If you have a good specialty store nearby, those are best, but all of my friends SWEAR by Chantelle, because their bras don’t assume that since you have a big cup, your boobs are the same size as someone with a bigger band size. This is the bra that they all like best

http://www.herroom.com/Chantelle-2575-Essensia-T-shirt-Bra.shtml

but Chantelle makes a range. They are, of course, expensive, usually something around $60, but sometimes you can find them on sale.

Used to get all my bras at Marks and Spencer, but became annoyed by the limited range of styles that went above D. Also, they are extremely variable in the way they fit, and I always seemed to have to try on every bra they did in about four sizes.

I have yet to try Bravissmo because of the aforementioned trying-on problem, but they are opening a bricks-and-mortar shop near me, so I intend to try them next time I need to.

Bravissimo has these bras in your size:
http://www.bravissimo.com/products/lingerie?back=34&cup=h&numitems=24

It’s also worth checking figleaves.com – as someone else pointed out above, Bravissimo carry a lot ranges (e.g. Freya) that figleaves.com carry as well, so you might be able to avoid shipping charges that way.

But what about those of us who have smallish backs and gigantic boobies? I wear a 34G, and it is impossible to find bras that a) fit well, b) are relatively cute and c) don’t cost more than my first car.

Plus size lines rarely have backs smaller than 36. And “regular” sizes rarely (if ever!) carry cups bigger than D or DD.

I have one bra. I was at Intimacy waiting for someone to get a fitting and happened to find it in a sale bin – the only one in that size in the sale bins. I only paid $28 or so, but it was originally $80-something.

It’s maroon, which means I have to layer white camis if I want to wear a light-colored shirt. I looked for the beige or white version online, but of course it was only available at full price. On the one or two sites that actually had my size in stock.

Why, because of something I can’t control, must I pay over $80 per bra when others can go into Macy’s or Target or somewhere and pay between $20 and $40. You can get 2 to 4 times as many bras as me for the same amount of money.

This is beyond a plus/not problem, because someone who’s a size 2 could have giant cans and have the exact same problem. In a world where we’re “supposed” to have big boobs and be skinny, why does the lingerie industry punish us for it? I mean, “skinny” isn’t a word I’d use to describe myself, but my back is relatively small and my boobs are big and the world is punishing me for it.

I’ve been wearing the same model Penney’s bra exclusively for over 20 years; through major weight losses and gains, I’ve always gotten a good, affordable fit in cup, strap, and back band from this bra:
http://tinyurl.com/6c8vys
It has a wide band–it’s a 3-hook in smaller sizes and a 4-hook in larger.

But keep in mind it is not a particularly sexy bra, or good under revealing clothes.

I frequently go bra shopping, probably about once a month. I don’t always buy anything but if I find a good bra that fits at a good price I buy it. Most shops have a discount rack somewhere and I try to take notice of any sales, this way I can get the really good bras often at half price or below and now have a really great collection of bras.

In Queensland (Australia) I would recommend 2 shops to get fitted; in Brisbane “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and on the Gold Coast “Bras in Paradise”. The staff are excellent and will take the time to help you find the right bra. They carry mostly European brands, their prices for new release and full price items is high (usually around $100 for a bra), but they often have a discount section with bras as cheap as $5!

Also if you are not prepared to look after your bras they will not last regardless of how much they cost. If you don’t like hand washing (personally I never hand wash if I can get away with it!) always do up your bras put them in a lingerie bag and wash on the most gentle cycle your machine has. I never wash my bras in with another load. Always dry away from direct sunlight, UV is the quickest way to kill a bra especially in Australia. Never dry in a tumble dryer.

The more bras you own, the less frequently they will be worn and washed they will last for much longer. I would be horrified if I did not get at least 2 years out of a bra. I have a bra from Rigby and Peller which has been mended several times now but is still quite functional which I bought over 6 years ago. I have also taken in the bands of some of my older bras to keep them going for those days I don’t really want to leave the house, this way my newer bras get a break and will be good bras for longer.

As for brands, I love Freyer, but tend to only buy it on sale as $120 for a bra and $30 for the matching nickers is simply too much. Fayreform is pretty good too as they have small band sizes with larger cups and some very pretty designs, available at Myer and DJ’s. Panache does some lovely designs too though again I find them too much at full price. Also Fantasie do some really beautiful designs. These are probably my favourites but these are the ones that suit my particular boob shape, everyone is different hence the need to do lots of trying on.

Sorry for talking too much, this is a favourite topic.

The other important point is with the wrong underwear even the most expensive garment will look bad, while with really great underwear every thing will look so much better.

Go into a Penneys, Macy’s or Nordstrom’s and try them on – sometimes the cup shape is as important as the size, esp. if you’re not exaclty the same size on both sides. Any decent department store will have DD/DDDs.

The thing with the band (as a bunch of people have said) is that it’s the band holding up all that weight. So if you buy in a size where you can wear the middle or outside hooks, in a few months when it’s starting to stretch out from all that support work, you can move in a hook.