Bras For Men | Everything You Need To Know About Your First Bra
79A man choosing his first bras is beset with a wide range of options and a concern that none of them will look right or feel right. This guide is designed to take a great deal of confusion out of the process and help you find the perfect bra for you!
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Lot 2 Victorias Secret Second Skin Satin Bra 36C
Current Bid: $35.96
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F594 satin floral balconette bra cream AU 12B US 34B
Current Bid: $11.87
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BARE NIPPLES!! New Black Satin Shelf Bra Size 36B 36C
Current Bid: $18.99
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New Blk Stretch Satin Shelf Bra Crotchless Teddy 2X 40
Current Bid: $20.24
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Bali Satin Tracings Minimizer Bra - 3562
Current Bid: $19.49
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F637 Satin trim Tshirt bra white AU 14D US 36D
Current Bid: $10.96
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The Three Types Of Bras For Men
Out and About Bras
If you're looking for a bra you'll be able to wear out of the bedroom, I would advise looking for t-shirt bras. These are bras that do not have any seams on the cups. They are very smooth, and usually come complete with a little padding built into the cup to ensure that modesty is maintained under even the thinnest t-shirt.
If you'd like to see how it is really done, this article depicts a reader demonstrating how he wears a bra to work almost every day.
Support
If you're buying a brassiere because you need support, I would advise looking into a sports bra. Sports bras tend not to be very feminine, which is okay for a man who just wants to feel supported, and often come in black, which has fairly masculine overtones. Sports bras are designed to prevent movement and support the chest. Many men find that these bras are very comfortable and give them a new lease on life
Read this sports bra guide I prepared earlier, for more information.
Pretty, Feminine Bra
If you just want to look pretty and feminine and don't care at all about whether or not the brassiere will be visible under clothing, then your choices become very simple. Just buy any brassiere that appeals to you. The market is absolutely full of gorgeous bras at almost every price point, so relax and simply enjoy the selection process.
Here are a few well known lingerie designers who make bras so beautiful you could cry.
But What Style Suits Me?
Now, if you happen to be utterly lost when it comes to the various cuts and styles associated with bras, that's quite normal too. The sheer number of bra types can be quite overwhelming. Fortunately, I formulated this Lingeropedia of Bras many moons ago, and it is very useful for finding out what's what when it comes to bras.
How Do I Choose The Right Size?
Working out a man's bra size is actually fairly easy. There is a difference between the way one measures for a man's bra vs a woman's, however, and if you measure in the same way, your band size will be too big.
You will need to measure the 'under bust' of your chest, where the bra will sit, and then again across the largest part of your chest.
The first measurement plus an inch or so (to make the nearest even number) gives you your band size. (Unless you plan to wear breast forms, in which case you should go up 5 inches.)
The difference between the second measurement and the first (with the extra inches added) represents the cup size. If you plan on wearing breast forms, then choose the cup size you'll want to be. If you'll be going au naturelle, follow the following rules:
Half inch AA cup
One inch A
cup
Two inches B cup
Three inches C cup
Four inches D
cup
Five inches DD or E cup
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Comments
x Dress is great, and anyone would be hard put to say that their models don't look masculine :)
Ok so I've been doing some research trying to find more information on getting a proper fitting Bra for a man. I've read several do it yourself web sits and they all seam to have this +5 inches mind you i haven't found many for sizing for men. i guess what I'm getting at is whats with this +5 inches and why does it not pertain to men????? and would getting professionally fitted account for something like that. o get mildly side tracked and ask even more question I've heard that most places are pretty accepting and helpful but is there any preference for bigger stores over smaller stores if that makes any sense...
The 5 inches rule doesn't pertain to men because men don't have breasts. As mentioned, if you are going to wear breast forms and attach them, then yes, you need to add the 5 inches. It's just a matter of different physiology and how it affects the way a bra fits. Getting professionally fitted is a good idea, I don't think it matters whether or not you go to a big store or a small store, it depends on the people you happen to get.
I am a male to female crossdresser, where at the end of August I had a professional bra fitting. This was in Debenhams (a large department store in the UK).
I decided to do this after being fed up with wearing bras that don't fit right. Waste of time and money.
The lady that fitted me did not use any measuring tape at all. I was wearing a bra that I picked out to buy, together with my breast forms.
The fitter checked the tightness of the underband by pulling gently at the back. A 32DD was too loose, so she brought some bras in a size 30E.
Just to let you know, my natural underbust is 29 inches, so a bandsize of 30 does not involve adding 5 inches at all.
I can tell you that this size of bra fits perfectly, and is therefore comfortable. Now I understand how the correct size bra actually supports your breasts.
It is stated that 80% of women are wearing the wrong size bra. I do not want to be a part of that statistic!
Getting fitted for a bra is the best way as different styles/brands fit differently (even if the same size!). One does not buy shoes without trying them on first - the same should apply with bras too.
I agree with Hope, in that the person who serves you may be accepting or not. A sales assistant who is snobbish will not get a sale. Whereas someone who treats you like any other customer is more likely to get results. This is important especially with the recent downturn in the economy - stores want to maximize their sales.
Professional fitters who deal with lingerie all the time are the best people to seek advice. And the service is free.
I ended up buying 3 bras that are all the right size.
To be totally honest, the 'add 5 inches' thing seems to be an American thing, and I put it there for the benefit of American readers. In New Zealand, you simply go by the dress size you fit. For example, the average woman is around a 14 C, or so. It's a great deal more simple than the mathematical hijinks Americans seem to enjoy so greatly :)
Since I started wearing bras, I found there is a huge assortment of styles, colors, fabrics, padded, underwire, and softcup bras available. I really enjoy shopping for bras, and as mentioned above, you really need to try on a bra for the proper fit. I have never had the professional fitting, but found sales assistants quite helpful. My favorite bra is a racerback style with a little lace and padding to let it show under my male clothing. Hope, keep up the good hubs.
80% of women are wearing the wrong size bra. I do not want to be a part of that statistic!
Getting fitted for a bra is the best way as different styles/brands fit differently (even if the same size!). One does not buy shoes without trying them on first - the same should apply with bras too
Hope, I love the mathematical hijinks comment! Although I'm American, I often wonder why we make ourselves suffer so much with these things when we could just do like the rest of the world and rid ourselves of our blasted +5 inches, quarts, gallons, feet, etc. not to mention the metric system is so much easier to deal with mathematically
Gunnau says:
2 months ago
So many pretty bras so little chance of wearing any of them.
When i do get an opportunity, wearing a bra is most enjoyable and very comfortable.
Many many men have breasts that could use some support from a nice bra and those who would often can't because of partnership issues.
I may have to take her to www.xdress.com again for some manly bras and see if i can change her mind.