Tips for buying larger-cup bras

Yesterday, we reviewed Agent Provocateur’s larger-cup bras and found that the fit wasn’t ideal for women with larger breasts. Agent Provocateur isn’t the only brand that is struggling with larger cup sizes — as more women request these sizes, designers are now trying to meet their needs. Unfortunately, the designers simply can’t “scale up” their existing bra designs, because it’s a little like architecture; when you need to support more weight, you have to build an entirely different structure. Larger-cup bras need to be specially designed with that intent, which means a much more expensive and time-consuming process for the designer. Lingerie designers often tell me that they would love to design for larger-cup sizes, but simply don’t have the resources to create two versions of each bra.

What does all of this mean for the larger-cup woman? We’ve put together the following tips for purchasing a large-cup bra:

• Be wary of the first season: As demand rises for larger-cup bras, designers may simply not have the resources to work out all the kinks in their new large-cup collections. If a designer has just launched a large-cup collection, try finding it in a local shop and trying it on before you buy, to make sure it meets your needs. If you have to order it blind, double-check the online store’s return policy to see if you can send it back if it’s not appropriate. If you do find a problem, chances are the designer will work out the problems from their first collection, and modify the designs for the next season.
• Double-check your size: It sounds obvious, but it never hurts to double-check that you are wearing the right size before buying a new bra. Your bra size fluctuates just like your jean size, so frequently checking your bra size is always a good idea. The best method for getting your size is going to a specialist lingerie store, or if that’s not possible, a high-end department store that sells quality lingerie. Chain shops will often not have enough trained or experienced staff to make the right recommendation.
• Check the style: Certain styles suit larger-cup sizes better than others. Balconette bras, or bras that are cut lower along the breast like a shelf (example here), can often be problematic as they offer less support and the breast can spill out over the top. Bra styles labelled as “full-cup” (example here). will often work better, as they are cut higher up the breast, and will provide better support. The general rule of thumb is, the more breast the bra covers, the better support you will get.
• Buy from specialty designers: There are a growing number of designers creating especially for large-cup sizes, and buying from these labels is a great way to ensure that you’ll find a good fit. Here’s a few of our favourites:
  • Miss Mandalay creates beautiful bras from C-GG, and is available in both the US and the UK. We’ve tried Miss Mandalay bras ourselves, and can vouch that they’re lovely and comfortable.
  • US-based Jodi Gallaer has just launched as a large-cup designer, and has a variety of bras and camisoles available.
  • Bravissimo in the UK is a retailer focused on large-cup sizes, and even sells shirts according to cup size
  • The Big Bra Shop is UK-based, but lists prices in Dollars and Euros as well, and ships internationally. They’ve got selections up to 56L, and have a few options that have some lovely colour selections, like this Simply Me bra.
• Once you’ve found a bra, take care of it: Machine-washing bras will cause them to strech out of shape and lose their elasticity before their time, so be careful to hand-wash your bras to keep them fitting longer. You can check out our tips for caring for your bra to find out the best methods

In the end, the best course of action is to always try a bra on before you buy it, even if it means asking a local retailer to order it for you to try. If any readers have any firsthand experiences about buying larger-cup bras, we’d love to hear from you — just get in touch at danae@knickersblog.com