Yoga is one of the best things you can do for your body! It strengthens, tones and improves flexibility, and it helps bring mental clarity and peace of mind. Bikram yoga is cited as great for weight loss and to help heal injuries – if you can stand the heat. When you’re doing yoga, it’s helpful to have a comfortable sports bra that doesn’t constrain your range of motion, or pinch or pull in a distracting or uncomfortable manner. You don’t need a high-impact running sports bra; a low or medium impact bra will be more comfortable and provide adequate support. With those criteria in mind, here are our top recommendations if you’re looking for a sport bra for yoga!

Anita Active CoolMax Sports Bra 5521
Probably our top pick for a yoga bra is the Anita Active CoolMax Sports Bra 5521. This wonderful soft-cup sports bra features a soft underbust band and comfort straps which provide a medium level of support. The bra is microfiber, which means it deals better with sweat and moisture-wicking than similar all-cotton bras – making this a sports bra that’s even capable of withstanding Bikram yoga. Our shoppers rave about this bra, calling it super comfortable and lightweight, and 95% of our shoppers would recommend it to a friend. If you’re into yoga, it definitely deserves a spot in your rotation.

Barely There Custom Flex Fit Active Wirefree 4076
The Barely There Custom Flex Fit Active Wirefree 4076 is a pull-over sports bra in the style of the bras you’d find in your local department store – but better! This bra features integrated flexible foam cups to provide a bit of shaping and support, and they also help prevent nipple show-through. With everything from the comfort band to the seamless, tagless design, this sport bra is designed with comfort in mind – making it the perfect soft bra that won’t distract you or restrict you during yoga!

Valmont Front Hook Soft Cup Comfort Bra Style 45801
The Valmont Front Hook Soft Cup Comfort Bra Style 45801 is a new offering in our sport bra lineup, and the soft, comfort-oriented design makes it perfect for yoga. The front closure is super convenient and easy to use, and the thick straps are designed to provide support without digging into the shoulders – adding to the comfort element. This is a relaxed style sports bra that’s great for low impact exercise, like yoga – and it’s also great for lounging around on a weekend. Even better, this bra comes in band sizes up to 50 for our fuller-figured shoppers.

Glamorise Sport Active Comfort Wrap Bra Style 1866
We’d be remiss if we didn’t feature the Glamorise Sport Active Comfort Wrap Bra Style 1866 in our yoga lineup! This is another bra that comes in band sizes up to 50, and cup sizes up to F/G, making it great for fuller-figured and full-busted shoppers. This is a low impact wrap bra that’s practically designed for yoga or pilates. The reinforced bottom cups are adjustable for a perfect fit, and the exclusive two-way stretch back is designed to move with you – however you move! The fabric is moisture-wicking, which makes it suitable even for Bikram yoga – and even better, it’s got a cute design! Experience for yourself why Glamorise calls this sports bra perfect for yoga.

We Put Too Much Emphasis on How We Look!
We all want to look good. We’re bombarded with images of perfect bodies on magazine covers, tv shows and all over the Internet. We’ve all got that friend who always seems to look perfect, and whom we’re secretly (or not-so-secretly!) envious of. It’s hard not to fall into the trap of judging ourselves, but we don’t have to put so much emphasis on how we look!

The truth of the matter is – swimsuit shopping (or any kind of shopping, really) only has as much power over us as we give it. When we worry less about how we look, the stress just melts away! It may seem impossible to try not to think about how we look so much, but if you can master the art of thinking about it less, you’ll find your life a lot happier.

Flattering Swimsuit Designs can Help Minimize Body Issues
If you just can’t face the beach or pool with worries about your body image, flattering swimsuit designs can help you mitigate the things you don’t like about your body.

Have problems with your midsection? Aerin Rose, Magic Suit and MiracleSuit make some great one-piece swimsuits that can help you camouflage common body image issues in this area.

Feel embarrassed to changes to your breasts after giving birth or breast feeding? Freya and Tara Grinna offer some great supportive bikini tops with underwires and fabulous designs that can help you look your best!

Wear a different size on top and bottom? Sunsets, Sunsets Woman and Swim Systems offer great mix-and-match options that make it easy for you to customize your swimsuit fit to get the perfect look for your body.

Remember: you don’t have to stress about it, but if there is something you just have to hide, one of our brands will offer a flattering swimsuit to help you get past problem areas.

People Aren’t as Judgmental as We are on Ourselves!
No matter what you think of your body, the reality is that most of us judge ourselves far more harshly than we judge others! How often have you thought your friend looked super cute in a particular outfit, while you felt dowdy or bloated or otherwise displeased with yourself? Chances are good your friend was admiring you, too, and thinking the same thing about herself! We all tend to be much more forgiving of other people, and much too critical of ourselves. So the next time you look in the mirror, remind yourself that no-one else is noticing every little detail of your body the way you are. We’re all just happy to see our friends and spend time in the sun!

Models grace practically every element of our media, from magazine covers to television ads for pretty much anything – to the product images here on the Big Girls Bras website! As much as they may seem flawless, most of those models aren’t picture perfect when they wake up every morning. It takes a lot of elements to create the images we see – from the perfect make-up job to the perfect hair to the perfect… bra? That’s right! Models have a favorite bra: the push-up bra. Why do models love the push-up bra so much?

The Secret to Being a Model
The secret to being a model isn’t flawless skin or eyes that perfect shade of blue – all of those little things can be enhanced with things like make-up, colored contacts and the right stylist. No, the secret to being a model is all in the proportions! Models look so beautiful to us because their features are symmetrical and proportional. In fact, there’s science behind this: body symmetry is based on numbers like “The Golden Ratio” – numbers that describe the perfect ideal body, from the length of the arms and legs compared to the torso, and what proportions look the best.

For women, the Golden Ratio is that “hourglass” look we all seem to lust after so much. Men love to look at it, and women want to look like it! There’s biological programming behind it: it’s attractive for women to have full busts, narrow waists and healthy hips – for childbearing! Most people wouldn’t say that’s why they find the hourglass figure so attractive, but it’s biological programming that’s hard-wired into us in order to ensure the survival of our species. The fuller hips make childbearing easy, and the ample bosom implies that a baby will be well-fed and more likely to survive.

So! Models need to have that Golden Ratio – but we’re not necessarily all born with it. In fact, models are often expected to be so thin that it would be difficult to have an ample bosom naturally! This is where the push-up bra comes in. It is the perfect tool to give models the Golden Ratio!

Why Models Love the Push Up Bra
Push-up bras help create the image of the Golden Ratio by providing extra shaping, and making your breasts look full and lush. Depending on the style, push-up bras can add anywhere from a half a cup size to nearly two cup sizes to your frame! They make your breasts look rounded and full, and depending on the design, they may also create great cleavage!

Take a look at something like the Freya Deco Underwire Molded Half Cup Bra AA4232: this push up bra creates a beautiful, rounded shape and enhances your bust size. Molded cups create a natural shape, and they’re seamless so they vanish under your shirt. This push up bra features internal push up pads for added lift, and the neckline is wide and low-cut so it looks great under square necks, scoop necks and even a light v-neck shirt. Even if you’re not a model, a good, supportive push-up bra like this one can get you one step closer to the Golden Ratio!

What are you waiting for? Snag one of our great push up bras and see how good you can look with this kind of lift, shaping, support and enhancement for your  busts!

The two times of year that people most frequently start exercise and fitness programs are: the new year, and spring. Losing weight and becoming more fit is the most common New Year’s Resolution. It’s also extremely common for women in particular to want to feel fitter once warm weather hits, the big puffy coats are put away, and swimsuit season arrives! Fortunately, we’ve got a ton of technology options to help us get fitter – here are a few of our top favorites here at Big Girls Bras!

Phone Apps
Phone apps are one of the most valuable additions to our fitness lineup. They’re always with us, and they help with everything from tracking exercise to counting calories – or even showing us how to exercise! Here are a few of our favorites:

Exercise/Fitness Apps

• Nike Running: Nike Running is a great app to help you track runs – or even walks! It uses your phone GPS to track your route and speed, so it can track your pace, calories burned, and can even pull weather data or track what shoes you were wearing so you know when you need to switch!
• Endomondo: Endomondo Sports Tracker can track multiple activities, including running, cycling, walking and other distance-based activities. GPS can track route and pace, and unlike Nike Running, it will integrate with your Heart Rate Monitor to more accurately track calories burned and give you invaluable training data.
• Run 5k/10k Runner/Half Marathon Runner: There are a plethora of run/walk interval training programs to help you transition from couch potato to runner. These programs tell you when to walk and when to run, taking all the mystery out of it. They include daily or weekly progressions to help you gradually improve – they’re great for people who are new to running or fitness!
• Nike Training Center: If you want to focus on overall fitness, Nike Training Center offers some great exercise routines to get you moving and help build strength, flexibility and endurance.

Calorie Tracking Apps
Calorie tracking apps – like MyFitnessPal, LoseIt! and MyPlate Livestrong.com calorie tracker – make it easy to figure out your calories in/calories out equation. Your phone is always with you, making it easy to log the foot you eat, and popular exercise apps will integrate with these services to automatically pull in exercise data. Losing weight has never been so easy!

Heart Rate Monitors
Heart rate monitors are invaluable tools to accurately track your calories burned during an activity, and to measure your overall fitness. You can buy stand alone heart rate monitors, like heart rate monitor watches by Polar, Timex and Garmin. Or you can buy heart rate monitors that integrate with your phone, either via Bluetooth or an adaptor dongle, and sync directly with your fitness apps.

Personally, I use a Garmin HRM strap with a Wahoo Fitness ANT dongle, because my iPhone 4’s Bluetooth capabilities are too primitive to hook in directly to a Bluetooth HRM strap. It works with all my fitness apps, though, and is a great way to monitor improvements in my fitness.

Pedometers
Pedometers are excellent tools for people who just want to get moving more without having to focus on elaborate workout routines. You can get simple pedometers that clip on your clothes, or you can go more high-tech and get digital pedometers like the Fitbit One, Jawbone Up or Nike Fuel Band. These devices store activity data electronically and then sync with your computer, either wirelessly or via a dongle, to upload exercise data to the website. Hook up with friends to compare stats and gamify your fitness goals!

My personal favorite? The Fitbit One with the Fitbit Aria scale – the scale transmits my weigh-ins wirelessly, including body fat percentage data, and the Fitbit One tracks my steps, the number of stairs I climb, and calories burned throughout the day. I have it hooked into MyFitnessPal to track calories, and I have complete control over my fitness life! I love passing my friends’ step counts – it keeps us all pushing a little more – and is a great way to take the “chore” out of fitness.

Do you have any favorite fitness-related technology? Something you want to know more about? Hit us up in the comments or on Facebook!

With a huge percentage of new babies born in June, July, August and September, now is the time of year that many moms-to-be are shopping for maternity bras, learning about nursing bras, and experiencing all of the changes that come along with the final trimester of pregnancy. Maternity bras can be a daunting topic to navigate, in the midst of all of the things clamoring for your attention, so here are a few of the most common maternity bra Q&As for your Friday reading:

Question from Poots:

When should I start wearing a maternity bra? At how many months should one start wearing a maternity bra and why is the traditional underwired sort so bad?

Answer:
Every woman’s body and pregnancy is different, so the short answer is: you should switch to a maternity bra when your regular bras are no longer providing enough support! For most women, this happens in the third trimester, although it may happen earlier or later depending on your pregnancy.

Regarding underwires: underwire maternity bras aren’t bad at all! There are myths and plenty of second-hand anecdotes that underwires can cause problems with the mammary glands or binding of the breast tissue, but that simply isn’t true. The only time this might occur is with a poorly-fitted bra, in which case all bets are off. So check out our fit guidelines to make sure you get a properly-fitted maternity bra, and feel free to go underwire or wireless as you like – it’s all about how you’re most comfortable!

Question from Your Highness:

What is the difference between a normal bra and a maternity bra? I’m only 5 weeks along and yet my bras are getting suuuuuper uncomfortable and i’m already popping out of them. I keep reading that I should get a maternity bra? What is the difference between that a non-maternity bra?

Answer:
At five weeks, it’s not uncommon to start to feel breast tenderness, nipple sensitivity and an increase in breast size. While the breasts increase in size throughout a pregnancy – particularly in the final trimester – it doesn’t take long for some women’s bras to get quite uncomfortable.

A maternity bra differs from a normal bra in that it is designed with the changes to a woman’s body during pregnancy in mind. Many maternity bras feature molded cups or seam-free cups so there are no seams to irritate sore or sensitive breast tissue. Maternity bras are typically made of a material with some give and stretch, to be more forgiving as breast size changes. They tend to have wider straps and a wider band to provide good support to swelling breasts. And they’re designed with comfort in mind. A good maternity bra would mitigate many of the discomforts you’re having!

Question from Mirage:

What is the difference between maternity bras and nursing bras? Our lactation consultant recommended that we get a nursing bra. What is the difference between the two?

Answer:
There are two main differences between maternity bras and nursing bras: nursing bras tend to have cups that open in order to facilitate breast feeding, and many nursing bras are lined or designed to accommodate pads to catch any leakage instead of letting it seep through the bra and wet the shirt.

There’s a lot of crossover between maternity bras and nursing bras – they tend to have similar design features, and we feature many bras in both categories here at Big Girls Bras. Realistically, you can buy nursing bras to wear as maternity bras during the final stages of the pregnancy, and then use them as intended to nurse after the baby is born.

What about it, new mommies-to-be – do you have any more questions about maternity bras? Or nursing bras? We’re happy to feature a Part 2 to this Q&A if you need more info!

Last week, we took a look at how to shop for bras to wear in warmer weather. New moms and moms-to-be deserve to be comfortable when the hot, humid weather rolls in, so we’ve prepped a maternity bra and nursing bra lineup to keep new moms and moms-to-be comfortable in warm weather!

What to Look for in a Warm-Weather Maternity Bra or Nursing Bra
Check out our article on how to shop for bras to wear in warmer weather for the full story, but two of the most important elements to look for when you’re shopping for warm-weather bras are fabrics and design. You want to look for fabric blends, such as microfiber blends, that are breathable and wick moisture away from the skin. Cotton is a no-no – it may feel soft and comfortable, but it’s horrible in warm weather. Look for minimal designs – bra cups that are lacy or sheer can be more breathable, while full, thick molded cups, unless they’re made of breathable materials, are out. Here are a few of our top picks to get you started:

Anita Seamless Breathable Super Stretch Maternity Bustier 5100
The Anita Seamless Breathable Super Stretch Maternity Bustier 5100 is quite possibly our most comfortable maternity bra for new moms-to-be! The soft, super stretchy material is so comfortable to wear when you’re sleeping or lounging around the house. This bra is wire-free and designed with a focus on comfort and lounging, so some women may want something with more structure to wear out of the house – but it’s great for weekend wear, or to put on when you get home from work. The Nylon/Elastane blend is breathable and soft, combining the best qualities of microfiber with the feel of cotton.

Anita Aero Soft Microfiber Breathable Nursing Bra 5049
If you’ve recently given birth and you want a good nursing bra that will also keep you comfortable during muggy summer months, try the Anita Aero Soft Microfiber Breathable Nursing Bra 5049. This Nylon/Polyester/Elastane blend is a great double-sided microfiber – soft and breathable, you’re going to love it. The preformed cups make it perfect for wearing under t-shirts, and this bra is designed so that nursing pads don’t show through. The KwikKlip system makes it easy to open one-handed – this is definitely one of the best bras for a new mom’s summer wardrobe.

Leading Lady Sport Soft Cup Nursing Bra 4388
Sports bras definitely make great warm-weather bras, with their moisture-wicking, breathable, comfortable fabrics. Who says new moms can’t enjoy a good sport bra? The Leading Lady Sport Soft Cup Nursing Bra 4388 is one of our favorite double-duty bras for new moms. The polyblend is breathable, moisture-wicking and comfortable – making it great for a heavy workout or even just a walk on a hot, muggy day. The one-handed clasp is easy to open and close, making nursing a breeze, and the wide straps add to the overall comfort of the bra.

Any questions? Ready to get shopping? Check out our complete selection of maternity bras and nursing bras to find your new favorite warm-weather bra to keep you comfortable and dry this summer!

Becoming a mother is a great blessing, but it also entails big changes! Impending motherhood creates big changes in our bodies, which we greet in different manners. Some lucky women find that pregnancy agrees with them immensely, and get the beautiful pregnancy glow. Other women find pregnancy more difficult, and may even resist the changes to their body that come along with creating a new life. Unfortunately, refusing to acknowledge and accommodate those changes can lead to discomfort, and even long-term consequences!

Would You Buy Maternity Clothes?
Seems like an obvious question, right? When you’re pregnant, of course you’d buy maternity clothes. But not every woman feels that way. Women avoid buying maternity clothes for a variety of reasons – they don’t want to feel “big” or they don’t want to spend a lot of money on clothes that they’ll only wear for a few months, or something else entirely.

I have a friend who refused to buy maternity clothes until she was 7 months, when we had to practically drag her into a store because she was living in a pair of sweats and an oversized t-shirt (that was starting to get way too snug). When she finally gave in and bought a pair of maternity pants, with the comfortable, supportive band that hugs the baby belly, she was shocked by the difference it made! She immediately experienced a decrease in back pain, as the clothes helped support the weight of her growing belly, and she had a lot more freedom of movement (and comfort!) with the new pants.

Unfortunately, even when women do acknowledge the changes and buy a maternity wardrobe, they often neglect the maternity bras. But if this is the kind of difference a pair of pants can make, imagine what a difference a good bra would make!

Your Body Changes During Pregnancy
There’s no point in denying it – your body changes during pregnancy. And a big part of those changes involve your breasts. They gain cup sizes as your body prepares to produce milk to feed your new baby, and breasts often become more sensitive, full and heavy as a pregnancy progresses. Trying to stuff them into the same old bras you wore before pregnancy is a mistake, which can have both short-term and long-term consequences!

Maternity and nursing bras are designed to accommodate these changes to your body. Mothers-to-be need good, supportive bras, and maternity bras are designed to be more robust and provide that support. They tend to offer more generous cups, sometimes with the ability to stretch somewhat to accommodate your body as your breast size fluctuates. As you get into nursing, you’ll want bras that are easy to open, and that will accommodate pads or are lined in the event that you experience leakage.

Don’t be like my friend and live in denial of the changes that come along with pregnancy. Invest in a good, comfortable maternity wardrobe – that includes good maternity bras! Your back, neck and shoulders will thank you for good, supportive bras; your breasts will feel more comfortable; and some doctors even suggest that a good, supportive bra can help mitigate somewhat the long-term affects your pregnancy has on your breasts.

The weekend is coming, and you’ve got plans to go clubbing with your favorite girlfriends, that hot guy you’ve been lusting after, or your gay bff. But what do you wear? If you’re like most of us, you’ve picked out that perfect clubbing outfit after much shopping and deliberation – but don’t forget to pay attention to what you wear underneath! These are our top pick bras for clubbing – today is all about helping you find the right look for every outfit or every approach to clubbing.

Cleavage Bra
Cleavage bras are great with your favorite low-cut, square-neck and slight v-neck clubbing shirts! A good cleavage bra gives you nice, rounded shaping and makes your assets look more than ample. One of our favorite cleavage bras for clubbing is the Freya Deco Half Cup Molded Underwire Bra AA 4232. This great bra features seamless, molded cups that will be invisible under your top, but provide great lift and shaping. It has internal push-up pads to give you some added lift and shaping, and the straps are wide-set which makes it great for low, open necklines.

Plunge Bra
Got a plunging v-neck dress or top you wanna rock on club night? Try a plunge bra like the Dominique Convertible Multi Function Butterfly Bra 5000. This fabulous bra is one of our clubbing favorites – it features convertible straps so you can wear it a wide variety of ways to pair with backless, low back, racerback and off-the-shoulder shirts. The low front is perfect for a plunging free, and the cups are seamless molded cups that give you reasonable coverage while disappearing under your favorite club outfits.

Sexy Bra
Do you love a low-cut shirt with a little bit of lacy bra showing through? We’ve got you covered! We love a good balcony bra with lacy cup tops if you like to flash a little bit of sexy bra when you’re clubbing, and one of our favorite styles for this type of look is the Freya Rio Balcony Underwire Bra AA3510. This sexy bra has a great chain-link styling along the cup tops, and the light crochet look makes interesting texture and gives some flashes of skin while still providing ample coverage. The metal accessory complements the chain link cup tops, and all of this combines to create a high-fashion look in a wonderful, supportive bra that’s great for fuller busts.

Bounce-Prevention Bra
Do you go clubbing just to get your dance on, but hate the bouncing bosoms that threaten to give someone a black eye? Maybe a sport bra is the best clubbing bra for you. It can be tough to find a good compromise between coverage and bounce prevention – some of our best no-bounce sports bras involve a lot of coverage that just won’t look right with your clubbing outfit. So we’ve picked three of our top favorites so you can decide which works best for your clubbing needs – just keep in mind that less coverage compromises some of the no-bounce properties:

• Elomi Energise Underwire Sports Bra 8040
• Le Mystere Energie Sport Bra 320
• Freya Active Underwire Sports Bra AA4002

Looking for something else? Drop us a comment or leave us a message on Facebook and we’ll be happy to help you find the perfect bra for clubbing!

When you’re shopping for a bra, it’s silly to assert that price is no object. Most of us are slaves to our pocketbooks, so it may seem unwise or even impossible to spend ~$100+ on a single bra. The question we’re forgetting to ask, though, is what does that ~$100+ get you in a bra? Why are the so-called “expensive” bras priced at over $100, and is it actually worth considering them in that price range?

Design
If you browse $100+ bras long enough, you quickly see that the designs of these bras tend to be a bit more elaborate, elegant, feminine and sophisticated. Take a look at our premium brands, like Prima Donna, Marie Jo, Conturelle and Chantelle – you can see the difference. They’re designed to appeal to the woman who is willing to spend that much on a bra. But what may not be readily apparent is the thought and R&D that goes into these pretty designs sported by our high-priced, premium brands.

Conturelle, for example, has women who actually test their bra designs by physically wearing the bras and providing feedback. These designs are then iterated upon and refined before they ever make it to manufacturing. As a result, these designs tend to be well-considered, with thoughtful details. They fit well and hold up for all-day wear without becoming uncomfortable. They provide superior support, and yes – they tend to be more feminine and pretty than value-priced bra brands.

Details
Premium bra brands like Prima Donna, Marie Jo and Conturelle also pay serious attention to the detailing that goes into every bra. Embroidery is often hand-embroidered; lace is the highest quality premium lace; and all of the fabrics and materials are meticulously produced to exacting specifications of comfort and high-quality. These brands will send materials back that don’t fit their requirements – they insist on having it done right.

They also tend to include thoughtful details, too, such as Conturelle’s insistence on using nickel-free, allergy-tested underwires to eliminate any discomfort for women with sensitive skin. The amount of handcrafting that goes into these bras makes them a work of art, and the top-quality materials that go into their construction justifies the higher price range.

Longevity
An insistence on quality pays off for our premium brands. Our high-end bras, when properly cared for, tend to last longer, remain comfortable longer, and retain their shape better than low-cost, value brands. You may end up wearing out 3 bras that cost you $30 each in the time you’d wear out one bra like the Conturelle Joy Underwire Bra 501; you’d spend just as much or more on low-priced bras, and you wouldn’t get to enjoy the superior fit and comfort of these premium brands.

Think of our high-quality bras as an investment in your wardrobe. You can buy a premium bra for a special occasion, but if you’re anything like me, it’ll creep into your regular wardrobe because you just love wearing it so much. If you invest in a few great high-quality staples, though, they can form a wonderful core for your wardrobe – and you’ll experience for yourself why quality matters.

Today’s Friday Q&A is for all of the big-busted ladies out there! Are you someone who wishes for smaller boobs? Do you feel like they’re always getting in your way, or drawing too much attention, or keeping you from wearing the really cute shirts you love? Today’s Q&A is for you!

Question from Noonerz:

What bra makes your breasts appear smaller?
I have heard of bra that makes your boobs look a lot smaller. I wear a 36 DD and I hate it. A girl I knew told me about how when she had boobs my size she bought a bra that pulled her boobs in and held them down and made her look like she only wore a size B. What is it called?

Answer:
As cup sizes grow larger, this is an increasingly common issue. Women wish for smaller breasts for a variety of reasons, but few actually want to or can afford to take the step of breast reduction surgery. If you’ve wanted smaller boobs, there are two keys to resolving your issues:

Minimizer Bras are the Keys to Smaller Boobs
If you actually want to make your breasts appear to be smaller, you need a minimizer bra. Minimizer bras are designed to redistribute your breast tissue to make your boobs seem smaller. Most of them widen the breasts and compress them against the chest wall to “squish” them and reduce projection.

Many of our shoppers here at Big Girls Bras are women with large breasts, so we offer a wide array of minimizer bras for you to choose from. Some of our top recommendations for someone in your size range, Noonerz, would be:

• Dominique Seamless Underwire Minimizer Bra 7000
• Aviana Plus Size Underwire Minimizer Bra 2457
• Bali Minimizer Satin Tracings Underwire Bra 3562

These are three different minimizer bras in different price points and designs, so hopefully one of them is a good fit for you.

Minimizer bras help if projection is your problem – like if you love a cute shirt but it’s always too tight or stretched-looking across your boobs. Unfortunately, though, projection isn’t the only problem – sometimes wider breasts make your chest actually seem larger, particularly if you’ve got narrow shoulders or a narrow torso. Containing your breast tissue within the boundaries of your torso – even if it means increasing your projection – can sometimes help you look and feel smaller on top. It depends entirely on your body. But if this is your goal, you need to look for a bra with the right shape – i.e. a design concentrated on projection instead of width with narrower-set straps and cups. Fit plays a huge role in this, too.

Fit Plays an Important Role in the Appearance of Breast Size
Many women find that when they’re wearing the wrong bra size, their breasts look bigger, they look saggy, they cause discomfort, and clothes fit oddly – some of the top reasons women complain about large breasts. Fit expert Frederika Zappe has some wonderful stories about full-busted women who learned to love their breasts again after just being properly fitted! One, in fact, had breast reduction surgery scheduled – but she canceled it after finding that bra fit made such a huge difference for her. So make sure you’re properly fitted! Check out our fit guidelines – don’t just buy the same size you’ve always bought because “that’s your size.” Fit yourself and adjust your size as needed – you may find you don’t even need a minimizer bra, but the right bra size will change your relationship with your boobs!