“Why do your boobs look so squashed? Are you wearing the wrong-sized bra?”
My friend asked while we were out clothes shopping and shared a changing room. I was puzzled as I’d been wearing this same size for years, per “expert fitting recommendation” from my mother. My friend, however, was confident that I was not a 34B.
“We are going to the bra section to have you properly measured,” she declared.
As it turned out, the bra fitter pegged my proper size as a 34D, which was also the biggest bra size that they had available. Was I really a 34D though? I never found out till years later. At the time of the fitting, I was 18.
Often, bra brands available in Singapore did not carry sizes beyond a 36C. If you’re lucky, you may find a brand carrying up to a 36DD. I would eventually come to the realisation that if the shop assistant could fit you into one of their bras, they would and tell you that that is your actual size. So much for size diversity.
As an 18-year-old student, I didn’t have much options available. Online shopping wasn’t a thing at that time. I also didn’t have much money, relying on a monthly allowance from my parents while I prepared for my ‘A’ Levels. So, armed with three 34D bras, I went through the next few years confused about my bra size and wondering why they were still uncomfortable. They gave me bulging back fats and side boobs. I still wore unflattering, loose clothing to hide all these. I didn’t feel confident about myself at all. Most of the time, I lived in sports bras.
Fast-forward a couple of years. I had graduated, worked my first job, grew my bra collection, and was accepted into a Master’s programme in the UK. Off I went to a land where curvy was regarded as normal and, more importantly, had such a wide range of lingerie sizes available! It was heaven.
As luck would have it, it took another friend commenting on my ill-fitting bra before I made another trip to a bra fitter. My real size, this fitter declared, was a 32G.
Imagine my shock. A 32G? How is that even possible? Also, how will I buy bras when I’m back in Singapore?! There are no options for a plus-sized, full-bust woman!
Eventually, I wondered why the 32G bras still brought me so much discomfort. I found the band too tight. It felt like I was suffocating. I would, of course, have extremely nicely lifted boobs, similar to the effect achieved from wearing a corset, but I also suffered from backaches, angry red marks around my ribs, and, yes, bulging back fat. It got to a point where it was just too painful to keep wearing a 32G bra anymore. At the same time, I was sceptical about going back for another round of fitting. So, what’s a girl gotta do? Fit herself, of course!
I walked into the same bra shop, picked up a couple of bras in a range of sizes and went to try them on. Through trial and error, I finally landed on my size being somewhere between a 36E and 38DD. It depended on the cut and make of the bra. At the right size, the band didn’t cut me anymore, my boobs were still nicely lifted but without looking like they were spilling out of the cups and I was most importantly, comfortable!
Today, I wear bras ranging from 36DD to 38E, depending on the brand and style. I’ve learnt it was best to try on bras in person at a store. That was doable while I was in the UK. Back in sunny Singapore, though? No such thing.
Sure, there are more options today than twenty years ago. Brands like Marks & Spencer and Victoria’s Secret offer bigger bra sizes in their physical stores. Still, the range of sizes and designs is limited for the plus-size and full-bust women. It was as though the big brands decided only regular-sized women existed in Asia. I had to turn to online shopping for my bra fix. This was both a blessing and a headache.
Despite having my measurements on hand, I’d still be disappointed with some of the bras purchased online. If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to wear two of the bras that I ordered in one package. I wasted more money on return international postage to get a refund. Even my favourite bra brand failed me at times: the same bra in the same model and the same size, purchased a few months apart, would not fit me. Needless to say, it was incredibly frustrating.
Will we ever see the day when more lingerie options for curvy ladies are available in Singapore? I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed for this! As my experience has shown, it’s just better to be able to try on bras in person to find the best fit.
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Have you had experiences struggling to find the right bra for you? Share with us your story in the comments below!
Also, booking a boudoir photoshoot session with The Pin-up Rebels grants you the privilege of an extensive list of lingerie companies in Singapore and worldwide! If you struggle to find or fall in love with any lingerie stores, show up to your empowering session, and we will sprinkle plenty of magic on you! (yup, we have a client closet that has a wide range of outfit sizes from XS - 5XL)
We got you, boo!
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