Supportive Undergarments etc. for the,uh, Well-endowed

[zoebartlett]

Let''s say, hypothetically of course, that you were somewhat "blessed" with, uh, not the smallest of chests ("generously proportioned," "ample," as described by your FI). Right. Also, you were looking at strapless or spaghetti strap dresses.

1. Would/should you opt to have wide straps attached to the dress and forego the strapless or the spaghetti strap look? It would certainly change the look of the dress and what if it didn''t look right?

2. What type of supportive undergarments would you wear? If you''ve never worn strapless bras before but you''ve heard the horror stories of them slipping down, what would you do to prevent this from happening?

3. Do you have to forget about being comfortable that day? Is it really all about holding things in place and being sucked in as tight as possible?

 

[rainbowtrout]

Heh, I put in a thread for this under "upholstery"

If I had the money, I would buy a nice corset and call it a day.


My instinct to #3 is well, yes, you do. I once duct taped the girls to go under a halter gown...surprisingly not-horrific, considering.

 

[AmberGretchen]

You might be pleasantly surprised at how much support is built into the top of your dress, depending on the design of it. I''m definitely also "well endowed" and with a corset-backed, structured top of my dress plus some strategically placed double-stick tape (thanks to a dear friend who works in the fashion industry who was one of my bridesmaids), I was fine all day long...

 

[zoebartlett]

We''re talking 42DDDs here.

 

[rainbowtrout]

Actually, you can probably have more luck finding sizes than me...I would suggest something like

http://www.barenecessities.com/Goddess-Serena-Embroidered-Bustier_product_Goddess8202_,search,42DDD.htm


or, like I said, if you''ve got the bucks, get a real-deal corset. Don''t be eeked out by the slightly fetish-y or ren-fest-y clientele some of the good places have--those suckers hold you IN.

 

[sumbride]

#3

What you want is a "Goddess"!!! I bought a Merry Widow and like it a lot. They also have regular strapless and bustier styles depending on what your dress demands. You''ll probably want to get something other than plain strapless because you may not get enough band support from them.

Lots of places sell the Goddess line. I got mine from Lauren Silva

 

[rainbowtrout]

Also, like Ambergretchen mentionion, duct tape is really the 8th wonder of the world. I made an emergency bustier out of it once and it worked surprisingly well.

 

[surfgirl]

One thing to keep in mind is the effects of certain bra types. What I did was buy a few different styles, keeping the tags on, and tried them on with my dress until I found the one that made me as "perky" as possible.

Then I returned the rest of them. If you get a selection of styles at a mall chain store (Macy''s, Nordies, etc.) you can easily return the ones that dont work. And FWIW, although I thought a bustier would be the best bet in keeping me uplifted (because it really gives you a shelf to rest the boobage on!), in actually, the bustiers simply pushed any extra micrograms of fat up and over the top of my strapless gown, which didn''t look very nice...

So I went with a strapless Chantelle, that has underwire and side boning on the strap just behind the cup area. It also has a rubbery strip that runs along the seams to grab onto your skin and stay put and not slide down. Another thing you can do is have your tailor put in a heavy, wide elastic band that runs from the side of the bustline, around the back, hooking like a bra strap in the back. This would go over your bra, and would help to keep your dress exactly where you want it to be. Just another suggestion... Which dress are you getting anyway?!? Tell us. SHOW us! I''m dying to see it...

 

[zoebartlett]

Thanks for the suggestions!! Surfgirl, I swear, I''m not ignoring your request for pictures.

I haven''t been able to go back to the bridal salon to look at the dresses again. I have an appt. on July 9th and I''ll try to sneak a few pictures. I''m not sure which dress I''m getting yet. My mom''s coming with me when I go back.

Summer - have you tried on your Merry Widow yet? How do you like it?

Once I decide which dress to get, I''ll probably buy a few different things and try them on to get the full effect.

thanks again!

 

[surfgirl]

zoe, I''d recommend you get the selection of undergarments first and THEN go try on the dresses! You dont want to get a dress only to find that the boob issue is not fixable on that dress...

 

[Maisie]

I am rather ''ample'' too

If your dress fits you properly it will hold you up and in! Go for a lace up back and it can be adjusted to fit you perfectly!

 

[Krissie]

I''m, uh, "amply endowed" and I thought I would want a strapless dress. I love the look of them, but they often make me uncomfortable about spillage ... I''ve worn a formal strapless dress as a BM before, and was tugging at it all night. It fit perfectly, but I was just insecure about it.

My cousin had a GORGEOUS dress in August 2006 but she was tugging at that thing all night. I just don''t want to worry about it at my reception - really, I want the dress to be the last thing on my mind!!

I have grown to love the halter and portrait necklines. It''s a shame there aren''t as many around as there are strapless, but I think that''s what I''ll choose - I don''t want to be insecure about anything on the big day!

 

[beachbound]

I''m in the same situation... I have already bought my dress and cannot find anything to work! I wore a strapless dress as a bridesmaid last month, and had problems with it all night long! Strapless bras do nothing for me, and the double sided tape doesn''t work! I love how everyone thinks you are "blessed" when you are well-endowed!! On these websites, can you send them back if they don''t fit?

 

[nytemist]

I bought a Goddess longline bra and the style was called ''Regal''. I''m not sure if it is still available, but it worked great for me. I had my wedding dress made with boning in the bodice since it was strapless, just so I would have the extra security. I''m a 36J.

 

[sumbride]

I had to send the first one back because it was too big. (Lauren Silva has a 15 day return policy) I ordered the same one but not in lace in a smaller size and M helped me put it on yesterday. It fit great and will suit the purpose. Of course, he did not enjoy having to help me with the 15 or so hooks and eyes! I said "so this is a vote FOR the going away dress, right?"

I haven''t tried it on with my dress yet but I believe it will work as I have an empire waist so the boning shouldn''t show. It felt good on.

 

[beachbound]

Thank goodness! I found one off of the Lauren Silva website you suggested, I think I''m going to order it this week. I hope it fits! My dress doesn''t have an empire waist, it just goes straight down, so finding one that doesn''t show and holds me up is my problem. I hope it works!

 

[onedrop]

sumbride: i am definitely in the same boat as you! well almost....I am in the D category.

In addition, I wanted to *slim* my look and thought I needed a foundation. So I went out I tried on everything imagineable in terms of foundations and bras. I finally found something for the midsection and a nice strapless bra. However....when I brought all that stuff to my first fitting, the seamstress was like, "you don''t even need all that stuff." i was a little skeptical because I am definitely more than a handful in the top section, but she was right! I had a corset style dress which definitely helped. And if you have a good seamstress and are willing to spend a little extra, then she might be able to have a support mechanism sewn into the dress depending on which style you choose.

Good luck with the future dress shopping...and definitely look into corset styles. They may feel tight, but you get used to it the more you wear it.

 

[zoebartlett]

Summer, do you have a picture of your dress or a picture of you in your dress? I feel like I''ve seen it before but I''m not sure. Maybe it was a photo from your engagement party that I saw. Now I can''t remember.

 

[sumbride]

Yep, I posted it way back in February. The pictures are terribly fuzzy as it was a scan of a printout!
Here you go:

It''s a corset back but it''s not shown because it wasn''t quite cinched up right... the dress is doing almost all of the shaping here, but I don''t want the dress to have to take the brunt of that, so hence my need for support from undergarments. I am wearing a long-line bra here, but it was too small, so it''s done with extenders and didn''t firm right.

 

[zoebartlett]

Thanks! I do remember seeing these pictures. What a beautiful dress!

 

[sumbride]

Thanks! I can''t wait to see it again next week!

 

[onedrop]

zoe: that dress looks really nice on you! I think it holds you in quite nicely. If that dress is corset style, you may find that you don''t need as much to *hold* you up/in.

 

[zoebartlett]

Hi Onedrop,

Actually, that''s Sumbride''s dress.

 

[sumbride]

Yup, that''s ME!!! Zoe is still looking for her dress! I posted it as inspiration.

 

[shigidigi]

Zoe, I completely feel your pain!! I am a 36DDD and it is impossible to find anything decent, but I do have three suggestions.

If you don''t need a longline bra, go for Cacique''s Bra6. It is an incredible convertible bra that actually holds itself up without needing to sit on your hips. Go to a Lane Bryant store and see if they have one for you to try on. I own two and couldnt live without them.

If you need a longline, I agree with Sumbride and the Goddess Merry Widow- so many people have said amazing things about it. However, my new obsession is the Va Bien Ultra-Lift Bustier!!!

It is a whopping $75 but no bra has ever done the lift and been so comfortable for me. I havent ordered mine yet, but have tried it on. And I recently saw it at hsn.com on a flexpay so you can pay $25 for three months and stretch out the ouch factor of the price.

If you love a strapless gown, dont fret over adding straps- I''m sure one of the bras will work and perhaps with a combination of stick tape and other things you''ll look as perfect as you envisioned!

If you fall in love with a dress with straps- then hey, even better!

Just find the dress you love first, and then do a hunt for the undergarments. I remember you had ordered quite a few dresses online, and if you dont mind doing it with bras I think you''ll find something awesome.

Good luck!!!

 

[zoebartlett]

Date: 6/25/2007 1:26:17 PM
Author: shigidigi
Zoe, I completely feel your pain!! I am a 36DDD and it is impossible to find anything decent, but I do have three suggestions.

If you don''t need a longline bra, go for Cacique''s Bra6. It is an incredible convertible bra that actually holds itself up without needing to sit on your hips. Go to a Lane Bryant store and see if they have one for you to try on. I own two and couldnt live without them.

If you need a longline, I agree with Sumbride and the Goddess Merry Widow- so many people have said amazing things about it. However, my new obsession is the Va Bien Ultra-Lift Bustier!!!

It is a whopping $75 but no bra has ever done the lift and been so comfortable for me. I havent ordered mine yet, but have tried it on. And I recently saw it at hsn.com on a flexpay so you can pay $25 for three months and stretch out the ouch factor of the price.

If you love a strapless gown, dont fret over adding straps- I''m sure one of the bras will work and perhaps with a combination of stick tape and other things you''ll look as perfect as you envisioned!

If you fall in love with a dress with straps- then hey, even better!

Just find the dress you love first, and then do a hunt for the undergarments. I remember you had ordered quite a few dresses online, and if you dont mind doing it with bras I think you''ll find something awesome.

Good luck!!!

Thanks! This may be a dumb question but how do I know if I need a longline bra or not? I want to look and feel pretty, sucked in where needed but not bandaged so much that I ache all day. I understand that some suffering goes with the territory but I want to be able to enjoy our wedding night without being in pain from the day''s wardrobe.

 

[sumbride]

Usually you need a longline bra because the back is too low for a regular bra, or you can''t get enough support from a regular strapless bra. Those are really the only reasons. The sucking in thing isn''t always that easy with a longline bra becase many of them are so low in the back.

 

[shigidigi]

Longline bras are usually nice because they help smooth out the area around your stomach. And I dont think any bride would turn down some help in that area, after all we all want to look flawless on the "day"!

And Zoe, dont worry that it wont be so terribly uncomfortable. If you get it too small it can, but otherwise they should fit snuggly but not cut off your circulation! Besides, I remember someone on here talking about wearing for a few hours each day and increasing how long she had it on so that come the day of her wedding, her body will be used to wearing the bra.

I think a longline bustier combined with some spanx coulbe be the perfect combo At least that's where I'm headed!

By the way, I too can't WAIT till you post your dress. So excited!!

Sorry, I forgot to mention that for us gals with a lot going on up top- longlines are great because they sit on your hips and help dispurse the weight that would other wise be on your back. It helps hold everything up where it's supposed to be!

 

[rainbowtrout]

*dances the happy dance*

They have that Goddess merry widow in my size!!! Whoo hoo.


Sumbride, are you wearing your in that photo or not? And does it fit quite tightly? I always have the sliding down problem, I''m actually more of a 31 but they don''t make braks with bands that small...

 

[rainbowtrout]

What would combining it with spanx do? Would this help things stay put? As in, a Spank torso shaper *under* the merry widow?