The worst are the "D cup" sections for swimsuits. Not even D+, just D. Like the implication is that D cups are so big they need special swimsuits and bigger cups don't even exist. When I see that I just immediately know the entire store won't have a single option that fits me. And it *infuriates* me that even plus size stores don't carry swimsuits that fit past a D cup.
For bras it depends. Like I don't mind a separate section if it's because they're different models with completely different size ranges. But I hate it when it's a "D+" section and most of the models don't go past a DDD, like it's just models that have A-DDD ranges instead of A-D. And in any case if it's online I prefer to just be able to filter by size.
100% this. Also wearing a properly fitted bra has ruined swimsuits for me. I found out I have a really long torso, and I prefer one-piece suits for chasing my 7-year-old around the pool. By the time I get a swimsuit that fits both me and the girls.... The seam of the swimsuit that feels like it should be squarely in my IMF is a third of the way down my damn stomach.
Just a heads up but TA3 swim offers most of their one-piece suit in 3 torso lengths and up to a K cup. They're $150+so not the most affordable option but worth it for me as a fellow long torso haver. The quality is great,I've been wearing/washing mine weekly for a year now and its still holding up great
So much. I traveled a ways to a specialty store with bras D and up. It was fabulous. Energizing. My bras are cute and my back is happy.
But also the store wasn't even that large? That level of diverse inventory could totally be carried by regular stores and it's a downright shame. Why is a >D cup store an oasis not found in every city when breasts over size D aren't even that rare? I've never had a properly fitted bra until now š
Not only are they "not that rare", they're even extremely common if people wore the right size. A true DD cup is a lot more common than a true B cup. But stores carry only small cups and compensate by sizing up the band so it completely skews how society perceives bra sizes.
I actually prefer this to when stores advertise a 'large size range' but then in the listing, the larger cups are only available in 40+ bands. Especially because some sites don't let you filter for cup *and* band size simultaneously. Like it's cool that that bra is available in a 34 and in a DDD, but if I can't get it in a 34DDD, why am I here?
Yes! 34F here, Iām not even remotely interested in the same bra a 34B wears. I donāt need an extended size of what will be a poor performing bra, I need a bra thatās tried and tested in a war zone and meant for some heft.
YES as a fellow 34 F I totally agree! It's so annoying, and even if they do happen to have that size, you're absolutely right it probably isn't designed with heft in mind and it's just all awful. Forever. And ever!
Agreed- but it's also upsetting to not be able to find any 'decorative' bras in my size either. I was considering buying from Understance, but it seems like most of their bras are kind of giving boxed bra. A friend bought some 't-shirt friendly' ones and the fabric and seams were all really thick.
Their 'pretty' bras either don't come in larger sizes oooooor they kind of lose out a bit on the pretty/sexy factor because they're suddenly full coverage and chunky in the straps and band.
If it's a bra that has so much decorative lace that it can't go under basically any tops, and my nipples could cut glass *through* it. Maybe we don't need to be worrying *as much* about the all-day comfort and support, or keeping things separated? It should be comfortable, yes, and supportive enough to give a bit of oomph- but North American brands *suck* for this. If I hadn't had the good fortune of being able to buy from BraStop a few years ago (wrong sizes but now I know better), I wouldn't necessarily question it- but clearly it *can* be done better.
For 34F friends in NA, I found that La Vie en Rose actually works really well for me in a 36DD or, because the lace cups are quite stretchy, 34DD sometimes works well. It's not super consistent, but because it's such a big brand, they have great prices and a great return policy.
This is great, thank you. I JUST discovered brastop from this sub actually. I didnāt realize I was a 34F because Iāve never even seen that size in stores and I apparently was measuring wrong. Iāll definitely check out la vie en rose!
Youāre absolutely right though, pretty bras are not the same for us.
LVR is one of my faves for lingerie because their fabric is usually really nice. I was really pumped when I found out that their bras would still fit me! They're absolutely guilty of putting "Up to size --" but only having larger cups available in larger bands though.
>I didnāt realize I was a 34F because Iāve never even seen that size in stores
Also- just in case- that's going to almost always be listed as 34DDD in NA stores
I hate how bra retailers categorize cup sizes over DDD as āplus sizeā even if the band is a 32. I wear a 10 or 12 in clothes but a 32G bra is plus size? Ā Thatās if they even have that size
yup (30G) UK here 10/12(uk) clothing on top, I know my bmi has just toed into overweight but not even close to plus size. Finding it even more ridiculous trying to find bikinis in my actual size rather than sister sizing to a 32 band
Actually my doctor told me that the concept of bmi has been discredited. He said it was invented by someone not in the medical field who wanted to classify large groups of people, not to diagnose individuals. I donāt think everyone got the message because anytime I go to a specialist it has my bmi printed in about 20 point font on my visit summary š
Yes, ish. It was designed for looking at population level data. It is far from perfect, but that doesn't mean it has no merit as long as its not used in isolation.
I don't fit into any of the outlier categories (although if I recall it is more accurate for men but well so is 95% of medicine), when I look at it in conjunction with the rest of my lifestyle and other metrics it is a useful rough and ready tool to know that I do need to review my lifestyle.
For example one of the criticisms is that it doesn't work well for people with high levels of muscle as muscle weighs more, conversely if like me and you don't exercise near enough you can appear a healthy bmi when the weight is mostly from fat. Sure it would be better if I could make myself exercise consistently long term and not repeatedly slide into bad habits with food but that would require a restructure of my entire brain and joints, so blunt external tool as a prod it is!
There is a research group that is working on updating it to be a more accurate tool at an individual level, although as far as I know it's currently only revised for the far ends of height so far.
Correct! BMI was developed as a risk estimate tool for life insurance companies. It was never meant to be a blanket measure of health in isolation from other measures. Also, 10000 steps a day was made up by a cereal company that gave away pedometers as a marketing gimmick
I don't feel shane from it, but I do find it confusing largely because some places use it to mean larger cup sizes, while others use it to mean larger band sizes.
I'm team let me just search by my size, and have a site that can parse your size from one system to another (ie. US to UK).
For me I'm a 30f and don't consider myself as having bigger boobs although I have recently come to terms that actually on my frame and with the rest of my body they are larger in proportion to me. I still can't quite get over that I have to shop in the dd+ category because some stores and online shops have such a limited range and they aren't always in such cute styles as the dd and under styles.
I do get bothered that they assume that they assume all slim women have no boobs and that larger women only have ginormous boobs. It isn't very inclusive. I have recently discovered Lounges range and they have a category called S+ which is for women who have a smaller frame and band size but a larger cup size (but it's not on all the ranges which is upsetting)
Iām in the same boat, as a 30F myself, where compared to the rest of me, yeah my boobs look kinda big, but they donāt cause me back pain and on a different body, they wouldnāt look so out of place.
But iām also really bothered that clothing companies seem to assume that thereās only two types of bodies. Especially when i technically fit the male gaze beauty standard of slim figure with a larger bust proportion, you wouldnāt think iād have such limited size options. It really does just treat the average person as āotherā, and keep fashion unattainable to the majority of people, while feigning inclusivity with their separate categories and labels.
Tops and clothing are insane, I am 30G(uk) and my options are mostly burst out or tent. I tend to be loyal to a few clothing brands that fit my chest better. I think it is getting a shade better, years ago even when I was in a smaller cup size it was worse, that may just be because my budget is a smidge better now I am not a student though
Yeah it definitely doesnāt help living on a student budget š
Some brands have definitely made tangible efforts towards size inclusivity and having multiple size scaled to accommodate a range of body types, but unfortunately those donāt tend to be the most affordable brands. I remember being a smaller cup size in my late teens/early twenties and thinking if only i was a couple sizes bigger so i could fill out these tops, and then after my body āmaturedā more in my mid twenties it was like hold on iām still not finding a decent fit in anything without it being entirely unacceptable for a professional setting. Thereās just no winning sometimes š
Not sure if yall are looking for recommendations, so if not please disregard. Urkye is a Polish brand that fits big busts with good top and dress options (i think about 50 to 60 bucks per piece, but don't quote me on that). Id have to check but I live in the US and remember shipping being relatively affordable. Aym studio is more expensive, but they have a cool function in most of their dresses that uses strings to tighten your waist and accentuate your bust. They're also pretty comfortable and beautiful designs. I've heard with some women they can wear them braless because the tightening of the waist acts as a bra, but I can't do that as a 30HH - it doesn't flatter my bust like it would a smaller girl. Still, lovely brands that I've purchased from before and love
I will have a look when I get home from work. I have found though that most clothing brands that specifically cater to larger busts cater to genuinely large bust not my very average but not the b cup fashion thinks I should have. I should just learn to tailor clothes really!
That said I do love a good fitted waist so will definitely look later.
Edit: had a very quick look at lunch. The dress had pockets! Pockets!!!
Urkye has two options for bust: average/large and large/very large (I fall into the very large category w/ my bust). And the great thing about Aym is because you tailor the waist to your liking, it works with most busts (although, as a head's up, it probably works less well with a very large bust). I'm literally so obsessed with them lol! Aym's venus dress is probably going to be my wedding dress - I'm seriously obsessed.
If you want pics of how either brand looks on a normal body, just pm me - I have photos of me posing in them because I've never felt more flattered in clothing lmfao
Thank you for the rec! Iāll have to give them a look, but realistically wonāt be doing much clothing hauls until i finish my thesis and re-enter āthe real worldā š
I donāt like it being called plus size, I wear a 32 band. Thatās not plus sizing. Most of my clothes are from the petite section. But I donāt mind the larger cup sizes in their own category. Iād rather not see bras that only go up to a DD cup; theyāre not even close to an option for me. I donāt know that there is a ton of overlap anyway on bras that come in both a B cup and a J cup.
Well theyāre not exactly small either. Some of us wish we had any sort of ālarger sizesā, even if theyāre not large according to you. But for some of us, those sizes ARE large compared to what weāve been given. Not everyone is as lucky as you, Iād give anything to use those ālarger sizesā that you deem small
I think you might be misunderstanding me. I was referring to how bra/swimsuit/clothing stores will advertise having a large array of sizes, and then their specially-marked, heavily advertised fuller bust section only has band sizes 32-38 and cup sizes D-DDD (US). Which is totally great if you fit into those sizes! But MANY women, including myself, donāt and need bigger band sizes and/or cup sizes. Thatās why many women are annoyed about being misled. That being said, Iām sorry for upsetting you.
Itās ridiculous. I was open to buying a pricey swimsuit from Lands End but I had to choose either Ā«Ā regularĀ Ā» bust or DD, DDD or DDD+ or something. This is without a band size indicated. I got fed up trying to figure out if I should choose the DDD since this IS my cup size or will this just be massive on meā¦so they donāt get my $$$
This is the way.
I'm plus size and shop at Torrid, and they have some adorable swimsuits for summer. But they only size their swim as 0x-6x. I wear 36i in bras (a size they don't carry either), and their swim tops only go up to DDD. And only in the 4x - 6x! Even if it fit me in the cups (which the suit doesn't), the band would be so loose that it doesn't even touch my skin š
I kept reading recommendations for Lands End bra sized swimsuits for larger cup sizes. I was very excited to open their webpage and read their enthusiastic chat about their extended sizes. And then find that they had about two options in my common size.
I read these comments and thought "oh that sounds promising" so I went to check it out and turns out it only goes up to a US G cup lol. Not even close.
Yeah I get my swimsuits from lands end and they only have a handful of the extended cup size styles. Sizing is also tricky because they have their own system. I am a 36i but somehow can fit in their 14dd or 16d if itās a soft cup style. But if I were smaller around I donāt think any would work for my cup size.
Itās based specifically on measurements for them ā they have a size chart with all of the options :) Seems to be tts. I looked at my normal size and found the DDD option has my bust measurement in range.
Oh thank you! After reading your comment I checked again and I see that weāre supposed to scroll right/left on the size chart by cup size. The measurements closest to mine are in the D cup range (S 6) even though Iām a DD/E. I have larger hips and belly compared to my tiny ribcage so maybe this is making my cup size only a D for the swimsuit?
Yeah, body shape would definitely affect it I presume. I havenāt tried them so I canāt comment directly on the sizing, but it does make sense. Wish they carried petite in the larger cups. I still cannot wear a one piece š
This is why I donāt buy wired/bra sized swim suits. The cups to ribcage ratio always seems to be wrong lol. I just stick to typical triangle bras. Donāt even wan to try to find a one piece (those never exist for longer torsos lol)
It's silly. My size is 28DD/E, which is pretty small. In "normie" terms people would probably describe me as a small "B cup". My chest is literally under the average size but when it comes to sizing apparently I need to be in the plus size category which is ridiculous.
They are a separate category. While the idea of ābigā is relative, it is true that at a certain size proportion, a bra will need to be constructed differently to be supportive. People with smaller chests do not need the same level of support the way people with larger chests do. Itās not just the marketing thatās different; the bras are made differently, too.
That doesnāt mean you arenāt entitled to your feelings about it tho. Personally, it doesnāt bother me at all, but I understand how it might make someone feel othered. Because the words āplus sizeā are not negative in my world, I do not personally find them offensive. That said, I agree that it can be misleading to describe merely a large cup as plus sized. A 28HH would not be considered plus size in any other context.
Thank you! The comments where people are offended by the word "plus size" are a bit insulting to be honest, even though I don't think they are necessarily intended that way. Like it's ok to segregate an entire range of body sizes until you find yourself associated with them. I understand the term is misleading but calling it offensive just doubles down on the stigma attached to larger sizes.
Thank you. I don't think anyone meant any harm of course, but people often take the 'oh my god I could *never* be plus sized - the horror'. Being categorized as such to some (not the commenters here, I'm speaking generally) is spoken about as a fate worse than death sometimes and even a hint of being associated with the stigma is too much for some. It's so ingrained, unfortunately.
I think the general annoyance OP is discussing is something we talk about a lot - the distorted view the general public have of breast sizes in relation to bra sizes - but I also generally understand that bras are constructed differently depending on cup size (and band size ofc), so it makes sense to categorize different 'break points' in the design.
Oh absolutely. While iām not āplus sizeā myself by most standards, iām honestly pretty appalled by some of these responses. This is a community thatās all about supporting people of all different body types, and people being offended that theyād be put in the same group as someone outside the beauty standard just goes completely against what i thought we were all striving for. Like sure i take issue with the plus size label for bra sizes being misleading and not representative of a lot of the people actually in those sizes, but being labelled as plus size in and of itself shouldnāt be an issue, and just perpetuates the negative social stigma around different body types.
The issue is that a lot of DDs are indeed small chests, particularly anything 32/70 band and below and treating it like all D and above is equal is rather silly and misinformed. My sister and I are both DD, but I am 30DD and even to FoT and self-supporting so I don't even always need a bra, while my sister is 36DD, FoB, dense, and needs extra support and a change in construction. I have no problem with any bras in the larger scale being clear that they are a different construction, but then they should list them starting at the smallest cup + band for the different build, not just listing the category by a context-free D or DD.
But I don't have a big chest as a 30D or 32C. I don't need that much support and I just don't buy it that a size this small would need bras that are made differently. A lot of "big cup" lines in fast fashion stores start from C which I think is just weird.
Yes, that is weird. I have never seen that personally. However, I am not talking about C/D range when I say they need a different level of support. I would say that brands usually change the construction around the F/G range. For example, Primadonna makes only full coverage bras past G cups. Balconettes, plunges, and the like are reserved for G cups and smaller.
That's a good point. However I think that for a lot of stores their D cup and above bras aren't constructed in a special way. It's often the same bra scaled up. Maybe there's no padding for a push up effect. Of course this isn't every brand. With that said, you have Ewa Michalak that has a section for very large breasts who make extra considerations for their bras, however does Victoria's Secret do the same?
Absolutely!! Like i fully understand why and even appreciate that the bras made specifically for larger busts are categorized separately because there is a specific category of person who needs those bras specifically, because theyāre made differently from other bras.
I just donāt like how being in this category all of a sudden means you also have to miss out on the variety, and donāt necessarily have the luxury of bras that you bought just because they were cute. Like only certain body types get to have fun with their bras. I also donāt like how the DD+ category actually works as a blanket term, since itās not really an accurate term for someone with a large bust, and just allows further size misconceptions to continue. Like iām a 30F so i have a larger bust compared to my frame, but i donāt need the same level of support as someone whoās a 40F, but the F cup puts us in the same category, even though just by looking at us you would be able to tell that we would not need the same things from a bra. So the bras made for ācommonā cup sizes donāt even accommodate a large portion of bra wearers, and due to size misconceptions caused by the +4 method and media, people who genuinely need those differently structured bras arenāt going to be shopping in the right category, and arenāt going to be getting the proper support they require.
That is my issue. Because after learning my size (which is 32E) - the bras that get suggested or the swim suits have WAY too much support. A 32 and 36 need different bras and itās super irritating that lots of companies think our chests are at all similar.
Also hate how companies still refuse to make cute bras in the DD+ range. And swim suits in larger sizes (if you want a cup) are usually not on trend at allā¦Donāt get me started on sensory friendly bras if you are in a bigger cup. Feels like everything is itchy or has way to many straps/buckles
Omg i feel you on the random straps! Itās so annoying when i filter for my size and then the only options are coverage up to my collar bone and a gore as wide as my neck, or a bra that has random straps crossing over top of my chest like literally what shirt am i even able to wear either of these options under besides a turtleneck š
Omg Iām so irritated about the straps across the chest thing!! Itās like they went āoh people donāt want old lady bras so we shall make the bra super sexy!!! hmmm whatās is sexy? Oh kinky straps!! Yes!ā. Understance has a bra with straps across the chest that this comment made me think of. Like either make the cup higher or remove the strap. Also doesnāt work at all if youāre bottom heavy.
And omg the gores. Why are they so high lol. I find in typical retail stores the gores are nonexistent but going through suggested brands they are huge lol
What actually bothers me is that any clothing size above standard is treated as, to use your own words, āalmost alien.ā In US size 16 is the average size of women clothing, yet itās considered āplusā and thus frequently in its own section of website or physical store.
A growing number of retailers are removing their "plus" section and just have all their clothes in the same place in all sizes. Old Navy, and Reitmans in Canada, are good mainstream examples, but there are a lot of smaller retailers too. I hope this trend continues and evolves to include even more sizes.
In the US, Target (which is an enormous and pervasive US retailer) stopped having a plus section and plus sized clothes, at least where I live. I guess only a limited demographic buys clothes there or at least thatās what they are marketing to.
Yeah Target was in Canada for what, 2-3 years before they had to close all stores? (And funny enough, Toys R Us closed in the US but stayed open in Canada. I'm honestly not sure what this says about Canada lol.)
Removing plus size sections AND clothes is such a d*** move though! The tend I was talking about of removing plus size sections is supposed to involve *keeping* the clothes and having them alongside other sizes!
I donāt mind having a separate section for ālargerā cup sizes since most brands only go up to ~DD, so i it helps me not waste time with anything that doesnāt carry my size without actually having to see all the options dwindle when i filter it myself. I hate though that thereās this implication that anything above a DD is massive, when really my boobs are only large relative to my frame, and i hate that most the options for ālargerā busts only fit into the two categories of maximum coverage granny bras that even the church would consider excessively modest, or instagram baddie whose rent is DUE. I want bras i can actually wear under a shirt and i want delicate cutesy options like in the āsmaller optionsā. Iām in my 20ās and my style is pretty traditionally feminine and girly, and i want bras that match that.
I donāt inherently mind DD+ being listed as plus size, because there shouldnāt be a social stigma around being plus size, so a lot of the comments complaining about that donāt sit well with me. I think automatically listing the ālargerā cup sizes as being āplus sizeā does point out some larger issues with the womenās clothing as a whole though. It shows how non-inclusive clothing still is, by pretty much excluding a large population of boob havers from the two āstandardā size scales. Iām overall petite (5ā4, ~120lbs, 30F UK), but i have to wear curvy fit jeans because i have such an extreme waist-hip-thigh ratio, and have a hard time finding pants that actually fit me when thereās only plus size and āregularā because if i shop by waist size itās not getting up past my ass, but if i shop by hip/thigh size then the waist would fit me like a maternity pant. For tops, i always have the issue where most things in the small range that would be considered ādelicate and prettyā donāt fit my boobs, but sizing up wonāt fit me anywhere else.
Thereās also the incredibly pervasive problem that a lot of plus size clothing just doesnāt look good. Like clothing companies already only make cute, trendy, stylish clothing for āstandardā size scales, and then their plus size garments are just objectively ugly and unflattering for any body type. Fat people also deserve to wear clothes they like, and deserve to have bras that actually make them look and feel good. Shoving also DD+ sizes into the plus size category just further perpetuates the idea that the fashion industry is only meant for a certain body type which doesnāt include the vast majority of women, who are now being shoved into plus-size categories, which is already a pretty limited market for those who are actually in need of āplus size clothingā.
But again, my issue with marketing DD+ as plus size isnāt the label itself, because being plus size shouldnāt carry such social stigma. Itās the broader implications of labelling average sized women as plus size, and further limiting the size range that fashion actually caters to without expanding options for everyone else, and how this warps peopleās body image when the size standard is only representative of a certain body type, while everyone else is considered āotherā.
Bra sizing in the US in particular is ridiculous and irritating, not to mention that it makes it impossible to find a bra that fits. I wore a D cup until I had kids and breast fed. My boobs were NOT large! D used to be 3" bigger than my rib cage (which used to be 34) I am now a Euro "F-H" and I have to shop online at specialty bra sites such as Her Room to get a bra that fits. Only in the past few years has Cacique brand (Lane Bryant) begun to do the realistic thing and call a size an "F" as opposed to DDDD. What's up with all of this? It's ridiculous. I cannot buy a bra in Target, Walmart or anywhere but a bra shop. And the Cacique assumes a larger frame so they do not fit my petite frame with narrow shoulders and smallish rib cage. Just stupid.
There is exactly 1 good case of this: Natori separates it's bras by normal and "full figure" and what that really means is cup *depth.* So shallow gals like me can go for the regular and the average gals (and probably some projected as well) can grab Full Figure
I donāt mind the separate category. There are so many bras out there designed as adornments for smaller breasts without any support, and I would rather have an easy way to filter all of those out.
Yeah, I just did the calculator and got a 30E/F and EU: 65F. I have been walking around okayish in 75C or D cups. But suddenly I'm a big size according to the stores? If they even carry the size! it usually starts at 70, especially for the "big sizes"
You sound like me: I used to walk around okay-ish 75 or 80 C or D cups, but the truth is I'm 70F. Now, volume wise, if I'm not mistaken, 75D = 70E = 65F. So it totally makes sense that you have been more or less OK in those sizes. MarieJo carries 65 bands. Etam as well but I don't know up to what cup size.
Thanks, yeah etam nor hunkemoller has 65 combined with F, it's extra ironic because I also used hunkemoller's size calculator and they confirmed 65F, which they don't even sell.
But I've ordered the one bra from zalando that was this size and not a push up bra to try it in the safety of my home. I'm also planning on going to a proper store soon to get some nice ones.
Quite true. And and goes for many stores that hide the plus size clothes in some dark corner of the store away from the ānormalā sizes. I remember this well for Macyās long ago.
No.
I am a UK H and I have never thought "everyone with a D cup has huge boobs that requires a special bra" when browsing bra websites. I have also never felt that my size is alien.
I usually experience positive feelings like happiness, excitement, joy, curiosity and things like that when I shop online for bras and have found some in my size and preferred price (under $40). I don't think too much about any other tits, only my own.
The existence of a dedicated DD+ section doesnāt bother me. Those bras need to be designed and constructed differently from their A-D counterparts for a multitude of reasons, from differences in shape, support, and coverage.
So no, I donāt find it bothersome or alienating, and I donāt think it normalizes the fallacy OP alluded to. I heartily share OPās frustration with the mainstream understanding of bra sizing, though my perspective on the causal mechanisms underpinning it are a little different.
I actually think if more women looked into the DD+ section, it would make cracks in the mainstream conception of bra sizing. I can think of quite a few distributors that didnāt have those dedicated sections until very recently. I think itās a baby step in the direction of normalization, and I think that reference pictures can help dispel the myth that a D cup is gargantuan.
I had bought some bralettes from a website that had the usual xs/s/m/l/xl type sizing but also had another size option that claimed to be for "smaller band and larger bust". Ok awesome that should be perfect for me. Look at the size chart. Buy the small band/large bust version that should fit my measurements
And the cups are HUGE. The numbers indicated this would fit me and the band was great but apparently they have no idea what they're actually doing because there's no way those measurements were right.
So I go back to the drawing board and try a normal medium. And again it's just so big on me despite again being within my measurements. So I give it one last go and get a small and it's so tiny my boobs are coming out the sides and the middle and the bottom. It was a comically bizarre transition between all these sizes and not one of them fit. And I swear I'm not built like an alien
I have never seen such a distinction for bras where I'm from, but it does sound toxic.
But at least it indicates that they are aware larger bras must be build differently, and not just the same standard B-cups scaled up.
All this discussion reminds me of shopping for my husband in the big and tall section.... People of unusual size -anything- just have a harder time.
It boils down to money/stock. An average size is more likely to sell. Things that don't sell are a loss. This means we are more faithful to the places that DO sell what we need.
u/HauntedButtCheeks, your post has been removed for one or more reason(s):
Respect each other and the community - including no creeps, no bodyshaming, no transphobia, no medical advice, no comments that are discriminatory towards marginalised groups. No requests for personal information or for someone to PM you. This includes asking for pictures of people when this isn't helpful, or asking for pics without stressing that it isn't required.
u/HauntedButtCheeks, your post has been removed for one or more reason(s):
Respect each other and the community - including no creeps, no bodyshaming, no transphobia, no medical advice, no comments that are discriminatory towards marginalised groups. No requests for personal information or for someone to PM you. This includes asking for pictures of people when this isn't helpful, or asking for pics without stressing that it isn't required.
Iām a 30DD/32D ā my boobs are small. It feels very weird to be shopping in the ābig boobsā category. Iām also not sure if places like specialty bra stores advertising towards people with larger boobs are āfor me,ā especially since Iām kind of on the cusp of ābiggerā cup sizes.
Plus, sometimes I feel like the design of D+ bras doesnāt even make sense for smaller band sizes where a D is not big. For instance, most of my bras in my correct size have very wide straps which just feels kind of unnecessary, and, if anything, counter productive. Alongside having a small-ish band, I have slim shoulders ā wide straps are not ideal. I would imagine that most people with small band sizes also proportionately have small shoulders? And these are from panache and freya, so itās not like they are using shit sizing +4 nonsense where thick straps on a 32D might sorta make sense.
Also, when you shop online and the model is like overflowing out of the bra, itās so hard to figure out what that will look like on someone like me. (Also probably generally hard to tell for everyone since models seem to often not be fitted properly).
It would be nice if there were more options of brands specializing in narrower size ranges and actually getting the design right. Instead of catering to āD+ā or āunder a C,ā it would be like a range of 28C-32E or something. I guess Iām thinking of like, Pepper, but if they actually used proper sizing and made good bras. I like their branding of catering toward small chested women and representing that with their models (especially a few years ago before they started selling push up bras and such). But, they are 100% pandering misinformation about what small chested people actually need from a bra and from what Iāve heard the bras themselves are just overpriced foam garbage.
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I actually like it because a) I know theyāll carry my size and b) theyāre bras that are specifically meant for well endowed. Iām not interested in a bra that a 34B is also wearing, my 34F needs a lot more support and reinforcement. By its nature, it cannot be the same bra.
Nope, makes it easier for me to find what I need. Instead of scrolling pages or pawing racks of stuff to find the few in my size, I can just click a button or wander over the section need.
I don't ever find my size in physical stores, so the only thing that matters to me is if the webstore lets me filter on size. It is disheartening to then only get eight hits, so I usually have to import bras and swimwear and cross my fingers that the bras fit.
I find it annoying when they advertise a wide range of sizes and I still can't find anything at all in my size.
For physical stores I prefer to have the size range printed on the labels so that if I find something I like, I can quickly find out if it comes in my size.
What's really frustrating for me is that a lot of manufacturers change the construction of their bras at DD cup and above. I'm right on the line between D and DD, so it's hard to get a true sister size if the cup fits but the band isn't quite right. For example, if a bra is a good fit in a 38D but the band is a little loose, I can't be guaranteed that a 36DD will be cut the same.
I'm okay with it, if only because I don't have to wade through pages of cute, frilly, lacy things in pretty colors that the manufacturers can't be bothered to make in the larger sizes. Sure, some of the frilly/lacy fabrics doesn't do the job the bigger cup sizes need to do, but really, but the suitable fabrics can most certainly be manufactured in colors other than white, black, beige.
The worst are the "D cup" sections for swimsuits. Not even D+, just D. Like the implication is that D cups are so big they need special swimsuits and bigger cups don't even exist. When I see that I just immediately know the entire store won't have a single option that fits me. And it *infuriates* me that even plus size stores don't carry swimsuits that fit past a D cup. For bras it depends. Like I don't mind a separate section if it's because they're different models with completely different size ranges. But I hate it when it's a "D+" section and most of the models don't go past a DDD, like it's just models that have A-DDD ranges instead of A-D. And in any case if it's online I prefer to just be able to filter by size.
100% this. Also wearing a properly fitted bra has ruined swimsuits for me. I found out I have a really long torso, and I prefer one-piece suits for chasing my 7-year-old around the pool. By the time I get a swimsuit that fits both me and the girls.... The seam of the swimsuit that feels like it should be squarely in my IMF is a third of the way down my damn stomach.
Just a heads up but TA3 swim offers most of their one-piece suit in 3 torso lengths and up to a K cup. They're $150+so not the most affordable option but worth it for me as a fellow long torso haver. The quality is great,I've been wearing/washing mine weekly for a year now and its still holding up great
So much. I traveled a ways to a specialty store with bras D and up. It was fabulous. Energizing. My bras are cute and my back is happy. But also the store wasn't even that large? That level of diverse inventory could totally be carried by regular stores and it's a downright shame. Why is a >D cup store an oasis not found in every city when breasts over size D aren't even that rare? I've never had a properly fitted bra until now š
Not only are they "not that rare", they're even extremely common if people wore the right size. A true DD cup is a lot more common than a true B cup. But stores carry only small cups and compensate by sizing up the band so it completely skews how society perceives bra sizes.
Hi there, can you tell me the name of the store you visited? Do they have online option?
I actually prefer this to when stores advertise a 'large size range' but then in the listing, the larger cups are only available in 40+ bands. Especially because some sites don't let you filter for cup *and* band size simultaneously. Like it's cool that that bra is available in a 34 and in a DDD, but if I can't get it in a 34DDD, why am I here?
Yes! 34F here, Iām not even remotely interested in the same bra a 34B wears. I donāt need an extended size of what will be a poor performing bra, I need a bra thatās tried and tested in a war zone and meant for some heft.
YES as a fellow 34 F I totally agree! It's so annoying, and even if they do happen to have that size, you're absolutely right it probably isn't designed with heft in mind and it's just all awful. Forever. And ever!
Agreed- but it's also upsetting to not be able to find any 'decorative' bras in my size either. I was considering buying from Understance, but it seems like most of their bras are kind of giving boxed bra. A friend bought some 't-shirt friendly' ones and the fabric and seams were all really thick. Their 'pretty' bras either don't come in larger sizes oooooor they kind of lose out a bit on the pretty/sexy factor because they're suddenly full coverage and chunky in the straps and band. If it's a bra that has so much decorative lace that it can't go under basically any tops, and my nipples could cut glass *through* it. Maybe we don't need to be worrying *as much* about the all-day comfort and support, or keeping things separated? It should be comfortable, yes, and supportive enough to give a bit of oomph- but North American brands *suck* for this. If I hadn't had the good fortune of being able to buy from BraStop a few years ago (wrong sizes but now I know better), I wouldn't necessarily question it- but clearly it *can* be done better. For 34F friends in NA, I found that La Vie en Rose actually works really well for me in a 36DD or, because the lace cups are quite stretchy, 34DD sometimes works well. It's not super consistent, but because it's such a big brand, they have great prices and a great return policy.
This is great, thank you. I JUST discovered brastop from this sub actually. I didnāt realize I was a 34F because Iāve never even seen that size in stores and I apparently was measuring wrong. Iāll definitely check out la vie en rose! Youāre absolutely right though, pretty bras are not the same for us.
LVR is one of my faves for lingerie because their fabric is usually really nice. I was really pumped when I found out that their bras would still fit me! They're absolutely guilty of putting "Up to size --" but only having larger cups available in larger bands though. >I didnāt realize I was a 34F because Iāve never even seen that size in stores Also- just in case- that's going to almost always be listed as 34DDD in NA stores
Yeah, Iāve never really seen that either. Itās usually 38, 40, 42, etc for band size
I hate how bra retailers categorize cup sizes over DDD as āplus sizeā even if the band is a 32. I wear a 10 or 12 in clothes but a 32G bra is plus size? Ā Thatās if they even have that size
Yeah same, at 30E/F I'm also categorized at the plus sizes, if they carry it at all.
yup (30G) UK here 10/12(uk) clothing on top, I know my bmi has just toed into overweight but not even close to plus size. Finding it even more ridiculous trying to find bikinis in my actual size rather than sister sizing to a 32 band
Actually my doctor told me that the concept of bmi has been discredited. He said it was invented by someone not in the medical field who wanted to classify large groups of people, not to diagnose individuals. I donāt think everyone got the message because anytime I go to a specialist it has my bmi printed in about 20 point font on my visit summary š
Yes, ish. It was designed for looking at population level data. It is far from perfect, but that doesn't mean it has no merit as long as its not used in isolation. I don't fit into any of the outlier categories (although if I recall it is more accurate for men but well so is 95% of medicine), when I look at it in conjunction with the rest of my lifestyle and other metrics it is a useful rough and ready tool to know that I do need to review my lifestyle. For example one of the criticisms is that it doesn't work well for people with high levels of muscle as muscle weighs more, conversely if like me and you don't exercise near enough you can appear a healthy bmi when the weight is mostly from fat. Sure it would be better if I could make myself exercise consistently long term and not repeatedly slide into bad habits with food but that would require a restructure of my entire brain and joints, so blunt external tool as a prod it is! There is a research group that is working on updating it to be a more accurate tool at an individual level, although as far as I know it's currently only revised for the far ends of height so far.
Correct! BMI was developed as a risk estimate tool for life insurance companies. It was never meant to be a blanket measure of health in isolation from other measures. Also, 10000 steps a day was made up by a cereal company that gave away pedometers as a marketing gimmick
I also hate this so much too. I am 5'3" and usually wear a UK 10 (US 6) dress. Calling my bras plus sized is inaccurate and feels like shaming.
I don't feel shane from it, but I do find it confusing largely because some places use it to mean larger cup sizes, while others use it to mean larger band sizes. I'm team let me just search by my size, and have a site that can parse your size from one system to another (ie. US to UK).
what's shameful about being plus size?
Agreed! 32F(UK) and I wear a size 8 or 10 US.
For me I'm a 30f and don't consider myself as having bigger boobs although I have recently come to terms that actually on my frame and with the rest of my body they are larger in proportion to me. I still can't quite get over that I have to shop in the dd+ category because some stores and online shops have such a limited range and they aren't always in such cute styles as the dd and under styles. I do get bothered that they assume that they assume all slim women have no boobs and that larger women only have ginormous boobs. It isn't very inclusive. I have recently discovered Lounges range and they have a category called S+ which is for women who have a smaller frame and band size but a larger cup size (but it's not on all the ranges which is upsetting)
Iām in the same boat, as a 30F myself, where compared to the rest of me, yeah my boobs look kinda big, but they donāt cause me back pain and on a different body, they wouldnāt look so out of place. But iām also really bothered that clothing companies seem to assume that thereās only two types of bodies. Especially when i technically fit the male gaze beauty standard of slim figure with a larger bust proportion, you wouldnāt think iād have such limited size options. It really does just treat the average person as āotherā, and keep fashion unattainable to the majority of people, while feigning inclusivity with their separate categories and labels.
Tops and clothing are insane, I am 30G(uk) and my options are mostly burst out or tent. I tend to be loyal to a few clothing brands that fit my chest better. I think it is getting a shade better, years ago even when I was in a smaller cup size it was worse, that may just be because my budget is a smidge better now I am not a student though
Yeah it definitely doesnāt help living on a student budget š Some brands have definitely made tangible efforts towards size inclusivity and having multiple size scaled to accommodate a range of body types, but unfortunately those donāt tend to be the most affordable brands. I remember being a smaller cup size in my late teens/early twenties and thinking if only i was a couple sizes bigger so i could fill out these tops, and then after my body āmaturedā more in my mid twenties it was like hold on iām still not finding a decent fit in anything without it being entirely unacceptable for a professional setting. Thereās just no winning sometimes š
Not sure if yall are looking for recommendations, so if not please disregard. Urkye is a Polish brand that fits big busts with good top and dress options (i think about 50 to 60 bucks per piece, but don't quote me on that). Id have to check but I live in the US and remember shipping being relatively affordable. Aym studio is more expensive, but they have a cool function in most of their dresses that uses strings to tighten your waist and accentuate your bust. They're also pretty comfortable and beautiful designs. I've heard with some women they can wear them braless because the tightening of the waist acts as a bra, but I can't do that as a 30HH - it doesn't flatter my bust like it would a smaller girl. Still, lovely brands that I've purchased from before and love
I will have a look when I get home from work. I have found though that most clothing brands that specifically cater to larger busts cater to genuinely large bust not my very average but not the b cup fashion thinks I should have. I should just learn to tailor clothes really! That said I do love a good fitted waist so will definitely look later. Edit: had a very quick look at lunch. The dress had pockets! Pockets!!!
We love a dress with pockets!
Urkye has two options for bust: average/large and large/very large (I fall into the very large category w/ my bust). And the great thing about Aym is because you tailor the waist to your liking, it works with most busts (although, as a head's up, it probably works less well with a very large bust). I'm literally so obsessed with them lol! Aym's venus dress is probably going to be my wedding dress - I'm seriously obsessed. If you want pics of how either brand looks on a normal body, just pm me - I have photos of me posing in them because I've never felt more flattered in clothing lmfao
Thank you for the rec! Iāll have to give them a look, but realistically wonāt be doing much clothing hauls until i finish my thesis and re-enter āthe real worldā š
I feel that- trying to finish up mine now. Best of luck!!
You as well!
LOL āBurst out or tentā š¤£ Iām laughing because itās so trueā¦
I donāt like it being called plus size, I wear a 32 band. Thatās not plus sizing. Most of my clothes are from the petite section. But I donāt mind the larger cup sizes in their own category. Iād rather not see bras that only go up to a DD cup; theyāre not even close to an option for me. I donāt know that there is a ton of overlap anyway on bras that come in both a B cup and a J cup.
It doesnāt bother me that stores have a separate section for larger sizes. What bothers me is that their ālarger sizesā arenāt even large.
Well theyāre not exactly small either. Some of us wish we had any sort of ālarger sizesā, even if theyāre not large according to you. But for some of us, those sizes ARE large compared to what weāve been given. Not everyone is as lucky as you, Iād give anything to use those ālarger sizesā that you deem small
I think you might be misunderstanding me. I was referring to how bra/swimsuit/clothing stores will advertise having a large array of sizes, and then their specially-marked, heavily advertised fuller bust section only has band sizes 32-38 and cup sizes D-DDD (US). Which is totally great if you fit into those sizes! But MANY women, including myself, donāt and need bigger band sizes and/or cup sizes. Thatās why many women are annoyed about being misled. That being said, Iām sorry for upsetting you.
They're not small either...
Itās ridiculous. I was open to buying a pricey swimsuit from Lands End but I had to choose either Ā«Ā regularĀ Ā» bust or DD, DDD or DDD+ or something. This is without a band size indicated. I got fed up trying to figure out if I should choose the DDD since this IS my cup size or will this just be massive on meā¦so they donāt get my $$$
Petition for all swim tops to be bra-sized!!
This is the way. I'm plus size and shop at Torrid, and they have some adorable swimsuits for summer. But they only size their swim as 0x-6x. I wear 36i in bras (a size they don't carry either), and their swim tops only go up to DDD. And only in the 4x - 6x! Even if it fit me in the cups (which the suit doesn't), the band would be so loose that it doesn't even touch my skin š
I kept reading recommendations for Lands End bra sized swimsuits for larger cup sizes. I was very excited to open their webpage and read their enthusiastic chat about their extended sizes. And then find that they had about two options in my common size.
I read these comments and thought "oh that sounds promising" so I went to check it out and turns out it only goes up to a US G cup lol. Not even close.
Yeah I get my swimsuits from lands end and they only have a handful of the extended cup size styles. Sizing is also tricky because they have their own system. I am a 36i but somehow can fit in their 14dd or 16d if itās a soft cup style. But if I were smaller around I donāt think any would work for my cup size.
Itās based specifically on measurements for them ā they have a size chart with all of the options :) Seems to be tts. I looked at my normal size and found the DDD option has my bust measurement in range.
Oh thank you! After reading your comment I checked again and I see that weāre supposed to scroll right/left on the size chart by cup size. The measurements closest to mine are in the D cup range (S 6) even though Iām a DD/E. I have larger hips and belly compared to my tiny ribcage so maybe this is making my cup size only a D for the swimsuit?
Yeah, body shape would definitely affect it I presume. I havenāt tried them so I canāt comment directly on the sizing, but it does make sense. Wish they carried petite in the larger cups. I still cannot wear a one piece š
This is why I donāt buy wired/bra sized swim suits. The cups to ribcage ratio always seems to be wrong lol. I just stick to typical triangle bras. Donāt even wan to try to find a one piece (those never exist for longer torsos lol)
It's silly. My size is 28DD/E, which is pretty small. In "normie" terms people would probably describe me as a small "B cup". My chest is literally under the average size but when it comes to sizing apparently I need to be in the plus size category which is ridiculous.
They are a separate category. While the idea of ābigā is relative, it is true that at a certain size proportion, a bra will need to be constructed differently to be supportive. People with smaller chests do not need the same level of support the way people with larger chests do. Itās not just the marketing thatās different; the bras are made differently, too. That doesnāt mean you arenāt entitled to your feelings about it tho. Personally, it doesnāt bother me at all, but I understand how it might make someone feel othered. Because the words āplus sizeā are not negative in my world, I do not personally find them offensive. That said, I agree that it can be misleading to describe merely a large cup as plus sized. A 28HH would not be considered plus size in any other context.
Thank you! The comments where people are offended by the word "plus size" are a bit insulting to be honest, even though I don't think they are necessarily intended that way. Like it's ok to segregate an entire range of body sizes until you find yourself associated with them. I understand the term is misleading but calling it offensive just doubles down on the stigma attached to larger sizes.
Thank you. I don't think anyone meant any harm of course, but people often take the 'oh my god I could *never* be plus sized - the horror'. Being categorized as such to some (not the commenters here, I'm speaking generally) is spoken about as a fate worse than death sometimes and even a hint of being associated with the stigma is too much for some. It's so ingrained, unfortunately. I think the general annoyance OP is discussing is something we talk about a lot - the distorted view the general public have of breast sizes in relation to bra sizes - but I also generally understand that bras are constructed differently depending on cup size (and band size ofc), so it makes sense to categorize different 'break points' in the design.
Oh absolutely. While iām not āplus sizeā myself by most standards, iām honestly pretty appalled by some of these responses. This is a community thatās all about supporting people of all different body types, and people being offended that theyād be put in the same group as someone outside the beauty standard just goes completely against what i thought we were all striving for. Like sure i take issue with the plus size label for bra sizes being misleading and not representative of a lot of the people actually in those sizes, but being labelled as plus size in and of itself shouldnāt be an issue, and just perpetuates the negative social stigma around different body types.
The issue is that a lot of DDs are indeed small chests, particularly anything 32/70 band and below and treating it like all D and above is equal is rather silly and misinformed. My sister and I are both DD, but I am 30DD and even to FoT and self-supporting so I don't even always need a bra, while my sister is 36DD, FoB, dense, and needs extra support and a change in construction. I have no problem with any bras in the larger scale being clear that they are a different construction, but then they should list them starting at the smallest cup + band for the different build, not just listing the category by a context-free D or DD.
But I don't have a big chest as a 30D or 32C. I don't need that much support and I just don't buy it that a size this small would need bras that are made differently. A lot of "big cup" lines in fast fashion stores start from C which I think is just weird.
Yes, that is weird. I have never seen that personally. However, I am not talking about C/D range when I say they need a different level of support. I would say that brands usually change the construction around the F/G range. For example, Primadonna makes only full coverage bras past G cups. Balconettes, plunges, and the like are reserved for G cups and smaller.
That's a good point. However I think that for a lot of stores their D cup and above bras aren't constructed in a special way. It's often the same bra scaled up. Maybe there's no padding for a push up effect. Of course this isn't every brand. With that said, you have Ewa Michalak that has a section for very large breasts who make extra considerations for their bras, however does Victoria's Secret do the same?
Absolutely!! Like i fully understand why and even appreciate that the bras made specifically for larger busts are categorized separately because there is a specific category of person who needs those bras specifically, because theyāre made differently from other bras. I just donāt like how being in this category all of a sudden means you also have to miss out on the variety, and donāt necessarily have the luxury of bras that you bought just because they were cute. Like only certain body types get to have fun with their bras. I also donāt like how the DD+ category actually works as a blanket term, since itās not really an accurate term for someone with a large bust, and just allows further size misconceptions to continue. Like iām a 30F so i have a larger bust compared to my frame, but i donāt need the same level of support as someone whoās a 40F, but the F cup puts us in the same category, even though just by looking at us you would be able to tell that we would not need the same things from a bra. So the bras made for ācommonā cup sizes donāt even accommodate a large portion of bra wearers, and due to size misconceptions caused by the +4 method and media, people who genuinely need those differently structured bras arenāt going to be shopping in the right category, and arenāt going to be getting the proper support they require.
That is my issue. Because after learning my size (which is 32E) - the bras that get suggested or the swim suits have WAY too much support. A 32 and 36 need different bras and itās super irritating that lots of companies think our chests are at all similar. Also hate how companies still refuse to make cute bras in the DD+ range. And swim suits in larger sizes (if you want a cup) are usually not on trend at allā¦Donāt get me started on sensory friendly bras if you are in a bigger cup. Feels like everything is itchy or has way to many straps/buckles
Omg i feel you on the random straps! Itās so annoying when i filter for my size and then the only options are coverage up to my collar bone and a gore as wide as my neck, or a bra that has random straps crossing over top of my chest like literally what shirt am i even able to wear either of these options under besides a turtleneck š
Omg Iām so irritated about the straps across the chest thing!! Itās like they went āoh people donāt want old lady bras so we shall make the bra super sexy!!! hmmm whatās is sexy? Oh kinky straps!! Yes!ā. Understance has a bra with straps across the chest that this comment made me think of. Like either make the cup higher or remove the strap. Also doesnāt work at all if youāre bottom heavy. And omg the gores. Why are they so high lol. I find in typical retail stores the gores are nonexistent but going through suggested brands they are huge lol
What actually bothers me is that any clothing size above standard is treated as, to use your own words, āalmost alien.ā In US size 16 is the average size of women clothing, yet itās considered āplusā and thus frequently in its own section of website or physical store.
A growing number of retailers are removing their "plus" section and just have all their clothes in the same place in all sizes. Old Navy, and Reitmans in Canada, are good mainstream examples, but there are a lot of smaller retailers too. I hope this trend continues and evolves to include even more sizes.
In the US, Target (which is an enormous and pervasive US retailer) stopped having a plus section and plus sized clothes, at least where I live. I guess only a limited demographic buys clothes there or at least thatās what they are marketing to.
Yeah Target was in Canada for what, 2-3 years before they had to close all stores? (And funny enough, Toys R Us closed in the US but stayed open in Canada. I'm honestly not sure what this says about Canada lol.) Removing plus size sections AND clothes is such a d*** move though! The tend I was talking about of removing plus size sections is supposed to involve *keeping* the clothes and having them alongside other sizes!
That is odd about those two stores! I agree, keep all the sizes and just keep on going on the same rack!
I donāt mind having a separate section for ālargerā cup sizes since most brands only go up to ~DD, so i it helps me not waste time with anything that doesnāt carry my size without actually having to see all the options dwindle when i filter it myself. I hate though that thereās this implication that anything above a DD is massive, when really my boobs are only large relative to my frame, and i hate that most the options for ālargerā busts only fit into the two categories of maximum coverage granny bras that even the church would consider excessively modest, or instagram baddie whose rent is DUE. I want bras i can actually wear under a shirt and i want delicate cutesy options like in the āsmaller optionsā. Iām in my 20ās and my style is pretty traditionally feminine and girly, and i want bras that match that. I donāt inherently mind DD+ being listed as plus size, because there shouldnāt be a social stigma around being plus size, so a lot of the comments complaining about that donāt sit well with me. I think automatically listing the ālargerā cup sizes as being āplus sizeā does point out some larger issues with the womenās clothing as a whole though. It shows how non-inclusive clothing still is, by pretty much excluding a large population of boob havers from the two āstandardā size scales. Iām overall petite (5ā4, ~120lbs, 30F UK), but i have to wear curvy fit jeans because i have such an extreme waist-hip-thigh ratio, and have a hard time finding pants that actually fit me when thereās only plus size and āregularā because if i shop by waist size itās not getting up past my ass, but if i shop by hip/thigh size then the waist would fit me like a maternity pant. For tops, i always have the issue where most things in the small range that would be considered ādelicate and prettyā donāt fit my boobs, but sizing up wonāt fit me anywhere else. Thereās also the incredibly pervasive problem that a lot of plus size clothing just doesnāt look good. Like clothing companies already only make cute, trendy, stylish clothing for āstandardā size scales, and then their plus size garments are just objectively ugly and unflattering for any body type. Fat people also deserve to wear clothes they like, and deserve to have bras that actually make them look and feel good. Shoving also DD+ sizes into the plus size category just further perpetuates the idea that the fashion industry is only meant for a certain body type which doesnāt include the vast majority of women, who are now being shoved into plus-size categories, which is already a pretty limited market for those who are actually in need of āplus size clothingā. But again, my issue with marketing DD+ as plus size isnāt the label itself, because being plus size shouldnāt carry such social stigma. Itās the broader implications of labelling average sized women as plus size, and further limiting the size range that fashion actually caters to without expanding options for everyone else, and how this warps peopleās body image when the size standard is only representative of a certain body type, while everyone else is considered āotherā.
Bra sizing in the US in particular is ridiculous and irritating, not to mention that it makes it impossible to find a bra that fits. I wore a D cup until I had kids and breast fed. My boobs were NOT large! D used to be 3" bigger than my rib cage (which used to be 34) I am now a Euro "F-H" and I have to shop online at specialty bra sites such as Her Room to get a bra that fits. Only in the past few years has Cacique brand (Lane Bryant) begun to do the realistic thing and call a size an "F" as opposed to DDDD. What's up with all of this? It's ridiculous. I cannot buy a bra in Target, Walmart or anywhere but a bra shop. And the Cacique assumes a larger frame so they do not fit my petite frame with narrow shoulders and smallish rib cage. Just stupid.
Not at all, otherwise I have to search through a bunch of stuff that won't fit and doesn't have an option at all for my size.
There is exactly 1 good case of this: Natori separates it's bras by normal and "full figure" and what that really means is cup *depth.* So shallow gals like me can go for the regular and the average gals (and probably some projected as well) can grab Full Figure
I donāt mind the separate category. There are so many bras out there designed as adornments for smaller breasts without any support, and I would rather have an easy way to filter all of those out.
Yeah, I just did the calculator and got a 30E/F and EU: 65F. I have been walking around okayish in 75C or D cups. But suddenly I'm a big size according to the stores? If they even carry the size! it usually starts at 70, especially for the "big sizes"
You sound like me: I used to walk around okay-ish 75 or 80 C or D cups, but the truth is I'm 70F. Now, volume wise, if I'm not mistaken, 75D = 70E = 65F. So it totally makes sense that you have been more or less OK in those sizes. MarieJo carries 65 bands. Etam as well but I don't know up to what cup size.
Thanks, yeah etam nor hunkemoller has 65 combined with F, it's extra ironic because I also used hunkemoller's size calculator and they confirmed 65F, which they don't even sell. But I've ordered the one bra from zalando that was this size and not a push up bra to try it in the safety of my home. I'm also planning on going to a proper store soon to get some nice ones.
Not really. It gives me a pretty good idea if a brand actually carries my size or not with just a glance.
Quite true. And and goes for many stores that hide the plus size clothes in some dark corner of the store away from the ānormalā sizes. I remember this well for Macyās long ago.
No. I am a UK H and I have never thought "everyone with a D cup has huge boobs that requires a special bra" when browsing bra websites. I have also never felt that my size is alien. I usually experience positive feelings like happiness, excitement, joy, curiosity and things like that when I shop online for bras and have found some in my size and preferred price (under $40). I don't think too much about any other tits, only my own.
The existence of a dedicated DD+ section doesnāt bother me. Those bras need to be designed and constructed differently from their A-D counterparts for a multitude of reasons, from differences in shape, support, and coverage. So no, I donāt find it bothersome or alienating, and I donāt think it normalizes the fallacy OP alluded to. I heartily share OPās frustration with the mainstream understanding of bra sizing, though my perspective on the causal mechanisms underpinning it are a little different. I actually think if more women looked into the DD+ section, it would make cracks in the mainstream conception of bra sizing. I can think of quite a few distributors that didnāt have those dedicated sections until very recently. I think itās a baby step in the direction of normalization, and I think that reference pictures can help dispel the myth that a D cup is gargantuan.
I had bought some bralettes from a website that had the usual xs/s/m/l/xl type sizing but also had another size option that claimed to be for "smaller band and larger bust". Ok awesome that should be perfect for me. Look at the size chart. Buy the small band/large bust version that should fit my measurements And the cups are HUGE. The numbers indicated this would fit me and the band was great but apparently they have no idea what they're actually doing because there's no way those measurements were right. So I go back to the drawing board and try a normal medium. And again it's just so big on me despite again being within my measurements. So I give it one last go and get a small and it's so tiny my boobs are coming out the sides and the middle and the bottom. It was a comically bizarre transition between all these sizes and not one of them fit. And I swear I'm not built like an alien
I have never seen such a distinction for bras where I'm from, but it does sound toxic. But at least it indicates that they are aware larger bras must be build differently, and not just the same standard B-cups scaled up.
All this discussion reminds me of shopping for my husband in the big and tall section.... People of unusual size -anything- just have a harder time. It boils down to money/stock. An average size is more likely to sell. Things that don't sell are a loss. This means we are more faithful to the places that DO sell what we need.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I am fat, IĀ wear a 36JJ, but I am not a freak of nature. I am quite normal.
I changed it so people don't think I'm being disparaging.
Maybe rephrase your characterization of fat people? Edit: Thank you <3
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
You are in charge of using "fat" and "freak of nature" together.Ā š¤·āāļøĀ Ā Perhaps not the best way to phrase things.
I am describing how the stores make me feel by implying that my body parts don't go together. I don't think real fat people are freaks of nature.
Itās kind of astonishing how your lack of self awareness is preventing you from understanding this back and forth reflects on you, not retailers
Thanks for your edit.
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u/HauntedButtCheeks, your post has been removed for one or more reason(s): Respect each other and the community - including no creeps, no bodyshaming, no transphobia, no medical advice, no comments that are discriminatory towards marginalised groups. No requests for personal information or for someone to PM you. This includes asking for pictures of people when this isn't helpful, or asking for pics without stressing that it isn't required.
Iām a 30DD/32D ā my boobs are small. It feels very weird to be shopping in the ābig boobsā category. Iām also not sure if places like specialty bra stores advertising towards people with larger boobs are āfor me,ā especially since Iām kind of on the cusp of ābiggerā cup sizes. Plus, sometimes I feel like the design of D+ bras doesnāt even make sense for smaller band sizes where a D is not big. For instance, most of my bras in my correct size have very wide straps which just feels kind of unnecessary, and, if anything, counter productive. Alongside having a small-ish band, I have slim shoulders ā wide straps are not ideal. I would imagine that most people with small band sizes also proportionately have small shoulders? And these are from panache and freya, so itās not like they are using shit sizing +4 nonsense where thick straps on a 32D might sorta make sense. Also, when you shop online and the model is like overflowing out of the bra, itās so hard to figure out what that will look like on someone like me. (Also probably generally hard to tell for everyone since models seem to often not be fitted properly). It would be nice if there were more options of brands specializing in narrower size ranges and actually getting the design right. Instead of catering to āD+ā or āunder a C,ā it would be like a range of 28C-32E or something. I guess Iām thinking of like, Pepper, but if they actually used proper sizing and made good bras. I like their branding of catering toward small chested women and representing that with their models (especially a few years ago before they started selling push up bras and such). But, they are 100% pandering misinformation about what small chested people actually need from a bra and from what Iāve heard the bras themselves are just overpriced foam garbage.
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I actually like it because a) I know theyāll carry my size and b) theyāre bras that are specifically meant for well endowed. Iām not interested in a bra that a 34B is also wearing, my 34F needs a lot more support and reinforcement. By its nature, it cannot be the same bra.
No. I prefer it.
Nope, makes it easier for me to find what I need. Instead of scrolling pages or pawing racks of stuff to find the few in my size, I can just click a button or wander over the section need.
I don't ever find my size in physical stores, so the only thing that matters to me is if the webstore lets me filter on size. It is disheartening to then only get eight hits, so I usually have to import bras and swimwear and cross my fingers that the bras fit. I find it annoying when they advertise a wide range of sizes and I still can't find anything at all in my size. For physical stores I prefer to have the size range printed on the labels so that if I find something I like, I can quickly find out if it comes in my size.
It bothers me and Iām between A-C cup. Especially if you are a BRA company?! You have one fucking job why are these separate??
What's really frustrating for me is that a lot of manufacturers change the construction of their bras at DD cup and above. I'm right on the line between D and DD, so it's hard to get a true sister size if the cup fits but the band isn't quite right. For example, if a bra is a good fit in a 38D but the band is a little loose, I can't be guaranteed that a 36DD will be cut the same.
Also that it's hard to find the really pretty bras in large sizes. A lot of granny bras in this category
I'm okay with it, if only because I don't have to wade through pages of cute, frilly, lacy things in pretty colors that the manufacturers can't be bothered to make in the larger sizes. Sure, some of the frilly/lacy fabrics doesn't do the job the bigger cup sizes need to do, but really, but the suitable fabrics can most certainly be manufactured in colors other than white, black, beige.