My first bra

[taxmapper]

From personal experience, I am pulling a consistent 50 inches over a flex of 48-50 inches in the morning.  When talking with anyone who knows, they do say I am pushing out way more, but otherwise its like it doesn't register.   

[bobb]

My band size is 42 my upper size is 45 i fill a 42 B bra pretty good.

[Traveler]

It is a damned if you do damned if you don’t situation. Wearing an unlined bra tones down the size and shape but the headlights show through. Something that draws the eye. Even a lightly lined bra really makes my breasts more prominent and shapely.

[42CSurprise!]

It is a damned if you do damned if you don’t situation. Wearing an unlined bra tones down the size and shape but the headlights show through. Something that draws the eye. Even a lightly lined bra really makes my breasts more prominent and shapely.

I discovered relatively early in my exploration of brassieres that the ones I preferred were unlined, underwire brassieres typically marketed as "minimizing."  The thin cups are designed to constrain the fullness of breasts and the style I've been wearing does that.  Everyone here has seen photos of my preferred brassiere. I'm happy with how these brassieres shape and present my breasts.  Whether my nipples are showing becomes irrelevant because I always wear layers over my brassiere.  Yes, I do show off here a bit but that is not how I present myself in public.  Yes, comfort is important but I also enjoy when my breasts look good in the brassiere I'm wearing.  Of course, unlike others who are still in the work force, I don't have to contend with such matters.  We do what we need to do to make our lives work.  But at least here we can talk about the challenges.

[Passant]

Thank you very much for your answers and advice. I've been quite busy with work lately and haven't been on the forum often.

As for the advice, I completely agree with you. A bra tames your breasts. Especially for those of us who have larger breasts and which move around a lot due to their size. At a certain size, this limit of breast visibility is more noticeable when not wearing a bra than when wearing one. Also, an alternative could be a compression undershirt or a sports bra. Personally, such clothing irritates me, i.e. tightens and is uncomfortable. So a bra may be the only option.

[Parity]

Passant,  
 
I just read and went back to the pictures of you wearing a shirt with and without a bra.  I have to say I can tell because I was looking for it, but you do look much better wearing than not. 
  Wearing is a choice.  The when and when not to is up to us.  Keep being you.  your looking good.
 

[gotgyne]

Passant, 
 
I just read and went back to the pictures of you wearing a shirt with and without a bra.  I have to say I can tell because I was looking for it, but you do look much better wearing than not.
Wearing is a choice.  The when and when not to is up to us.  Keep being you.  your looking good.
 

I think so too. At some size we look much better with a bra. And foremost we feel better!
But why not start wearing a bra even with an A cup? Most of us had a constant breast growth over a long time. In my opinion it's better to wear a bra even at the beginning of this process.

[Parity]

I think so too. At some size we look much better with a bra. And foremost we feel better!
But why not start wearing a bra even with an A cup? Most of us had a constant breast growth over a long time. In my opinion it's better to wear a bra even at the beginning of this process.

It all comes down to societal norms & expectations.  Girls develop breast, boys don't.  

  Most of my growth came later in life.  Had I known I was developing and growing breast it would have explained much of the discomfort I felt associated with it.  Had I worn an A cup bra it would have helped the nipple tenderness and perhaps reduced the aches and pains of their development.  At a B cup I did begin to wear for that reason and help shape them. Today at a 40C, D in a few, I know the joys and benefits of wearing.  And enjoy it.

[42CSurprise!]

Since my brassiere wearing is not continuous I have the experience of living both with and without a brassiere.  I've said that one difference is that when I'm not wearing a brassiere I don't really think about my breasts.  When I do wear a brassiere my attention becomes focused on the fact of my breasts filling whatever tee shirt or turtleneck I'm wearing.  But I also am aware of how lovely it is to feel the band of the brassiere holding me as well as how wonderful the feel of the brassiere's cups holding each breast.  It just feels right.

That said, I'll likely continue to go about my life not wearing a brassiere... reserving the pleasure for those times when I'm home and when I really want to enjoy the experience of being held.  These breasts are real.  There is no denying that.  I'm grateful there is a place like this where we can talk about such things.  Thank you everyone for sharing so honestly about your experience.

[gotgyne]

Since some time I wear my bras everyday from morning to night.
Getting up in the morning and seeing this you might know why.

[AlfaQ]

While strictly speaking nobody needs to wear a bra,  in your case a bra would bring great benefit in comfort, support and stability to your breasts and I support your decision to wear one.   My breasts are smaller but I also wear a bra virtually every day as the benefits outweigh any other considerations.  

[gotgyne]

While strictly speaking nobody needs to wear a bra,  in your case a bra would bring great benefit in comfort, support and stability to your breasts and I support your decision to wear one.  My breasts are smaller but I also wear a bra virtually every day as the benefits outweigh any other considerations. 

You are right. And I remember that you also like the Triumph Doreen bras just as I do. But although I'm now in some of my other bras a full 40D, the Doreen of 40C is even a little too large in the upper cup. But it's not that much that it is visible through shirts. Thus it's always good to get a fitting.

[AlfaQ]

You have a good memory!  Unfortunately the Doreen is not the best fit for our breast shapes as the cups are deep and very projected and we tend to have shallow and wide rooted breasts.  The Delicate Doreen version is a better fit.   We need bras with wide wires and shallower cups and the Panache Clara works well for me in 34DD.  My Doreen X is 34B. 

[gotgyne]

While strictly speaking nobody needs to wear a bra,  in your case a bra would bring great benefit in comfort, support and stability to your breasts and I support your decision to wear one.  My breasts are smaller but I also wear a bra virtually every day as the benefits outweigh any other considerations. 

In fact, wearing a bra is often more a choice than a necessity.
The woman in the video below has estrogen dominance and can't stand wearing a bra despite her huge breasts.

My breasts (bra size 40D) are smaller, but I prefer wearing a bra for support and comfort. You even don't need to be a size 40D to get benefits from wearing a bra, you might wear a bra as well with size 40A especially during athletic activities. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJeLi3eV1I0

[gotgyne]

You have a good memory!  Unfortunately the Doreen is not the best fit for our breast shapes as the cups are deep and very projected and we tend to have shallow and wide rooted breasts.  The Delicate Doreen version is a better fit.  We need bras with wide wires and shallower cups and the Panache Clara works well for me in 34DD.  My Doreen X is 34B.

Yes. Unfortunately the Delicate Doreen bra isn't available in my country.
The Panache Clara is a beautiful bra. I should look for it.