Plus Size Bras
From LoveToKnow Lingerie
In the past, there weren't a lot of choices for plus size bras. They tended to be built for strength, not beauty. But thanks to the internet, full-figured women can now find sexy lingerie including both practical and pretty plus size bras.
Your Body Type
Plus-size can refer to the size of a woman's breasts, her overall dress size, or both. A thin woman may have large breasts; a heavier women might have a relatively small cup size. At a department store or lingerie shop, a salesperson can help you find the right style. If you're looking online, make sure that the site you're ordering from caters to your body type. Do they also stock plus-size clothing? Are the models smaller-size women with either naturally large or augmented breasts?
As women age, their breasts become less firm and require fuller support. Younger women may be able to wear demi-cups and sheer lace bras which don't offer much support. Older women may want to look for full-coverage bras which will help shape the bust and give a little extra lift.
Back pain is a frequent problem for women with full breasts. Shoulder pain, from bra straps cutting into the shoulders, is another common issue. If you have large breasts, look for plus size bras with wide shoulder straps for everyday wear. You can also find ones with cushioned straps. This is less important if you're choosing a sexy bra to show off for your partner. In that case, it might not stay on long enough for the straps to be a problem!
Minimizers
Many women are plus-size and proud! It can be fun to show off your great cleavage with sexy tops and pretty bras. But there are times when big is not better. Some outfits and some occasions require toning things down. Button-down shirts tend to gape at the bust on women with generous breasts. And some women are just uncomfortable about wearing a large bra size. This is where minimizers come in.
Minimizer bras make breasts look smaller by reducing how much they project forward from your chest. They do this by compressing the breast tissue and/or changing the breast shape. Many minimizers make breasts appear wider and flatter—not always an attractive look. Be prepared to try on several minimizers to find one that looks good on you.
Underwires
Underwires help bras give support and lift to larger breasts. They're a good choice for plus-size women—but they can be uncomfortable with all-day wear. Some women don't have any trouble with underwires. Others find that the stiff wires dig into their breasts or leave painful indentations just below them. Happily, manufacturers have come up with a number of ways to offer good support in plus size bras without using underwires. Look for molded cups or a band of stronger fabric at the base of the cups. Pay attention to the manufacturer's description: some wire-free bras aren't meant to provide much support at all, while others are described as "full support."
Sewn vs. Seamless
There's a reason why many plus-size bras aren't seamless. Cut-and-sewn bras are specially structured to provide extra support. The seams allow precise shaping and these bras may be less stretchy than seamless styles. One disadvantage of seamed bras is that they're likely to show under T-shirts, light-weight blouses, and thin sweaters.
Shopping for Plus Size Bras
The internet is full of sites dedicated to plus-size women. If you're an online shopper, you'll want to do some browsing to see which sites have styles you like. Also note what sizes they consider "plus." Fredericks of Hollywood has a "Plus Size" section, but most of the bras listed there only go up to 38D. A few of them are available in sizes up to 42F. Victoria's Secret's full-figured bras top out at 40DD.
Bigger bras are available at sites like Just My Size, which shows plus size models looking sexy in full-figured fashions, including a good selection of bras going up to 50DD in some styles. You can find even larger cup sizes at Big Girls' Bras, which advertises sizes from 32AA all the way up to 50K. Nordstrom's department store also has a great selection of plus size bras including some of the best fitting brands like Wacoal. Look for their full figure line; while these bras are a little pricier than some others, their fit is superior and they are excellent at smoothing and shaping.
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