(no subject)

[pensnest]

Now, what kind of woman needs a sports bra? (1) A tiny-framed A or B cup? (2) A slender but magnificently endowed 34G? (3) A broad-chested woman with not particularly large tits?

Hah. If you're in category (1), welcome to a vast range of arguably necessary underwear. If you are in category (2), Shock Absorber has got you covered.

I'm in category (3). Nobody seems to think a woman with a 42" rib cage is going to be looking for a sports bra. Very few people seem to think a woman larger than a size 16 might possibly want to exercise in any kind of, um, clothing. Anyone sensing a Catch-22 situation?

I can manage with my regular bras, certainly—I've recently converted to the hook-free, pull on, slightly padded ones that don't have underwire, and they're very comfortable on my B/C cup breasts—but they don't have the between-the-shoulderblades straps that go with several of the nicer sports vests. Grrr. Having decided to invest in a couple of tops that cover my hips and don't ride up to show off my hideous belly when I'm stretching, I need a new bra (or two) to wear with them. It doesn't seem like so very much to ask...

I suppose I'm meant to console myself with the fact that if I were a 42G, I'd be even worse off than I am.

Comments

[sperrywink]

The bra industry are tools of the devil.

I feel your pain.

OMG, finding good bras without underwires for my size is near impossible!

[pensnest]

It is one advantage of having relatively small boobs—the new pull-on style are really comfy, but if I had more actual boob going on, I don't know that they'd give enough support. But it's *so* nice not to have nasty wires sticking into me!

[ephemera]

The bra industry is so many kinds of messed up...

(I think you can get adapter-widgets that can pull the straps of a regular "square" bra into an hourglass back, but I don't imagine that that would be particularly comfortable, esp for exercising in...)

[pensnest]

I suspect my contortions afterwards in the dressing room would be the stuff of comic legend.

I found something which *may* fit. It's on its way. We shall see. I hate bra shopping.

[nopseud]

According to economists, if there is demand, someone will come along to supply it. I can only say, economists have clearly never looked at the bra industry.

I suppose I'm meant to console myself with the fact that if I were a 42G, I'd be even worse off than I am.

I do my best to console myself with that all the time. At least, as a 42 AA, I don't actually have to wear a bra most of the time. Which is a darn good thing, because they mostly don't exist.

[pensnest]

I'm constantly amazed at the incredible number of shops trying to sell clothing to the slender, and the incredibly few trying to sell to the larger. Aren't something like 40% of women in the UK size 16 or more? It's ludicrous.

I don't know if the bras I use now would work for you, they are a great relief for me and I shall be giving my regular bras to Oxfam any day now. But if you are happy without, I envy your freedom from the tyranny of the wretched things.

[solariana.livejournal.com]

While I can usually find regular bras (38DD) in the local department stores, I had to buy sports bras at Amazon.com. At least they had the right size, although for some sizes, the color choices are limited. They have other work-out clothing, as well.

[pensnest]

I tried on a Large bra in the sportswear shop today, and it did just about do up, but I couldn't honestly say it fitted. They go up to a 36" in store, 38" online. Sigh. And the brand they suggested didn't seem to have anything above a 38" band size, either. It's daft.

[solariana.livejournal.com]

It is quite daft! How is one to exercise without a properly fitting sports bra. I thought I'd seen larger at Amazon. I didn't order the largest size they had, but it may be different per manufacturer and of course they likely carry dozens (and they may have different offerings in the UK, as the US, I think, is known for obesity). Hopefully you find one that fits reasonably well!

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

Sigh. Wear a sports bra, and I end up feeling like a vat of jello pudding someone funneled into a ziploc bag; go to the gym naked and I get arrested. There's no winning, I tell ya!