The Real Way to Find a Bra That Fits Your Big Boobs
Every year since around 2006 it seems like we’ve been getting new statistics on how many people are wearing the wrong bra size, which always inspires a lot of news about how Long Island Jennifer thought she was 36D but is actually 30F. With all due respect to the Jennifers of the world, stories like this aren’t as helpful as they might sound because they either imply or explicitly state that everyone needs a much smaller group and a much larger cup than what they’re wearing.
This idea has become so common that it’s actually become the rule, but if you’re busty, tall, and fat (or both), then that’s bullshit. If you’re tired of taking measurements after measurements and end up with bras that don’t really fit your breasts, you should try the exact opposite: go up in the band and down in the cup. That’s why.
Bras are essentially anti-gravity devices, which means that the heavier your chest (and the farther from the ground it is), the more work your clothes have to do. Regardless of cup size, the vast majority of garments with a bar of 36 or less just aren’t up to the task of supporting large, heavy breasts because that’s not what they’re designed for.
But large bands are designed to support large breasts. They’re not just bigger in circumference; they are also wider which means more hooks and therefore more support. In addition, larger straps tend to have additional design elements that make them even more comfortable, such as:
- Wider, stiffer straps: The tight ribbing you get on smaller bras is not suitable for heavy breast tissue. The wider and stiffer the straps, the more support the bra will have.
- Longer Bows: Once you reach the 38-40 range, you will usually unlock longer bows, which actually allows the cups to hold more tissue than the ” sister size ” in the smaller band.
Another benefit of sizing up: “Minimizer” styles are much more common in the plus size ranges, which typically start in the 38 or 40 range. Unlike bras with multi-piece cups, Minimizer cups are made from a single piece of stretchy, seamless fabric. They offer a ton of support and, thanks to the magic of stretching, are very tolerant of differences in size and shape between breasts. (They also make your chest incredibly round.)
Ultimately, it’s important to remember that bra sizes are fake and trying on a bra is not rocket surgery. You need a comfortable brace, cups that fit all of your breast tissue, and a wire that sits right in the crease where your chest connects to your torso. That’s all. For big people with big boobs, group sizing is often the easiest way to achieve the perfect fit.