Hi Ladies,

Hope everyone is doing well!  Here’s an email that I received from “Allie”, who is looking to give her Girls a “Defining Moment”:

Help!! I am in need of a bra with maximum lift. I am large breasted but small around the back. I wear 32DDD in most brands. I have a slim fitting satin wedding dress that has a fitted bodice but loose neckline. I thought I found the perfect bra, but when I went for my fitting the seamstress told me I needed more lift to distinguish between the bottom of my breast and the bodice. (No uniboob). I was on line trying to find something in my size and came across your website. Can you recommend a bra that may work for me?

This is a great opportunity to point out a feature that can help bras distinguish between the bodice and the bust: a banded frame.  That is the area on some bras that runs underneath the cups, made of stretchy or rigid fabric with a narrow “facing elastic” band along the bottom.  Here’s a bra with a banded frame and another without:

 

1515
with
no-frame-2
without

 

Notice the difference along the sections below the underwires?  In terms of design, it’s mainly a fashion vs function thing.  Bandless frame bras look smaller, which makes them popular - and while there are plenty of good ones, the added strength of a banded frame definitely adds some extra support in large sizes - such as Allie’s - and creates that extra bit of definition between the bust and bodice.

Given that pointer, here are some specific recommendations for Allie.  She would do well with the first bra pictured above, Va Bien Style 1515, the ultra-Lift Balconette.  Or if she needs the bra to be strapless, then definitely our Style 1506, the ultra-Lift Perfect Strapless.  Both feature banded frames for extra lower bust definition - plus of course Va Bien’s patented ultra-Lift cups for extra lift and support.

All the best,

Marianne