I'm new to the female intimates section... and have no idea what size or bra to get. Should I get one with padding? I really don't know much about this kind of thing and I don't really want to ask my family members 'cause I felt that might be too awkward for them. Anyway, what was your first bra and what would you recommend? Thanks!

First you need to determine your size.  There seems to be a thousand of them out there, but start here http://www.85b.org/bra_calc.php

As for padding that is up to you.  I have used them and they are fine.  I am still looking for the perfect bra that will give me some cleavage.

Start with the smallest and adjust from there.

Mmm bra shopping can be fun, and annoying at the same time. Especially when you are just developing. Finding some of the wierd smaller sizes, like a 36/38b can be kind of hard.

good luck. the first few bras i bought online were too big and i was so dissapointed made me feel really bad even though i measured myself correctly. im like a 38 A and theyre like huge on me 0.0 but if i wear a 36 b. theyre comfortable and my breast look good in em

i find that pushup bras are just not right if you dont have much to push up. yes theyre more padded etc but the shapings all wierd and you cant wear fillets with them

i wear padded plunge bras

just my preference

i prefer push up bras they give one hell of a cleavage

Quote from: Zoi on November 09, 2010, 12:10:23 PM
i prefer push up bras they give one hell of a cleavage

It does help if you have something to push up... 

Victoria's secret pink is my favorite brand of all time for anything ever, except Black Diamond Camalots and Metolius TCU's. /climbing talk

I'm a 36 bust, and i'm pre-hrt, so I just got a padded bra and, viola, Tits! I just walked right in and asked the poor girl to measure me.

"Uh, this might be weird, but I'm trans, and I have no idea what my bust size is. Can you help me?"

"Sure! It actually happens all the time."

Be sure you're ready for people to snicker and laugh at you if you're not passing at all (like me!). It was a pretty hilarious experience. Poor girls.

VS is good, but i'm not a super frilly girl, so I prefer their Pink line. It's cheaper and doesn't really have any extraneous frillies or anything.

Quote from: Keroppi on November 09, 2010, 02:00:14 PM
It does help if you have something to push up... 

i agree

The ahhbra - it's sizing is idiot proof!

http://www.ahhbra.com/indexoms.html

Jamie

Well... sizes are not an exact thing... you will find out that some fits better than others... so you might want to try a few...

If you are not comfortable going to the intimate section by yourself... you might want to maybe check out your sister's or mother's if they have a similar chest like yours? that would give you an idea of the sizing...

or you can simply measure yourself, and I would probably try one size smaller, and same cup... but that is my experience...

Quote from: lightvi on November 08, 2010, 10:58:44 PM
I'm new to the female intimates section... and have no idea what size or bra to get. Should I get one with padding? I really don't know much about this kind of thing and I don't really want to ask my family members 'cause I felt that might be too awkward for them. Anyway, what was your first bra and what would you recommend? Thanks!

My first bras were all imperfect. And having recently found an even better bra for myself, I would say I am still learning. However, I wish someone had told me about using stick-on bras when I started.

Hi, I am a 38a but couldn't find one that size. I read somewhere-I think in a article about sizing of womens clothing for us mtf's on the wiki page- that you can go down a band size and up one cup size-for me that figured to a 36b which was easy to find. I just went to walmart and got one then went to Macys and got one a little nicer and they are both perfect. I didn't fill them out at first but now I do and will probably grow out of them by spring or early summer next year. Just go buy one and if it doesn't fit take it back. Once you get over the first time jitters it gets easy to go shopping. Check out the old posts about shopping and buying bras if you haven't already. I was scared as hell at first but now I just don't worry at all what others think. Like I said, it gets easier.
Happy bra shopping,
Randi

While it is true that a 38a is equivalent to a 36b cupwise, the band size is obviously different. From personal experience, when I try for the smaller bandsize/bigger cupsize trick, the bras never seem to fit as well as the proper fitted bra. On top of that certain brands make huge cup sizes and other's make really small cupsizes... I've even seen significant variation amongst the same brand with a different style. The bottom line is try them on until you find the most comfortable.

Stick-on bras can be found at Joanne's Fabric and at Nubra.

If you have an odd bra size that is hard to find you could try this site:  http://www.daintylady.co.uk/
I'm not eager to reveal my sizes but suffice it to say I was tickled pink to find a store that actually had my size. The store is in England but they shipped to me in Canada so international shipping isn't a big deal.

<3 Padding. I love Victoria's Secret's Miraculous bra. I have like 8 of them. They're all I wear....I'm only an A cup but they give me cleavage and make it look like more...helps my self confidence anyway.

VS will do a bra fitting too

I actually started out wearing sports bras, and then finally got the courage to get a "real bra" after being measured in a Victoria's Secret. It's better to have them measure you, than to do it at home, order online, and wait to see if it fits.

I wear mostly Victoria's Secret too.  I find that they fit well, give better cleavage, and tend to be on the smaller cup size.  The disadvantage is if you have a 42 band size your out of luck with them.  They only go up to 40, it seems.

I think I'll wait a few months to develop some before I go in for an official fitting, though.  I'm still disappointed in my body right now. 

I'd say for your first bra you should try something with a soft cup and no padding, something that will be comfortable to relax in and that can accommodate some growth. Maybe a camisole with a shelf bra, or a soft cup stretchy cotton thing. You'll want something you can just throw on under a T-shirt when your nipples are bothering you, and that won't suddenly stop fitting and cause a bra-buying emergency when your breasts grow a little bit.

If you want a going-out bra in addition to that, I have to second the suggestion of getting fitted at Victoria's Secret. They're very nice and professional. I took a friend there (not even trans, just wanted a bra for drag) and they found him something that fit amazingly and made it look like he had breasts even with his 40-inch flat chest...and were sweet and friendly the whole time.

Okie, so I have to ask about bra fittings ....  this has been nagging me for years and years.

When they do a fitting, is your top half clothed or do they want to you take off whatever current (probably wrong sized) bra you might be wearing?

I think that's what has always stopped me from getting fitted, I am embarrassed by my naked body and don't want anyone to see my boobies.