Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Big rack, sheer tee


Hi there,

I know you are a destroyed-t shirt aficionado, and I know you have access to wise women with big racks. I just moved from San Francisco (no summer) to Oakland (full summer), and am buying my first t-shirt wardrobe. I lean towards sheer, destroyed and/or drapey. 

I am a 32DD, and all of my bras are dorky (purchased two Christmases ago when my mom took me shopping at a Soma outlet, tbh). Nothing looks cool showing under sheer or off-the-shoulder shirts. I wish I could wear a fancy bandeau or bralette thing like the kids wear, but I need an underwire, and I am not 17. Can you help?? Someone tell me where to look and what to buy. 

Thank you for your assistance!
xo

*****

I've been wearing the shit out of this sports bra I bought at Target. Good for verrrry sheer tees or also when you just can't be bothered to wear underwire.

For a slightly-less-sheer tee that needs a shaplier boob, go with a plain black t-shirt bra. Chantelle is pricy but worth it (thank you, Celia!).

I *do not* recommend a lace bra under a sheer tee. We'll leave that to the a + b cups.
______________________________

Raquel Allegra Crochet Tie Dye Stripe Tee (sigh) from Heist

38 comments:

  1. I wear sports bras LIKE A BOSS under EVERYTHING.

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    Replies
    1. Me too. Many of them these days have really cute strap designs that look cute under tank tops and t-shirts. Plus the support is awesome and I don't have to change bras mid-day if I want to do something active.

      Delete
  2. I am a 32 DD and I bought one of these gap bras - (in medium, trust me it fits - if you get a large it works too, but just not as much suppport)
    Gap Racerback Bra

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  3. Sometimes you can find Chantelle bras at nordstrom rack. Punintentional.

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  4. As a fellow 32DD (which is a seriously difficult size to find, so I feel your pain), I'm partial to Wacoal. They just fit me better than Chantelle. I have this one in black, and it's awesome (and, yes, I know this goes against ESB's "leave the lace to the As and Bs advice") Wacoal Feather Embroidery bra

    And I'm going to second the Nordstrom Rack suggestion. I've also had randomly good luck with TJMaxx and Marshalls (what? discount stores are great for weird/reject sizes!)

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    Replies
    1. Wacoal is the favorite brand of this 32DD as well!

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    2. 32DDD [yeah, and I'm only 118 pounds at 5'3" - basically, I'm all boobs], and Wacoal is the only brand that consistently fits me. They do run a tiny bit big though - I can wear 32DD in some of their bras.

      Protip: Find a style you like, and enter the number and description on Ebay. You'll find it new, and for 1/3 the price.

      Delete
  5. Any sheer tshirt favorites? I've been looking for the perfect sheer black tshirt, and am having serious remorse for not buying one Zara sold this fall.

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  6. Fellow 32DD here! Found the Natori Feathers bra, bought more, will never let it go. Not THE sexiest bra, but not terrible either in the right colors (ie black). For this style, I get a 32DDD.

    Also, Champion sports bras FTW.

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    Replies
    1. Yes! I 30DDD, I have like six of these bras and I love them so much.

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    2. 32D, I swear to god the Nordstrom people must push the Natori Feathers bra, but everyone I know who has it loves it (including me).

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  7. you're killing me here, cookies.

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  8. Another 32DD here, and I have a little black lace crop-top type affair that I got for $20 at some cheapy store at the mall when our intern dragged me out shopping. Guess what, it's THE BEST -- magically is supportive enough, I think because of the extended bottom which works as a sort of foundation, versus a normal bra -- and under something sheer it adds more torso coverage so looks less escandaloso.

    No idea what mine's brand is but it looks kind of like this. Something like this might be even better, though.

    [sits back and waits for the mall haters to surface]

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    Replies
    1. lady, i bought my wedding dress at the mall. do what you do.

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  9. what's the rationale on leaving lace to the As and Bs? (34D here)

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  10. so am i the only person who gets mono boob from sports bras? this is a serious problem in my life.

    on the chantelle vs. wacoal debate, i have a theory. think it comes down to the shape of your boob. my mom swears by wacoal, but they don't fit me properly ever. i've decided that if your boob is fuller on the bottom and sides (like mine and yours, esb), then chantelle is the way to go. if your boobs are their most ample on top, then wacoal is a better bet.

    that is all.

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    Replies
    1. a) the champion one is a leeeetle less mono-boob-ifying than the rest, is why i can handle rocking it in public.

      b) i am weirdly complimented by how well you know my boobs.

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    2. @lauren shall we discuss blowjobs instead?

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    3. i know lauren's boobs, too. she's a wacoal lady. i know all your boobs.

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    4. but do you know MY boobs?

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    5. Wow. This explains sooooo much. It doesn't matter which cup size I grab, but chantelle (and a couple of other brands) always seem to give me boob muffin-top.

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    6. i think you've spent more time looking at my boobs than i have, C, and we've only spent 2 days in each other's company.

      i'm only a 34D and would rather catch fire than show the world my bra, but when the possibility rears its ugly head i reach for VPL (bras of superheroes) or stella mccartney (despite stupid style names like Liesl Calculating Sales Tax).

      NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PULITZERS

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    7. have to see them IRL, naurns. but trust me, i would know them. it's a gift?

      Delete
  11. So I have that Target one (34DD) and I love it but THEN last summer I went to buy more and maybe it was my Targ but it fit completely differently. Like, there was no room for my boob. I bought my first one in two summers ago. Anyone else have this issue??

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    Replies
    1. Just to clarify, I have a medium in the bra. Only using size to demonstrate that I have the boobage to commiserate.

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    2. I'm a 32DD(ish). Bought the medium a few months ago, and I <3 it

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  12. As a 30FF (5'1", 125 pounds) my favourite bra is the Panache Porcelain Viva

    It's comfortable, sleek enough to wear under a sheer top, and looks good if you're topless.

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  13. 34D here. I love BeMe's relaxed bra. I sometimes just wear it around the house, but the black one looks great under sheer shirts in the summer if that's the look you're going for.

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    Replies
    1. I might buy me one of those. Do you wear a medium?

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    2. it has "cookie cups." it's like you have to get one.

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    3. I have a medium. My boobs are weird though -- one boob is C, and the other is D, so I just guessed M and it fits well. They have a pretty detailed fit guide online. I wear it without the cookies. Super comfy and flattering.

      Gilt City sold BeMe vouchers in the last year, so maybe they'll do that again.

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  14. 30GG here (I swear I keep gaining a cup size every couple of years). The big 3 UK brands are Fantasie, Freya, and Panache, and are fairly easy to find in the US. All y'all DD/DDD's, you're going to get way better support at the bottom end of a company's size range than at their tippy top (Wacoal, etc). And if you think you're a 32, you may actually be a 30 and just constrained by U.S. bra manufacturers' crappy size ranges. /end soap box rant

    Fantasie's t-shirt bra is awesome, and I love Panache's non-monoboob sports bra, but it's not cute enough for under sheer shirts.

    Is it fashion faux pas to mention the alternative route of going with a cute tank top (over bra, once) instead of just bra?

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  15. I'm a 36F and I swear by Freya. After figuring out what size/brands I needed at Nordstrom, I've switched to buying mine on Ebay - much cheaper.

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