Tiffany: I'm 22, and I was last measured as a 36M in UK sizing. I was first properly sized about a year ago thanks to the help of the lovely Reddit community members of A Bra That Fits and Big Boob Problems. Before then, I was wearing bras from Lane Bryant because they were the largest I could find. Those bras were far too large in the band and the cups were still too small, so I had a lot of spillage out of the tops of the cups. And on top of that, I had grooves and bad shoulder pain from bra straps supporting the full weight of my breasts.... which are very heavy. Though, since then, I've been properly fitted and shown the different brands that sell bras in sizes closer to what I should be wearing. So I've had to do a lot of sister sizing and making my own adjustments. Bras Outside the Box: How has being large-busted affected your body image? Do you feel happy with your size, or does it cause problems for you (or both)? T: My breast size has caused me to have quite a few issues with my body image. Most of these issues were during middle school and high school. I've always had a pretty small frame, but with a large cup size, so I looked bigger around the torso than I really was. And the fact that I wasn't properly sized and wore baggy tops to try to hide my breasts didn't help. I wanted to wear a lot of the types of clothes my friends were wearing, but I couldn't due to my breast size. The teasing from other students and all the attention I got because of my breasts made me really hate them. But over the past few years, I've learned style tips and tricks for larger bust sizes to help compliment the rest of my body which took some of the attention away from my chest. So while my breasts have grown quite a bit over the past couple years, I've learned to love them, even with the problems they bring. I still have issues finding the proper bras in my size along with tops that flatter my body type. But at least now I know what I'm looking for. BOTB: When you got bras from Lane Bryant, were you fitted there or did you find them on your own? Have you ever had a good experience being fitted for a bra in person? T: I was actually not fitted at Lane Bryant. When I first ventured into one of their stores for the first time, I didn't understand the importance of a properly fitting bra. So I didn't feel the need to ask for a fitting. I grabbed one that looked like it would fit, tried it on, made my purchase, and left. Looking back, I probably should have been wearing a 36J or JJ, but was wearing 42Hs from Lane Bryant. Unfortunately, I've never had a good bra fitting experience. I went in for one at a local shop recently just out of curiosity, and was given the result 34K... which is not even close to my actual size. BOTB: What's the best bra you're wearing these days, now that you are in the proper size? T: The best bra i have right now is from Ewa Michalak. I just recently bought a bra from them in a 36M and I love it! It's from their FB (full bust) line which I believe is one of their newer styles. The wide straps and the strong material they use for the cups makes it great for heavy breasts like mine. But because of their price, I only have one. BOTB: What are the sister sizes you can wear, and what are the alterations you've had to make in order for those bras to fit correctly? T: The sister size I normally buy is 40L, and I get those from Bravissimo. I buy them in the large band and then give them to my mom who shortens the band for me. She's a lot better at it than I am! The only issue is that the L cups I have run more like KKs, so I still do a bit of quad-boobing when I wear them. But I still get more support from them than when I was wearing the Lane Bryants. BOTB: Do you have any advice for other women with a similar body type about how to get the best fit? T: I don't have much advice since I'm still trying to figure things out myself, but I would have to say, don't give up. There are a lot of resources out there and a lot of good people who have been in this position and can point you in the right direction. And while it seems that our body type isn't well-represented, which is kinda true, I have seen progress, and hopefully it won't be long before finding clothes for us is commonplace. #36M #40L #alterations #Bravissimo #EwaMichalak #bodyimage #largebust #brafitting #36J #36JJ #personalstories

Megan: Starting when I was around 14, I have always been tiny everywhere except in the chest. I'm five feet tall and 110 pounds, and my bra size is 28HH [editor's note: this is her UK size, equivalent to a US 28K]. I'm 26 and am finally now starting to feel good about myself, but for many years I hated my chest and had no clue what sort of bra I should be wearing, or what my real cup size was. Bras Outside the Box: How was your body image related to the size of your breasts? M: They made me feel out of proportion and discouraged about my appearance. I considered a breast reduction but never went through with it. I thought my boobs were freakish-looking because of how small I am everywhere else. My mom has the exact same body type, petite and large-busted, and she always taught me that I should wear things that made them look smaller -- mainly sports bras that crushed them down. I feel like she may have wanted to protect me from getting too much of the wrong kind of attention. BOTB: When did you first discover a bra that fit properly, and how did you feel about it? M: About eight months ago I was in a boutique with my sister so she could get fitted for a bra to wear for her wedding. The sales lady asked if I was interested in trying something on too and I decided why not go for it, so she brought me four bras that were bigger than anything I had ever worn. I figured there was no way these would fit, because they looked huge, but then all but one ended up being too small! But the one that did fit, I loved. This was a 30H Parfait by Affinitas bra, black lace with bows on the straps. It looked and felt great on my body, and I found it was liberating to wear something that was not a sports bra and wasn't meant to squash me, but was instead designed for support. My sister and the sales lady both thought it looked amazing. So I bought it and then wanted more like it, because I soon got sick of my old sports bras, now that I had this one that actually fit! I searched online and found out that I am actually a size 28HH due to having a very small back, which means you need to purchase bras with a smaller band and bigger cup to get the support you need. The support needs to come from the band, not from the straps or the cups. BOTB: Are you frustrated with the limited selection of bras available in your size? M: I am still getting used to wearing bras that actually fit me. I have four now, and the one thing that I don't like is how expensive they are, but I am convinced it's worth the expense to feel and look the way I want to. If I have to spend more to get that, fine, but if I need a new bra it's not like I can stop in at Target on my way home from work and pick one up. But that doesn't bother me too much because I end up with better quality bras that I love, instead of more practical cheap ones. I'm saving up for more. And they will last longer too. BOTB: What's your favorite bra that you're wearing these days? M: I got it online, and it's another bra from Parfait called Charlotte in a 28HH. It comes in different colors so my next bra purchase will probably be another Charlotte in a color I don't have yet. BOTB: Is there any advice you can offer other women with a figure similar to yours? M: Having a good bra will make you feel better about yourself and it's worth spending more if you have to, even if that means you need to save up for it. You are worth the extra expense. I feel like the best thing you can do for yourself if you have a bigger chest is not to try and make it look smaller, but instead, work with what you've got so that you end up with something that gives you the right amount of support. Go to a boutique and get fitted, and don't be surprised if you are given a bigger size than you thought. Keep an open mind and try on the bras in that size, because you might end up loving them! #28HH #30H #largebust #ParfaitbyAffinitas #petite #personalstories #bodyimage

Renee is one of a handful of lovely small-busted women I connected with through my previous blog, 32AA Bra. She wrote several reviews of petite lingerie for me, and was always happy to take the time to help get the word out about available options for readers having trouble finding sophisticated, attractive bras and lingerie in small sizes. Thanks for sharing your story, Renee! Bras Outside the Box : What's it like for you, knowing that most department stores and chain lingerie shops don't carry bras in your size for adult women? Renee : It is frustrating. When it comes time for me to get new bras, I have learned to no longer waste my time perusing stores like Victoria’s Secret, Aerie, or the intimates section of any department store. The cups in a bra might fit me, but the band is always too large. My bra size is 28/30A, and the smallest bra size most stores carry is 32A. BOTB : When you find a bra that fits well, how does it affect the way you feel about yourself? R : I feel much more comfortable, and therefore more confident. Prior to my “bras-for-petite-women-actually-exist” epiphany, it was always a source of anxiety for me that I would bend over and unintentionally bare myself to the whole world since the bras I was wearing were never cut to fit my small frame -- the cups weren’t actually supporting my breasts, but were more or less just sitting there. In order for a bra to properly fit a petite frame, the proportions of the bra must be cut on a smaller scale, i.e. smaller band, smaller cups, and smaller distance between the bra cups. BOTB : Describe your best and worst bra shopping experiences (or, one time you had success and one time you didn't -- in real life or online). R: Well, I can classify all of my bra shopping experiences in stores as negative since I have never found a bra that properly fit me and which I like in a store (pre-teen/teeny bopper bras aren’t really my thing). I have had both good and bad experiences trying on bras which I ordered online. I have been happy to see that within the last few years retailers like Victoria’s Secret and Aerie have been expanding their lines to carry some size 30A bras (the rub is that you can only purchase these bras online). However, I was extremely disappointed with the Victoria’s Secret PINK Wear Everywhere Push-Up Bra in size 30A because it fit me well and is reasonably priced, but was extremely uncomfortable as I could feel the underwire digging into my ribcage. The Aerie bras in size 30A which fit me well have less padding than I prefer, and their more padded styles in size 30A are too big on me, so those bras have been another no-go for me. To their credit, though, Aerie at least has most of their 30A bras available to try on in stores if you ask a sales associate. The Little Bra Company has been an absolute godsend for me. I remember the first time I tried on TLBC’s Angela t-shirt bra -- for the first time in my life, I found a bra that actually fit and supported me enough to give me cleavage! I have since tried other styles from this line and have developed some preferences regarding what sort of back I like on a bra, amount of padding, and whether or not the straps are adjustable. It is amazing to even have the opportunity to have “options,” because before finding this brand I felt that I had no hope of ever finding one properly fitting bra in one style, never mind having multiple styles to choose from! BOTB : Are there bras you can recommend to other women with a similar figure to yours? R: The Little Bra Company bras are the best in my opinion. I resent that they are more expensive than the majority of bras from other retailers; however, I was thrilled to recently discover that TLBC recently started selling bras through Target. The line is called Ariette Petite Lingerie , and the prices are much more similar to what you would find at Victoria’s Secret or Aerie. Aerie bras are good quality and they offer a plethora of styles, so I do think their bras are worth checking out. Personally, I would most likely be purchasing most of my bras from Aerie if they started carrying size 28 band. I hit the jackpot with Aerie when it comes to sports bras—I love their sports bras in size XXS! I have also been exploring strapless bra options since I will be a bridesmaid in my cousin’s wedding this March. I own a strapless bra from TLBC (the style is called Sascha), and I am going to try the NuBra adhesive bra cups. I have read good reviews of the NuBra (specifically the Super Padded NuBra) on petite fashion websites. BOTB: What would you say to another woman with your bra size who feels insecure about her body because she doesn't fit the typical definition of "sexy?" R : My worth is not found in lies sold by retailers like Victoria’s Secret who some years ago claimed in a campaign that they have a bra for “every body" -- clearly they don’t, because at that point they did not carry one bra in a band size smaller than 32! If you are having difficulty finding bras that fit, keep searching. Perseverance is attractive, and you may be surprised at what you find. You are reading this for a reason! And you are beautiful. Image: Diane petite bra by The Little Bra Company. Want to share your bra story? Please contact me! #28A #30A #petite #smallbusted #TheLittleBraCompany #personalstories #brafitting #Aerie #VictoriasSecret #Ariette

I spoke with Kate (not her real name), a reader who is dealing with conditions that cause chronic pain, about her search for bras she can wear comfortably. Her size is 32C. Here, she talks about what she looks for in a bra and why underwires don't work for her. BOTB: What is your disability, and how does it affect your ability to wear a bra comfortably? Kate: I have three medical conditions that affect my bra fitting: chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, and acquired partial lipodystrophy (APL). The CFS and fibro keep me in bed most of the day, put me in tons of pain, and make my skin extra sensitive. Laying on pillows makes bras ride up, and pain and sensitivity makes me less tolerant of slight discomforts in a bra. The APL means that I don't have fat on my torso, so there is no fat between my ribs and where wires are on a wired bra. I get huge bruises even from wired bras that I'm told "fit well." BOTB: Do you feel like you can talk with bra fitters about your condition (either in real life or online), and have they been helpful to you in finding something that works? K: I tell bra fitters relevant parts of my conditions. People are nice, but often don't know how to respond, or run out of ideas for me fast. Most wire-free bras (especially in the smaller sizes) are either sports bras or look like training bras. Also, bras in the smaller sizes seem to have huge padding. I just want a normal-looking, pretty, and functional bra that fits well and doesn't injure me. Usually people just give up. A Bra That Fits on Reddit helped me find one bra, and that's the only bra I've ever had that fit. BOTB: If you could have a bra that offered everything you were looking for in terms of both comfort and style, what would that look like? K: My ideal bra in terms of comfort and style would be one that is wireless, doesn't hurt me, keeps my boobs from moving around too much, doesn't ride up, allows my boobs to look their natural size (not padded), keeps the world from knowing when I get cold, and looks good under a t-shirt or dress. As my boobs are quite shallow and wide, it's also nice if there's some support along the sides to keep them from flopping sideways. BOTB: What's your favorite bra that you're wearing these days, if there is one, and why do you like it? K: My one and only successful bra is the Natori Yogi. Not beautiful, but very comfortable and functional. Want to share your bra story? Please contact me! #disabled #chronicpain #wirefree #personalstories #Natori #32C

Recently I came across a useful visual guide to removing the underwires on a bra. You might want to consider removing the wires on your bras if you find them painful, like the small-busted woman who posted this guide; she has a hard time wearing underwires because of the way her ribcage is shaped. Her method of taking out the wires does not require any sewing, which is great for those of us who suck at it. Be aware that with the wires taken out, the fit of the bra cups may change, which you can see in the before-and-after photos of this woman in a Natori Feathers bra. I spoke to her to find out if there was any more information she had to share about this process, and she said the band still fits the same after removing the wires. She also said that she had previously tried wire-free bras but found that the cups were too close together, and the Feathers bra was a better fit for her shape. If, like her (and me), your breasts are shallow and wide-set and you don't need much support, you might actually prefer how your bras fit without underwires. It's certainly worth a try in the name of comfort. You may notice a bit of a flattening effect, because the wires help maintain the structure and volume of the bra cups. Without the wires and assuming you have the proper band size, the cups will be pulled outwards when you fasten the bra in back. If you have very narrow and/or close-set breasts, you might find that without the wires, your bra cups extend too far on the outer sides and there isn't enough volume at the center of the bra. As a result, the center gore may not tack, which means it's not an ideal fit. You can try a larger cup size to compensate for this. It's always best to hand-wash your bras, but with the wires removed, you'll want to make sure the edges of the holes don't stretch or fray (unless you decide to stitch them), so don't put your de-wired bras in the washing machine. Hand-washing in a gentle detergent should help make sure they stay in good shape longer. #alterations #widesetbreasts #wirefree #underwire #shallowbreasts #smallbusted #Natori

The UK lingerie brand Royce is notable for its attention to both comfort and style. All Royce bras are wire-free, which is ideal for women who find underwires difficult to tolerate. I do wear underwire bras, but they are not the most comfortable for me. Like many small-busted women, I really don't need the support of an underwire. I'm always happy to discover a wire-free bra that still provides some coverage and shaping, because although I am a fan of bralettes, they don't do much other than look cute. I received the Royce Enhance 1069 bra in black and cream (above). It's also available in rose and cream, shown at right. Royce markets this bra as a solution for petite small-breasted women seeking a fuller shape under clothing, as well as those who have had mastectomies and want enhancement without needing to wear prosthetic breast forms. Sizing is by band only (32, 34, 36, 38), and all sizes are meant to fit AA, A, and B cups. The bra is described as "super-padded" and is designed to make your breasts look two cup sizes larger. The really unique thing about this style is that it is not a push-up bra; it doesn't use push-up "bump pads" inside the cups to enhance the bust. Instead, the added size comes from a layer of padding encased in the bra cup on the outside (between the cup lining next to the skin and the external casing), so that it covers the entire breast. This is an interesting approach because it means your breasts aren't squeezed up to the top of the cups in the Royce 1069, and clearly it is not a bra that is intended to boost cleavage. The alternative approach to padding, as far as I'm concerned, is a reason to like this bra... at least in theory. It offers increased size without underwires, and without that unpleasant squish that often happens with push-up bras. So far, so good. However, there are drawbacks. This is sort of like wearing two prosthetic breasts over your own chest, but instead of having the prosthetic breast forms inside the bra cups in pockets (as they are normally worn with mastectomy bras), the prosthetics are inside the bra cups themselves. Except, the change in size is actually not quite as dramatic as you would get with real prosthetic breasts; I wouldn't say that this bra really adds two cup sizes, which is a relief to me personally, but may be a disappointment to those of you who want that. I'd say it makes me look about one cup size larger when worn under a t-shirt. Another not-so-great thing is the feel of the cups: the padding is very stiff. When I'm wearing it, the cups don't move with me, and it doesn't look natural. It looks, honestly, like I'm wearing a heavily padded bra. The band and straps are comfortable enough, but it's impossible for me to feel at ease in a bra with cups this rigid... it's just too much like armor. It's also possible that I'm being squeezed too much in these cups, because right now I measure a size 32B (I tried a 32 in the Royce 1069). Perhaps it would feel less uncomfortable if I still wore a 32AA or 32A-- it may be a better choice for women with those cup sizes than it is for me at this point. The sizing in the band seems accurate. To sum up: if what you want is a bra that makes you look fuller without an underwire, this one is certainly worth considering. It's not perfect, but it's not awful either. The lace trim and center bow are quite pretty, and I would say it's above-average in style compared to similar wire-free bras (which are notorious for looking matronly and covering too much skin). Disclosure: I received this bra at no cost in exchange for a review. #Royce #mastectomy #smallbusted #wirefree #brareviews #32A #32AA #32B #breastforms

I breastfed my son for most of his first year (he's now sixteen months old). Finding a maternity bra that fit well and felt comfortable was not easy. The main difficulty I encountered was that I produced a ton of milk, more than the baby needed, and it caused engorgement early on. I hadn't intended on using an electric breast pump, but I was in so much pain that first week that I made my husband go out and buy one so I could get some relief. Another consequence of this mega-milkfest (other than feeling like a swollen cow... sad moo) was that my breasts increased significantly in size -- I was probably up to a D cup at my biggest, and normally I am an A or small B cup. I could hardly believe how big I was, and I never actually bought any D-cup bras because it seemed totally impossible that I would stay that size for long enough to use them. I ended up in a Bravado Body Silk nursing bra in size Small, which is equivalent to a 34B-C. This is an excellent, well-made, very comfortable bra, but the fit seemed to vary depending on the time of day, how much milk my son was taking, and even how much water I drank. At times it felt too tight in the cups, and I could probably have used a Medium. BabyCentre's guide recommends buying nursing bras when you are in the 36th or 37th week of pregnancy, but for me the correct size was at least two cups bigger once I'd had the baby and started to breastfeed than it was at 37 weeks pregnant. That was probably partly due to my being small-busted to begin with, and partly because I had so much milk. I had no idea that any of this would happen when I decided to breastfeed. I don't regret the decision, but I learned that when you are on your first child and can't predict how your body will respond to breastfeeding, it's best to leave the tags on anything you buy while you are still pregnant or before your milk comes in, because you may end up a cup size (or even two) larger than you anticipated. You should be able to try on your new nursing bra once you are actually breastfeeding to make sure it fits properly. Also keep in mind that your breast size may shift, so you want cups that fit even when you are at your fullest; this means choosing a larger cup, because it's better to have a little extra room at times than to be stuck in a too-tight bra. For my next baby, I'll happily wear the Bravado Body Silk bra again, but this time I'll get the Medium just to be safe. #nursing #maternity #smallbusted #pregnant #Bravado

Naturally, one of my favorite blogs is The Lingerie Addict . I'm proud to display Cora's "Body Snark Free Zone" badge to signify my committment to tolerance, sensitivity, and constructive conversation about body image issues. This means I want my blog to be a safe place for everyone to find valuable information and support, and to share their own ideas without fear of being judged or attacked. I do encourage all visitors to speak their minds, but always in a respectful way, and any comments that don't meet this standard will be deleted. Having said that, talking about your feelings is not body snark. For example, if you say "I'm frustrated because I feel like thin women don't face the same difficulties I do as a plus-size woman," that's absolutely valid and worth talking about. What I wouldn't be okay with is something like "thin girls, shut up already about your bra fitting issues -- you have nothing to complain about." This would be an effort to silence another group of people and invalidate their experience, which I won't allow to happen here. Please let me know if you have any questions about this policy. Hopefully it will make Bras Outside the Box a more welcoming place. #bodyimage

Hey everyone! Thanks for being here. I'm thrilled to introduce my new lingerie blog, Bras Outside the Box. I created this site for women seeking bras and lingerie to meet needs that the mainstream lingerie market fails to cover. That includes those of us with unusual sizes, body proportions, and conditions that make standard bras difficult to wear. I've identified several categories that I want to focus on for product reviews, news, and other items of interest: pregnant/nursing, breast cancer/mastectomy, disabled, transgender, and hard-to-find sizes. If you fall outside of these, that doesn't mean I'm not interested in addressing your particular circumstances; feel free to get in touch and let me know more about your experience and how I can help. Some of you know me from my previous website, 32AABra, where I mainly reviewed bras in small cup sizes. I got interested in "bras outside the box" because I am very small-busted myself, and as a lover of stylish and flattering lingerie, I was frustrated with the lack of available options on the market in my size. Via 32AABra, I ended up hearing from many other women of almost every conceivable size, shape, and stage of life about the challenges they had faced in shopping for bras. It was enlightening for me to realize how many different needs women have, and at the same time, how we all share a similar wish to find lingerie that really fits properly and makes us feel beautiful. I have no personal experience with most of the categories listed above. I've been pregnant and I nursed my son for almost a year, but I have never had breast cancer and am not a transgender or disabled woman. That means I really need to hear from my readers who are living with these issues. If you would like to share your story, please use the Contact form. #smallbusted #pregnant #nursing #mastectomy #breastcancer #disabled #transgender

Some physical conditions make it painful or difficult for women to wear bras with underwires. If you are pregnant, disabled, or have recently had surgery for breast cancer, you may prefer a wire-free bra. But it can be tough to find one with adequate support and structure, especially for large busts. Bra fitting expert Ali Cudby, CEO of Fab Foundations and founder of the leading global online bra certification program FabFit Academy, says: Wired vs. wire-free bras fit somewhat differently, because wire-free bras don’t have the structure of the wire for lift and support. What that means for women is that they need the part of the bra that connects the cups (the gore) to be taller, so there’s more ability for the cup to offer the lift women love. Taller gores mean more coverage, which women don’t always love - so there’s often a trade off. Plunge bras, in order to work best, generally need to have some wire for structure. In addition to a taller center gore, look for at least three rows of hooks where the bra closes to help anchor the band. Side boning or stays can also make for a more secure fit, if you can tolerate them (they tend to be somewhat more comfortable to wear than an underwire). The Lara wire-free bra from Amoena has a substantial center gore, plus side stays and three rows of hooks. It’s a full-coverage style, making it a good fit for a wide range of bust sizes. But what really distinguishes it from similar bras that offer great support without underwires is that it's attractive, available in a variety of colors, and the smooth cups are invisible under clothing. This is one of my favorite wire-free options on the market right now (yes, I own one and I wear it regularly). #disabled #breastcancer #wirefree #largebust #brafitting #pregnant #Amoena