Comment from Linda
Time: April 30, 2008, 11:07 am

Body by Victoria.

My understanding is that in order to avoid back fat/underwire digging, it is more important to wear the correct size than find the perfect style. Being professionally measured, although socially awkward, is not a bad idea.

Comment from Stephanie
Time: April 30, 2008, 11:23 am

36C here, too. I also recommend Body by Victoria. They are super comfy and the girls don’t fall out when I bend over (I have the full coverage bra, the demi isn’t going to happen) and they are lined so people won’t know that you are cold

Comment from Eric’s Mommy
Time: April 30, 2008, 11:27 am

I’m a 36C too and I wear the Infinity Edge by Victoria’s Secret.
No lace, and they are lined too, so there’s no nipple peekage.

Comment from Jenn
Time: April 30, 2008, 12:04 pm

Don’t hate me. I am NOT suggesting you are “plus sized” - because neither am I, but the latest bra I love can be found at Lane Bryant - the Cacique Microfiber Balconette bra. (sizes start at 36C) I love it. It lifts,it shapes, it’s lined, it makes me look like I lost 10 pounds. Seriously- it looks great under even just a t-shirt, yet it is very comfortable. Just keep an open mind and go try it on.
Otherwise- I love Wacoal bras, and a blogger I read (Metalia) was just raving about the new BioFit bras at VS.
I do hope you will report back and tell us what you find!!

Comment from Lauren
Time: April 30, 2008, 12:49 pm

A second recommendation for Body by Victoria.

Comment from Flibberty
Time: April 30, 2008, 12:51 pm

Unfortunately, the higher the price, the better the bra. You pay for what you get in the bra world, and I would tell you that Wacoal bras are the best. They are upwards of $50 to $70 dollars, but they do their job and last forever. Invest.

Comment from Susan
Time: April 30, 2008, 12:54 pm

I second the recommendation for Lane Bryant. The only disadvantage there is you won’t be able to buy matching panties because their sizes start at 14. Might be worth a try, though. The bras are good.

Comment from saly
Time: April 30, 2008, 12:56 pm

I also wear the balconette from Cacique. Seriously the best bra I’ve ever worn. Not insinuating you are plus-sized either…..I always wore Body by Victoria, but after kids, they looked weird on me; I am a 36D. They are amazing bras….seriously just go try one on. You will love it.

Comment from jess
Time: April 30, 2008, 1:04 pm

I just bought the newest bra from Victoria’s secret and LOVE IT! I’m a 36C too. (Wow. my 34 A self of old would pee herself if she thought I’d ever type that sentence.) LOVE IT!

Comment from BethanyWD
Time: April 30, 2008, 1:04 pm

I LOVE the “Smooth” bras by Maidenform found here:

http://www.barenecessities.com/Maidenform-The-Smooth-Unlined-Underwire-Bra_product_Maidenform7689_,search,.htm

Seriously, I have, like, 8 of them in varying colors and shades. NO BACK FAT. PERIOD.

Comment from Cass
Time: April 30, 2008, 1:10 pm

Before I was pregnant I was a 36C. I loved my boobs. Now they are not mine…they are massive…they need constant lifting and hefting and minimizing. Having said this I went to Soma and I have to say I love the bra’s I bought. LOVE.

Comment from Ashley
Time: April 30, 2008, 1:37 pm

I am a 36D too, I don’t know how that is possible we are the same size but there you have it. I definitely am a bigger girl than you so your boobs might give you more trouble, ANYWAY….I still swear up and down about this Bali bra:
http://www.amazon.com/Bali-Double-Support-Allover-Stretch/dp/B0006LNXXE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1209587563&sr=1-1
I have always bought underwire bras but the reviews seemed so promising on the Bali no wire I had to try it, I now own 4 of them I love them so dang much. They wash well, the straps are wide so no digging, good coverage, and total support. If you order one and don’t like it I will buy it off you since we wear the same size.

Comment from Ashley
Time: April 30, 2008, 1:39 pm

Whoa, sorry about that link stretching all the way to China. i wanted to add they make similar no wire bras with a lower cut too.

Comment from monkey
Time: April 30, 2008, 1:47 pm

It’s pricey (well, I thought it was pricey for a freaking bra!) but the $70 Spanx bras are awesome. NO BACKFAT. I repeat. NO BACKFAT. See Spanx site for deets.

I recently discovered that I was a 32D. Imagine trying to find that at your local Ross. Hint, you can’t! You have to slowly buy bras 1 at a time so you don’t end up in massive credit card debt!

Comment from Molly
Time: April 30, 2008, 1:52 pm

Body by Victoria, specifically the Biofit. I just bought one the other day (34C) and it’s much better than the other Body by Victoria style I was wearing.

Comment from Jenny
Time: April 30, 2008, 2:17 pm

My best bra-buying experience ever was at Nordstrom in Chicago. Ordering bras online is trial-and-error for me, so I would recommend actually going to a store and getting fitted. Good luck!

Comment from Erin
Time: April 30, 2008, 2:20 pm

Body By Victoria!!! I’m a 36D (or 34DD) and they lift, seperate, stay put, and give a nice round, lifted shape - I’m very particular because for years the only thing I could find to wear as a 32D gave me torpedo boobs - and I DON”T want a repeat performance of that!

Comment from Red
Time: April 30, 2008, 2:29 pm

Go have a fitting at a Nordstrom or Bloomingdales. Not only do you have to have the right size, but you also have to have the right cup style and shape for you. Me, I’m a 34D and not of the perky stand-up variety, sadly. Plunge styles never work for me, balconettes are great but not practical for t-shirts, but I am all about the comfy full-cup contour bra (the kind with the thicker wall so your nipples don’t poke through).

Unfortunately, Flibberty is right when she said that the best bras are also the most expensive. I love Wacol and Le Mystere. I will buy them full price, but often you can find them at stores like Ross’s, TJ Maxx, etc. Even if you get fitted at Nordstrom, you can write down the style and size you like and usually find it much cheaper on the web or ebay.

Let us know what you get!

Comment from Maureen
Time: April 30, 2008, 4:00 pm

Consumer Reports just had a comparison between fancy schmancy bras and cheap ones, and the fancy schmancy bras (La Perla, Victoria’s Secret) didn’t do so well. They fell apart just as quickly as the Target ones. So I bought some, and they are surprisingly comfortable. The Favorite Fit style has foam cups to smooth things out, and for $11, why not try it! I have been very pleasantly surprised. I can’t speak to the durability, but, again, $11.

Comment from Lydia
Time: April 30, 2008, 7:33 pm

I also recommend Body by Victoria, but recently, my post-baby body prefers the comfort of the Vanity Fair Body Sleeks bra. It is full coverage (aka it doesn’t give you the “plunging/drooping” effect!) It is contoured with an underwire and a smooth nylon/spandex blend. It is comfy enough for everyday wear, but nice enough for the hubby to see and not feel like he is married to the blob! It retails for $30, but I often find it onsale at Belk for $18.99. Check it out at the link below! Good luck!

http://www.essentialapparel.com/index.cfm/a/catalog.prodshow/vid/166/catid/34/Vanity-Fair-Body-Sleeks-Full-Coverage-Contour-Stretch-Bra

Comment from Stacy
Time: April 30, 2008, 9:25 pm

I have heard nothing but great things about Lane Bryant’s Cacique…although, I have yet to try them out myself!

Comment from books
Time: May 1, 2008, 5:31 am

I’ve got one cheap and one pricey option for you. I had to go up in size to accomodate the pregnancy boobs and weight gain, but having no idea what the girls are going to look like when my milk comes in, didn’t want to spend a lot of money. Maidenform’s Self Expressions at Target are $11, smooth under clothes, supportive and comfy. So far, they are holding up to machine washing and line drying as well as my VS ones.
For pricey, I got fitted at a local boutique for a Chantelle (in the $50-60 range, I think) and the thing is like a flattering straight jacket for the girls. They would not move if I did a backflip on a trampolene, yet it is a completely comfortable fit and totally lifts and separates. Unfortunately, there was an ordering kerfuffle and some poor customer service on additional bras so I got pissy with the only local store that carries them and I only got one. I would definitely recommend finding a local store that carries them and getting fitted, though. I was advised to go up a cup size and that made all the difference.

Comment from Maria
Time: May 1, 2008, 6:53 am

@monkey: I’m a 32G/H and I can’t seem to find bras anywhere. I hound ebay and occasionally get lucky.

My requirements are no underwire, seamless, the less adornment the better, and straps that adjust down instead of up. Suggestions would be much appreciated.

Comment from Maggie
Time: May 1, 2008, 9:44 am

Three key things for good support

1) Snug band size. You measured yourself as a 36 C? Try a 34D, no matter what the tape measure or Nordstrom tells you. Seriously, you be amazed. Try out different brands.

2) Cup completely big enough to hold your whole boob, tucking underderneath and flat along your chset, and no bulging or bumps over the top seam, even after jumping up and down. If it bulges over the top, get a bigger cup, mo matter how shocking it is.

3) The best thing for up-front-and-center support is to find a bra with *three* panels in each cup. Most are made with only two panels and the support isn’t nearly as good. Fantasie and Freya (same manufacturer) are terrific supprt.

The English store http://www.bravissimo.com carries D+ sizes from awesome manufacturers in lots of different styles (Fancy…athletic…seam-free no underwire)

Go try those brands on at Nordstrom so you find what band/cup size you really are in that brand. Then go buy them on eBay (new ones) for half the price, or to the Nordstrom rack in Factoria for the exact same brands from last season. You can get a $80 brand-name bra for $18 there.

Comment from Maggie
Time: May 1, 2008, 10:36 am

The most comfortable, best-fitting, wonderfully shaping bra I have ever worn is at JC Penney. The Ambrielle Smooth Revolution Full Coverage Underwire. Find it here: http://www2.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?DeptID=50475&CatID=51849&GrpTyp=STY&ItemID=13bbca3&attrtype=&attrvalue=&CmCatId=50475|51093|51849

Don’t let the pricetag fool you, this baby is awesome. And SOOOO comfy. Get one in every color.

Comment from em
Time: May 1, 2008, 10:47 am

I can’t stress enough how much it’s worth going to Nordstrom or Bloomie’s for a fitting. Those ladies know their stock, which is why I took home bras in three different sizes…and they all fit perfectly. I go in, get fitted, and tell them I’m only shopping off the sale racks. They come back with plenty of options that are in my budget and that Fit.

I also highly recommend the infamous “Oprah Bra” Le Mystere. http://tinyurl.com/68jf2u It ain’t the sexiest bra, but I spent my summers at work confident I wasn’t nipping thru in the Arctic a/c conditions. As a 34DD, I also found that certain WonderBras were actually perfect; the inserts took some of the weight off (I don’t ask how) and I didn’t really look that much larger. (I figured after DD status, what’s another letter?) Very comfy to boot.

And lastly: if you want the girls to look perky and pretty, balconettes/demi-bras are the way to go. Those bras have MAGIC.

Comment from Caroline
Time: May 1, 2008, 12:11 pm

You know how Joe’s Jeans are so painful to buy b/c of the price? But they give the BEST ASS ever? So thusly, very worth it… Same for the expensive bras… go to Nordstrom, have the girls fit by a pro, and don’t ever step foot in another Victoria’s Secret. Your boobs will thank you.

Comment from lilone
Time: May 1, 2008, 2:02 pm

Ditto on the Nordstrom fitting. It is really helpful and your body changes due to pregnancy, nursing (or not), weight gain/loss, etc. I’m a 32C and I thought I was a 34D before getting fitted. Right now I love the Chantelle T-Shirt Bra. They are about $75 each so not the cheapest find, but well worth it.

Comment from Kathryn
Time: May 1, 2008, 4:21 pm

Victoria’s secret is that she knows nothing about fitting bras. Go somewhere and have it done by real professionals. Even better than Nordstrom is Intimacy. I love, love, love the Intimacy stores. not sure if they have them in Seattle (Linda posted this, right?), but if they do, get thee to an Intimacy. They’re the ones who do the Oprah fittings, the What Not to Wear fittings, etc. Anyway, the specific bra that I like there is Fantasie Smoothing Underwire T-Shirt Bra. You can find them online in various places, but the fitting at Intimacy is very helpful.

Comment from Janet
Time: May 1, 2008, 6:29 pm

I have to agree, the Casique balconette bras from Lane Bryant are superior in every way. I have two in each color they make and have had them all for about 2 years and (with proper care) they still look (and act) like new. I think they run about $32.00 each but sometimes you can catch them on sale.

Comment from Rachel
Time: May 2, 2008, 10:54 am

I have to agree with the rec for a personal fitting. I went to the Intimacy store here in Boston and it was an eye-opener! I went in thinking (a la Victoria’s Secret) that I was a 36D, when I’m really a 32F (DDD). I had it allll wrong. And now that I’m in the right bra, there is NO BOUNCE, no awkward shifting around, no backfat, nothing!

So if you’ve got an Intimacy store near you, or a lingerie boutique, go there and it will change your life. (And take out all the guess work of buying bras.)

Also, I would shy away from the minimizers. Apparently, all that compressing they do is just weakening the breast tissue, and making it less firm.

Comment from Eleanor Q.
Time: May 2, 2008, 12:34 pm

I have to add my two cents about Victoria Secret bras. They seem nice in the store and the first few times they will probably be fine but they wear out super quick and won’t hold anything heavier than a clementine. With the help of the nice ladies at Nordstrom, I found Chantelle bras and they look nice and hold things in place. I wore them throughout my pregnancy and can’t wait to go back to them.

Comment from gb
Time: May 2, 2008, 6:42 pm

I am certain I won’t be the first to say this but I think it is so important that it needs to be said a zillion times. The biggest thing you can do when purchasing a bra is go to a boutique and get properly fitted by a bra fitter (I believe they can also be certified and those are the ones you REALLY want). Do not, I repeat, Do NOT go to Victoria’s Secret or La Senza or whatever other chain. Boutique! Bra fitter! And just because they declare you a certain size does not mean you will always be that size, it can change from brand to brand. Another advantage to the boutique type stores is that they can usually do any alterations that you may need done (my place does this for free). I am a 30D so can’t actually find that in regular stores so I go there and get a 32D and they alter it so I can actually have a properly fit bra and omg, I never ever feel the underwire when I have a properly fitted bra.

Comment from Erin
Time: May 3, 2008, 9:44 pm

I want to thank you for this question!

Comment from Sarcy
Time: May 4, 2008, 9:24 am

I hear you. I have the hardest time finding bras (or any clothes, for that matter, ’cause I’m a mishmash of sizes at 5′4″, 36DD, and 2-4 in bottoms)

A few years ago, I found Bali Seductive Curves, style #3270. Love it! No frills, smooth, lined cups, and holds you up nice and perky without being obscene. They stand up well to many washings (cold, delicate cycle, of course, but I just throw them in with all my other clothes). That style was the ONLY bra I wore until I got pregnant last year and my size increased. Then I found Vanity Fair style #75-289, which is very similar to the Bali.

I think I got all of them at Kohl’s and JC Penney’s.

Comment from Emblita
Time: May 5, 2008, 6:04 am

You should absolutely have yourself measured professionally. It makes an enormous difference in how your breasts sit. I thought I had to use a 36 D once (a few cupsizes ago) but it turned out I actually needed a 34 DD/E and voila… no more backfat.
So get measured, and if you get bumped up to a D check out
www.bravissimo.com

Comment from Laura
Time: May 5, 2008, 6:57 pm

I wear a 38 D and and “gravity challenged”… I am totally loving my Body by Victoria Fullcoverage uplift bras.

Comment from Liz
Time: May 6, 2008, 2:51 pm

Coming very late here but…I nth the rec for a REAL fitting and third the rec for Intimacy. I wore 36C for nearly 2 decades before finally getting fitted and discovering that I’m really a 32F (!) A little bit of a bummer since the bras are not nearly as cute in that size range, but boy, are my boobs happier.

Comment from caren
Time: May 8, 2008, 6:23 pm

i myself am currently a 34D (when i gain a little weight i’m a DD). i have had, and nursed, 2 boys (6 years and 1 and 1/2). the bra i SWEAR by is also from Bali… it’s called Seductive Curves. it has the fabulous underwire support, nice thicker straps to caress your shoulders from all of the weight, and gives you nice cleavage. i THOROUGHLY reccommend it!

Comment from Kelly
Time: May 13, 2008, 8:26 am

I would recommend going to a lingerie store (not a department store, not Victoria’s Secret). Find one that does fittings and has a wide variety of sizes. I’m a big chested girl and the mall bras just don’t cut it. I need something like Fantasie or Chantalle.

Also, I find that bras with structure disguise the droop a bit more.