I’m rocking a 40D (based on those Victoria's Secret sizing charts). I haven't really messed around with minimizers, though, because honestly? I don't want to feel like I'm being suffocated. And sports bras... man, I've tried so many, but none of them ever felt big enough 🙄 I actually picked up some XXL athletic gear at a local Lidl recently. It’s decent, pretty good quality for the price, but if I could find a size up, it would definitely hit better. Weight loss is just... not happening. Not even a thought. One of my girlfriends actually suggested it once, and I was genuinely stunned for days. Like, how does someone even think that's an option? There is zero chance I’m going to intentionally go cutting things off my body. The only way I’d even consider changing things is if everything just hangs there after having a baby and I end up looking like a total grandma 😍 Luckily, everything still looks super flat and smooth even without a bra, despite my size 😉
So, I picked up some white tees from Takko the other day... honestly, they just didn't sit right on me at all. But hey, I guess it really comes down to the specific store and what kind of stock they’re actually carrying, you know? Like, one shop's basic is another shop's disaster. As for Oltre, fingers crossed you find something killer 😉
Not sure about H&M in Washington, but honestly, I’m just not a fan of their basic stuff here in the States lately. 🙄 Back in the day, whenever we’d head over to stores in Europe or even some of the bigger outlets, I could hit up two or three spots and walk out with enough clothes to last me an entire season... no biggie. Now? It feels like they have maybe two or three racks and that's it, and everything else is just size 4 or 4 if you know what I mean. Back then, you could actually find a size 14 without breaking a sweat.
I absolutely love 😍 though. It’s super rare that they don’t have the specific size I’m looking for. If it’s not on the floor, they usually pull it from the back. The staff there are amazing, too... you can literally tell them, "Hey, I'm looking for something like this," and they'll go hunt down a few options for you. Sometimes they find things you didn't even realize were there, just digging through the stock. When I throw on their size 52 jeans, there's zero chance they match my actual weight—they make me look at least 15 pounds lighter. They’re got such a good stretch to them with the spandex... though, I guess it depends on the cut. Sometimes I’ll end up trying on 20 or 30 different things in the fitting room before I finally find something that clicks... and don't worry, the sales associates won't even let on that they think you're being a handful. Anyway, let me know what you find... or post a pic! It’s such a bummer there aren't more photos in this thread. I think I'll swing by later this weekend to see what's new; I haven't been in ages. 😉
There are two spots on Fifth Avenue I actually know... Ulli Popken (though I just window shopped there, didn't really pull the trigger on anything), and then there's Oltre—man, I am obsessed with them 😍 At Oltre, they go up to size 52 and everything is super modern, you know? Nothing feels old-fashioned or stuffy. You can check out their collections online if you want a sneak peek And since you’re already hanging out on Fifth, there’s Marks & Spencer too. It’s a bit pricier and honestly feels more geared toward the sophisticated ladies... though you can still find some classic staples if you look
As for other places around the city, maybe Centra (it's kind of hit or miss, you'll have to dig through the racks to find stuff for younger crowds), Varteks, Modiana, and things like that... but those last two are definitely the upscale options. Same goes for Marina Rinaldi
Do you have an idea of which sizes you're looking for? If so, maybe I (or one of the girls) could point you toward some good shops around town in the city.
Don't get me wrong, but you ladies rocking those 34DD or 36E sizes—or even bigger—definitely aren't the target audience for "curvy" fashion lines 😍 It’s just about having larger attributes, plain and simple. Honestly, you guys confuse me with all this talk because, personally, I actually struggle finding stuff that fits my fuller shape and larger bust. Brands like Victoria's Secret or Aerie don't cut it for me at all. I've tried a few, and even with their largest sizes, everything just spills out the sides. Aside from maybe some pieces from Lane Bryant (and even then, I'm not thrilled), I seriously don't know of a single brand in the US market that carries a 42DDD or anything in that range. Everything is either designed for old ladies, comes in boring white, black, or nude, or it’s so tight I feel like I'm wearing a corset and gasping for air. And don't even get me started on the cleavage situation where everything just gets squished together instead of the bra actually giving you a nice, shaped silhouette... Oh, and let's be real: underwires on anything above a 40 band are basically useless, especially if the straps are narrower than an inch. Bottom line? Whoever decides to actually import high-quality stuff for us would make a fortune. 😍
It's the same story with other clothes in larger sizes too... everything is so limited. Meanwhile, the number of plus-sized people is growing, unfortunately... And from experience, I know that if you're stuck in clothes that are too small or pinching you, you're just going to end up stress-eating—like grabbing a donut just because you're frustrated with how you look—and that's definitely not going to motivate anyone to lose weight. (Though some people might think making things tighter is somehow supposed to motivate us! Yeah, right.)
Thanks! 😉 I’ll definitely go take a look at Ann Taylor and H&M.. As for the underwire... man, I don't know, it just feels like it's squeezing me too hard, and I always end up with this weird line cutting into my skin after wearing it (and it's not even because the size is too small).. I honestly think with those larger cup sizes, having wider straps is way more important—like, they actually need to be able to hold things up—rather than relying on a wire. Plus, you really need the right shape and material of the bra to actually support them.. Or am I totally off base here? What size do you usually wear?
Honestly, I’d go wireless again in a heartbeat... I feel like these underwire ones just squeeze me way too hard... There are a few like that, though not as many as before, and I haven't even tried buying the larger sizes yet... I constantly have this feeling that none of them actually hold me tight enough, you know? Like, my back ends up aching more because they need to be, I don't know, a bit firmer? Or maybe it’s just that I need a totally different cut altogether... Maybe it’s specifically this feminine style 😢
I honestly can't remember the last time I picked up a bra that actually cost less than $83, so I guess I’m just used to those higher price points now. I wouldn't even bother looking at Victoria's Secret; I just have this gut feeling their quality isn't quite there, plus like you mentioned, the sizing is always hit or miss. So, you think something like Triumph might work? It’s just so annoying when you go to places like Aerie—they claim to have all these sizes, but really they just have one single style in two different colors and call it a day... Has anyone else gone shopping lately and found anything decent?
Honestly, I am such a huge fan of Oltrea too. Like, if they didn't exist, I wouldn't even know where to go for clothes.😁 But anyway, regarding bras... I was looking at ordering some stuff through Liscin’s web shop, but I’m honestly stressing about messing up the size. You know how it is—ordering, returning, waiting again... I just can't deal with that long of a wait. Plus, I mostly wear their stuff anyway because it’s basically the only thing I can actually squeeze into. Basically, I’ve got about $100 to spend. Does C&A have anything in that range? I see people mentioning them in the recent posts... Any other suggestions on where to look? I’m even thinking about grabbing those "old lady" styles from Lisca because they look like they’d offer great support, and since retro is kind of back in style now, they don't even look as bad as I used to think they did.🙄 (Or am I just losing it?)
I’m no expert or anything, but if that second ovulation happened around May 5th and you think that's when things actually kicked off, then honestly... taking a test today is way too early. You'll probably just be staring at a blank screen.
So, I guess it’s finally my turn to share some good news, though if I’m being totally honest, I’m still mostly just a huge, confused mess... I think I’m at 4+3 right now? If that means 4 weeks and 3 days, then yeah, I think I figured out how this whole counting thing works. 😍 My first faint positive test showed up exactly on day 28 of my cycle—basically when my period was supposed to hit. Two days before that, absolutely nothing. Then, suddenly, it gets darker every single day. I saw some little spots a day later too (maybe implantation!?), but honestly, you can't really rely on that as a sign. It was the first day I wore light-colored underwear instead of black, so if it had been happening earlier, there's no way I would have noticed. Pro tip, maybe: wear lighter colors. 🙄 As for symptoms, the only things I can say for sure are that I'm exhausted and feeling a bit feverish. That temperature spike is what hits me the hardest, especially in the morning... I’m planning to head to my OBGYN next week. Actually, I might look for a new doctor since I was already thinking about switching anyway. I'm gonna go hunt for a thread with doctor recommendations... Also, if anyone knows a really good fertility specialist, please DM me.. thank youuuu and hugs from someone who is still super dazed... 😍😍😍
swiftotter22 said:Hey ladies, I wanted to jump in here with a quick question—or maybe just some random thoughts. I’ve been hesitating to post lately, almost like I’m afraid I’ll jinx myself if I speak up too soon. Here’s my situation: I had surgery for fibroids, and we’ve been trying to conceive for about six months now, but nothing has happened yet. We started running tests, and I "failed" the exam because my TSH levels were high. As a "penalty," my doctor put me on Euthyrox 25mg for two months, which is over now and everything seems to have stabilized. Aside from that, I was back at it last month, obsessively checking ovulation with those digital tests. The important part is this: On day 9 of my cycle, the test showed a smiley face. Everything was fine, we were enjoying the holidays and having sex regularly. Then, on day 24, I noticed some discharge—and I mean a *lot* of it. It was super stretchy, definitely noticeable. I took another digital test right after using the bathroom, and it showed a smiley face again. QUESTION: Has anyone ever dealt with two ovulations in one cycle? My cycle used to be a rock-solid 28 days, but since the surgery, it’s been dragging out to anywhere between 28 and 30 days. Today is day 31. Usually, I get huge, painful breasts for about ten days before my period hits. This time? Nothing. Just maybe a little bloating, almost like my body isn't expecting it. I have a test ready, just like always... but it feels like the universe is playing games. Usually, my period shows up an hour or two after I take a test, like it’s programmed to hit me right when I check.$20 Honestly, I’m terrified of being disappointed. I just want to avoid seeing a negative result followed immediately by my period; I’d settle for just one of those outcomes. I know you guys are experts at listing symptoms, but I’ve got nothing. Maybe I’m just sleeping earlier, that’s it. I’m drinking coffee, nothing smells weird, and my back hurts like it always does. Basically, even the usual breast tenderness is totally missing.
I was actually chatting with a friend recently, and she told me that she practically has two ovulations every other month. Even her OB-GYN didn't believe her, but she confirmed it—if you can even call it that—because one of her pregnancies delivered exactly on the day she calculated based on that second ovulation. So yeah, it was news to me too, but apparently, it's a thing. 🙂