Evening dress ideas for slim DD needing more bust support

[PrettyCherryBlossom]

My DD is really struggling to find an evening dress for an event this summer. She’s a slim size 8-10 but has a 32DD chest.

All her friends have fabulous strappy dresses but these don’t look great on DD because she needs to wear a bra. We’ve tried strapless and stick on bras but they don’t give enough support, and she really doesn’t like the look of wide straps.

If anyone has any ideas where to look or brands that might suit her, I’d really appreciate it! Online is best for us because we are over an hour way from a big city. Maybe something with built in support if that’s a thing?

What about trying something with a halterneck with a halterneck bra under. I used to do this as I was slim with a bigger bust in my youth.

Have you had a look at Oh Polly? My DD has a similar body shape and has ordered a few dresses from them, some of them have a boned and structured bodice for good support.

I’ve quickly looked at Zara. Always a “go to” for younger DDs! I’ve attached a few that might suit. My DD was exactly the same and still is! Yes, it’s a challenge but there are great dresses to wear with a bra. Not every dress is strapless or a skip dress. I’ve attached a few ideas. They are all maxi/long. Maybe not cream for a wedding but it’s fine for anything else.

I think a good bet is to order a few from Asos as you can return them so easily. They have a huge choice, including lots of other brands. Just make sure you check out the back of the dress as well as the front. I think a halter neck signs good or possibly a boat neck with see through straps in case they peep through at times.

Just been on Asos. Loads wearable with a bra. No idea of her taste or colouring but here are a few ideas:

Halter neck with a stick on bra? I’m a size 8 and wear a G cup and I wore a long halter neck dress with a boomba bra to a wedding recently. Looked great and my boobs didn’t move all night. Just takes a bit of practise to get the bra stuck on properly.

The halter neck already provides support as you can tie it so it’s much easier to get proper support from the stick on this way.

Something with the cup area like this will work as it’s got space for a stick on bra to sit and you can also tie the halter tight to support the bust.

I don’t know what kind of dress or style she would go for but this is the type of fit I would go for as a big boobed slim woman.

Is this for a prom? Even if not, it’s worth looking on some of the prom dress websites as this is a fairly common situation and so there are several designs which are more structured around the top, a bit like a wedding dress. A combination of that and tit tape or a stick on bra should be workable. It might be worth going for a cheaper dress which you can then get altered.

If strapless bras aren't working it is probably because they are too big in the band. She's very unlikely to be a 32" band at a size 8-10. I'm a size 14 and wear a 30". I would encourage her to try a 30E and (more likely) a 28EE. Curvy Kate strapless bras are the only ones I've ever found which work for me as a 30J, so quite a bit bigger than your DD.

I agree with this, I'm a size 10/12 and wear a 32HH, DD is a size 8 and really should wear a 28DD, but wears a 30D because they're easier to find in shops 🙄 the support is meant to come from the band not the straps

@liloandstitchhOp said stick on bra doesn’t work. It’s definitely safer to have straps.

I also agree but would go a bit further and suggest that she is completely re-measured. It's probably easiest to follow the Boob or Bust guide at home if access to shops is tricky. A 32DD is not very big at all (for example: https://www.bratabase.com/browse/by-photo/32:5/ ) and if OP's DD can't go braless at all then I wonder if she might in fact be an entirely different size.

The Boob or Bust method can be flawed for people with lower body fat. I have a 31" underbust measurement, so Boob or Bust puts me at 32E. But this is very painful! I am quite happy in 34D.

However it is worth trying sister sizes if OP's daughter's bras aren't fitting properly. And I do suspect she might be a different size to the one OP stated, because my 32E breasts are not that big and don't need any support. In 'new sizing', 32E is not very large at all. Correct band size is especially important with strapless bras.

But that wasn't really OP's question (sorry OP)! I'm glad you've had good dress suggestions from others.

It’s not a prom but it’s a similar type of event, so something glamorous but more slinky than ball gown.

Some really useful advice about bra size, thank you. She was measured but perhaps we need to try a different method. She can go bra less but prefers to have a bit of lift! Halterneck might be a good option.

I’ll show her this thread later and see what she thinks of the links.

Huge thanks to you all.

then she isn’t using them properly or is wearing the wrong type of dress with them- hence why I suggested a halter neck.

Although if she gets a halter neck with thick enough straps and ties it correctly she won’t even need to use a bra being a DD cup. I usually wouldn’t use one being a G. I just wanted added security that I wouldn’t get a nip slip being at a wedding.

@liloandstitchh Well it’s up to her if the she feels secure and comfortable. My DD is a 30E and can wear a very expensive fitted strapless bra. Or a dress with a built in corset, as she has for her wedding dress. Some people (and I’m EE) just do not trust some minimal bras and I’d never go without a bra unless the dress was structured to be like that. Feeling good about how you look is tied up with doing the best job for your bust.

@HungryHerring I agree that Boob or Bust isn't right for everyone. I've tried it so many times and it always puts me at a 32FF, there's no possible way my boobs would fit in there! I'm a 32HH and not a bit smaller (much to my disappointment 🤣)

Could you take her to bravissimo for a bra fitting? Once she has a decent multiway bra she will have loads more options.

My DD went to Rigby and Peller. You pay but you get a great service and confidence in your underwear! It’s an investment in your looks and wellbeing.

But both of those dresses that poster attached a photo of ARE structured to be worn without a bra. I think that was the whole point of her post.

Both of those dresses look absolutely fine to be worn without a bra and are something I would also wear as a bigger busted woman. That’s the whole point in a tie neck.

I’ve bought lovely boned underwear which looks a little like a corset with a low back to go underneath dresses. It gives my 32F chest enough support and isn’t visible, Something like this might be handy to give her lots of flexibility with dresses

What about something with a more fitted top?

I'm 34DD/D or 32E and am wearing this with a strapless bra for a do in summer and my boobs are not exactly self-buoyant!

https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/alice-midi-dress-2614821002

And you absolutely can be a size ten and 32/34 band. 32 band bras were often too tight on me when I was a size 8 when I was younger.

As @HungryHerring said:

The Boob or Bust method can be flawed for people with lower body fat. I have a 31" underbust measurement, so Boob or Bust puts me at 32E. But this is very painful! I am quite happy in 34D.

I'm a size 10/12 and wear 34D mostly as it's just more comfy. Some of the 32 band bras come up about 2" short, and I value breathing quite highly.

Sports bras are another joy, I remember being fitted for one where the shop assistant thought it was a good fit and I couldn't breathe nor put it on or get it off without help. Fuck that!

She could also go for something like this shape at the top as many normal bras would be fine under it.

https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/strappy-tailored-dress-2615054001

Wonderbra Ultimate is a very secure strapless bra, helf everything up even when I was G cup. This particular one comes up tight in back. And I'm sure Bravissimo can help her out too.

That’s what I don’t get at all
i am a solid size 18 and sat here in a 34 band which is so comfortable I’ve fallen asleep in it before
so it puzzles me how someone can be a size 8-10 and say a 32 is too tight