Features of the bra you wear.

[Puna]

What key features do you look for when shopping for a bra? 

For me, I only wear t-shirt bras. First priority is if it's lightly padded, and underwire, nothing else.
2nd is the band and straps. I don't really care for smaller straps, I prefer medium size, but not overkill and how wide the band is. I usually wear a 2-3 hook style. As far as concealment, it doesn't matter to me. I'm fine with the sliders in the back. I see it as it doesn't matter, cause no matter what, a bra can be seen no matter what style it is. It really depends on the top your wearing. 

I would like to hear your thoughts?

[Sophie]

Well, that's a very loaded question. 

Let me narrow it down to my everyday bras for work or just being out and about. 

I am a 36G/H in most of my bras. I always wear an underwire. For the warmer months, I will usually opt for an unlined or lace cup bra with nipple petals. Once the cooler weather is upon us, I will usually start to wear lined cups whether it's a t-shirt, balconett, plunge or full coverage bra.

If I'm just hanging around the house or doing housework, cleaning, ect., I'll probably just wear one of my shapermint bras. They are super comfy and not expensive compared to what I wear for work or special occasions. 

As a woman, I'm not concerned if anyone can see my bra. Even when I was still presenting male, it didn't really matter if someone saw my bra. I had a bra fitter one time who had told me "it's not the little bumps on your back that people will notice, it's those big bumps on your chest that people WILL notice ".

My sports bras are the encapsulating style, like the Elomi Energize. I usually jog a 5K every morning. An encapsulating sports bra make my runs much more enjoyable with my 36G Elomi Energize holding the girls securely in place.

❤️Sophie❤️

[Justagirl💃]

At an F cup I look for support first! An underwire is an absolute necessity to alleviate myself of neck and back pain.

I also have predominant nipples and two of them on one side ,my left breast, so I go with a lightly padded bra.

I then look for colours and styles that I like, something that will go with outfits. I don't mind my bra peeking out and saying hello, but I want it to be pretty when it does.

Some of my outfits require a strapless, so I do have one of those and I have it in nude.

As for bra shopping, I started the journey on Amazon was quite depressed with the quality of bras I was receiving. I then moved into Torrid bras and I exclusively buy them only. Just come into Torrid and shop around we will get you measured and lined up with some nice bras.

Birdie 💖

[taxmapper]

Body shape that it is, I wear exclusively sports bras with racer back.   i just cant handle the over the shoulder. 

I have to have the padded regardless if thin or thick.  The irritation and pain on the nipples is one of the biggest issues for me. 

Also, I have discovered that my breasts are highly sensitive to cold.  Before they grew out I was known for waltzing around outside shirtless.   Now, not so much especially in winter. The aching of the cold is so bad for me that its become a point of contention. The padding protects and keeps in heat. 

[Traveler]

At 40 DD I need the support of an underwire bra. I prefer lightly lined molded cups for shaping and the Torrid t-shirt bras are my go to for that. Especially during winter weather as my nipples always seem to show and are very sensitive to the cold. They can get quite painful!

[JTL]

I want my breasts to be less obvious, so I wear unlined bras. However, I have pointy nipples that tend to poke through my shirt. I hate that. I should probably try some nipple covers.

I have both underwire and soft cup bras, but I prefer the underwires because they stay in place.

[Johndoe1]

As a 40DD/DDD and wideset, side support is a must for a more normal appearance. This creates a more structured, engineered bra and appearance with seams, panels and slings on and in the cups for shaping and comfort while wearing. These also provide wider straps for better shoulder comfort and support. The slider hardware reside on the back of the straps and there's usually at least a 3 row hook and eye and 4 column clasping system for best underband tension support and longevity of the bra. My breasts are well supported, comfortable and contained in this type bra. 

[Gino]

I also want my breasts less obvious so my 36B bras are all underwire, demi / half / quarter cup, unlined or sheer, 1 or 2 rear hook, conventional straps, VS pushup without padding are OK as are embroidered if only very lightly lined and NOT padded. All are more on the sexy side, I don't like dowdy garments at all.

Definitely not convertible, strapless, padded, + 1 or 2 cups, front hook, lined, full coverage, longline, 3 or more hooks, and sports bras.

[AlfaQ]

I look for 3 section cups  and an underwire . This provides  better shaping and support for my C cups.. I tend to avoid moulded cups and push up padded  styles.   

[JJ_Gyne]

I use to be underwire but having tried wireless. I won't go back.. I used to get stabbed all the time by wires.
The wireless options have gotten more supportive over time also.

At D level I like I  3 hook and wider should straps cause things don't dig in as much if over tightened.
i have a few that have a buckle style attachment to the backstrap which I am not a fan of cause the strap with tend to pull the buckle top a vertical orientation over the intended horizontal position no matter what you do. For that reason I like when the straps are a single piece with the back strap or have optional clip to change from over shoulder to crisscross racer back style or strapless.

[blad]

I have mostly worn non underwire bras as the wife thinks that an underwire is more likely to increase my breast prominence, she also thus concludes that an underwire would be more of a fetish thing for me wanting to increase my breast presentation. 

For everyday bras I have been happy with the Warners line of molded cups that seem to shape nice and do not appear to add projection. Most of these are three clasp designs in my size. They stay in place well with minimal strap slippage due to their general U shaped strap design in the back. 

In the summer or for travel I usually wear an unlined bra. They are less bulky to pack for travel and they retain less moisture when it is warm out. 

For close contact family and friend gatherings I will switch to a racer back design to have more discrete straps that are less noticed with hugs and pats on the back. 

[JKing]

The features I look for are bras that control side boob. There are wireless options from Knix that do a great job. But wired from Skims and Pepper work well as well. the second feature is how well they don't show up under my clothes. So a bit of matching of style of bra to style of top required. As a 40/42 A/B I can hide everything pretty well with the right combination. 

[Puna]

As far with underwire and non underwire. When I first started exploring with bras, I tried both. But they were cheap walmart bras. Once I learned the quality of the bra plays a big factor of comfort, I favored underwires moving forward. I don't feel supported from soft cups compared to underwires.