bra

Bra shopping adventures

After a month of searching I finally have some bras that fit! And it feels so right to have it on now that it’s the appropriate size.

I started out with a trip to my local Lane Bryant where I’m usually treated really well. Unfortunately the sales associate I got this time seemed taken aback that I would ask for bra measurements and rushed through it and then disappeared and wasn’t helpful in finding options. And it appears she measured me wrong too. She said I was either a 42B or 40C (anyone can look at me and tell I’m definitely not a C yet). But I tried on the few options they had for 42B and they didn’t fit well, especially since they were all underwire which I don’t need at this point. And the bralettes they carried had a flattening effect which is the opposite of what I want right now.

So I went home disappointed and decided to try online since my size is rare to find in stores. I first tried an order of 42B wire-free bras from HerRoom. And I managed to find a couple that looked good if I used my silicone breast forms. But the jump from having very little to suddenly being in a padded and stuffed B cup didn’t feel right. And the silicone against my chest made me sweat like a pig in the summer heat. Every time I looked down or caught it out of my periphery, it felt like I was an impostor for being so large so suddenly.

So this time I tried ordering some 42A bras from Bare Necessities. They just arrived last night and today I’m wearing the Coobie Comfort Bralette with molded cup inserts which lives up to its name. I also got the padded Leading Lady Smooth Wire-Free Bra which fit well with a little bit of room to grow. This time it really feels like the right size and shape for where I’m at. And especially with the bralette I like the comforting feel of the gentle pressure around my chest.

I still don’t have many options for shopping in stores with a large band size and small cup but at least I know what to look for online now. And I’m still growing of course so eventually I should properly fit those B cup bras. I’m at the 4 month mark after HRT now and while the growth has slowed down, they are still tender which means they are still growing. Hopefully I’ll have another growth spurt soon and my right side will catch up with the left.

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Bra feels

Today is my first time wearing a bra for a functional purpose. And I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it. Every time I look down it doesn’t quite feel right, probably because I’m not use to that being in my peripheral vision. It’s not that it’s physically uncomfortable because I found a good Bali bra from HerRoom without an underwire but it’s just a new self-image adjustment. And in a way I feel a bit like I’m being deceptive.

When I was measured at Lane Bryant they told me I was a 42B but I really don’t quite have a B cup yet so I’m supplementing with my silicone breast forms and using a padded bra. It’s hard enough to find them in that size with the large band and small cup – Lane Bryant only had a couple for me to try on that didn’t fit well so I ended up going online. And yet bralettes don’t feel good because they end up flattening and acting more like a binder than emphasizing what I have.

Don’t get me wrong, this is how I eventually want to look. It just feels weird to go from very little one day to a full chest the next. I wonder what my coworkers think because I’m sure they’ve noticed.

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The dress is a custom design made by my partner for when we went to see Hamilton made with a vinyl iron on from her Cricut. Also, I’m trying out a new hair color that was supposed to be a bit more purple but ended up Rose Gold.