so I must have great advice, right?

Right!

A fitting is a great idea, but you need to make sure you're not getting fitted by an "expert" who's making minimum wage and has been in retail for two months.

If the retail help at the department store seems clueless, check to see whether they're offering any fit clinics, which is like a trunk show for lines like Wacoal that specialize in bras for the boobtacular. They tend to do this around Breast Cancer Awareness times.

Another option is to check the Yellow Pages for a lingerie store that offers post-mastectomy fittings. They tend to have extremely knowledgable sales associates.

(These stores are also the best place to buy bathing suits--another fit issue when you're wearing a DDD cup.)

FWIW, I wear the Wacoal 85154 seamless minimizer:

http://snurl.com/2pdeg
Wacoal Seamless Minimizer Bra 85154 at BareNecessities.com [www_barenecessities_com]

I buy four or five at a pop and get new ones after about a year. Even washing in cold water and hanging to dry, spandex gets stretched out.

Poppy Buxom, who blogs at www.poppisima.blogspot.com and www.mamarazzi.org

I agree with some of the previous posters-small bra shops are the best place to go! I got the best bras I own there & also found a swimsuit and a camisole to boot.

I can't afford to get clothes made right now, but would love to have a couple custom jackets made. As another poster mentioned though, what about less expensive items like t-shirts? I don't want to pay to have a cheap shirt tailored but I want one that fits. Any suggestions?? 

I second the Nordstrom fitting and Never ever victoria's secret if you're above a b cup (they actually vanity size at victoria's secret so a b is actually a c...). Once you know what size you are figleaves.com is great for ordering. I pretty much can only wear fantasie bras (I'm a 34G) and oprah's favorite bra doesn't fit me and the couple of other brands I've tried fell apart in a couple of months (at $50/each that's ridiculous).

Healthy Manifest

I'm also a D cup. My favorite bra, hands down, I got from Macy's. The brand is Bali, and the best feature about this bra is the padded shoulder strap. It's supportive, lightly lined to avoid nipplage, and fits me perfectly. I don't know if it's for everyone, but it's definitely my fave. Here's a link.

jes

I have the widest shoulders known to man, but a tiny waist. If I get something that fits across my linebacker shoulders, it criss-crosses over my stomach twice. What we need is to find designers who will quite taking measurements from a mannequin and start making clothes for EVERY SHAPE. phew. okay, glad i got that out of me.

Seriously though, good luck with your search. I wish I could help more.

I'm also a D. Target sells a Playtex underwire bra in 100% cotton that I love, and it's quite cheap. Holds together in the washer, too. I bought five of them at once!

JenniferB makes an excellent point: really terrific bras do NOT have to cost the equivalent of the GNP. But be SURE you know what size you are, and try bras on to make certain that they fit properly (and don't pull or gap or slide up).

Now who else loves her bra?

Friday Style
Friday Playdate

It took me a long time to find bras because most retail stores just don't carry anything larger than a D in a 34. I need 3 Ds. I finally lucked out at Dillards. I bought 2 t-shirt bras and 2 lace bras. I'm just reading off the tags here, no idea if this is brand or style: I have 2 lunaires, a whimsy and a modern movement.

Title 9 has a great selection of athletic bras in a variety of sizes and coverage. They use barbells to indicate how much support a bra offers and they include one, The Last Resort Bra, that has 5 barbells. Virtually no bouncing!

I get the whole tailoring thing, really. I have short legs and a tiny waist so all pants need to be altered twice. To some extent, I can do it myself, as long as I make the time. But I live a t-shirt life and have a cheap t-shirt budget, so tailoring, professional or otherwise, isn't always an option. It's more work and money to alter a $10 tee.

Can anyone recommend a store that usually works for them in casual basics for the chesty? Especially t-shirts! I bought a few of these from the Gap last year when they had assorted colors and they were perfect. But this year they're only available in black, grey, and white.

That's what size I wear now. Before I lost 70 pounds, I wore a 40I. I as in "I- normous"

I can't tell you enough about the wonders of a small bra shop. I finally went to the local store, where a little old lady hefted my breasts, measured and remeasured, tsked, pulled and prodded, and left the room. She came back with three - all of which fit perfectly and made me look both slimmer and taller. Needless to say, I bought all three. They are great. I'm so glad that I went.

I second the Enell bra above from Title 9. It's all I wear to run and take martial arts class. Absolutely NO bounce.

All three bras sold to me varied in price. The one that I like the best was actually the cheapest. Don't try to buy the most expensive.

And when you try them on, lean over and let yourself fall into the cups. The straps aren't the support, the band is, and if you are seated in the bra correctly, it'll make a huge difference.

Keep posted with my life on my blogs:
www.momtothescreamingmasses.typepad.com - a story of one woman's insanity with her six kids
www.theelffdiet.com - how I lost 70 pounds with a New Year's Resolution

If you lose/gain weight, you need to be refitted.

I hate bra shopping and especially hate being fitted, but I really need to do both now that I've lost a few more pounds.

My dream bra -- one that I wouldn't even feel when I had it on, but that would provide invisible, perfect support.

----
Jen
http://yawwblog.blogspot.com
http://angryfatgirlz.blogspot.com
http://toledolefty.blogspot.com

I completely agree with getting a bra fitting at a local department store - it matters on the experience of the shop assistant rather than the brand of the store when getting a fitting. I went and got three new bras after a fitting and am so pleased with the results.

I would love sports bras to give a better shape. They fit well and are supportive (don't you just cringe when you see women bouncing along simply for the lack of a supportive bra!) but I would love for them to offer the same attention to shape and form as the well fitted bras.

For summer I had four dresses made and it was one of the best things I've done. They fit perfectly, I feel good and comfortable in them, get compliments each time I wear them and it was the best money ($125) I've spent for years on clothes. PLUS the money went to an independent women running her own business rather than a chain store using sweat shops.

So yes, get your clothes made for you or altered to fit properly. There's no need to wear clothes than make you look crap. There's every reason to choose to look good and feel comfortable.

Smiles
Belinda

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I live in a decent-sized Canadian town, but we have few options for women who can't get what they need at one of the two national stores (I believe both are owned by the same parent company, run by a man who doesn't see the need of going beyond a C cup)...

I generally go out of town to boutiques for my needs. I recently discovered "Secrets From Your Sister" in Toronto--really lovely staff who are fitters. I asked to be sized as my bras no longer fit properly. They did, suggesting that women get fitted once a year...I went from a 38D to a 38F--I've not put on a lot of weight, and my waist has gotten smaller...I don't know what's going on.

Anyway, SFYS has a good selection--not all big and ugly: they have pretty, comfortable and functional--all rolled into one. I bought two bras and spent just over C$200 with taxes (roughly US$190). They also do mail order.

Expensive? Yes. I'm not happy with the cost, as I think women who *need* support shouldn't be penalised.

You'd mentioned brands--I really like UK lines--when in London, I buy from Marks and Spencer; over here I bought a Freya and I think a Fantasie (both UK).

I think it's also important to mention "cut" or style. My preferred style is the balconette as it raises your breasts (not push-up--who really wants a chinfull?) and, if fitted properly, makes your waist look smaller because of a corset-like effect. I also tend to buy ones that have side support,so breasts aren't spreading "around," but are "focussed" a bit forward. I'm stil looking for a plunge bra that works for me as I wear wrap tops and things with plunging necklines (with vest underneath)...and continually wonder why I can find a padded addacup push-up in my size.

j

My husband saw the Oprah show, and insisted that I get fitted - what a difference it made! If you are wearing the proper size, you shouldn't need the straps for support, so extra padding isn't really necessary.

My favorite brand is Felina - great looking, panties that actually fit the larger ladies, and they feel great. Pricy, but worth every dollar.