Author Topic: What is the best place to buy a good bra?  (Read 4065 times)

ericrugiero

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What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« on: December 31, 2018, 01:11:15 PM »
My wife is looking for a new bra or two.  She has purchased from Victoria Secret in the past and tends to like their bra's but I think it's quite expensive.  (She looked at two for about $80 the other day).  Are their any recommendations for a more economical source of good bra's?  She is OK with saving money but still wants nice stuff.  If it makes a difference she is pretty well endowed and needs support. 


SnackDog

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #1 on: December 31, 2018, 01:31:16 PM »
What defines a bra as “good”? I thought VS was all about looking sexy.

remizidae

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #2 on: December 31, 2018, 01:36:30 PM »
If she has large breasts (especially on a smaller frame) VS is not going to work. Panache and Chantelle make good bras, but I don't know of any inexpensive options for larger sizes. All my bras are $70+. But it's worth it for something that really fits.

chicagomeg

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2018, 01:39:59 PM »
I've had luck with the clearance section at Macy's. I went one day and spent a painful few hours in the lingerie department figuring out what fit in terms of brands and styles. Now I have a couple in my back pocket & I just dig through the clearance every few months to see if there's anything worth picking up. I have some odd colors but they all fit well and are comfortable.

If she's been wearing VS & is well endowed, good chance she's wearing the wrong size. I read /r/abrathatfits & measured myself by their directions before my Macy's adventure and that helped me have a better idea what would suit me well.

FireAnt

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #4 on: December 31, 2018, 02:32:18 PM »
My well endowed friend likes Soma. It's less than VS, but still pricey-- like $50. I've also heard good things about Lane Bryant but you have to wait until they have a really good sale- like B1G1, B2G2, or $19.50.

better late

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #5 on: December 31, 2018, 05:09:54 PM »
If she has large breasts (especially on a smaller frame) VS is not going to work. Panache and Chantelle make good bras, but I don't know of any inexpensive options for larger sizes. All my bras are $70+. But it's worth it for something that really fits.

Exactly.
Wacoal is another good choice
If she can shop in-store I would recommend Nordstrom - excellent sales associates and bra fittings  and choice. A well fitting bra is the basis for every thing you wear. Expensive for sure, but sometimes I can find the same bra I purchased at Nordstrom on eBay new.

englishteacheralex

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #6 on: December 31, 2018, 05:21:47 PM »
It really depends on her size. Boobs are complicated if you have large ones. Personally, I'm fairly flat chested and mostly get my bras at Costco in a size small. That's the upside of being flat. But that's a luxury most women don't have. Boobs are such a hassle I think this is a budget category in which wives should be given a relatively free pass if necessary. Spend the extra money for something that fits properly and will hold up well, and then hand-wash and line-dry.

Unless she's flat, like me. Then it's all Costco $20 two-pack bralets!

Moonwaves

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #7 on: January 02, 2019, 08:01:36 AM »
Have a read of this thread: https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/can-you-recommend-a-bra-for-hot-weather/ - more recommendations than you can shake a stick at.

tyrannostache

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #8 on: January 02, 2019, 04:32:43 PM »
Sorry, OP, there is no such thing as a good, cheap bra for the well-endowed. I look out for good sales on Panache, Chantelle, and Le Mystere. The upside is that these bras tend to last for a good long while. 

Sailor Sam

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #9 on: January 02, 2019, 04:47:20 PM »
Your wife's best bet is to search for boutique bra and lingerie stores near your location. Give the shop a visit, and note what brands and sizes feel the best. Once she knows these critical pieces of information, she can shop the sales and bargains. I'd say it's polite to buy one bra from whoever helped you, but opinions on the necessity of buying does vary.

I recommend Curvy Kate brand, but bras are highly specific to the individual.

Basenji

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #10 on: January 02, 2019, 05:37:26 PM »
Your wife's best bet is to search for boutique bra and lingerie stores near your location. Give the shop a visit, and note what brands and sizes feel the best. Once she knows these critical pieces of information, she can shop the sales and bargains. I'd say it's polite to buy one bra from whoever helped you, but opinions on the necessity of buying does vary.

I recommend Curvy Kate brand, but bras are highly specific to the individual.

+1 from a bodacious boobs-haver

Bras are expensive for large-breasted women. Having a professional fitting is really helpful. I'll bet if she's never had one, she'll be surprised. Mine are from elomi. NOT cheap, but good quality. Sometimes there are sales (or she can put a Google alert on for the brand she likes). Sometimes there's a discount for buying several (once she tries on a style/fit/brand at a real shop).

She can look into saving on panties or other items in your budget. Having an ill-fitting bra that digs into you and falls apart too soon is not worth it imho.
« Last Edit: January 02, 2019, 05:39:38 PM by Basenji »

Fresh Bread

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #11 on: January 02, 2019, 06:11:35 PM »
A bad bra can also give you headaches by cutting in to your shoulders. Definitely not an area to cut corners when well endowed. 

I can't help with brands as I'm in Australia but we have a brand here called Berlei that's done a shape called "Womankind". It aims to fit around natural contours rather than pushing together and up and all that jazz. The boobs sit further apart but are still fully supported. It makes for a comfortable bra so worth checking out similar 'natural' styles.

mspym

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #12 on: January 02, 2019, 06:21:29 PM »
Another rec for either getting fitted at Nordstrom or a specialist bra store that isn't VS or spending some time working through reddit's abrathatfits calculator and recommendations for various shapes. A good fitter is worth it!

And then once you know the brands that work for your shape then shop the sales.

Dicey

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #13 on: January 02, 2019, 06:29:32 PM »
Jockey Stores have a custom fit brand that I've been very pleased with. Go once, get sized and fitted, then wait for sales to add to the inventory. Also, washing on delicate (or by hand) and air drying are the keys to longevity. Who cares what they cost if they last and last, which is what a well-made, well-fit bra does.

FireHiker

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #14 on: January 04, 2019, 03:44:05 PM »
I switched to Third Love last year, and will never buy a bra anywhere else so long as they stay in business. They are SO.MUCH.BETTER than VS or Soma. They have a 60 day fit guarantee so she could try them out: wear, wash, and return if she isn't totally satisfied.

mspym

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #15 on: January 04, 2019, 04:17:38 PM »
Heads up to the women who know their size- figleaves is having a big sale, both UK and US sites.

Basenji

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #16 on: January 04, 2019, 04:42:09 PM »
Heads up to the women who know their size- figleaves is having a big sale, both UK and US sites.

Wow, some good prices for my bras. Thanks!

Cressida

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #17 on: January 05, 2019, 06:05:51 PM »
Also, washing on delicate (or by hand) and air drying are the keys to longevity.

+1. I'm more of the $10 bralette size, but the above is really essential as far as I'm concerned.

Teachstache

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #18 on: January 19, 2019, 06:57:47 PM »
It really depends on her size. Boobs are complicated if you have large ones. Personally, I'm fairly flat chested and mostly get my bras at Costco in a size small. That's the upside of being flat. But that's a luxury most women don't have. Boobs are such a hassle I think this is a budget category in which wives should be given a relatively free pass if necessary. Spend the extra money for something that fits properly and will hold up well, and then hand-wash and line-dry.

Unless she's flat, like me. Then it's all Costco $20 two-pack bralets!

This. My favorites are $3 on clearance sports bras from Walmart. My nice "dress clothes" work bras were 2 for $12 at Costco. I could easily use a camisole sans bra & be perfectly comfortable. One of the perks of having a flat chest, I guess. The one downside is that finding a legit A cup in non-tween designs is really difficult. My only time in average sized bras was when I was breastfeeding & went up to a B cup.

Dicey

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #19 on: January 19, 2019, 10:23:28 PM »
It really depends on her size. Boobs are complicated if you have large ones. Personally, I'm fairly flat chested and mostly get my bras at Costco in a size small. That's the upside of being flat. But that's a luxury most women don't have. Boobs are such a hassle I think this is a budget category in which wives should be given a relatively free pass if necessary. Spend the extra money for something that fits properly and will hold up well, and then hand-wash and line-dry.

Unless she's flat, like me. Then it's all Costco $20 two-pack bralets!

This. My favorites are $3 on clearance sports bras from Walmart. My nice "dress clothes" work bras were 2 for $12 at Costco. I could easily use a camisole sans bra & be perfectly comfortable. One of the perks of having a flat chest, I guess. The one downside is that finding a legit A cup in non-tween designs is really difficult. My only time in average sized bras was when I was breastfeeding & went up to a B cup.
One of my sister's friends had a prophylactic mastectomy due to a family history of breast cancer and genetic test results. Her surgeon assumed she'd want a larger cup size. Nope, she insisted, "I just want what God gave me." They had to special order size A cups for her. Love that gal!

Drole

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #20 on: January 19, 2019, 11:40:03 PM »
Bradelis.  Japanese brand.

Amazing support.  Confortable.  Really pretty.

They have a shop in NYC and also do fittings in big cities on occassoon


I will not buy anything else.  I buy off the sale page online. (Admittedly i first discovered them at tjmaxx for 4.99 each).

After having kids and then finally having my size settled back down....i bought more of these and "the girls were back". Felt so nice after all those crapoy nursing bras.

Dr Kidstache

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Re: What is the best place to buy a good bra?
« Reply #21 on: January 20, 2019, 09:26:31 AM »

If she can shop in-store I would recommend Nordstrom - excellent sales associates and bra fittings  and choice. A well fitting bra is the basis for every thing you wear. Expensive for sure, but sometimes I can find the same bra I purchased at Nordstrom on eBay new.

+1 for Nordstrom. I had no idea what size/brand bras actually fit me until I had a fitting there. Made a huge difference.