Customizing Your Plus-Size Bra for a Comfortable Fit

A woman named Amy recently wrote in to a discussion forum with this common question:

I have nowhere to get properly fitted for a bra and have a terrible time to get them to fit. They never lay flat against my breast bone. A DDD is too large and DD is iffy depends on the size around but if I get one according to my circumference they ride up to my shoulders! I always try 5 or 6 at a time to get the best fit and comfort but they do not really fit like you say they should. What can I try next time?

What can Amy do to get a more comfortable fit?

Wearing a bra that fits properly not only makes a large-breasted woman look good, it can also make her feel better. A bra should provide both comfort and support. Yet many heavy breasted women put up with the discomfort of straps that dig into the shoulders, bands that are too constricting and under wires that pinch because they just don’t know how to buy a properly fitted bra or where to go to get one.

Good fit

Most women will put a great deal of money, time and effort into purchasing just the right dress for a special occasion, yet few actually put a lot of consideration into the what they are going to wear under it.

What's more, heavy breasted women run the very real risk of causing permanent neck, shoulder and back injury because, without the proper breast support their posture can be adversely affected.

Does this sound like you? Without proper support for heavy breasts, many women tend to compensate by hunching over to try and relieve the strain on their shoulders, which in turn leads to back and neck pain. Some medical personnel opine that this overcompensation can potentially result in irrevocable damage to the spine

Bad Fit

What are the indicators of wearing the wrong bra?

• Red, painful indents (grooves) in the shoulder area.
• Tingling in shoulders, arms or fingers (if this occurs, you should consult your doctor immediately – there may be an underlying reason for this that is not related to bra fit.)
• Shoulder straps that are so loose they hang down the arms or so tight they dig into shoulders.
• Excess perspiring in cleavage area.
• Under-wires that stick out.
• Boobs fall out or spill over during bending.
• Breast spill over top of cup, appearing like a second set of boobs, even when standing.
• Wrinkling of bra under sweaters.
• Lumpy appearing bosoms under tight fitting tops.

Ways to customize your plus size bra for a better fit

In addition to buying a bra that fits properly from the outset, there are some accessories on the market that offer comfort for the most prevalent problems. Listed below are a few of the most common ones:

The Strap-Mate band prevents bra straps from falling down. They are easy to attach, convenient to use and adjustable. Shown here in the far left photo in black but available at Strap-Mate.com in many colors.

Bra extenders supply added comfort to any bra. You can add up to two inches to your bra band for comfort. Bra extenders have a soft cotton backing, are machine washable and have hooks that fit most bra bands.

The b&w photos above illustrating good fit and bad fit are courtesy of PlusSizeBras.info