Playtex Women's 18 Hour Original Comfort Strap Bra, Natural Beige, 38DDD

Excellent product

After 30+ years collecting and wearing vintage clothes I've bought the first bra which gives me the right shape to fit into those high darts. (Duh, I don't know what I was thinking all that time.) What a revelation! It's the gateway drug of vintage bras! It looks right - a bit pointy and very perky - but it's nothing like as extreme as a bullet bra. Compared to minimisers, which send your breasts toward your armpits, this pushes you up and out, so you end up with a bust a bit like Barbie's. It may feel a bit odd if you're used to a different distribution of flesh. My breasts are completely clear of my arms and armpits, but they stick out in front, which feels and looks unusual as you go about your day. My eyes keep seeing my bosoms in front of me coming from a part of my chest where there's usually fresh air. If you're used to underwires, the comfort will be a revelation. I got tired of my underwires moving and poking and eventually becoming misshapen from all my fiddling about with them. You can't imagine how nothing but soft fabric can achieve the same effect (better really), but it does. The lovely soft straps are a fabulous triumph of function over form (the opposite of your usual bra) just as you would imagine. If you wear it under a t-shirt you may find the seams show, but like all bras it may be a matter of horses for courses. Don't throw out your t-shirt bra if you like that effect, but wear this under everything else. I'm now obsessed with this kind of seamed bra and am experimenting with longline bras, which give you the Barbie waist as well as the Barbie bosom. What a wonderful world. :-)

I have worn this brand and style of bra for 30+ years (yup, I was wearing an old lady bra before I was an old lady). It is the only bra I have found that the band and cup size both fit and is supportive enough to keep the girls where they should be. A couple years ago I would have rated this bra a 5. BUT. They have changed the material used for the side and back and now they are garbage. I have purchased several over the last year, all of them have fallen apart in a month or so. The stretchy material on the side separates and shreds. The bras become unwearable a month or two after purchased. Some I’ve noticed in time to return them, others I have not and have had to throw out. I have waited a few month before repurchasing to see if it was just a bad batch of material, but I am having the same issue with this batch. I would not recommend purchasing this bra until the fix the material quality issue.

The good: It's supportive. If you're large chested Playtex is definitely a brand you should be investigating. 38DDD here and this bra holds them steady. The bad: It's scratchy, the seam across the boob makes it look weird, and OMG Madonna cone boob! The design of this bra is such that there's a lot more fabric on the lower half of the boob casing (work with me here) so that when you get your girls in and finally get all the horrible hooks snapped (FOUR!!) and stand back up... the bottom fabric pushes up the boobs and then makes an almost shelf since the upper half of the fabric casing is much smaller. It's weird. Did I mention it's scratchy? I bought the Playtex 18 hour ultimate fit lift and support wire free bra at the same time and it does NOT have that seam across the boob, is NOT scratchy, and since it doesn't have the weird seam it doesn't do the Madonna thing. This one's going back, and more of the other kind are coming. I should say that at least one of the glowing reviews had a photo of what it does to your boobs (through a sweater) and it's obvious that some people want their boobs to look like what this does. Want attention grabbing boobs that stick out really far? This bra will do it. I prefer the kind that supports while keeping a... less in-your-face look. At least for my everyday bras... And did I mention it's scratchy?

Have worn these bras for years. For last few years I've not been able to find these, in my size, in stores. Lingerie stores carry lovely lacy bras, very expensive, but none fit like this style.

Great bra for amazing price. Very secure fit. I have large chest and it acts as a minimized as well. Full coverage without “double boob” look under shirts. Smoothies out “back rolls.” I feel so secure in this bra, I prefer to workout in them rather than a sports bra. Very lightweight. I don’t normally wear wire-free bras because I feel they don’t offer enough support for my large chest (38DDD), but this wire free bra is amazing at lifting also! It’s not the sexiest looking bra you’ll ever wear, but if you want amazing support and comfort, this is the bra for you. Highly recommend.