Being a girl comes with some pretty great perks… high heels, lipstick, lingerie, and let’s not forget – BRAS!
Bras offer endless options for expressing your femininity. And that’s where things can get tricky! With so many sizes and styles to choose from, it’s easy to go wrong.
Do you know what to do and what NOT to do when it comes to bras for crossdressers and MTF trans women? Here are 6 do’s and don’ts of wearing a bra!
1. DO Wear The Right Size
Did you know that there’s an 80% chance you’re wearing the wrong size bra? A bra that doesn’t fit right is uncomfortable and unflattering – and who needs that?
Bra sizing is complicated, so I suggest getting professionally fitted if at all possible. (Many shops are happy to provide this service to their transgender and crossdresser clientele.)
If you prefer to do it yourself, check out my previous article on how to find your MTF bra size.
2. DON’T Let Back Bulge Ruin Your Look
One of the dreaded side effects of wearing a bra is back bulge. This is especially common if you carry extra weight in your upper body. Here are 3 tips for minimizing back bulge:
- Wear a larger band size. A band that’s too tight will cause bulging, so go up a size. For example, from a size 42 to a size 44 band.
- Look for a bra with extra stretch. Bras made with smooth, stretchy fabrics don’t dig in as much as stiffer bras.
- Try a longline bra. Longline bras have a wider band that extends down the torso to help eliminate back bulge.
3. DO Choose The Right Style
While choosing the right bra size is important, so too is the style. The options are nearly endless! Some of the style details to consider include:
- Padded vs. unpadded
- Underwire vs. wireless
- Cut of the bra cups (low cut, full cut, balconette, etc.)
- Front clasp vs. back clasp
- Straps (strapless, racerback, convertible, etc.)
- Fabric (cotton, satin, lace, etc.)
- Color
Which style is best depends on what you’ll be wearing, as well as your natural breast shape and body type.
For a breakdown of suitable styles, see my article on the Top 7 Bra Styles Every Crossdresser and MTF Transgender Woman Should Own.
4. DON’T Be Boring
While you should definitely own some basic bras, why stop there?
Bras offer endless options for expressing your style, so have fun and experiment with different colors, fabrics, and trimmings! (Just be careful what you wear them with as frilly details can show through clothes.)
5. DON’T Ruin Your Bra In The Wash
Bras are delicate objects, so they need to be properly cared for. You shouldn’t simply toss your bra in the wash with the rest of your clothes. Here are some tips to ensure that your bra stays in good shape for as long as possible:
- Hand wash your bra if possible. This is the best way to extend the life of your bra.
- Use a bra wash bag. This keeps the hooks from snagging and prevents your bra from getting tangled in the washing machine.
- Air dry your bra. Bras should never be put in the dryer, so hang them to dry instead.
6. DO Replace Your Bra When It’s Time
You take care of your bra, it should last a good while. However, keep in mind that bras do have a limited life span. (Expect an average of 6-12 months if you wear it regularly.)
Here are signs that your bra needs to be replaced:
- The bra straps are stretched out.
- The bra no longer fits as well as it used to.
- The bra has lost its shape.
- The bra feels uncomfortable.
Bras! We just can’t get enough
Now that we’ve got the dos and don’ts worked out, the only thing left to do is enjoy your beautiful bra… And maybe go out and buy some new ones!
Since a girl can never have too many bras, I’d love to know…
How many bras do you own? Are you a basic one-bra kinda gal? Or do you have a bra to match your every mood?
Take my poll and tell me about your favorite bra below!
Love,
Lucille
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P.S. If you liked this article, you will love my FREE Male to Female Transformation Mini Course.
After years of experimenting with bras, the bra that works perfectly for me is the Glamorise Magic Lift Bra. It has been my every day bra for five years now, and it’s lift provides the shaping and look I want. The cups are wire free and have transversal seams which produce a conical, natural look. I have about 15 bras in my bra drawer and most are now Glamorise Magic Lift Bras. I love how they make me look!
The bra looks beautiful on you
Where do you shop
Karen Lou, thanks so much! It is amazing how much better you can look and feel with the right bra. It also makes your clothes look better.
Oh, as far as bra washing goes, I wash by hand with Woolite, then hand wash on my lingerie hanger in my walk-in closet. I do the same with my thigh highs and pantyhose, too.
There was a time I wore bras every waking minute! But after HRT and now being a 42B, bras no longer have that appeal for everyday wear. They tend to make my boobs sweat and itch too soon after donning a bra. I’ve tried several types, brands, materials, but have yet to find one that is comfortable. Back about 10 yrs ago, I found some soft cup bras in Walmart, Basic Brand, that were my everyday bra. They even had light lining for push-in, push-up effect. I can’t find that type any more. I’ve been buying long line bras for formal wear, just to have that extra abdomen and waist control as well.
On bra washing, most go into a lingerie bag, but the underwire ones go into a bra-wash ball that keeps their round shape and prevents the underwire from being bent or pulled out of the cups.
Getting measured is only the beginning. Most clothing manufacturers make their sizes differently. A Victoria’s secret 40b bra is not the same as Haines 18 hour 40 bra. This is why so many women are wearing the wrong size bra.
I’m a pretty much plain Jane when it comes to unders. I am VERY fussy what i put against my skin, so unfortunately i tend to be a little boring. Now that i have my own breasts thanks to HRT, my favorites are plain, pushup padded bra shirts made of bamboo fiber by Uniqlo. I mainly wear cotton or bamboo. I go shopping with a cis friend when she buys lingerie and i’m SOOO jealous of the gorgeous colors she buys. But it either doesn’t fit me (i’m an 85A, which means i often have to settle for a 90B) or i don’t like the fiber. Places like Wolford and Hunkermöller have such AMAZING colors. I see that Victoria’s Secret has just begun using “Modal” fiber, which is like viscose, so that’s worth checking out. I’ll be doing that after the pandemic. Viscose can be almost as lovely as bamboo. Mostly though, i sate my wish to wear hyper pretty things in a couple of corsets and i also have a couple of slips made of silk which i adore: they are emerald green, teal blue and a magenta that seems to glow by itself. The colors are so beautiful i can just stare at them and become lost.
What 18 years of hormones looks like at age 45.
Measurements
36DD, 31″ waist, 43″ hips
U look wonderful and classy I am in my 50 and no near as sexy as u r what kind of man do u prefer
I am bisexual always wad
Hello Jessica, please tell me what hormones’ you used. I was at one time using Feminol 2.0 I loved the results but lost my contact. Anyhow any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Sharlene
Hi Jessica, many thanks for that info, I will check to see if I can get it in Canada.. Happy Friday Jessica!!! Have a great weekend.. Sharlene
I go through a doctor’s not that difficult to get covered by insurance otherwise I went through in-house pharmacy 800.00-1,000.00 a year. Cyprotertone 50 mg, 8 mg of estradial.
You look amazing
Thank you so much
You wear it very, very well!
Thank you
You look amazing! And not that I’m trying to suck up, but you say this is your look at 45??? I’m sorry, but your beauty says otherwise!!! More like late 30’s.
I am 45 hard to believe
I’m jealous. You look absolutely gorgeous.
Thank you
Hi Jessica.
Thank you for your breast
information, and your pretty pics too.
May I compliment you on your
36 DD breast development achievement from using hormones.
I have been using natural breast
development products like
Lucille’s Sublime Breast, and
I just love my resulting
developed big breasts now that fill my shiny satin bras that I just love
the look and feel of my femininity.
Good genetics, and 18 years of hormones. My breast developed to a 36DD….Which saved me about $7,000.00 in augmentation cost. Plus they added to my curvy figure.
Thanks Everyone! At 45 I still am able to turn heads. Best advice can give you is try and go for as natural look as you can. Use a quality concealer and make-up waterproof is best.
Congratulations! (very jealous, LOL)
Just be yourself
I agree with getting measured for a correct fit if possible. I did at a Hanesbrands Outlet store, the saleswoman was completely professional and it was good to finally confirm that I was wearing the correct size bra. It turns out I have a 39″ band so I can wear 38’s or 40’s.
I have two sets of bra’s the first set are 38B push up bra’s that I wear under guy clothes that I’m about half way to filling thanks to herbal estrogen. The other ones are 40C underwire bra’s that I wear with my silicone breast forms when I’m dressing in my feminine finery.
Picture is me wearing one of my Lilyette 40C bra’s with my forms.
Jill that bra looks fabulous on you. I really like the lace. Does this bra also come in other colors?
Hi Olive, Thank you for the compliments, the Lilyette bras are pretty and comfortable to wear too. It’s a Lilyette Comfort Lace Minimizer Bra (#0428) and looking at an online advertisement it appears to come in 8 different colors. So far I only have them in white, beige and black.
You look great !!!!
Thank you Karenlou!
Hi Jill Suzanne Smith.
Thank you for sharing your pretty
breast development information
and for your pretty pic of you
wearing your feminine looking
white bra.
I am glad to know that the
Hanes Outlet store professional
sales woman helped you to confirm
your breast size for you to choose
the bras you need.
May I please compliment you
on it, and for your success
with growing your breasts
with using herbal estrogen.
Are you using Lucille’s
Sublime Breast Development
products like I use, and I have
excellent breast growth from it?
May I please ask if you will
continue using your herbal
estrogen products to develop
and grow your breasts more,
or are you at the maximum
Breast size you want to be with them?
Also, do you wear your pretty bras
with silky slips under your
feminine finery too?
My developed breasts fit nicely
in my shiny satin bras, and I just
love how they look and make me
feel so very feminine.
Thank you.
Hi Annette. Thank you for the compliments. I was taking Fenugreek for about 20 months (1-610mg twice a day) which I was able to purchase locally. I went from completely flat to an ‘A’ cup on it. I recently switched to Pueraria Mirifica which I bought through Amazon. They are 500mg which I’m also taking twice a day. It’s supposed to be more potent than the Fenugreek, time will tell. I would like to be a least a full ‘B’ cup and hopefully a ‘C’. I always wear a slip when I’m dressed usually color matched with my bra, panties and girdle. So nice that your breasts are developed, I can’t wait to completely fill my bras with my own breasts too.
No padding needed
Hi Jessica.
May I please compliment you.
Your breast pics look just so
beautiful and feminine in your different style pretty bras.
I have about 60 different bras
i love girl things