We've found 10 fabulous bras for women with big boobs. And spoken to bra fitting expert Ali Cudby to get her tips for big boobed women looking to find the perfect bra...
For women with big boobs, finding large size bras that offer you great
support, make you feel comfortable, and, most importantly, feel good
about yourself, can be a challenge.
fitting bras can cause chronic headaches, backache, hunching shoulders
and make you feel generally uncomfortable, knocking your confidence, so
it’s vital to get the right bra for you!
Shockingly, around 85% of us are wearing ill-fitting bras.
And whilst you might think you’ve got your bra sizing right, remember,
your body may have changed since you were last fitted. Women often make
the mistake of wearing the same size bra their whole lives, even though
changes in weight and shape can mean going up or down a dress size. New
mums in particular find that after having a baby, their bra size can
change quite dramatically.
So, we’ve had a chat with bra expert
Ali Cudby, who understands the difficulty and importance of finding
great bras for big busts.
We’ve got 10 of the best bras for big
busts, along with 10 of Ali’s best tips for big boobed women, to help
you find a bra that makes you feel fantastic.
And remember,
you’re asking a small piece of fabric to do a big job, so you’ll want to
get it right, so firstly, go for a bra fitting!
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Your bra should give you confidence
Ali says: ‘There’s an important connection between bras and the way we feel. When you wear a good-fitting bra you feel more comfortable, and knowing you look great will improve how you feel about yourself.’
Bra from Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s range for Autograph at M&S. Available in sizes 32-40 DD-G, £25.
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Focus on fit, not size
Ali says: ‘One of the biggest mistakes women make is to focus too heavily on the size. Don’t be fixed on the number and letters of a bra size. The truth is no one-sized bra will fit every woman the same, so you should focus on the fit.’
Bra by Curvy Kate. Available in sizes 28-40 D-K and 42-44 D-G, £29.
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Try before you buy
Ali says: ‘Always try on a bra to know if it fits your unique shape. As women and mums, we tend to be rushed and don’t always put ourselves first. Take the time to check that it fits you properly, don’t just settle for the size you always buy.’
The world’s largest strapless bra, from SimplyYours. Available in sizes 34-48 B-L, now £14.
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Try on the loosest hook
Ali says: ‘A new bra should always fit you on the loosest hook. As the bra loses its elasticity over time, you can tighten it and you’ll be able to get more wear out of it.’
Bra by Curvy Kate, sizes 28-38 D-H, £29.
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The support should be coming from the band
Ali says: ‘The foundation of the fit is rooted in the back band. Like a house, if you don’t have good foundations, things are going to sag. Between 80% and 90% of the support needs to come from here. The back band should be level with where the bottom of your bra sits on your chest, the band shouldn’t be riding up your back.’
Bra from the Limited Collection range for M&S. Available in sizes 30-40 DD-GG, £19.50.
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Don’t over-tighten the straps
Ali says: ‘Many women try to add lift to their breasts by tightening their straps and end up with sore shoulders, but only 10% to 20% of the support should be coming from your straps. If you find your straps are slipping off your shoulders it could be because the straps are set too wide. If this is the case, look for styles where the straps sit closer to the centre of the bra.’
Bra by Alexis Smith Lingerie, available in sizes 30-36 D-FF, £29.99.
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Cups should be a snug fit
Ali says: ‘Next assess the cups. The material shouldn’t be wrinkling or gaping, and you certainly shouldn’t have any overspill. There should be one smooth line from the bottom of the breast to the top.’
The world’s first J cup T-shirt bra by Curvy Kate. Available in sizes 28-38 D-J, £29.
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Buy good quality bras
Ali says: ‘We’re all trying to save our pennies, but when it comes to bras you shouldn’t just think about how cheap they are. Buy fewer bras, but of better quality. If you think that a bra is a bit pricey, think about it in terms of cost per wear. A better quality bra will get you better value for money in the long run.’
Bra by BHS. Available in sizes 32-40 DD-G, £16.
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A good bra should be slimming
Ali says: ‘Band size corresponds to your ribcage, and finding a bra that fits correctly will expose the smallest part of your rib cage and really flatter your figure.’
Bra by Fantasie at Brastop. Available in sizes 32-38 D-H, now £19.95
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After care
Ali says: ‘Taking care of your bras is really important to get the most use out of them. Ideally you should always handwash them, but real women don’t always have time for that. For a quicker way that will look after them, pop them in a lingerie bag and wash them on a delicate cycle, then hang-dry them. Never throw your bras in the dryer!’
Bra by Panache. Available in 28-38 D-J, now £21.95.
Where to next?
– 7 exercises to banish bra-fat bulge
– Sports bras: how to choose the best for you
– 5 easy ways to check for breast cancer