I had a wedding to go to last weekend (congrats, MM and KK!), and since my nude strapless bra is from my portly post-college days, I decided to treat myself to one that actually fits. I tend to buy my bras at Bloomingdale's, because I can find my beloved Chantelle Essensia there, and because I get my trusty Federated employee discount. At first, I was really impressed--the fourth-floor lingerie department has been completely remodeled since I was last there, and now includes in-store boutiques from La Perla, Agent Provocateur and Elle McPherson Intimates--way to play with the big girls, Bloomie's! So while finding a frilly demi-cup bra was a snap, finding a strapless bra was not. Granted, there were plenty of strapless bras on the sales floor, however this would only be helpful to you if you were a 38B, a 32DD, or a 40D. Wacoal, Chantelle, Calvin Klein...no matter what the brand, only larger band sizes were available. I had a saleswoman help me, and while muttering under her breath about how they don't stock enough small sizes, she even checked a secret nude-bra stash by the fitting room to no avail. Out of desperation, I ended up buying a Wacoal bra that's a cup size too big--it was one of the few I could find in a 34--and, as I feared, it looks a bit ridiculous under my dresses, so I have to return it. (Although it gives me saggy, flattened boobs, I ended up wearing my old Wacoal bra to the wedding.) So, Bloomingdale's lingerie buyers, I'm assuming you've never seen the infamous Oprah episode about how 85% of American women wear the wrong bra size. Because if you had (here's a related article), you'd know that most of these women wear a band size that's too big. Add that to the fact that women in New York tend to be on the thinner side, and suddenly all the excess 36's and 38's begin to make sense. Bloomie's: Know your customer! As for me, I'm taking my small ribcage and big rack to to La Petite Coquette, where I may not get 20% off, but at least I'll get a strapless bra that fits.
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As a fellow small rib-caged but busty girl, I feel your pain - it's almost impossible to find a DD cup in anything smaller than a 36 band, and the ones I can find are generally hideous. I usually do like Wacoal when I can find them in my size.
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