34E need a strapless bra/scaffolding

[USAUSAUSA]

late 40s….would like to wear one of those nice satin camisole type vests but gravity is having its effects on the girls who are rapidly heading south. Hit me with you best recommendations of something I can wear under that will lift and hold. I’ve never really found a good strapless. 34E

I wouldn't want to run or jump but from the various insta posts they seem to give decent lift and shaping.

Fullerbustbestie uses them too.

Freya or Fantasie. I'm a 32FF and they support me fine and are comfortable enough to wear all day. A moulded, slightly padded cup will give you a good shape as well as more support too.

Yes…I do know what you mean…it’s the lift element I struggle with. I’m getting dents in my shoulders from bra straps that are holding them in place 😞

Thanks everyone…good to know I’m not alone! Will try wonderbra, curvey kate and Elomi as starter for 10.

I had a look at Rigby and Peller and their big bust strapless are called Prima Donna. They are pricy but wondering if the extra cost translates into something bombproof? Anyone tried?

When I was a 34GG I found the wonderbra one was excellent, It held up my breasts great and didn't slip at all- I wore to a wedding.

The Wonderbra one has plastic ‘hands’ inside so I would say yes, it does exactly the job of holding them up! @DeliciousApples might be worth looking for you as well as OP :)

Also the wonderbra, I’m a 32E. I’m a small 32 and I’m tempted to try a 30 (I guess a 30ee) as the 32 feels like it needs just a smidgen more even though it’s on the tightest hooks. It still holds me well though.

I also have several satin t-shirt bras in black, cobalt and emerald that I wear under strappy vest tops (I have a number of those silk and lace zadig & vestiere tops). The straps are slim and look good on show, although I know some would disagree with me there…

I agree with you 100%. If bra straps show, wear them as if they are supposed to show, and in colour, avoiding beige, white or clear plastic that glistens in the sunlight.

l saw someone over the weekend wearing a scooped back top with a “was white” overwashed greying bra. The band was on full view as well as the straps. Not a good look!

Another vote for curvy Kate, keep my H cup secure!

Is everyone on board with the band size down and cup size up advice? I can’t imagine a 32 band would fit but like the idea of the security

@USAUSAUSA As a general rule I don’t agree with it. I’ve been talked in to a 34DD instead of a 32E (which was out of stock) and it was a complete waste of money. The band was just too big and lose feeling on and I didn’t fit in the cups properly. Terrible support. I only mentioned the wonderbra sizing as the 32 band has slightly more give than other brands I have (in a 32” band). So I am curious to try a 30”, in that instance I would try the EE cup to see how it fit.

It depends if you're wearing the right size bra in the first place.

If you've been measured with the +4 method (i.e. your band size is the measurement round your ribcage + 4) then yes, your usual band size won't support enough in a strapless. Or indeed at all, but that's another thread.

If your band size is not +4d then no don't go down a band size - it won't go round you!

If you're not sure which you have, what clothes size do you wear - if a 12 or below then you probably have had 4 added and therefore would be better off going with a 32F/FF or similar.

That's the opposite of what OP is saying - she's talking about advice to go down to a 30 not up to a 34!

I was just repeating my experience 🤷🏻‍♀️

Perhaps I've misread your post then sorry. It sounded like you were saying you disagreed with advice to go DOWN a cup and UP a band, which is the opposite of the advice OP was asking for thoughts about.

@SapphireOpal I’ve actually only ever been advised to go up (increase band/reduce cup) always because they didn’t have the stock in my size and were clearly after the sale. They were all so-called qualified fitters. Obviously a big mistake so lesson learnt! But it would be very hard to go down a band size/increase the cup IF the OP is already (hopefully) wearing her correct size? I suggested I would try it myself because I’ve found some brands over the last few years seem to feel a tiny bit lose on my correct band size.

If the OP is not wearing her correct size then yes you’re totally right, going down on the band/increase the cup is good advice (and I will try not to ramble off on my own tangents!)

PrimaDonna are the absolute gold standard, I wore a strapless corset on the wedding day and was lucky enough to find it on Vinted for a fraction of the price. I've since bought two brand new strapless bras from Vinted for my daughters.

I have 2 “straps optional” (detachable) basques which do the trick, but they have a lot more fabric to cling to you with. Alright this time of year but too warm in the summer. I’ve never had success with strapless bras though.

Well ladies…turns out I’m not 34DD after all but after getting measured, I’m a 32G <mind blown> 😂

We probably could have told you that!
Where did you get measured?
@statisticallyChallenged used to be the resident bra-fitting expert but I've not seen her for a long time.