Bra

[alison]

I'm a 36D, looking for a sexy bra. There, I said it.
After months of wearing coasters under a nursing bra, and spit up (among other mystery fluids) on my shirt, I want to feel good about myself. A good bra is as good a place as any to start.

VS bras don't fit me well at all. Do you have any recommendations?!

[scrub-jay]

Fredricks of Hollywood has some decent ones that are "sexy", more supportive than VS (IMO), and affordable. Lots of color options! But really, you should go into an actual bra shop and be fitted for a really nice one! Good luck!!

Nordstroms all the way. Pretty bras rock (and they have 'em) but even a hum-drum bra is improved tenfold by the proper fit and support. Get thee to a Norstrom!

[oceanchild]

Honestly, I would skip the chains and find a local store. (Yelp might be helpful.) I had a great experience at one in the DC area. The woman basically had me flash her, we talked briefly about my preferences, and then she brought back a whole bunch of bras, which all fit perfectly. Easiest bra shopping experience of my life.

[alison]

As a native of Seattle, Nordstrom IS a local store.

Is it just my imagination or are my breasts starting to sag....? Say it ain't so!

[MissCrabette]

Go to a GOOD bra store. You might be surprised to find out that you're wearing the wrong size. I gave away some of my bras on Freecycle and a girl almost twice my size showed up to pick them up. That prompted me to reconsider my sizing. I always thought I was a size 34 in the band, given the most popular sizes that places like Victoria's Secret carry. It turns out I'm a size 30 and two cup sizes bigger. Go get sized by a pro. VS girls don't count. I found some beautiful bras on www.figleaves.com and I'm a huge fan, but you'd have to be OK with sending bras that don't fit back if you go that route.

[scarlett09]

I agree with everyone about using a local store. I used one to get the longline strapless I will wear under my wedding dress. They also hooked me up with the best bra I've ever had from Le Mystere. Expensive, but my 36C boobs looked the best they have in a long time. No more VS or department stores for me! And Shakti said it best: a good-fitting bra is way better than any pretty one!

ETA: I found my local store (taking my mom there tomorrow to get fitted so she can FINALLY shop for and buy a MOB dress) through this website: http://www.myintimacy.com/homepage.html. They have some locations in major cities, but I used the "Find A Store" feature to search for a location in my state.

[alison]

I agree with everyone about using a local store. I used one to get the longline strapless I will wear under my wedding dress. They also hooked me up with the best bra I've ever had from Le Mystere. Expensive, but my 36C boobs looked the best they have in a long time. No more VS or department stores for me! And Shakti said it best: a good-fitting bra is way better than any pretty one!

ETA: I found my local store (taking my mom there tomorrow to get fitted so she can FINALLY shop for and buy a MOB dress) through this website: http://www.myintimacy.com/homepage.html. They have some locations in major cities, but I used the "Find A Store" feature to search for a location in my state.

Ok, ok... I'll get one that fits well. It's always so tempting to buy a pretty one!

[scarlett09]

Ok, ok... I'll get one that fits well. It's always so tempting to buy a pretty one!

I buy the pretty ones, usually with the knowledge that they won't be on for very long.

[alison]

I buy the pretty ones, usually with the knowledge that they won't be on for very long.

[Michele]

I second Le Mysterie as a brand. Also Lunaire. Definitely get resized I'm sure it changed after pregnancy. And they may indeed be saggier. The latest study by the plastic surgeons said it wasn't time breastfeeding, but number of pregnancies and smoking that had the biggest influence on breast elasticity.

Rinker and his colleagues interviewed 132 women who came in for breast lifts or augmentation between 1998 and 2006. On average, the women were 39 years old, and 93 percent had experienced at least one pregnancy. Among the mothers, 58 percent had breast-fed at least one of their children. The average duration of breast-feeding was nine months.

The results of the study, presented this week at a conference of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, showed no difference in the degree of breast ptosis (or sagging) between women who breast-fed and those who didn't. The main factors that did affect sagging were age, smoking status and the number of pregnancies a woman has had.

That study was published in 2007.

[alison]

I'm a 34C/D and buy sexy bras with matching panties at TJ Maxx for a fraction of the price (we're talking $10 - $15 for a set of Calvin Klein, Jezebel, Rampage, etc.). I have so many (b/c they are so cheap) that I can barely get my dresser drawer closed.

Have fun!

My TJMaxx has a really poor selection. I'm definitely going to get re-sized, but thanks for reminding me to check there -- I should try Nordstrom Rack, too. My breasts are in such a sad state. I lie down and they basically slide into my armpits. Ok, not that bad, but definitely in need of a pep talk. Basically they've been beaten, deflated, and demoralized after the failed attempts to breast feed.

[SoonerTexan]

I'm a 34C/D and buy sexy bras with matching panties at TJ Maxx for a fraction of the price (we're talking $10 - $15 for a set of Calvin Klein, Jezebel, Rampage, etc.). I have so many (b/c they are so cheap) that I can barely get my dresser drawer closed.

Ditto (except for the 34 C/D part--I'm not as blessed)

[Meenah]

Oprah once did an entire show on the perfect bra and it was Nordstroms that was the number one pick for the best bra fitting!!!! After that show I wnet to Nordstroms and I was wearing the completely wrong size bra (I was fitted at VS). What a difference the right bra makes.

[spotty_dog]

Oprah once did an entire show on the perfect bra and it was Nordstroms that was the number one pick for the best bra fitting!!!! After that show I wnet to Nordstroms and I was wearing the completely wrong size bra (I was fitted at VS). What a difference the right bra makes.

Awesome, my first bra fitting was at a Nordy's.

Is it just my imagination or are my breasts starting to sag....? Say it ain't so!

Pregnancy does mean and unpleasant things to all kinds of connective tissue, from the boobs to the butt, making them much more...amenable...to the call of gravity. Ah, the things they don't tell you before you get pregnant!