Finally tried an underwire bra

[Traveler]

Torrid makes a wonderful front hook T shirt style. Very supportive, even at my size.

[Lbrown]

Little update on the underwire. The one I got is a 42C (I normally wear 42B, but they didn't have that size available). I put it on yesterday and noticed that I'm filling the cups completely now. I thought maybe I had grown a bit, but this confirms it. I've put on a few pounds and now I know where they went

[aboywithgirls]

Torrid makes a wonderful front hook T shirt style. Very supportive, even at my size.

Torrid does have some comfortable and beautiful 😍 bras. Any of their 360 Smooth series bras would be a great option for anyone here who is looking for great shape, support and comfort. Most of the 360 Smooth  bras have the strap adjusters on front of the shoulders. The bands are a thin, Smooth, flat laying spandex which is also very comfortable. 

Prior to transitioning, I found the staff at any and all of their stores to be very male friendly. Their fitting rooms are open to all to try on any of their clothing too!

♥️Sophie ♥️

[Busty]

C cup is a nice size. A benefit of putting on weight. 

[Sunrae]

I also had a positive experience at a Torrid store.  The clerk was quite willing to assist me in finding styles and trying to fit me for a bra.  Unfortunately, we didn't find any of them to be a good fit on my visit.  I wouldn't hesitate to recommend others here to give their stores a try.

[Normal boobs1]

From my perspective underwired are the pinnacle of bra design so far. They are the real deal. Support, immobilisation, sorts side boob and a shape that is fit to be proud of. - all sorted. No more hiding under baggy shapeless clothes.
IMO and it is only MO in any sphere of life any substitute is inferior to the real deal  be it coffee or whatever. Bras are no exception. Do not settle for anything other than the best

[aboywithgirls]

From my perspective underwired are the pinnacle of bra design so far. They are the real deal. Support, immobilisation, sorts side boob and a shape that is fit to be proud of. - all sorted. No more hiding under baggy shapeless clothes.
IMO and it is only MO in any sphere of life any substitute is inferior to the real deal  be it coffee or whatever. Bras are no exception. Do not settle for anything other than the best

I fully agree. An underwire bra is the perfect synergy of function and fashion. I've been wearing underwire bras (almost exclusively) for 30 years. Yes, I do wear leisure bras for sleeping and a couple of swim tops that are wireless. 

The biggest draw back to an underwire bra is having a right fit. With an underwire bra, you are introducing a third aspect of having your proper size. Not only are you looking for the correct band size and correct cup volume, now you need to also figure out the correct shape. Different bra makers use different arch shapes and sizes for there bras. Sometimes the even though the band and cup volume is correct, the bra will not be comfortable because the underwire is too narrow and will lay on your breast rather than encapsulating it.

Just another thing to think about when you find yourself in the fitting room and the bra is the right size, but, the wrong fit.

Love you guys 😘

♥️Sophie♥️

[42CSurprise!]

Deep respect for all the men here with the courage to visit a store for a brassiere fitting.  I've never had the courage to do so.  But I have an adventuresome spirit and have happily applied myself to searching for and shopping for brassieres.  I began with the cheap versions often shipped directly from China.  I discovered what Sophie mentions about design.  These brassieres offer the band and cup size I need but the underwire frame is designed for a narrower body, so I always ended up with pain at the outside edge of my brassieres.  I continued my search, occasionally wearing one of those Chinese cheapies, but only for short periods of time.  I was learning about cup size in relation to band size, that as band size increases, cup size decreases.  I found brassieres that fit but with an underwire frame that felt heavy.  I'd come across the Lilyette brassieres I've mentioned often and was delighted by everything... the light underwire frame, the silky softness of the cups... but alas the band wasn't big enough.  So I tried an extender and things improved... except the straps kept slipping off my shoulder.  I eventually found a strap to hold the straps in place.  I arrived where I wanted to go.  I realize the most important feature is the width of the underwire cups.  They are perfect for my MALE breasts, which are set wider on my chest that a woman's breast generally sit.  I couldn't be happier... it has been a journey but I got there.  YES, underwire brassieres are definitely the way to go... even if they produce a more feminine shape to our bosoms.  For me that's not a problem.  I like how they look...

[Kazmage]

I fist tried a few pull on bras but found they didn't give me enough support .
And after some trial and error shopping online I decided to bite the bullet and get a fitting * with alot of encouragement from Sophie*
The SA was professional and didn't even bat a eye when I told her I was shopping for myself. 
I now regularly visit the shop to try on new styles 
I found for me I get the best support from a pushup bra .
Yes they give me the projection and shape but I am at the stage where I don't care what anyone thinks.
I put that down to our illustrious sister Sophie 
And the help and advice she gave me 

[42CSurprise!]

Appreciate this conversation. 

I've been wearing new Lilyette brassieres the last few days and thought it might be fun to try on the very first one I bought in ivory.  I've alluded to the fact that with time this brassiere has become a bit more relaxed.  Although I'm still using an extender it is nearing the end of its usefulness as the band stretches.  The soft, unlined cups are not so much "minimizing" as this brassiere is designed to do.  So here is a composite photo that shows me wearing a turtleneck... a favorite that does a fine job and a second photo that shows the brassiere beneath the turtleneck.  It still is serviceable and will likely always hold a special place simply because it was this brassiere that turned this quest into pure pleasure...

Footnote - I've been wearing this brassiere the entire day and it is a delight.  Yes, it is a bit provocative, what one might call voluptuous, but I'm not out and about dressed like this so only my friends on this website and I know what is happening... I'm not embarrassed if you're not...

[Busty]

Yes, time to go in and get fitted and try on bras. The second the sales associate sees you, she will know you are shopping for yourself.  Probably ask you your current bra, size and what you are looking for, maybe even offer you a bra fitting. 

[benusa]

It looks good on you 42C

[bikerbob]

From my perspective underwired are the pinnacle of bra design so far. They are the real deal. Support, immobilisation, sorts side boob and a shape that is fit to be proud of. - all sorted. No more hiding under baggy shapeless clothes.
IMO and it is only MO in any sphere of life any substitute is inferior to the real deal  be it coffee or whatever. Bras are no exception. Do not settle for anything other than the best

A few years ago, we did a survey and determined that about 90% of the guys on this forum prefer underwires.  That means that the other 10% of us are fine with non wired bras, including a bunch of us who wear pullovers almost exclusively.  I do own several underwires and wear them frequently but, depending on the activity, I still like my Rhonda Shear and Hanes pullovers and even find them adequate for mountain biking.  Admittedly they have drawbacks.  They don't lift and shape the underarm boob, but they do keep things from  moving around.  When I get out of the shower I need to spend a couple of extra minutes toweling off so they won't bunch up when I pull them on but I don't find this a reason to reject them.  If you are much bigger than a C cup, you probably do need to consider a big girl bra.

If it works for you, it isn't inferior.  To all the newbies reading this, underwires are not your only choice.  You do not have to rush to the nearest department store for a fitting.  I tried a lot of different bras and eventually arrived where I am by trial and error.  You are not obligated to learn to hook your bra in the rear.  It is not a "rite of passage".  Most of us old guys couldn't do that if our lives depended on it.  Even the woman who owns herroom.com admits that she is a "hook and spin" person.

Thanks, I have been wanting to say this for quite a long time.  Best of luck on your personal journeys but we all have to find our own ways and decide what works for us.

[Normal boobs1]

Not picking a fight.
Yes we all have to find our own  way and by your own admission, through trial and error, 90% end up with discovering that "a big girl bra" is best.
If it is so, would it not be doing newbies a favour to at least point this out and encourage them to try an underwired bra early on?
It seems rather neglectful, not to say unkind, to let them go through a lengthy trial and  perhaps many costly, errors to discover the best solution for themselves. I wish someone had told me! A year or two of less than optimum comfort gave me  some annoyance.
When on this site originally, many years ago (different ID) the prevailing notion was to treat guys under a certain size as not needing a bra, with bra wearing a last resort, and an underwired as a last, last, last resort because it would increase projection! Time has moved on, we are more accepting of our normal, if large, breasts.
It  would be a very strange person indeed who would choose to ride a 50cc moped if a Harley-Davison was available for a relatively small price premium!

[42CSurprise!]

It looks good on you 42C

Thanks.  I'm a bit shocked at how full my breasts have become. 

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and the thought crossed my mind that I'd wear this brassiere.  I know that topic has been discussed on the board.  I've mentioned my breast growth with this doctor so he probably wouldn't have been shocked.  I chose not to wear one but was very aware as I put on my clothes how my breasts filled the front of my turtleneck.  But I wore a vest and shirt so they weren't so discernible. 

I'm aware that we each have our own needs when it comes to wearing a brassiere and we each make our own assessment of the world in which we live.  Of course, I put on my brassiere after returning from the doctor and I'm wearing one this morning.  It feels good to have soft cups holding my breasts.  Go figure!  I think I LIKE wearing a brassiere...