Best online bra store for the the larger embreasted?

August 26, 2021 12:36 PM

I need bra help. I haven't purchased a "real" bra since before the pandemic. I used to obtain my bras from Victoria's Secret. After years of bra discomfort, steeling myself for the languid disdain of VS teenaged employees, and being generally sick of supporting their evil corporate agenda, I'd like to spend my money on a feminist, body-positive, comfortable product that looks nice and feels good on. I am a sized 38F/DDD. I don't want to shop in a store; only online. Could you please recommend your favorite online bra store?
posted by omphale27 to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (20 answers total)

I don't know about your other criteria but as far as getting the job done online, what I do is order everything that Macys.com has in my size, with free shipping because it's always a big order, try it all on at home and return what I don't keep. They have the best search engine, (so you can just plug in a size and see everything they have in it,) a big selection, modest prices and free returns.
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:44 PM on August 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

I buy from HerRoom most frequently (38HH) Once you get your sizing down, they have universal sizing so you can easily switch between brands. I would, however, highly recommend a bra fit at Nordstrom or a quality boutique to ensure you're in the right size.
posted by mcgsa at 12:48 PM on August 26, 2021 [10 favorites]

I've gotten skirts from them, not bras, but Decent Exposures seems like the kind of place you're looking for.
posted by FencingGal at 12:53 PM on August 26, 2021

BraStop, Bare Necessities, and HerRoom are all good places to shop online. BraStop is specifically for D-K cups.

For brands, I like Curvy Kate and their spinoff brand Scantilly, Elomi, Playful Promises, and Panache and their spinoff brand Cleo by Panache. You didn't ask about sports bras but the Panache sports bras are amazing and can totally be worn as "real bras".
posted by assenav at 1:10 PM on August 26, 2021 [7 favorites]

Amazon has a pretty good selection of European bras that have a better size range. I’d suggest ordering a couple to try on and returning the ones that don’t fit. Then you could order from other sites that don’t have as friendly shipping policies. I really like Chantelle, especially the stretch lace ones which come in lots of colors.
posted by SpaceWarp13 at 1:11 PM on August 26, 2021 [2 favorites]

Also, IME my VS size is down a cup size and either the same or down a band size from my usual size, so between that and the fact that your boobs may have changed since you last wore a structured bra, you should probably measure yourself according to the chart on whichever store you buy from, rather than automatically buying your VS size.
posted by assenav at 1:24 PM on August 26, 2021

Bravissimo is also a great resource.

And check out the subreddit r/abrathatfits! They are super knowledgeable and can help you find your true size(s).
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 1:26 PM on August 26, 2021 [4 favorites]

2d Bare Necessities. Buy the Wacoal Retro Chic bra in every color. Bra wardrobe complete.
posted by simonelikenina at 1:33 PM on August 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

Are you looking for someone to walk you through finding a good bra, or just a place to order? A lottt of people (including/especially people who've been sized by Victoria's Secret) are wearing the wrong size and may not have a good sense of the shape/style that works best for their breasts.

Seconding the A Bra That Fits subreddit to get help with fit, or check out one of the more boutique-y lingerie stores that does virtual fittings. Offhand I've heard good things about A Revelation in Fit and they do virtual fittings. Breakout Bras and Levana sell online in addition to having stores and are popular for carrying some Polish brands which can be better for some shapes and often come in a wider variety of sizes, not sure if they officially do virtual fittings but people who work there will be really knowledgeable.
posted by needs more cowbell at 1:43 PM on August 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

I find that retailer size charts/calculators are almost always wrong, putting me into a band that’s way too big and a cup that’s way too small. I highly recommend the A Bra That Fits calculator.

Note that it may give you a much smaller band and a much larger cup letter than you are used to; this is not a mistake. The band size should match your underbust measurement in inches (without adding any inches — no +4) and the cup size should be given by the difference between bust and underbust in inches.

It is generally easier to work with your UK size. Very few US brands make bras much above DD, so you’ll likely be shopping UK brands, which continue to use UK sizing even when they sell in the US. Band sizes are the same, but cup letters are different. UK cups go A, B, C, D, DD, E, F, FF, G, GG… and US cups go A, B, C, D, DD/E, DDD/F, G, H, I, J… Here is a conversion chart.

BraStop.com is good for discounted prices on a wide selection of sizes, though the selection of styles rotates frequently. Bravissimo and HerRoom also carry good size selections, and styles rotate less frequently, but those retailers are less likely to be discounted. Amazon Wardrobe is an option that might let you try on multiple sizes at once without having to shell out for multiple bras.
posted by snowmentality at 1:48 PM on August 26, 2021 [6 favorites]

Okay, I know you don't want to shop in person, but if you can somehow get yourself to a good, boutique bra shop or Nordstrom for a fitting, this will make the rest of this so much easier. Truly. It's not just about sizing, but because they have a great idea for how different brands fit different kinds of breasts. This is a totally different experience than what you did at VS, I promise. Spend an hour and get two or three excellent fitting bras from a few brands (they fit you and then bring in great options for you to try and help you adjust them), wear them for a few weeks, and see which you like, and then start exploring more options online. This saves a lot of money and headache, I think.

But, presuming you can't go in-person and do know your size, then order a bunch of different styles and brands from Bare Necessities. Start with the DD+ area of the site and don't even bother with brands that don't have a ton of offerings in this size.
posted by bluedaisy at 1:55 PM on August 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

I've had good luck with Anita bras. I especially like the cut-and-sewn ones (meaning the cup is made of more than one piece of fabric sewn together.) They have many larger sizes.
posted by purpleclover at 2:03 PM on August 26, 2021

The Bra Sizing post is full of goodness and facts. Seriously, I learned a ton, and look much better dressed now. Undressed, I'm on my own. I keep the link in my profile. There's been another bra post since then that was popular.

I am wearing a bra with underwire from the Before Times today and yesterday and, weird' but the 2 wirefree ones are in the laundry, and it was Not Optional because hot weather, and I'm adjusting. I hope you'll update, I feel like I should buy new bras, but it's my least favorite thing to do.
posted by theora55 at 2:17 PM on August 26, 2021 [2 favorites]

I’m the same size and have loved Wacoal bras. I used to go to fancy bra stores, but these are just as great and not nearly expensive. I’ve had luck ordering from Macy’s.
posted by icaicaer at 2:41 PM on August 26, 2021 [2 favorites]

+1 for Bravissimo. You are right in their size range. They carry several other brands in addition to their own and have a lot of options.

Also +ning ABraThatFits. The calculator is great but many people are surprised by it. Trust the calculator.
posted by rednikki at 3:08 PM on August 26, 2021

Reddit subforum A Bra That Fits is the best place for this question. They've recently added a website at https://www.abrathatfits.org/calculator.php.
posted by stormyteal at 5:01 PM on August 26, 2021

You might check out Arq! Made in the USA, cotton, beautiful colors, wireless, and a wide range of sizes.
posted by sucre at 7:56 PM on August 26, 2021

Pencil Test is probably worth looking at as well.
posted by sapere aude at 7:59 PM on August 26, 2021

+1 for Wacoal - I only wear their bras. I am also a DDD. I think their quality is outstanding and if you shop their sales on their website you can usually land great bras in a color that they are discontinuing for a good price. And I like their colors.
posted by rdnnyc at 9:19 PM on August 26, 2021

I’ve shopped in person and received a fitting from the owner of The Pencil Test, as recommended above. I haven’t tried any remote shopping with them, but for meeting your goal of supporting feminist, body positive spaces I can’t imagine a better store to patronize. I’m speaking from my experience as a plus sized cis-woman, and they had a very inclusive range of size options available for try on in store and for ordering as well.
posted by bluloo at 12:29 PM on August 27, 2021