I hear lots of people complaining about how restricted full bust and plus size lingerie options are, but as someone who has spent days sorting through great options for this article I really have to disagree. Things aren’t perfect, but curvy women have loads of gorgeous options to choose from these days. From handmade silk bras that go up to a KK cup to affordable Wonder Woman undies, there is something for everyone on this list. The designers and brands cover a range of price points and specialities, but they all create products that are designed to work with and enhance your curves.
I’d put off trying this brand for a long time, simply because the regular Panache stuff doesn’t work for me at all. I’m so glad I saw the light, because my Cleo bras are now some of my favorites. They provide incredible uplift and a lovely rounded shape, and their designs are consistently youthful and cool. They’re so comfortable that I can accidentally fall asleep in them (and have) which I’ve never been able to do in any underwired bra. If you struggle with the wires in regular Panache, give Cleo a try.
I feel a little guilty about putting Curveturiere Intimates on this list, as their new line is wonderful but won’t be available until the holiday season. If you’re coveting their stuff like I am, we can all form a support group or something. Curveturiere Intimates is a brand new line that will be making a wide range of bras, panties and loungewear in band sizes 32-50 and cup sizes D-K. Their pieces will be affordable (in the same range as brands like Parfait by Affinitas), which is great news. The new line is both fashionable and functional, and will feature both wired and non-wired bra options. The bra shown above is actually a cami-bra rather than a regular bra, for instance. I predict that we’ll see this brand everywhere within the next few months.
Image via La Lilouche
I’ve been a fan of La Lilouche for ages, but she’s finally started offering full busted and plus sizes this season. If you’re looking for a bridal or special occasion piece then she should be one of your first stops. I love this Goldie gown for so many reasons: the color, the flattering cut, and the gorgeous Grecian details. If you’re looking for everyday luxury, check out her Blondes/Brunettes Rock Night Shirt.
Image via Alegro Lingerie
Alegro isn’t a new brand, but they have recently expanded their sizing to include J cups! They’re a wonderful source for gorgeous every day bras. Their laces are incredibly soft and their bras hold up nicely. They aren’t as well known as they should be, so if you’re looking to give something new a try make sure to check them out.
Image via Bare Necessities
Parfait by Affinitas is one of the best every day bra brands out there. Their pieces are stylish and affordable, and they hold up for ages. I’m especially pleased to see their new menswear influenced pieces alongside more traditional options like this Alexis babydoll. Whichever style you pick, you’ll find yourself feeling supported and sexy.
Image via Knickerocker
It’s impossible not to fall in in love with Knickerocker’s affordable custom panties and bodysuits. These is my favorite choice for every day underwear, and they hold up incredibly well. If you want cute custom undies that don’t break the bank, this is your answer. Knickerocker also does custom sizing, so if you don’t see your size listed just drop her a note and ask.
Image via Bare Necessities
Everyone has seen Claudette’s mesh Neon Dessous range in all of it’s electric colored glory, but the brand has released several new lines which are equally beautiful and unexpected. This blue version of the En Dentelle is sophisticated and sweet without becoming boring.
Image via Louise Ferdinand Lingerie
The handmade luxury bra market hasn’t really started making bras in larger cup sizes yet, so I was extra excited to discover that Louise Ferdinand Lingerie is filling the gap. All of her exquisite bras are handmade out of luxury fabrics, and cup sizes go up to a KK. She offers both a bridal and a classic line based on 1930′s styles. If you’re looking for a special occasion set with fabulous support, this is where you should pick it up.
Image via Naked Princess
Naked Princess is a company that works hard to make their pieces work for a wide range of sizes. They produce luxury pieces from French and Italian fabrics, and all of their production is done within the US. Their stuff is also incredibly comfortable. I’m currently in love with this Garter Camisole, but my favorite of all their pieces are their panties. They’re the most comfortable ones on the market and they last forever.
Image via Ewa Michalak
Ewa Michalak hasn’t come out with their full Fall/Winter lineup yet, but they’re one of my favorite places to pick up gorgeous and affordable bras all year round. They carry a huge range of cup and band sizes, so there is literally something for everyone. Bras can sell out fast and tend to be offered in limited runs, so go pick up your favorites now and then check back in a few months.
Which brands are you looking forward to trying this season? Have I missed anything that you’re in love with?
Holly
The Full Figured Chest provides creative and elegant copywriting for the high end lingerie industry.
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Ewa Michalak is still my favorite, simply becuase it’s the only brand that I can consistently get in my size. Oh, and they do have some of their bras out already for fall, I already have a CHP Fiolek on order! :D
Knickrockers is one that I’ve been excited about for awhile and my order should be coming in the mail any day now, I can’t wait.
Oh, and Alegro is having a sale on Zulily today…
Louise Ferdinand Lingerie is one that I would love to try but am unsure about the sizes yet… are you planning on trying them anytime soon?
I haven’t tried Louise Ferdinand yet, although I’d love to. The prices are higher and I’m in savings mode right now. Thanks for pointing out the Alegro sale! I keep hearing about Zulily but haven’t managed to check it out yet.
Definitely sign up for it. They often have Panache, Affinitas, and Alegro there. As well as HotMilk and CakeLingerie for nursing moms. :) That’s not even counting shoe sales.
I know that Les Gros Bonnet tried them but she’s the only person I know so far who has tried them: http://lesgrosbonnets.wordpress.com/2012/08/21/angelina-bra-by-louise-ferdinand-lingerie/ I also don’t have enough $$ at the moment for them, unfortunately. :(
I guess that you’ve used “stock photos” for your article but it would have been good to see some curvy plus size girls showing this fabulous lingerie. it’s were a lot of manufacturers fall down. If you’re a plus size you want to see what it looks like on a plus size girl.
Thank you for introducing me to several new (to me) makes. My credit card is going to get hot!!
Ann- I can tell you that Ewa Michalak at least uses models with various body types (both in terms of bust size and plus-sized).
Yes, Ewa uses a huge variety of models! I just happened to love this bra and there was not a photo of her plus size model in it.
Awesome article, thanks! I do agree with @Ann it would have been nice to see plus sized women modeling the larger sizes. At this point though I think we’ll just take what we can get lol.
Ann Courtney and Jewel, check out this guest blog on Lingerie Briefs by one of the Claudette models who is a size 14: http://lingeriebriefs.com/category/guest-blog/curvy-briefs/ I’m so impressed by the body diversity that Claudette has used without any fanfare.
I don’t know if I qualify as a curvy girl, but I am ALL ABOUT the cotton 50′s style undies from Knickerbocker. Thanks for cluing me in to their awesomeness!
I appreciate this post as it has opened my eyes to some brands that I don’t know about….but I do have a few comments.
I wear a 40J, sometimes 40JJ….so I kind of wanted to highlight the size ranges that the featured products you list here, because I think that the size ranges of some of these products are cut short and do leave out the higher end of the plus size spectrum.
Claudette – 38G, Cleo Meg – 38J, Louise Ferdinand – 38KK. According to this, I wouldn’t be able to purchase any of these brands! :-(
I think part of the problem is that there are limited choices in the US for not only full bust sizes, but also plus sizes. As someone that used to wear a 46, I know that when I wore that size, my choices were very, very limited.
In the end, I recognize that “plus size” means different things to different people. Elomi is a great brand that is working hard to provide more fashion forward styles, and definitely caters to the full bust, plus size woman. They include bands up to a 46 :-)
Hi Nicole!
Thanks for commenting. Several brands on this list actually produce band sizes that cover plus size women — Curveturiere will be coming out with bands up to 50 when they release, and Ewa Michalak already carries beautiful options up to a 46 band. I agree that there should be more choice for larger band sizes. Women with larger band sizes do have a hard time, especially those with large band sizes and smaller cup sizes.
Hey Nicole,
Reacting a bit late, but although I’m a very common band size, being an uncommon cup size means that only two of these brands (Ewa Michalak and Louise Ferdinand, which I have tried both) offer stuff in my size, so the lack of options is not just a plus-size problem (although I consider myself borderline plus-size).
Most of these brands can are not at stores available to most people. I was hoping to be told about bras I could actually find and purchase.
Have you seen our previous article on The 10 Best Lingerie Brands for Full Bust and Plus Size Women? Several of those brands are stocked in larger department stores (like Nordstrom) or in local brick and mortar boutiques. You could also visit your local lingerie boutique and request that they stock some of the brands listed here. However, it’d be impossible for us to make a list of brands that could be found and purchased locally where all 100,000 of our readers live. Nor would we even want to since most of us enjoy talking about brands that are new, independent, international, or otherwise “off the beaten track” and therefore less likely to stocked by boutiques or department stores.
I agree that this was disappointing. I was hoping for brick & mortar stores across the globe I could try bras on. I’m a shallow F cup and sometimes an overflowing FF depending on the style and my weight at the time. I find bras that are beautiful and fit well to be incredibly hard to find. The are lovely but I would never ever buy a bra without trying it on first.
Hi Sara,
The focus of this particular article was on brands, not stores. Because we have a global readership, it would literally be impossible for us to list brick-and-mortar stores that are close to to everyone. However, any of our readers can go to their own local lingerie boutique and request that they stock some of these brands listed here.
Best,
Cora
Sara,
I totally understand the desire to be able to try something on before you commit to it. Lots of online lingerie retailers have wonderful return policies, so you can try your bras on in the privacy of your own home (honestly, this beats the hell out of awkward changing room experiences for me). Try Bare Neccesities or Figleaves — I’ve just gone through the process of finding a sports bra that fits a 32J, and Figleaves was a champ about returns and exchanges throughout the whole process.