edge here. I make enough to cover my bills and even save a little (that's important!) but with precious little left over. Bra today or retirement account tomorrow? Arrggh!!

lilbangladesh wrote: Well I know for a fact that I'm NOT a 36DD!!

I went and dug out all my old bras and their various sizes and tried them on. I fell out of the 36Ds, swam in the 38Ds. But the 38Cs fit perfectly.

Now if only I could find an affordable bra that didn't have those *(*&*&! underwires in them, I'd be happy.

I agree about showing the tatas love, but basically, I'm on the razor's edge here. I make enough to cover my bills and even save a little (that's important!) but with precious little left over. Bra today or retirement account tomorrow? Arrggh!!

Buy the bra and then take great care of it. Hand wash, air dry. No machines. It will last you a long time

alafairnadia wrote: I'm loving Century 21 lately for the bras. pretty, lacy stuff in my size (42DD - yes, I'm a big girl). I can finally toss everything that's sprung an elastic thingy.

Where's Century 21? I would LOVE to get pretty lacy bras. I have found that when you're bigger than a 36C, it's impossible to get pretty bras. They start looking built like a tank instead. And while my tatas need support, I don't need THAT much. With some of the bras I've found, I could probably mug someone with my tits.

alafairnadia wrote: [quote=lilbangladesh][quote=alafairnadia]I'm loving Century 21 lately for the bras. pretty, lacy stuff in my size (42DD - yes, I'm a big girl). I can finally toss everything that's sprung an elastic thingy.

Where's Century 21? I would LOVE to get pretty lacy bras. I have found that when you're bigger than a 36C, it's impossible to get pretty bras. They start looking built like a tank instead. And while my tatas need support, I don't need THAT much. With some of the bras I've found, I could probably mug someone with my tits.

if you take the R train to 86th st in Brooklyn, you'll find Century 21. I think it's between 4th and 5th avenue. there are a lot of outlets right there, too - Nine West, Bennetton, etc.

one tip, though - they won't let you try on the bras. so wear a really thin tank top under your clothing and find a quiet corner. just check that the band goes around you and the cups cover your boobs. it's not the best way to try on a bra but it's worked so far.

alafairnadia wrote: I'm loving Century 21 lately for the bras. pretty, lacy stuff in my size (42DD - yes, I'm a big girl). I can finally toss everything that's sprung an elastic thingy.

Just an FYI - my niece who is also very luck in that area also recommends Kohl's. She said she found so many different styles in her size. There is a Kohls at the old Ceasars Bay on Bay Parkway.

Here's another vote in favor of C21...I used to live abuot 3 blocks from the 86th St store and miss popping in on my way home from work. FYI, the deliveries of new items generally arrive on Wednesday.