Best Bras For Big-Busted Women

Finding the perfect bra can be a challenge. Finding the perfect bra when you're busty can be darn near impossible. At a size 36D, I've spent many hours in the dressing rooms of Victoria's Secret, Soma, and other big name lingerie retailers, watching my girls spill out of way-too-small demi cups. I've spent even more hours navigating the racks in an attempt to avoid unnecessarily padded D cup water bras and cringed while sales associates tried to squeeze me into a 38C because it was the "same" as my regular size that they didn't carry.

Seriously, what does it take for a busty girl to find a bra that fits? Not to mention, one that doesn't exude the same amount of sexiness my 85-year-old Catholic grandmother would deem appropriate. So I turned to the experts in my quest for finding a bra that was busty-girl friendly. Here's what they had to say.

Let's face it. Many bras designed for bigger-busted women just don't cut it when it comes to sex appeal.

Model Melinda Parrish is also a big fan of the Curvy Couture brand, especially when it comes to bras that make her a little sultry. One of her favorites of the line: the Perfect Plunge.

"This is the best date night bra," she told me. "With its low center front and smooth cups, this plunge provides both support and wears well under more revealing garments, and a variety of fabrics! Looks great by itself too."

If you're on the search for a strapless bra that won't leave you (or your girls) hanging, Wacoal also measures up. In fact, Kate Brooks, the editor of TheBraGuide.com, who also happens to be a professional bra fitter, often recommends the Wacoal Red Carpet Bra to her clients.

"Busty women often have trouble finding a strapless bra that works for them," she mentioned. "This bra by Wacoal was made specifically for bigger busts, so the right size will fit like a glove. It doesn't slide down throughout the day or evening, and it gives a lot of coverage for a strapless bra."

Lingerie expert Kim Caldwell, who's also the face behind Hurray Kimmay, had great things to say about Panche bras, as well. Her favorite is the Panche Andorra. "I love it because of its small band options (down to a 28!) and full cup options (up to a J!), but also because Panache is known for great support," she told me. "One of the best aspects of this bra, however, is the gorgeous lace. It can be hard to find a beautiful lace bra that is also really supportive. I have fit many women into this bra, and it's a favorite among my full bust clients."

Darlene Campbell, founder of Hourglassy.com also recommends this bra to her clients. She told me, "Seamless bras are hard to come by for women who wear beyond an H cup because molding such a deep cup for breasts that extend so many inches out from the chest is impossible technologically. At some point the fabric must yield to gravity. That's why most H+ cups rely on seams." She added, "For Hourglassy's former columnist Mia Carroll, who wears a 32J, her throw-on-in-a-hurry-never-have-to-think-about-it bra is the Panache Andorra. It lifts beautifully, and its stretch lace across the top of the cups is both pretty and functional in the way it contains voluminous breast tissue."

If it's lace you want more of, Bianca Karina a plus-size style, travel, and food blogger, recommends the Lulu Unlined Plus Bra available at Adoreme.com. This is a sexy, lined balconette bra, featuring red lace, a double-lined hook, and fully adjustable straps. "This balconette bra gives me lift, plus it separates the girls and keeps them separated. I don't think my boobs have had this much air in years," she told me. "I like to wear this bra under loose tanks so that it can peek out for some added risqué style."

It might take a little digging, but there's certainly a lot of options out there when it comes to quality bras. Once you find what works for you, Hashay suggests sticking to it. "It takes a specialized intimates designer to create a bra for busty women," she mentioned.

Dr. Karen Erickson, a spokesperson for the American Chiropractic Association, agreed, explaining to me that finding the right bra is about much more than aesthetics. "A bustier woman needs a bra to support the weight of the chest, and distribute it to the strong back muscles," she said. "The cup needs to have coverage, and the width of the band under the cups should be wide enough to provide support without cutting in. The straps should be wide enough to carry the weight without digging in."

Finally, Hashay added, "Your bra is something that's with you all day, and there are some days that are longer than others. Knowing that, comfort is everything and the first step to compromising comfort is not having a proper fitting bra." Luckily, now all of us have the option of finding the perfect fit for perfect comfort.