Why is it so hard to find a good bra?

Struggled for many years and must of spent thousands of dollars trying to find a well fitted and comfortable bra. Went to bra shops, was fitted at various department stores such as Nordstroms to Macy's to no avail. Every size from 36-40 C through DD, though I remained the same size and none were ever right. Like you, they were great in the store but once I wore them all day they became mid-evil torture devices.

Then a few years ago I needed a sports bra for work, was randomly shopping a Marshall's and picked up a Champion underwire bra for $12. Not too much compression, no "uniboob" and to my total astonishment very comfortable and it fit great. Shirts fit better too. I have been hording this particular model and buy them at every opportunity.

Truth!  

I also think that most women wear their back bra strap way to high.  Your band should actually fit lower than your breasts.  Much lower.  Somewhere between the breast line and your waist basically.  Clear as mud?  

Most women do wear a band size that is too large and a cup size that is too small.  When putting your bra on you want to bend over at the waist and take your right hand and put it flat on your back while your left hand scoops and lifts your breast out of the right cup.  Switch sides and see how your breast fits into the cups.  If they are spilling out, your cups are too small.  If they are smooshed, they are too small.  If they are spilling out the sides, you just may need a different style of bra.  There are soooo many to try so be sure to get one that fits your cup size and shape. 
Oh, and definitely try the bra on and put your top back on and see how it looks.  When I go bra shopping I try to wear my normal shirts so make sure I'm not looking all weird and disfigured.  I wear a 34ddd so it is often hard not to look all wonky.  And don't buy white.  Ever.  

I really don't think VS has a clue about bra fitting and their bras are poor quality.  They have a few that are pretty but not really made for larger than d cups in my opinion either.  

meredith

I was wearing a 38d........went to Nordstrom's got fitted...........32F or 32DDD It fits, feels good and is comfortable!! Now the downside to this is how many places carry that size? Not very many, so I just buy from Nordstroms. I can purchase online or even call them and tell them what I need and they will ship it to me.

What I learned........when a woman loses weight the band size shrinks, boobs "grow". Which they really don't it your breast tissue without as much fat!

It makes sense to me if you've heard about men and their p**is. If a man loses weight his p**nis gets longer. Well, not really, his belly is out of the way.

Yes getting over the cup size is the thing I struggle with so much. If it just said 'B' or 'C' I would be cheering. I mean Victoria Beckham looks great as an A cup.

When Nordstrom opens in Vancouver i will get fitted again. I have had success there.

Victoria's secret is the biggest offender at perpetuating the image of a woman who's breast are falling out the top of her bra as being normal and sexy. In large 10' tall posters they show you breast that are barely contained. Subliminally telling you 'that is what you should look like in your bra' Well Victoria, that is NOT comfortable to have bra that barely comes past my nipple. 

Soma! Can't say enough! I introduced my sister to them last week-end. She was one of those that just buy whatever is the cheapest. She couldn't believe the difference! She bought 3 bras. I found them last year, & they are the only bras I will wear. My 2 I bought last year are still in great shape, & I just bought 2 more.

I had a fitting a couple of weeks ago at Saks because Nordstrom was not handy. allow plenty of time to try on all styles in your size - I could fit in a different cup size due to that - and the fact that my girls are totally different sizes. Some brands did not fit me no matter what - so be patient and keep an open mind.
I had been wearing 34 C and am actually 32 D or E. No weight change since last fitting. I think I was put into 34 because the stock was low on my cup size at my last fitting.
Chantelle was also my best fit.

Chantelle and Wacoal have always worked for me but I did go to my local department store and get fitted. I don't venture off the couple of styles that fit me best and I don't wear the same bra two days in a row.

"I have not seen your anatomy up close but in other humans I've observed, the area under your breasts and across your back is indeed between the level of the breasts and the waist. I don't know where else it could be"

Wouldn't that be your ribs? ribcage? or thoracic area? To me..the waist is right above your bellybutton? I guess I don't want my bra resting that low?

Holy gigantic boobs!

I just measured according to that video. I'm scared!

Nope, fittings are free. Of course, they hope it's followed by sales, hence my previous reference to practicing your no-thank-you's.  Don't buy more than you are comfortable with.  I never stock up at the bra fitting. I'm usually so sick of trying things on and having the twins smooshed around that I only buy 1 - sometimes I am not happy with anything right then.

I usually have 1-2 really good bras that I spent good money on (think $$$).  I usually have 1-2 that are so cheap they could have been cracker jack prizes (for when I am going to get dirty or non-exercise sweaty or don't feel like wearing one or whatever).  The rest fall in the middle, and I tend to get those during mega sales at department stores or Soma.

She didn't say to wear the bra at your waist. She said lower than the level of your breasts, between them and your waist. Between boobs and waist. Not at the waist. The truth is that most women wear their band far too high, up across the back at the same level as their breasts. This is too high and allows the breasts to sag in front. This causes women to compensate by tightening the straps in an effort to hike up the boobs in front, pulling the band up even farther. This doesn't work. All it does is dig trenches into their shoulders. The fix is a slightly tighter band, worn lower across the back, negating the need for tight shoulder straps.  If the bra rides up in the back, the band is too large. 

I went to get fitted years ago after being pregnant or nursing for six years straight. The woman with the glasses on a chain, tape measure around the neck, takes one look at me and tells me there is nothing to be done about the difference in size. She thought it was glaringly obvious and I'd never noticed. Made me very self conscious

In the minority here but I love my VS bras. I was recently fitted and found I was using the wrong band and cup size. I'm a 32D/DD and those are REALLY hard to find. One boobie is bigger than the other from nursing.

LOVE the VS Bombshell as it adds two more cup sizes. There's a few more I've bought from them and they seem to fit me better than ones I've tried on at different stores.