Whenever a thread like this comes up, I always recommend the web site "Simply Be", from England. When I tried ordering the British sizes, equivalent to USA sizing, I was amazed. Of course you can't try on like in a store, so you may have to do the measurements they suggest and order the size to see if it fits you and return and try again. I always order size "J". The fit is great.

They do sell out of styles quickly, and the minimizer selection is limited. Seem to be always out of those in my size.

When you say less endowed are you talking A cup?

I'll ask my gf who is smaller and was raving about some kind of thing that slips on and no hook, wires, and seems to give her the support she wants....I think they're called bralettes.

ETA: She got Bali 3491...if that helps.

Me? I need something that's constructed more like an Abrams tank.

I think you might need to wait and actually be fitted. I tried on so many before I found my brand, which is Wacoal.

I’ve heard great things about Soma bras (no underwire, any sizes) and want to try them. I feel just like you — bra fitting and shopping is the worst kind of shopping!

https://www.soma.com/store/

This is the bra that I wear the most. I think that I have 6 of them in different colors. I like that I can switch the straps to wear with racerback tops. Or even halter, which I've never done. I am definitely not well endowed by any means.

Oh ya - I have that problem. Though I have a broad chest but am relatively flat so even 36" is usually too tight (uncomfortable and makes for unsightly back flab) but there's nothing larger with a small cup. I found some great bras a hundred years ago and stocked up knowing how hard it was to find something that worked for me. I think I still have one new one left. Many of them are starting to wear out and just don't seem comfortable any more. So I decided to see if I could find some new ones - the old style is no longer made.

I had very bad luck with this endeavor. I finally found a couple at Target that aren't ideal but not too bad. One is made by Warners and is a more traditional style. The other is a Jockey bralette. A friend told me she bought this kind at Target which is why I decided to check there. I wear this for basic every day use - very comfortable. It has no support whatsoever though so with something like a fitted sweater I wear my good old underwire bras - save them for this kind of thing. The newer Warner style isn't bad but it is so loose and comfortable it's almost uncomfortable because it feels like it's going to slip up above the anatomy it's supposed to be covering.

ETA: After looking at deegw's recommendation on the Her Room website, I see that the Warner style I bought is the one called No Side Effects.

I have been happy with this one. There is enough padding for modesty's sake but it's not heavily padded.

Instead of a wire, there is a small crescent of padding in the bottom of the cup that helps with aging-related gravity issues.

Warner’s Women’s Elements of Bliss Wire-free Lift Bra style #1298

I lost a bunch of weight when I was in grad school (which I have since gained back) and at my lowest weight was an "almost A" cup. At that size I really liked pullover bralettes or cami bras for everyday.

terriks, I like Vanity Fair bras and the ones you show look like just the ticket. But they don't even show 34B.

I am a 34 B and hated wearing bras until I found this model from Aubade. It is pricey at around $100, but lasts forever and fits me so well I don't mind wearing it.

NB I have no idea why the bras are shown in Euro sizing. I selected USA and English. Nordstrom and Her Room carry this brand and style as a rule.

I have that Warner’s elements of bliss bra too! Very comfortable.

Ida, I purchased a couple of these bras maybe three years ago from QVC. I ordered them with the idea they'd be worn around the house, on our walks and to Pilates class. I seriously have not worn another bra since the day they arrived. I'm not sure what is considered pricey but these have been worth whatever I paid for them. They're reversible as well. I just love them!

https://www.spanx.com/bras/wireless/breast-of-both-worldstm-reversible-comfort-bra

I am always looking but never have found a bra that has longer straps. Even when I put the straps at the max my bras still ride up. If anyone has come across something along those lines please let me know! Good luck on your search.

That SPANX model is much like the Jockey style I bought though more expensive. It would probably last longer.

Several years ago when we were going to be on vacation for nearly 6 weeks, I needed bras that would pack compactly and wash and dry easily and quickly. I ended up with a Playtex Eighteen Hour 4745. They are lined but not padded and do not have underwire. IIRC I got a couple at Target and a couple at Walmart. All were under $20. They provide adequate support and are about as comfortable as a bra is going to be. I tend to reach for one of them instead the other “better” bras that I have.

I have also bought bras from Third Love. Initially I liked them but the lace or fabric seemed to be itchy after wearing for a couple of hours.

I had a professional bra fitting last year. The fitter ended up putting me in a Chantelle. As bras go, it is fine.

I also have a couple from Soma and a couple from Victoria’s Secret. Meh. The worst I’ve ever had from Soma was the Vanishing Back Wireless. It was soooo uncomfortable.

Oh, no! Glad you posted about Soma, bb. I’ve seen so much raving about them, but it’s good to get other opinions.

I say we all just stop wearing bras. 😁

Am I the only one who doesn't think bras that slip over your head are a torture to put on? Give me hooks please.

I empathize, I need new bras and I am procrastinating(again)

grammaj, if your bras are riding up in the back, your band is too large...you probably need a smaller band and a larger cup.

When I find something that fits, I buy multiples too.

I hate bras and don't wear one all the time. I do wear a cami with a build-in kind-of bra when I don't need to wear a real bra.

Sometime you just need to actually wear a bra so after trying all kinds and never finding any that I liked I did a bra fitting at Nordstrom. I was determined to get a black and a nude bra and was will to lay out some $$. I always thought I was a 34B. The fitter looked at me before going into the fitting room and said she though I was a C cup. I didn't believe her until I started trying on the bras that she brought for me to try. Turns out I am a 32C so the fitting was totally worth it!

I cut out the tags of the bras so I can't say for sure what they are but I am pretty sure they are either Natori or On Gossmer.

I'm a difficult size--small cup size but broad shoulders. And I like a bit of padding and boost at times. (Yes, I'm a mature woman who wants a push-up bra...). I can't order bras online. For all of the size confusion in clothing, bras top the list for me. I simply need to go into a store and try them on. But once I find one that works, I purchase several and don't need to worry about them for a while.

Thanks so much to all for the recommendations! I have a lot to look into, and it's good to have so many options to check out. I don't even know what size I am now, but would still prefer not to have to go anywhere for a fitting. My current bras are wearable but the cup gap bothers me with some shirts, and I do know that not only weight loss but gravity (darn you, gravity!) plays a part.

I agree that not wearing a bra is the ideal! Not a great look for me, even with only a little up top, though. Still, the bra comes off almost the minute I walk through the door at home, and only goes back on when I'm dressing for work. I guess it's not good to be known as "Li'l Floppy" at the office. 🤭

This is my favorite as it holds the girls firmly in place. Does not minimize but I get no bounce or movement. No padding so that can be an issue. I wear a 34 C Bra

Ugh, bras. I hate shopping for bras too! I recently threw out my entire bra drawer. Except for the sports bras, which I wear almost exclusively. I find them more comfortable strangely. After a few months of quarantine, I decided I should probably get some new "normal" bras for when we re-emerge and I wear something other than a T shirt. So, I ordered a bunch from Zappos so that I could return for free. It took a couple of rounds but I now own 2 normal bras...Wacoal. They will be sufficient for my needs. I don't dress up much and as a preschool teacher (should we ever go back to school) I can often wear my fav sports bra to work. Good luck with the search Ida!

So much of bra comfort is in the fit. There are a lot of images on line about good and bad fit to a bra. Here's one: https://www.panache-lingerie.com/us/journal/why-youre-probably-wearing-the-wrong-bra-size

And another: https://withlovefromlou.co.uk/2015/05/bra-fitting-tips/

The majority of women wear the wrong size and the majority of the time, the band is too big and the cup too small.

I don't spend a lot of money on bras...I usually buy bali and get them from https://www.onehanesplace.com/ I hate bra shopping as they never have the right size and if they do, it's the wrong model or if they do, it's the wrong color and I go nuts. Ordering avoids at least that part of the problem.

I have just gone through this.....I don’t understand why they make this sizing so impossible. No sizing is what it says on a “chart”. I absolutely love the vanishing back front close bra from Soma! Now that I am thin, the hook closure things in the back poke into me and make me itch. I also love, and have worn as my daily bra for YEARS, the Wacoal underwire Sport bra, but now? I cannot get the size right. Good Luck!

Been there. Sorta still there. If you're thinking of trying a bralette, Aerie usually has a good selection and some are on sale right now (padded and unpadded). I've been so many sizes in my life and honestly, the more I researched bra sizing and fitting, the more I realized it doesn't apply to my shape. Most bras out there are made to fit fairly round breasts and how these bras contain breasts of different shapes doesn't really make sense. The reason so many women wear the wrong bra size is sizing isn't standardized and there is not enough size variety in stores (finding AAs and As in most stores can be a real ordeal!). (I've been intrigued by ThirdLove but never got around to trying them. Shipping and exchange made it too pricey, iirc. Sorry to read about the uncomfortable lace in this thread. That would drive me up the wall.)

Another idea that might help fill your current bras' cups is to add one of those crescent shape fillers (sometimes called cookies) mentioned in the thread. You can buy fabric or silicone ones. Maybe try that before buying new bras online?

Best of luck, Ida! I know this shopping dread very well.

Annie, can you amplify on this comment:

The majority of women wear the wrong size and the majority of the time, the band is too big and the cup too small

So for example if I wear a 36C and the straps ride up, I should be buying a 34D (not my size but to illustrate what I think you are saying)? TBH that doesn't make a lot of sense to me; if I decrease what I think is the band size (36) it will be unbearably tight and the straps are going to be even shorter. And if a C cup fits me a D cup is going to be too big.

I'm confused! But definitely interested in figuring this out because like grammaj I almost never ever find a bra that fits as far as having long enough straps so the bra doesn't ride up in back.

I am small, 36B, and find the Wacoal t-shirt bras fit me best and are most comfortable. I am tall with fairly broad shoulders and also find plenty of strap adjustment. Another plus is the no-show under more clingy fabrics. I don’t mind paying full price if needed but I often find them on sale at Nordstrom if I shop early, and even found one once at Stein Mart.

I like the Soma non-underwire bras. They do free fittings in their stores, or they did pre-Covid.

I also hate bra shopping! But you know my thoughts on bras (as I've mentioned here before LOL). The wrong bra is one of those things that can totally ruin the overall look; it can also give a matronly look. I am curvy so not small on top. I almost always go for an underwire bra. The shaping and the lift just look better IMHO. There are some bras that do not have underwire that still have good support. Just be prepared to try on a variety of bras. :( And as you mentioned, even small chests can sag, Sadly, it's age and gravity. Bras can be pricey, especially if you buy a good, long-lasting one. I do as others have mentioned, once I find one I like, I usually buy multiples, especially in nude and black. There are still some Bali styles I like and I also really like warcoal. As Outside mentioned, you can sometimes find some good buys on bras at Steinmart, although I haven't been there in some time. Overall I hate Kohls, but here, they have a great lingerie department. Good luck!!

There is a sub reddit on bras, A Bra That Fits. I haven’t looked at it in a while, but I thought it had some good information on how to get a good fit.

One of my goals that will likely never be realized is to have a custom made bra. I read an article once about a French company that comes to NYC a couple of times a year to take measurements for custom bras. Since reading that, I’ve wanted on. Needless to say, $$$$$

Years ago I caught part of Oprah's show and she told the audience how happy she was because she finally learned how to prevent cup gap. Her bra was the right size but she would get that crease/gap in the cup.

So she demonstrated how to fix it by pretending she'd just put her bra on, and then she bent low at the waist, pulled the band under the cup out just a tad, and let those babies fall in perfectly. No bra gap. I can vouch for that technique, and they stay put all day. :)

Annie, that Bali bra is the same kind I wear. They last forever. I use the old ones when I'm working outside. You can get them on Amazon too. My mom had a nice figure with a natural double D cup and she always bought Bali.

My problem is sliding straps. I have tried several styles from expensive to less expensive. I have a feeling the problem is me not the bras although I don’t look uneven! My shoulders are broad not sloping. I bought one bra that had straps that were set closer to the hooks in the back to prevent slipping but they went across my shoulder blades and were uncomfortable. I’ve tried a smaller band but it cut. Now I just keep,fishing it up. It’s always on the right side. I even bought some silicone things you slide on the strap to keep them I put,ace. That works but they are so old lady and sometimes show in a wider neck top.

running, one thing to understand in bra sizing that is so confusing is that a C cup in a 36 is the same size as a D cup in a 34. So if you go from a 36C to a 34C, you are actually shrinking the band size *and* the cup size. To keep the cup size the same, you have to go from a 36C to a 34D. If as with most women the band is too big and the cup too small, then to adjust for that she'd have to go from a 36C to a 34DD.

I don't know what you mean by the straps riding up. If the band fits around your chest properly, it should manage 80-90% of your support and the straps should add only about 10-20% of the support. If the band is riding up in the back, it's too large and you should wear a smaller size. The band should fit comfortably around your chest, beneath the girls and it should stay fairly parallel to the floor across your back.

The cups should accommodate the girls without wrinkling or gaping (cup too large) or without bulging out, or pushing the bridge...the part of the bra between the cups...away from your chest (cup too small).

If it seems that the straps aren't long enough, it may be because the cups aren't big enough and the straps then have to come down too far in the front to reach up, over the shoulder and down the back.

From Victoria's secret....a band is a band, but a cup is not a cup. Band size is what it says it is, but cup volume increases as band size goes up.

This post seems to be fairly comprehensive about fit: https://www.veggieboards.com/forum/33-women-s-health-issues/138224-everything-you-know-about-bras-wrong.html

Dedtired, I too have problems with straps slipping down my arms. Drives me insane. The Soma Underwire Vanishing Back doesn’t slip. But there is something about where the left wire rests under my arm that causes me terrible pain. I went to a doctor to see if I had a problem. Even after a CAT scan he could find nothing. I solved the problem - I quit wearing those bras. This is not the same as the Soma Wireless I spoke of earlier. This is the Underwire.

I decided to dress better today and broke out one of my new bras. About an hour later I was getting very crabby for no reason. Turns out there was a reason...the elastic along the bottom of the band is covered with a mesh fabric that was VERY uncomfortable to wear. It was so scratchy! As soon as I changed my bra I was back to my pleasant self. I'm like the princess and the pea with clothing issues...I exhaust myself!

Bumble - thank you for sharing that bra! I love Lillyette and rarely see them anymore. I am actually wearing a very similar one - it just doesn't have the keyhole. Great price - I am going to order one to try. So many colors! I do like nice undies. :)

BBSTX - when you said playtex 18 hour, I just envisioned old woman bra LOL!! That is not a bad looking bra, although I prefer underwire. A band underneath the cups usually is not comfy to me (I am shortwaisted) but I may have to try one of those out and see if the MAGIC RINGS work!

I hate bras. Sports bras are my preference-lots of support, but not irritating and no *#@& underwires. When I wear one at all, these are the ones I like best-material, fit, etc. I hardly know I am wearing one. They come with a removable pad which I ALWAYS take out. Thinking of getting some others from True since with some tops, these straps can show some. I also ordered some from Tommy John because I liked their underwear, but the band under the breast bugs me.

true and company

One Hanes Place which I mentioned carries 7 models of Lillyette which apparently is now made by Bali.

I haven’t read responses yet, but check out Third Love. It’s all on-line and you can wear the bras for 30 days (I believe) then return or exchange if it’s not right.