Are Certain Fashion Designers & Companies Boob Friendly—And Others Not?

babycakes
wrote on August 3 2009 @ 02:18 pm: [report]

This is absolutely true! Before any of you lovlies out there go rushing out to um, enhance you assets- consider that you may never be able to wear certain styles and clothing lines :( I can’t wear my cute halter maxi without looking like I’m going out on the town because of the insane clevage- I just want to wear it somewhere casual like to the grocery store, but guys just gawk and I feel uncomfortable. So sadly this otherwise insanely flattering dress remains on a hanger in my closet. And it makes me sad.

IrishErin
wrote on August 3 2009 @ 02:39 pm: [report]

I’m looking at you Victoria’s Secret. I wear a D, sometimes a DD depending on the cut. At VS? Not a single bra in the store will fit me. My boobs constantly cascade out of the cups. With all of the padding in a D there, I can’t imagine it fitting anyone larger than a medium sized C cup.

Skwisgiirl
wrote on August 3 2009 @ 03:05 pm: [report]

VS works best for my (D)D’s, but I have to try a lot on to find something that works.

I have this problem at Forever 21 and H+M—the sundresses make me look like a freakin’ porn star. But, I’m a bigger girl all around so I’m used to clothes-shopping-trial-and-error.

mememe
wrote on August 3 2009 @ 03:06 pm: [report]

While we are on the topic of VS and boob friendly stores, I have to say that the salespeople at VS are ALWAYS rude to me!! I am naturally well-endowed, a 34dd, and when I shop for bras at VS I am greeted with attitude. I am in no way trying flaunt my chest-size, I am just trying to buy a damned bra, and it is hard to find my size in a style that doesn’t look matronly in big department stores. It may not be my chest size, they might just be rude, but I always leave there feeling I have time traveled back to jr high.

vanya
wrote on August 3 2009 @ 03:54 pm: [report]

Shoshannah Lonstein Gruss’ fashion & swimwear line, Shoshannah, is designed for larger busted women.

marshmallows
wrote on August 3 2009 @ 05:03 pm: [report]

It’s impossible for me to find a bra at VS and I’m not even large. As a 32C, they just don’t carry my size very much. And the bras that are 32Cs are NEVER sexy looking. They’re just standard.

I’ve found that The Limited expects me to either have way bigger boobs or boobs that are like 4 inches lower, which is just not happening! =P

Let_Love_Rule
wrote on August 3 2009 @ 05:07 pm: [report]

I’m a 34DD as well, and shopping for clothing is incredibly frustrating. I can relate to not wanting to look like a porn star! But the other choice is to look fat, when I’m not at all.

I’ve decided to get a reduction later in the year, in part because I’m tired of the expense of getting all my tops and dresses tailored. Worse, I often leave a store in tears of frustration after trying EVERYTHING on and having the same result.

I agree with you ladies re Victoria’s Secret. I’ve given up finding a bra there. The only place I can find one (quality is very important at my size, as proper support is crucial) is Nordstrom, where they START at $80 per bra. Ugh. Can’t wait to be smaller!

Shasta
wrote on August 3 2009 @ 05:14 pm: [report]

The only women who can wear J. Crew are those with a body like a 12-year-old boy.

I haven’t shopped there in years.

Each designer has its own reputation either for curvey or athletic.  Find what works.

VS is crap.  You’ve gotta spend some cash to get a well-fitting, pretty bra. Go with Chantelle, Wacoal, or Le Mystere.

palmettogirl
wrote on August 3 2009 @ 05:18 pm: [report]

I would KILL to be a DD right now.

ladies, imagine being a natural 32JJ, at the young age of 23 years old.

welcome to my life.

i tried to get my insurance to cover a reduction for me when i was in college.  they denied me saying i haven’t exhausted my resources.  (losing weight, medicine, chiropractor etc) at 150lbs, losing weight is possible, but i am in no way in need of it, esp at a 32.  i got medicine for the back pain.  but they would not cover me going to the chiropractor so that was out of the question.

finding clothes to fit me is a pain and a challenge.  I work in fashion, and i can’t wear the majority of what i sell and like because it looks like i’m a hooker.  If i could find REASONABLY PRICED clothing that would fit me that would be amazing, but sadly that just isn’t gonna happen.  the best i have found is BCBG, but they are just too pricey for my tight budget.

to mememe, i used to work at victoria’s secret, something like that is something that should be reported to the manager so they can fix that.  nobody who works in a store like that should ever be rude.

pryce2
wrote on August 3 2009 @ 05:36 pm: [report]

Double J? Yipes!

I never realized how lucky I’ve been with my body until I went shopping with a large chested friend. For me, clothes shopping is just grab what I like and see how it looks. Rarely does something not fit at all. It’s more of a game of what looks the best.

My friend? She brought at least 30 shirts into the dressing room and came away with only about 4 that fit her correctly. As we were shopping I kept trying to point out shirts she’d like only to realize her boobs literally could not fit into them.

J. Crew dresses smush my boobs and they end up around my chin. You also can’t have hips. That’s a big J. Crew no-no.

GAgirlinNYC
wrote on August 3 2009 @ 06:02 pm: [report]

Amen to everyone that said that about VS! I am a DD and it is a horror show to find a bra there. What I have found though, is that Fredricks of Hollywood is made for the boobalicious girls more than the smaller chested ones. It’s about the same price range, so everyone that is having issues with VS should give it a try! Hope this helps.

Also, Forever 21 is not big boob friendly either. I agree there. It makes me sad, I love that store!

Lilypie
wrote on August 3 2009 @ 06:29 pm: [report]

It’s always something.  Not being blessed with any semblance of a chest, I haven’t had as much trouble with clothes there, but I’m also really tall and rarely do any mainstream manufacturers make sleeves that reach all the way to my wrists or pants that make it to my ankles.  And I’m long waisted to boot, so dresses fit me oddly because my waist is rarely where the dress’s waist is.  Sigh. Wouldn’t it be great if custom fashion was cost effective?

sklut
wrote on August 3 2009 @ 07:14 pm: [report]

It’s a shame clothing lines usually go one way or the other. I can’t shop anywhere that has ‘Junior’ sizing because I’m a 38DDD and it’s ridiculous cause I can just look at all the tops in Forever 21 and see all the possibilities of cute outfits but then I’m snapped back to reality by someone gawking at my chest. My boyfriend loves them (obviously) but he jokes and says “Babe put those things away”. Like where in the hell am I going to put these things?!? I’ve accepted the fact I can’t wear certain clothing and it’s ok now but I do wish they made sexier bras for girls with larger chests without having to spend an arm and a leg on them.

babycakes
wrote on August 3 2009 @ 07:34 pm: [report]

My sis had quite the experience at VS: A very natural 32 DD- 32DDD and she’s pretty small. Upon having no luck finding a bra- the saleslady gave some helpful advice- Maybe you shouldn’t have gotten them so big?

My normally outspoken sister left speechless and has NEVER gone back. Ladies with this prob, check out Panache, it’s a european line that you can normally find BNWT (Brand new with tags) on Ebay for the same as or less than VS- oh, and they’re cute! Also, swimsuits that don’t make you look like an old lady.

rbrent
wrote on August 3 2009 @ 08:40 pm: [report]

I have had the exact opposite experience at VS.  I wear a 40 DD there and have always had courteous sales people and found bras that fit me…well…as long as they weren’t in the Pink collection!  The thing about VS is, the bras are crap!  They don’t handle even delicate washing and they stretch out like crazy.  I found a surprising alternative at Target.  Gilligan & O’Malley makes cute bras that go up to a 40 DD in store (42 DD online) that are, max $20. I just checked and the selection online seems pretty limited but it is worth checking out in the store.

Oh…and J.Crew is NOT meant for women with boobs.  Fail on their part. Maybe Kiera Knightly shops there? http://tinyurl.com/lqq3q7

lexik
wrote on August 4 2009 @ 07:38 am: [report]

This is so dead-on. I am an unusual size at 32F and it is such a challenge to find clothes that fit me well. ie: in dresses, a size 10 will fit my breasts, but will be unfitted everywhere else on me. Certain stores/brands are definitely better than others (BCBG is quite good) but it’s also about figuring out what shapes work best too. Also, http://www.figleaves.com is a great site for decently affordable bras in ALL sizes and they have a great line of bathing suits (great brands include Fantasie and Freya - they have bras that are actually pretty!). I’ve played with the idea of a reduction but just never followed-through. I hope to get one someday though! How novel it would be to be able to wear a tank top and have it not look too revealing.

maroon
wrote on August 4 2009 @ 04:10 pm: [report]

OH SNAP.  once upon a time, ie about three days before this article, i bought a dress online for an event next week.  the dress arrived today, and much to my horror it didn’t fit.  and this was even after studying the size chart and being honest and even a bit pessimistic about the fit (the model in the picture was wicked skinny).  after crying on the phone to nordstrom, they told me this particular designer runs SMALL IN THE BUST, and that i should have ordered one size UP from my current bustline.  way to smash the egos of the moderately endowed.

lisilouwho
wrote on August 4 2009 @ 07:35 pm: [report]

I wear a 38DDD-F bra but average-size clothes, and I found that Lane Bryant actually has some really cute and really pretty bras with good support and reasonably priced. On their website they sell 36C and up, and in the stores they sell 38s and up. Some are actually very sexy, as well. I can make their size 12 undies work (they’re a tad big, but not bad - they’re sized by pants size), so you might have to go elsewhere to find ones that match, but at least it’s a bra option. They also regularyl have buy-one-get one 1/2 off sales, and they send out $$-of coupons all the time. I stopped shopping at VS in high school when I hit DD-ville, and have pretty much bought all my bras at Lane Bryant since. They run in the $30 range instead of the $80 range.

chouette
wrote on August 4 2009 @ 08:42 pm: [report]

I have to disagree on VS bras being crap…they are actually the ONLY brand I’ve ever had that lasts a long time w/o falling apart and doesn’t feel cheap!  I wash them on the delicate cycle w/ cold water, in a mesh bag.  They last years, and I’ve never worn one out- just have to replace them every few b/c I have magical size-changing boobs that grow and shrink according to their whims.

sameji
wrote on August 5 2009 @ 01:50 am: [report]

I’ve tried both Victoria’s and Frederick’s bras (I’m a 34 D/DD).

When I went to VS the girl measured me at a 34 D and somehow got me into a 36 D… because apparently they tell their employees that you’re supposed to wear your bras on the innermost set of hooks. Everywhere else I’ve read online has said that you start on the outermost set and when the bra stretches out, that’s when you go to the next set, and so forth. If you start out on the innermost set, there’s nothing to help you when the bra inevitably stretches out.

Anyway, my 36 D bras were riding up like crazy and not offering me enough support to put up with them, so I hit up Frederick’s and the employees there were MUCH nicer, actually wore their company’s product (though to be fair, I’m not sure if they’re required to), and got me in a proper size.

The VS bras I bought were much softer, but they only had 2 hooks as opposed to Frederick’s 3 hooks. (I mean vertically; they both had 3 sets of hooks. Does that make sense?) And I got 5 bras for $90 at Frederick’s. (works out to $18 apiece for those of you too lazy to do the math) As far as I’m concerned, I’d rather shop at Frederick’s.

camille905
wrote on August 5 2009 @ 07:45 am: [report]

I love Lane Bryant! I wear a 38DD and it’s the only place I can find cute, affordable, sexy bras. Also Lane Bryant has sales a few times a year that are buy two bras, get two free. I’m also not that small anyway and have a hard time finding clothes that fit my bust. I have yet to find a button-up shirt that doesn’t gap.

frisky?
wrote on August 6 2009 @ 01:13 am: [report]

I totally agree!! Ive been a dd since puberty and ever since then I came to realize that clothing designers do not realize that there is a need for clothes for women that are naturally large. Finding clothes that fit is devastingly painful, not to mention finding a bra that fits properly and doesnt look like a bra grandma would wear. VS is supposed to be the bra expert and they do not tailor to our population. Only recently have I been able to find a bra that fits at VS, but they need to start making them appealing.
Furthermore, in regards to clothing stores most of them only have clothing for a’s and b’s. 
And lets not mention trying to buy a nice cocktail dress or an evening dress! I dont even want to imagine looking for a wedding dress!!!

Izzibee
wrote on August 6 2009 @ 01:24 pm: [report]

I am an in-between sized person so I can wear a 34B or a 32C depending on the brand. And I can wear J.Crew dresses—no problem. Well I like more structured ones (there are many that aren’t) A size 2 fits me in pretty much every thing there. I guess I am in the minority but—- just want to point out that I am not remotely flat chested, and therefore it is possible to wear J. Crew and not look like a 12 year old boy. Geez!

bettyboo
wrote on August 23 2009 @ 04:36 pm: [report]

I dunno how feasible it is for those on the other side of the pond (you can order them online but the postage may be restrictive) but here in the UK we have a fabulous shop called bravissimo which caters to the above D cup gal.  It’s best if you can visit as they judge your size by sight and trying on rather than relying on measurements, I went in thinking I was a 38DD from the standard measurements and came out a 34F with 3 of the best fitting bras I’ve ever had! And I got 3 new dresses to boot as they have there own clothing line where you can buy dresses and tops in all the usual sizes but at different levels of curvy. Can’t recommend it enough, for the first time in years I don’t have truely flattering dresses and even the clothes I didn’t buy there look infinitely better with the new bras so I’m a very happy bunny :O)