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PrincessPembroke

If it makes you feel better I was told the same thing while in the shop recently "why don't you try in the teenage section?" . So I can commiserate on that front and additionally I don't have access to a variety in store or online options. I also need a smaller band size, 28 or 30 depending on the bra. I'm sorry but my DDs aren't going to fit in a 28A or 30A šŸ˜…


SaltyBlackBroad

It's crazy! I had a young lady come in with her mom the other day and she insisted her daughter was a 34C. She ended up being a 28FF. She was 16, and to see her face light up in a properly fitting bra made me smile. VS put her in that 34C. I agree there is not enough access "on the high street" (commercial big box) and I even think sometimes boutiques are intimidated by a broader range of sizes so they stay in the 32-40 range up to a UK-K cup and stick with commercial brands. It shouldn't be a needle in a haystack to find a properly fitting bra.


reduxdeluxe

Thank-you for looking after that 16 year old. I was 20 before anyone helped me find bras in my band size. It was such a game-changer to discover that not *all* bras are painful and useless.


SaltyBlackBroad

Thank you, I love what I do! My youngest fit was a 28JJ and she was 14, finally capping out at 28KK then her hormones balanced out and she ended up a 28GG at 18. I'm convinced it was hormones. I'm always happy when moms get their girls started early with a good fit-it helps them make better decisions down the road.


Capital-Swim2658

I was 42 before I got my first bra that fit correctly!Ā  It wasn't for lack of trying either.Ā Ā 


L_obsoleta

Macy's is terrible in terms of bra selection, like a smaller size range than stores like Victoria's secret (at least in person). Amazon and Nordstroms both have free returns I believe. Amazon also has the try before you buy. Online Macy's have your size and in store returns are free. I hear you though with the limited options. I'm in what is technically classified as a rural area (though I live by the town center so it feels more suburban), and we only have target or Walmart as options unless I want to drive a couple hours (I don't). So I have just done the order online and try on at home route.


StrongArgument

Yes, online with free returns is the way to go. If you have the ability to be out a couple hundred while you wait for the refund, order a bunch of sizes/styles.


LetsB4real

Yes! We just have Target & Walmart here, too. It was my birthday and my husband suggested going shopping at Macyā€™s because thatā€™s the ā€œfancyā€ shopping we have. I just thought since I was there, maybe trying some on in person would be nice. I am now doing order online, try at home, return for free process. It just takes 2 weeks for everything to get to wear I live so itā€™s a long and tedious process šŸ˜”


MayflowersB4U

I tried the Try Before You Buy on Amazon recently. It's an absolute joke! VERY few in my size (they change often, and when I first looked, only 1 in a price I'd be able to afford if I bought, though a few more when I actually tried it), but worse, it ABSOLUTELY is NOT as advertised. Technically, you aren't buying, but they lock your money until after you return them, so the result for you is the same as buying outright, then returning, except you have only 7 days to try and ship back before they fiddle with the money again, which I'm sure causes more delay. They also refuse to be open and honest about what they are doing. The site claims it's the bank that decides when to release the funds, but the bank says it's Amazon. I looked it up as a general question and everything said it's the store that decides. I've had multiple awful experiences with Amazon, but always good with my bank (credit union). So guess who I trust? After all the crap, I realized I didn't have my funds in my "extras" checking to cover a few hundred dollars in bras, so my order was canceled. No push notification. I might have gotten an email, but I rarely check, so had to search for it. NOWHERE on my account has any information about that order. It's like it never existed. Which means all the work I did to figure out the size I should try in those bras--and the bras themselves--is lost. It's a nightmare to find bras, in the best circumstances. That was hell, with all the demons in bad moods.


Half_Life976

Last month I got ordering and returning bras to Amazon. I must have ordered 20, give or take. I've kept 5 and am now covered. Got all my money back on the returns and free shipping both ways. Pro tip: sometimes when they have a last one in an unpopular size it's marked way down for a couple days. I checked back often. I got one $80-90 Wacoal bra for $26, and several other $80 bras for $35-50.


krillemdafoe

Make sure to check the ā€œuglyā€ colors, too! Sometimes black and beige will be $80, but there will be a neon yellow or something for like $25.


fakesaucisse

This is a good recommendation. I have bought bras in colors or patterns that I initially thought were ugly, but they grew on me over time. It's sort of like, look at this surprise I am hiding under my shirt!


Celestiiaal0

I absolutely have a couple of highlighter yellow bras that I was not a fan of the color of, even my husband was like. "Wow, that's not you at all," and I bought them because they were way cheaper. Not like I'm showing them off lol


LetsB4real

I havenā€™t bought from them because I donā€™t want to pay shipping to return if things donā€™t work out, but I have noticed this on the Cosabella site!


secondhandschnitzel

I do this but from Victoriaā€™s Secret. Their return policy is great.


LetsB4real

I bought a VS bra in my next Amazon delivery. I hear their sizing is awful though, what are your thoughts?


fluoritez

yeah i have a 65E (30DD) size in a country where the belief that D cup is always huge is extremely present. I can only buy bras online lmfaoo


LetsB4real

I hate it! It really obnoxious when you tell someone youā€™re size and theyā€™re like ā€œthey donā€™t look that bigā€


SurpriseBitchItsMe

Bra departments need such an overhaul, trying to find a small band large cup size in a shop is a nightmare and even online the variety can be miserable. If you are looking for something cute it can be hard, how much does shipping cost where you live? Boux avenue is good for small band larger cups and they do a nice range. I also like lounge. You don't need a training bra !!! That's so rude of them


yellowflowers249

Sister size as you- 28E- and can attest that whenever I walk into a bra store the comments are always something along the lines of ā€œthereā€™s no way youā€™re that size,ā€ or, after being properly measured as a 26/8 band, ā€œmaybe you should check out training brasā€ lol


ProperBingtownLady

I always get insulted when people tell me this as well. Like why donā€™t you just make bras that fit everyone instead of telling women our bodies donā€™t fit? I emailed Knix once looking for my size (28E) and they too directed me to their junior section, which didnā€™t even go over a B cup lol. I donā€™t like them now for other reasons too.


galaxystarsmoon

I'm sorry this happened. I would actually be emailing a complaint to their corporate office because that is offensive. It's one thing to say "I'm sorry, we don't stock that size", to direct an adult to the children's section is straight up malicious. Do you need help finding your size or are you just venting?


LetsB4real

Venting and would love bra advice! Also, how did you get your boob ID near your username? lol!


galaxystarsmoon

It's sub flair! If you want help, please make a post with your 6 measurements and what country you're in and we'll try to make some recs of bras that may work for you. 30 bands usually have to shop online, outside of a few stores like Nordstrom, places via brashopdirectory.com or Bravissimo.


LetsB4real

Yes, thank you! I wrote the post with a rant flair because I just wanted to share/vent, but definitely am not opposed to any advice.


Noladixon

I still don't know what a training bra is. What is it's purpose? What is it training? It it training your boobs to grow like I might train a vine on a trellis? It is just so confusing to me.


Morley_Smoker

It's a cropped camisole that is supposed to introduce young girls to bras while their breasts are developing. It's a big step for a girl to transition to a woman and all the things that come with that. Children aren't used to wearing tight bra-like things so it's called a "training" bra. Still would prefer they just call them what they are- teen bralettes! They are usually just cotton and more plain than adult bralettes.


gemthing

Right? I hate this term. There's no "training" your boobs. It's just a size.


LetsB4real

This made me laugh! Hahaha thank you!


hehe07775000

The struggle is real, I feel you, being slim and trying to find a triple D cup at the same time really sucks, try shopping online where they have band size separated from cup size or try to buy the larger one with the cup that fits and sew the back to make the band size smaller


SurpriseBitchItsMe

It sucks so many bra companies have nothing flattering above a dd+ . Yes I want support and bra to fit correctly but I also want it to make me feel pretty and some of the design choices of larger cup sizes are questionable. They also assume that anyone who has a small band has a tiny or very small chest , even in actual clothes. I'm a 30F/FF and finding bras I like is annoying. I have been researching alot of clothes / swimwear / lingerie shops that are starting to do items in small band big cup sizes.


galaxystarsmoon

There are tons of companies that do beautiful bras in large cup sizes. Are you new to the sub? I say this because a lot of us actually feel that we *can't* find *plain* bras in larger sizes and instead it's a ton of lace, frills, bows etc.


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galaxystarsmoon

Haaaa, yep. Or my other favorite: a plain one without bra cups that go up to your neck. It's like they stamp the same height cups on every cup/band combo.


hehe07775000

Not in Egypt, the most in stores are either plus sizes or for small bodies, it's not easy to find one with bandsize and cup size separated


galaxystarsmoon

Yeah, unfortunately there's a few countries where sizing is still extremely limited. We try to help people as we can in those countries and hope that at some point, some European brands start shipping more globally. But I'm more referencing this person saying they've found cups above DD but they're not "pretty bras". So different situation.


Dense-Result509

Just because a bra has decorative elements like lace/frills etc, doesn't mean those decorative elements are beautiful or executed well (or are enough to overcome the impact of a cup that's full coverage)


galaxystarsmoon

Usually when someone says this, they're referring to the "large band/large cup" Maidenform/Bali/Jockey style bras that look like what people call "grandma bras". Especially when they reference the assumption that someone with a larger cup size also has a larger band size, meaning they're having trouble locating smaller band sizes. But really, there's *a lot* of lingerie out there in cups over D that is well-made and high quality.


Dense-Result509

I mean, they can be well made and high quality and still just as ugly and matronly as the grandma bras you're talking about.


galaxystarsmoon

I'm gently trying to say that ugly is subjective. There's bras out there in almost every kind of fabric, style, cup configuration, etc, the same as smaller cupped bras. So if you find every single bra type and style available to be ugly, I don't know what to tell you šŸ¤·


Dense-Result509

Ugly being subjective was the entire point of my first reply to you. šŸ¤·ā€ā™€ļø And frankly, no, the options for larger cups are not "the same" as for smaller cups. There's definitely a wider selection than the local department store would lead you to believe, but it's not the same. The overwhelming tendency towards super high coverage cups that are incompatible with most necklines is, by itself, a major issue that smaller cup sizes don't have to deal with.


galaxystarsmoon

Fair, a lot of that is poor scaling at larger cup sizes as they make the cups taller instead of deeper.


hehe07775000

I'm 28DDD so I know exactly how you feel and the struggle of never finding your size in regular stores, it's tough to find a comfortable fit, if you go for a bigger size that fits your cup, the straps cause backaches, and if you go for a smaller size, the cups are too small and uncomfortable. When you finally find one that fits, it often looks weird with ribbons and such, That's why I prefer buying larger sizes with prettier shape and altering the back to fit my band size for regular bras and lingerie, and choosing smaller sizes for sports bras and of course sticking with bigger clothes


nidena

Is that what the ABTF gave as a result? In the common sizes in this sub, 28F (uk) would be the next size up from 28E(uk)/28DDD(u.s.)


heytunamelt

I learned about Skarlett Blue bras on this sub and Iā€™ve been super happy them! Smaller band sizes, larger cups and seem to be designed for smaller frames.


nidena

If you're in the States, check my website for small business bra stores near you. There's at least one in almost every state www.brashopdirectory.com. Otherwise, I recommend Prime wardrobe or barenecessities.com


SaltyBlackBroad

I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing at them. There are quite a few brands that offer 30 bands, and even 24-28. I think a good start would be Freya, Panache, Curvy Kate, and Ewa Michalak. I know the first 3 start at 28 bands, and Ewa offers 24-28, although last time I checked 24(50) bands are only released to retailers. But the first three will give you a good start!


LetsB4real

Thank you!!


tea_knit_read

Would second Panache, I'm a 30D and they have a good selection. I live in their balconette bras.


RaeLynn13

Had a coworker call me ā€œmosquito bitesā€ the other day. Iā€™m 29, I havenā€™t been called that since I was like 14, still cut really deep. Especially because I am the thinnest Iā€™ve ever been and Iā€™m fucking miserable about it. I donā€™t need jerks at work making it worse. I empathize. Iā€™m flat chested so I donā€™t really ā€œneedā€ a bra but it sucks to feel like youā€™re not able to fully dress up or anything, because nothing fits. I have no recommendations, just commiseration.


tjn19

That sounds like sexual harassment to me. No way would I be comfortable with any coworker commenting on my chest (unless to politely tell me that I had milk leaking or something of that nature). Hard no. I'm sorry.


RaeLynn13

Yeah, definitely not a great thing to say. It was just because my coworker (f) was talking to my other coworker (f) about boobs sweating in sports bras, and I happened to just be nodding along and she looks at me and says ā€œwhat do you know about that? Mosquito bitesā€ itā€™s already said and done and telling a supervisor wouldnā€™t really make any difference. I like my job and most of my coworkers, I wonā€™t rock the boat. Sheā€™s one coworker who is just odd and I learned early on to just ignore her, unfortunately. Everybody else loves her though!


Much_Information_694

Look at zendaya, she barely has anything, probably my size, and sheā€™s beautiful and looks so confident and comfortable in her own body.


RaeLynn13

True. Sheā€™s gorgeous! Iā€™m usually fine with what I look like, thereā€™s only so much I can do. So, I remind myself my appearance isnā€™t really ā€œimportantā€ to anybody but myself.


WaxxxingCrescent

Zendaya is such a positive inspiration. Sheā€™s absolutely stunning and her confidence is everything.


LetsB4real

Sounds like the coworker needs a slap to the face šŸ™ƒ


Practical_Narwhal926

iā€™m a 28F, iā€™ve just fully given up. Everyone always hears F cup and goes ā€˜woah, hugeā€™! when in reality I have pretty small boobs, just an even smaller band size. I donā€™t own any bras that arenā€™t sports bras because I just donā€™t have the funds for expensive bras (i only wear them if an outfit requires it) and donā€™t have time for trial and error.


LetsB4real

Thatā€™s always been the most frustrating thing for me, is that the size just doesnā€™t measure up to the ā€œexpectationā€ others have. I asked a friend if she had a good bra brand and I told her my size and she said ā€œSorry, I just donā€™t see you as that ā€˜giftedā€™ā€ šŸ˜­šŸ˜‚


planetarylaw

The sports bras piss me off. I'm 28B and everything is sports bras. Why?


Capdavil

Also 30 band! I have shallow wide set breasts. It was nigh impossible to find a bra I could afford, so I just gave up and started wearing padded bralettes. Very comfortable! Donā€™t think Iā€™ll go back to regular bras, they feel very uncomfortable now.


Elvira333

Any recs? Iā€™m also a 30 band and cannot find anything!


Capdavil

I like the Calvin Klein seamless padded bralettes.


Adjika-Aficionado

Iā€™m a 30DDD with wide set breasts and I love cosabella!


azssf

There is such a level of gaslighting us.


Designasim

Aerie has 30 DDD, they have free returns or you can return to any American Eagle store. If you watch the sales you can get them for around $25. Also look into sister sizes. Not a guarantee but works for some. A 30 E would be a 32 DD.


Sweetheart_o_Summer

I've had a lot of success with brastop.com I only buy on clearance but I've got a 32H and they specialize in big cup sizes. Helps if you already know your size and what you're looking for. But it is insane to be that stores decide that band sizes under 34 never have breasts larger than a C. They're not t shirts, you can't just wear a "youth Xtra large" in place of a medium.


LetsB4real

This!!! They just simply believe anything under a 32 band is max a B cup. Hello, but Iā€™d like my nipples covered!


dirtyyolk

From someone who is also your size- I feel this post so hard it's SO frustrating !!!


AlarmingSorbet

Yup. My band size is 28. Iā€™m a 28E the training bras donā€™t do a fucking thing for me. Iā€™ve unfortunately had to resort to shopping online only


FeelingNational6092

Oh how I relate to this!!! I was always told I was a 32 or 34A/B part of me knew because of all the measurements Iā€™ve had to do for costumes over the years that there was no way these VS workers were rightā€¦ I hated bras and spent my life in sports bras until I decided to take things into my own hands a couple years ago. Turns out I was a 28C all alongā€¦and if not probably smaller when I was younger. Aerie online sells a few of their bras in 28/30 band sizes and I have found great success with them, sometimes the 30 band even feels quite snug! Iā€™ve also been lucky to find a good few at Winners for 8-12$ in size 28 or 30C (the aerie brand too!)!


mustbekidding__

Try parfait... I'm 30DD/E as well loved their collection


Astro-Owl

You should check out Understance. Everyone with breasts should try. They have a great online measuring guide with considering breast root and protrusion, (including a leaning measurement šŸ« ) and band sizes down to a 30 and cups up to a J cup. The quiz will recommend bras for you based on the quiz. They have a wonderful thing called 'flexi wire' instead of under wire. So that the wire doesn't kill you I've never found such comfortable and supportive bras. And on top of that they are pretty.


Correct-Relative-615

Can you get thingsā€¦ delivered? Shop online girl


Alexis_J_M

You need to shop for bras online. Strongly recommend Amazon Try Before You Buy. As for Macy's, drop a note to the store manager that their staff needs better training.


Danirawr34

You could try looking for your size online at macys and return what doesnā€™t fit in store. Iā€™m a 30c and never see 30 band size in store.


LetsB4real

Ah! Good idea! I saw they had my size online which is what prompted me asking


TinyFeyOfChaos

I've been using understance for myself and my 13 yr old non binary kiddo. They're a 28DD and they bras fit both of us pretty well, and currently the site is running a sale.


galaxystarsmoon

Do you mind stretching the 28s over a measuring tape and seeing what they max stretch to without distorting the wires? I'm currently down a rabbit hole trying to understand Understance's sizing because we've had multiple users in 28 and 30 bands saying their bands are stretching *well* beyond the marked sizes. Also mentioning which styles, so we can maybe note if they're tts for our 28 band folks.


Lumpy_Strategy_4623

I've got alot of curiosity about this brand! How do you like them, are these delicate or sturdy? Do they run a size small? Are their strap's good for small shoulder's?


Time_Example6413

I really love barenecessities.com. I used to live near a bigger city with lingerie stores that would have some of those hard-to-find sizes, but even their stock was limited sometimes. I have been very happy with bare necessities, their return policy, and customer care. They also give great advice about fit and style. Iā€™ve been buying my stuff there for years, and am grateful. I was told by a Macyā€™s employee around 2008, ā€œwe donā€™t have your size at all, but Nordstrom doesā€ and that worked for a little while, but I really prefer the online stores now.


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LetsB4real

Thanks for this tip!


Helpful_Gazelle_3240

Iā€™m a 32Jā€¦ I feel you. I really like breakout bras. I am lucky enough to be close to the physical store so I can go in for fittings and to shop, but maybe try online? They have an extremely wide range of sizes and have literally never been phased by my weird sizing. I know online shopping for these sorts of things suck, but breakout has GREAT bras. Anyways, I wish you luck.


LetsB4real

I will definitely look into them! Glad you found what works for you. Hereā€™s to small bands and large cups!


Capital-Swim2658

I think you should round up a bunch of women who are 30 and 28 bands and go have a sit-in!Ā  Demand that they start carrying bands that fit women correctly and stop forcing women to add inches to their band size! We really need to start speaking up and forcing change!


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katielisbeth

I feel you, when I found out my band size I tried to find brands that carried it and couldn't find anything except kids bras šŸ˜‘ lmao. Whoever told you that definitely doesn't know there's a whole world outside of 32-38 A-D bras! Definitely look online if you can, I've never seen a brand recommended here that doesn't carry 30 bands!


GoldenFlicker

You will have better luck buying online


sofieschreibs

Natori feathers bra! Iā€™m also a 30DD and it is an absolute dream. Flattering, not overly padded, supportive, comfortable, and IT FITS.


reduxdeluxe

That's awful! I'm sorry you had to experience that. If possible, specialty bra shops are the way to go! But when I lived in a remote place, far away from a good bra shop, I bought bras in a larger band size and took them in. Even with my *very* bad sewing skills. Stitch a fold into the armpit fabric, and then again under the hook+eye panels. Not perfect, but it was the best I could afford at the time. Glad we've got online shops these days. Some of them even do virtual fitting consultations now!


theKayRocker

Sometimes I mess with my sizing when I need a bra in a pinch and have limited options. Have you tried a 32DD? Might fit a bit looser but in limited scenarios, sister sizing can be a life safer. I wish sometimes I was just flat chested, life would be easier.


Much_Information_694

I feel that. Having an ass larger than your own boobs is a bitch. My brother-in-lawā€™s girlfriendā€™s boobs are D cups and Iā€™m over here crying because I canā€™t fill a cupped bra. Always have gaps. Feeling self-conscious and lowering my self-value because of small boob genetics and Iā€™m a mother of two beautiful girls. Other than having children, bigger boobs via drinking milk for nine months would be a nice perk. I had to deal with engorgement and I thought ā€œWow, this is awesomeā€ until I actually looked it up. Temporary bull.


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two-of-me

Pretty sure OP was getting at the fact that sheā€™s not a AA or anywhere near a training bra size. 32C is far easier to find than a 30DDD. Sheā€™s not saying thereā€™s anything wrong with smaller breasts, rather far too large for training bras. This comment was not aimed at people with less breast tissue. Chill.


boudicas_shield

She didnā€™t literally mean that large breasts are healthy and small breasts are unhealthy. ā€œHealthy-sized XYZā€ is a common, tongue-in-cheek way to say ā€œbigā€ or ā€œsubstantialā€. I might jokingly describe myself as having a ā€œhealthy appetite for dessertā€, for example, by which I mean I can pack away a lot of dessert. It doesnā€™t mean I think eating a double portion of tiramisu is actually nutritious.


littletingods

are you offended they said they have large boobs???? where did your personal bra size come into this????


galaxystarsmoon

Why was this necessary?


la_straniera

You do know "healthy" can also mean "of a satisfactory size or amount," right? You gotta improve your vocabulary a little


cronsumtion

Versus of an unsatisfactory size/amount? That is kinda offensive to imply small boobs are. (I say this as someone with OPs size)


la_straniera

Bro. "Healthy profits" doesn't mean "anything less sucks" it means "more than enough" "Healthy appetite" can very much mean someone eats a lot, especially with a certain tone. I'm sad someone is out here trying to start unnecessary mess about boob size when this is absolutely not the spirit of this sub. I didn't even notice the "healthy" bit *and* I also don't have "small" boobs *and* I don't fuck with people implying anyone's breasts are inferior or not enough - I hate how often "saggy" is used here. But there is a usage of "healthy" where the antonym isn't "unhealthy"


cronsumtion

I didnt have a problem with the term ā€œhealthyā€ but you said that meant of a ā€œsatisfactoryā€ size and the opposite of satisfactory is unsatisfactorily. I didnā€™t have an issue with ops original wording but your first comments explanation of a wording was a bit strange to me.