My Adventures in Bra Shopping.

I haven't written in a really long time and my absence has not been intentional. I have some good thought provoking posts coming up! I have a few things in my head that I want to turn into words so I can share with you. Currently all of that is being overrun by the fact that I am finally, for the first time in 11 years, am wearing the correct size bra!

If you recall, I had a nice long rant back in September about bras. What I left out was the fact that even with all this knowledge, I still left the store with a 40DD bra. That bra was so bad. The band stretched out like crazy, the cups and under wire dug into me, and my chest was not being flattered by wearing the wrong size. I know that finding a store with higher quality bras that cater to large busted ladies is hard. I know the price tags make me want to cry and the sizes are overwhelming. I was too much of a wimp to go and face all these issues back then, so I suffered. 

My stepmother bought me my first bras in the wrong size. She bought every single bra from age 11 to age 16 in the wrong size. I distinctly remember when I was 13 we went bra shopping. I put on a DD and I was so comfortable. I showed it off to her with my big smile and she just frowned. She said there was no way we were getting it. There was no way I needed a DD because her "mom was a true DD and her breasts were the size of watermelons". We left the store with a C cup bra. I started to think all bras were awful. I thought I was going to deal with the pinching bands, the broken under wires, the deep cut shoulder straps, and the "quadra boob" for the rest of my life. I thought this was normal because I had never been in the right size bra. When I was 15 I had a "bra expert" at Victoria's Secret size me. I rubbed it in my stepmother's face that the professional put me in a DD cup bra. 

In the big scary World of adulthood, I didn't know bras went above a DD. I never even once heard a woman talk about her bra being anything bigger than a DD. When my bras continued to be uncomfortable and my breasts continued to grow, I became frustrated. No one else seemed to struggle so much with bras. The other women weren't constantly tugging at their bras and rubbing out the red marks. When I first had this revelation, I looked online for what I thought would be my proper size. I was willing to assume I could fit into maybe a DDD or, dare I admit it, an E cup. I felt kind of silly. I felt like the only woman who believed in the power of bras above a DD cup. After 30 minutes of searching, I felt defeated! Suddenly my $20 bras were upwards of $75 or even $100! Living in Germany, my only option was to buy online and I just couldn't do it. 

When we got to America, I went into JC Penney and looked around. There was only one brand that made bras that looked nicer than a bullet proof vest and their 36E made me look ridiculous! It was their biggest size so I went down from there. I bit the bullet on a 38DDD bra and a strapless in a 38DD since those fit a little more snug. I was so proud of myself for accepting a size above a DD cup. I was confident in my purchase. It didn't take long to feel like this bra was just like every other bra. When it broke, it came as no surprise to me. I had been snapping the under wire out of bras for as long as I could remember. Fast forward to the hasty purchase in October, bought a 40DD to appease the "bra expert", and left. 

Fast forward one more time to Wednesday night when that crappy bra snapped its under wire. I told my husband that I was sorry but I had to buy a bra in the right size. I couldn't stand wearing these DD bras anymore. I told him they would be more expensive, but I would only buy one so it didn't suck so much. I measured and re-measured and I went in there with a game plan. I tore a handful of 36F bras off the racks and marched in the fitting room. I was floored when they didn't fit me correctly. I tried on one more and one more after that just to make sure. I slunk back to the sales floor and picked two 36Gs off the racks. They looked so big! I gave them the stinkeye all the way back to the fitting room. I loosened the straps, adjusted, hooked, and stood up. 

HOLY COW! Was that my chest in there? Were these glorious beasts really mine? There was no way in the World that I was very comfortably filling out a 36G...right? I turned to the side. I adjusted again. I bent over. I squished them together. I just couldn't believe my eyes. They looked so much bigger and fuller! My posture seemed to be better instantly. They were spilling out a little on top and to be honest, I think I may need a 36H in the future. I sort of like the way it looks, so I was very happy to parade the bra back to the checkout line and purchase it. 

Last night I put on my old bra under a tank top and stared. There were my weird, squished, disproportionate boobs. The ones I had been toting for 10 years. I switched into my new bra, put the tank top back on, and smiled. There was a grown woman with a pretty good rack. For once in my life I saw the same thing with a bra on that I did when my bra was off. I believed in all the times my husband had to re-convince me that my chest was just fine. I finally saw the body he has seen all these years. I feel 100% more confident! I am still adjusting to the bra touching in places it never did before, but I know it will get easier. 

I am so happy I took the plunge and I strongly encourage all women to do it. Use the measuring guide on my old post. Go into Dillard's or any other store that sells high quality lingerie. Walk through the racks and pick out a few in the size suggested by the guide. It may seem scary to try on a DD when you have been in a C your whole life. You may feel like a complete nut carrying around bras that could fit on your head. Just try to be brave and try them on. Maybe you're happier in your current size. Whatever it comfortable and makes you happy is the right option. I just want you to try this other size on. Step outside your comfort zone and see what happens. If you take my advice, please post a comment or message me about your experience! I'd love to hear some other ladies trying it out.


**NOTE: Tomorrow I will be adding a photo comparison of my two bras. The easiest way was to take a photo of the bras side-by-side on the bed. I thought it would really help understand the difference between department store sizing and proper lingerie sizing.**