You can ask any of my girls…they all know bra shopping with me is the absolute worst. #1…I don’t have big boobs. I would be like a size in between A and B…a little closer to a B but not a full B. #2 I’m not slim, so I need a larger around size…like a 40. Shopping for a bra for me is pure torture.
The bra-making companies all seem to think that if you need a larger size, like a 40, you HAVE to be a larger cup size. This is not true. I know it might be typical but I’m living proof that it’s true. Larger size around does not always equal cup size.
When my girls were growing up, they were all nice normal sizes…They would go into a store, pick out a bra, try it on, and go home with a new bra. Not me. It was PAINFUL. Very Painful.
We would look through all of the racks of bras. If I was lucky, there might be one or two in the entire store. Of course, they didn’t fit right. Then on to the next store. UGH. It was not fun at all…plus you all know what a pain it is to rehang a bra onto a clothes hanger.
When I did find a bra, I bought three (if I was lucky enough that the store had more than one in my size). When I’m home, I rarely wore a bra…less wear meant not having to go through the torture of having to buy a bra as often.
Fast forward…I was in Target. One of the girls was shopping with me. They were taking forever, so I strolled over to the undergarment section. I almost fell over. They had bras in my size, and not only that, they had choices. I left the store with three new bras. All of them were different. WOW!! That had never happened in my entire life before.
I went home and ordered three more from Target, thinking I would never have such good luck again. So now I had SIX bras. I rotated the original three and put the new three in a drawer hoping I had solved my bra shopping problem.
I wore the original three bras out, and it was time to get new bras to replace the three I had in storage. UGH. Could I get lucky enough that Target still had them?? I took the tags from the new bras and went online to try to find them. I ended up finding my bra on Amazon!! They offered more styles in the same line too. Be still my heart. I thought my bra problem might be solved for real. I could just flip to Amazon and buy a bra I knew would fit me and in my size. No more digging through racks of bras hoping I might be able to find my size. Whew.
I’ve been keeping the bra rotation for years now…Likely 10 years. Every time I need new bras, back online to Amazon. I’m a lucky girl.
What a wonderful thing. So far, Bali hasn’t changed their bra in 10 years. I hope they stay that way!!
So the other day I took this picture of my bras as they came in the mail…I went to the family messenger group and sent it to my girls and wrote…
“Good news to those of you who have suffered through bra shopping with me. I can just reorder bras I already know will fit from Amazon. I will no longer put any of you through bra shopping again.”
The girls all laughed…they know how painful it has been to go bra shopping for me (and them).
So, if you are an odd size like me, try THIS bra from Amazon. It’s comfy, as much as bras are. Sorry if this has all been too much information…but seriously, we women need to save each other from the torture of bra shopping if we can.
I had same issue but I just do sport bras. No hooks either just over the head.
Dee, I”m with you. I’m 76 yo, and at home it’s no-bra for me. But if I’m going out, then I’ll put in one of those step into, pull up bras.
Hi! There are a few brands that have the bra closure in front. I tried this after a surgery that made it difficult to close the hooks in back.
I think bra shopping is hard for most people. I’m on the other side with not much around my rib cage, lots of side tissue, and generously endowed. I found the perfect bra only for it to stop being made 5 years later. And I noticed even the last couple I bought the straps were shorter. Now I can’t find a bra that has long enough straps even when made as long as possible. I’m tall and long waisted but this is ridiculous! Cheap bra, expensive bra; the straps are all to short. Two things help make a woman’s life better; a good fitting bra and a well organized purse.
I’m 68 years old and I haven’t worn a bra in years. I’m always cold so I usually have a thin jacket over my shirt, even in summer. I’m guessing bras were invented by men just to keep us at home where we belong.
I always go braless in the winter when I can get by with wearing a T-shirt and a hoodie or jacket over it. Then spring and summer rolls around and I have to start wearing bras again. Boo. But it’s always sports bras for me!
I hate bra shopping ! I found a bra I liked from a store called fashion bug , years ago , so I did like you , when they were closing I bought all of them . I have problems with them sliding off my shoulder , I’ve tried them all . So I’m still in the ..I hate bra shopping mode . Glad you found a good one
Oh, Jo! I love the things you share with us. So many of us can empathize. I’m pretty much a 36 B, but I save the tickets to get the same one, too. My recent problem is I broke my arm in January, had to have surgery, and still can’t hook my bra in the back. Arm is great in every other aspect, but I grew up hooking in the back and want to get back to it. : )
how about adding latex allergy and narrow shoulders that let straps slip when you do find one that fits and is latex free. ???
I was a swimmer and my back and shoulder muscles were and still are rather big – not so the front! I think I had AA size and they were still too big. Now the fat fills them out. I’m working on it, but even now bras are not fitting well. Just as well we are pretty much on our own here and I just don’t bother wearing any unless we are expecting people or going out! I feel more comfy without – the straps don’t dig in – adjust the strap and it’s wrong wherever you put it! Strapless and they ride down! The only ones I feel comfy in are sports bras but they are padded – I really don’t need padding!!
We talked about just this problem in my Tuesday quilt group this week! It is not fun. Thank you for the link, Jo.
Omygosh, right there with you. AND shoes! Just the thought of shopping for either sends me spiraling. Give me a loose fitting top and a skort, and I’ll be happy. Pretty sure the neighbors have already seen all I’ve got, and the squirrels and crows don’t seem to care, so I call that a win! Your bra seems reasonably priced, too, an added bonus!
I never knew bra shopping was such a problem, but now I know! Since every woman’s body is different, it has to be a difficult job to design a bra to fit so many different people.
Well Jo, I just ordered one of ‘your’ bras. I’ve never worn Bali…..my best friend swore by them but this was not the style she loved. I ordered a smaller cup size to get the color I wanted, but I think it may be fine. If not they say I can return it. I deeply sympathize with you. I’ve worn a C cup for years, but I’ve shrunk all over, and I think a B will be better. I’ve also always worn an underwire, so this will be a real experiment. I am really in need of new bras. It was on my list for this week!!!!!! Thanks for your column.
I had a bra fitting years ago and so I went by that size for long time. 42B isn’t easy to find but there are some on the rack. Hateful job looking for it. I decided to get fitted again and went to a ladies clothing store. I assume I wear 42B. I think I got inexperience to help me because she told me I wear 44C. No way ! It fell off me. The store does not carry smaller than C. I like to patronize our storefronts but I’m ordering online with much less hassle.
We just left Florida to return to Alaska. I am large on top and normally wear a Bali underwire that I reorder 3 at a time on Amazon. The 6 hour plane ride to get home is not bra friendly. Florida is hot enough already that you can’t get dried off after showering. I tried pulling on my plane ride sports bra that doesn’t have hooks. Got stuck partway and couldn’t get it off or pulled down in the back. It required asking for help from my husband. We have been married 49 years, but it was still awkward. He, of course, was more amused than I was. Another vote for Bali bras that don’t change styles once you find one you like.
Ugh! Torture at its best.. I used to get mine at Torrid but my size was never the same with each style. And they got so expensive. I have found Bali the best also!
Love and prayers
I do not like bra shopping either. Fortunately, I am a standard size. Unfortunately, the girls are too far apart so I need a bra with a spacer between the cups. Very hard to find. I have to take what I can get which means I’m usually squished together.
I have the same issues w bras and would prefer a bra w/o wires but nothing holds the girls up as well. I’m going to try that brand see. Maybe check out a store near me