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Bras

26 Posts
18 Users
136 Reactions
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Posts: 160
Lady
Topic starter
(@butteryeffect)
Reputable Member     Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Joined: 2 years ago

I've never bothered with a bra, seemed a bit pointless without anything to support, but I am getting closer to going out in the world and thought I should start trying to get a more feminine shape so I bought some bras. 

I understand sizing and I am fairly confident that I have got the right size from a good retailer, the bra is not particularly uncomfortable it just feels ... well ...  a lot. I've had several days now wearing one and I am surprised to say the least at the feeling. I know some women complain about bras and are glad to take them off at the end of the day and I can see why, it feels like wearing armour or something.

I have a 40" band size which means the cups are quite large even though I only have a B cup and the underwires extend around to the sides under my arm pits, again not particularly uncomfortable but feels "built", constrictive, artificial.

Is this how it is? Is this what 50% of the population wear or am I doing it wrong? How is wearing a bra for you? 

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25 Replies
10 Replies
(@cdashley)
Joined: 5 years ago

Noble Member     Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1488

@butteryeffect Well for me I actually love wearing a bra. In saying that I wear bralettes myself, everyday for almost a year now in all sorts of colours , some lace ones and sports bras I find are super comfy.  I like the feeling of the straps on me. I do have bras to wear with my forms as well . Some underwire bras can be a touch uncomfortable but if your fitted properly they can feel nice as well. I find now it’s just apart of my daily routine to put a bra now as well as my panties.

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Lady
(@denises924)
Joined: 1 year ago

Reputable Member     Massachusetts, United States of America
Posts: 210

@butteryeffect 

Hi Cathy
I am similar to you - I don't bother with a bra for the same reasons you had. But Suzanne (@cdsue ) brings up a good point about them being solely a feminine article, so that makes it appealing. I am now a little more interested in trying them based on your post and the replies. I'll be interested in hearing how it goes for you.

Denise
❤️

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(@catanne)
Joined: 4 years ago

Estimable Member     Henderson, Waitakere City., Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 107

@butteryeffect Hi Cathy (from another Cathy, Lol.)

I wear bras similar to what most cis-gendered women wear. The main thing is that it needs to feel comfortable on you. In the beginning, it does feel "Strange' but as you get used to it they make you feel that extra feminine. 

At the moment I wear a front closure bra 24/7 for 6 weeks that is so damn uncomfortable I want to burn it. The issue however is that I had breast reconstructive surgery 5 weeks ago and have to wear this for 6 weeks and only take it off when I shower. Not allowed to bath or swim yet, but only one week to go still.

The most important is that you need to have the right size. If they are too tight, they cause bulging under the arms and so on and that also causes pains in your ribs after a while. I found that out the hard way. If they are too big, they will ride up and just not feel right. Generally, it is unhealthy to sleep with a bra but most do with a sports bra etc. It is all about preferences and every person is different. I for instance love my underwire bras and I wear 40/42D or DD depending on the brand. I had a fitting at a factory outlet store but now after my surgery, I'll have to get another fitting due to the increased size.

Hope this helps to answer your question.

Take care and be safe.

Love and hugs, xxx

Catherine A Vos

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Lady
(@butteryeffect)
Joined: 2 years ago

Reputable Member     Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Posts: 160

@catanne Best wishes for your recovery.

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Ambassador
(@lucyb112)
Joined: 2 years ago

Noble Member     Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Posts: 1005

@butteryeffect 

Yes it will probably feel strange for a while Cathy. If the size is right though, they should eventually start to feel more comfortable.

I’m another M&S Bra fan. It’s underwired full cup for me, which seem to keep the breast forms in place pretty well.

As a change though, I do like to wear a bralette from time to time, M&S again. 
Mine is size A to C and fits perfectly but without the weight of a bra.

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Duchess
(@missylinda)
Joined: 2 years ago

Noble Member     Ft Worth, Texas, United States of America
Posts: 848

@butteryeffect Madeline, below has a good suggestion. First if you uncomfortable, try one band size up or if possible get a bra fitting.  Second , you can get B cups in many 40 + bras. Third ,sleep bras are the most comfortable, ( my wife wears them most of the time). Fourth,  underwires are as a rule less comfortable and usually worn by large busted women for support. I recommend buying soft cup style bras of high quality.  For myself, I love the confining feeling of the straps and band. Underwire , more so.  It is like I am captured in the femme mode.

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Lady
(@butteryeffect)
Joined: 2 years ago

Reputable Member     Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Posts: 160

@missylinda Thanks for the useful information

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Duchess
(@loneleycd)
Joined: 5 years ago

Famed Member     Roland, Iowa, United States of America
Posts: 2150

@butteryeffect

I wear a bra all the time except at work and there sometimes wear a camisole with built-in cups. The feel of wearing a bra with forms makes me feel so feminine. 

Cassie 

 

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Lady
(@lisa55)
Joined: 3 years ago

Prominent Member     Gloucester, Virginia, United States of America
Posts: 555

@butteryeffect

Cathy, First off, no bra size is alike, even from the same manufacturer. I have loose bras at 40” and tight bras at 44”. I have found that off brands, made in china and bought thru Amazon, are smaller then stated. I have B cups that are tight to me, and A cups that are loose. I have a Maidenform 42B that looks loose with my B forms, but looks great with my D forms! BTW for me Maidenform feels so good, for me it blends in to my body and don’t even realize it is on me at times. Very comfy. I tried another 42B, this one from VF, and couldn’t even spin it around, it was so tight! Yes some make you feel like you have a 💣 strapping on to your chest. Just the other day I commented to my wife that at times I feel like I’m not even wearing one. So comfort is there. Also underwire do tend to poke you. If you are like me they help to lift up and fill the cups with what I have. Whereas, non underwire bras help lift what I have very little, but can be more comfortable after a long day. I have noticed that wire free bras and padded bras tend to ride up a bit.
Cathy, if you have forms they might help you as well. My wife suggested that I move up to a D form as it does fit 70% of my bras better and looks more natural for my body than the B look. I’m glad she did because everything looks and feels better on me now. Also the weight of the forms does help keep the wireless bras from riding up. So if you have the opportunity to buy yourself a decent set of forms, you will be amazed in the difference in the feelings that the bra has on you.

Enjoy, Lisa 

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Managing Ambassador
(@lizk)
Joined: 5 years ago

Illustrious Member     North County San Diego, California, United States of America
Posts: 3847

@butteryeffect 

Most women are wearing the wrong size bra and that's why they hate the things.  A well-made, properly fitted bra should be comfortable.  You can go to a good lingerie shop (not VS!) for a professional fitting, or you can buy online and figure it out by trial and error.  Obviously, a professional fitting is the best way to go about that.  But that's not an option for most of us.  Fortunately, there are some good resources to help you find the right bra.  

https://www.abrathatfits.org/calculator.php

https://www.bratabase.com/

Both of the above sites are CD/trans friendly.  I especially like ABTF because it has a very active support forum on Reddit.

Pre-HRT, I was wearing a Prima Donna Madison 42D with forms.  It fit like a dream.  I'd forget I was wearing a bra.  Even after 18 hours it was still comfortable.  Prima Donna is a high-end brand.  They're pricey.

Currently, I wear t-shirt and sports bras from Bali and Maidenform.  Size 40B.  They fit well and are reasonably comfortable.  But they're not the best quality.  I'm not spending a lot on bras because I'm still growing.  Once I get to my final size, I'll invest in some good quality bras.

/EA

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Posts: 1497
Ambassador
(@jacquelinelarkspur)
Famed Member     Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
Joined: 1 year ago

For me, it's all about the shape. Since it's under my clothes I don't really mind what the bra itself looks like. I use an M&S post-surgery bra. It's not attractive but it is very comfortable, with full cups which are very well padded. Ir's prone to a little riding up now and then, though.

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1 Reply
Lady
(@butteryeffect)
Joined: 2 years ago

Reputable Member     Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Posts: 160

@jacquelinelarkspur Thanks, the question was more about the feeling than the look, it just feels like I am wearing a "lot" if that makes sense and am wondering if that is just how it is?

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Posts: 2100
Hostess
(@cdsue)
Famed Member     Delaware, United States of America
Joined: 5 years ago

Cathy -

Personally I enjoy wearing a bra as it is something designed for women and there is no equivalent for men. Also it feels like I'm getting a hug which is a nice feeling.  

Everyone has their own preference for style and type so it is a bit of experimenting to find what works for you, in my opinion. The most obvious piece of advice is to get a professional bra fitting. If that is not possible then measuring yourself and looking at size charts should help. From the way you describe the bra you bought it is underwire and that seems to be an issue. Maybe try one without underwire and see is that makes a difference. Personally, I don't wear underwire and prefer a bra without. As to the cups being empty there are a couple options - 1- breast forms (there are a number of places you can get these in a wide range of prices), 2 - rolled socks, 3- nylons filled with rice or bird seed. There may be others but those are the most common. 

I hope this helps. I am by no means an expert but this is what I have found works for me. Hopefully there are some others that have more advice for you.  Remember this is a journey to be enjoyed, have fun with it.

XOXO
Suzanne

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1 Reply
Lady
(@butteryeffect)
Joined: 2 years ago

Reputable Member     Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Posts: 160

@cdsue Thanks, I have both underwired and a non-wired sports bra, also I've tried the rice thing. I guess it is just a case of getting used to the feeling.

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Posts: 305
Duchess
(@2bmadeline)
Reputable Member     Walla Walla, Washington, United States of America
Joined: 2 years ago

You might to try a Hanes ComfortFit bra.

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Posts: 108
(@charlottesometimes)
Estimable Member     Dayton, Ohio, United States of America
Joined: 5 years ago

Yes, bras are constricting, and I imagine it's even more so with GGs and even some CDers who are fortunate enough to have something to fill them fully, although wearing them with forms is a sensation all its own.  That said, I have found that I like the constricting sensation.  In fact, I usually wear longline bras which are even more constricting, often also adding a shaper for my midsection, which is constricting by design.  When not wearing a longline, I usually wear mastectomy bras made by Amoena.  They have a pocket backed by soft and sheer fabric.  The pocket holds the form securely and the backing fabric gives some of the sensation of having flesh cradled in soft fabric.  Much nicer than having silicone pressed directly against ones skin all day long, IMO.  

Since puberty, I've had gynecomastia and, although I endured mockery in school, I'm thankful my parents never even considered having me subjected to surgery.  Having some breast tissue and being a crossdresser is like hand in glove...or more literally, boob in cup.  I can almost manage a B cup on my own.  

My wife is amused by the fact I enjoy wearing a bra, and thinks it bizarre that I don't mind underwire bras either.  She can't stand them. 

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1 Reply
Lady
(@butteryeffect)
Joined: 2 years ago

Reputable Member     Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Posts: 160

@charlottesometimes 

Posted by: @charlottesometimes

My wife is amused by the fact I enjoy wearing a bra, and thinks it bizarre that I don't mind underwire bras either.  She can't stand them. 

That's interesting, thanks

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Posts: 1106
Lady
(@margprodue)
Noble Member     Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
Joined: 3 years ago

Hi Cathy,  I'm intersex and grew my own breasts years ago.  I found out that I needed to wear something to keep my 36 B's from flopping around and to keep my nipples from chafing.  So, I discovered why bras are a useful invention.  At first I had a terrible time finding a bra to fit my figure (there are about a zillion variations) and still to be able to do the work of the above mentioned tasks.  I went through about 10 different bras until I finally found a style that would work for me.  I think that initially that is the process for many women.  I currently wear a beige Maidenform underwire T-Shirt bra daily and a Maidenform underwire pushup bra for special occasions.  Things are now so comfortable for me that I don't even know that I have a bra on.  So, I think that I've got the right fit for all the work that I do during the day.  If my body changes then I may need to find a different bra but until that does, I'll just continue buying my Maidenform bras about every 8 months.   I hope that helps.    Marg

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2 Replies
(@charlottesometimes)
Joined: 5 years ago

Estimable Member     Dayton, Ohio, United States of America
Posts: 108

@margprodue I can certainly relate to the nipple chafing problem.  Sometime when I'm doing yardwork or other chores and I'm wearing overalls, I'll end up feeling like they've had an encounter with a belt sander.  Now I often wear a sports bra for such occasions.

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Lady
(@margprodue)
Joined: 3 years ago

Noble Member     Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
Posts: 1106

@charlottesometimes Well Charlotte, I've never heard it explained quite that way, but you are so right about the effect!  Marg

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Posts: 517
Duchess Annual
(@blondsherri)
Honorable Member     Missoula, Montana, United States of America
Joined: 7 years ago

Cathy, I myself wouldn't leave the house without wearing a bra. In 1997 I was doing an away job working by myself, found what I thought was a very pretty bra and wore it all night, I even slept in it. Come morning I went to take it off and thought to myself, "why? I'm by myself all day" and that's how I got hooked. I went through the trail and error of finding a good fit but once I figured that out, I can now shop online or in the store and know what I'm buying will fit and feel comfortable. So I think if wearing a bra is what your going to do, it will take some time to find what fits you and the first few may not be the one. From what you describe the bra you're trying is to large in the cup size and that's why the wire is so wide.

Remember there's no rule that says you have to wear one, you can go bra-less.

Sherri

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1 Reply
Lady
(@margprodue)
Joined: 3 years ago

Noble Member     Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
Posts: 1106

@blondsherri  Hey Sherri,  Good advice, also I loved the line "that's how I got hooked"  Hugs,  Marg

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Posts: 875
(@ladymakenzie)
Noble Member     Brighton, Michigan, United States of America
Joined: 9 years ago

Cathy,

I wear a bra daily for both comfort and support.  I am naturally a small B cup.  Though I can go without a bra, it is much more comfortable wearing a bra especially for physcial activity.

I do understand why most women can't wait to remove their bra at the end of day.  I feel the same way most days.  However, unlike my wife, I would rather have the support of my bra than go without it, even on days where we are just lounging around the house.

I am can pretty much ditto everyone's earlier comments about finding the proper fit.  It was a process of trial and error for me until I found the best fit.  For me, that has been Torid's Curve 360 line and a few models from Lane Bryant's Cacique brand.  I will also say that quality is important, but quality also costs.

MacKenzie Alexandra

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Posts: 291
Lady
(@bluefin)
Reputable Member     Brodhead, Wisconsin, United States of America
Joined: 3 years ago

Like others have said it can be a bit of trial and error in finding the right bra. I'm a plus size and I tend to look for plus size bras. I have found that once you find one that fits and is comfortable you'll be hooked.. LOL    I'm always looking for a pretty bra but I tend to stick with t-shirt bras. Some brands I have bought when I try them on they just don't fit or feel right and I just throw them in a bag and they go to Goodwill or a clothing drop box. But I have some that I wear all day and they fit just right with my forms. I'm not much for sleeping in my bras but I have some I don't want to take them off they feel so nice....  LOL

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Posts: 1784
Baroness Annual
(@d44)
Famed Member     New York, United States of America
Joined: 5 years ago

Cathy,

I love wearing a bra w/forms and have one on every day, all day and frequently sleep in one as well. I too am a 40B and wear these t-shirt bras by Bali - "One Smooth U Ultra Light Shaping Underwire Bra" They are lightweight, ultra comfortable and are the only bras I buy.

Try one, I think you will like it.

Fiona

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