I think I may have an addiction.
Since my cup size bumped up another letter about eight months ago, and I got a new higher-paying job five months ago, I’ve been on a major bra-buying spree. First I replaced a bunch of bras that I already owned with the correct size. Then I discovered that contrary to my previously held belief, non-molded bras are great, which apparently means I need a ton of them. Then I decided I wanted more bright colors in my repertoire. Then I went to two CurvExpo trade shows and left both with a shopping list of bras I must have the moment they’re available.
I have eBay reminders set to email me daily for my size in Cleo, Fantasie, Shock Absorber, Curvy Kate, Freya, my Freya sister size, and a year-old La Senza bikini that I desperately want. And I get email newsletters from Figleaves, Bravissimo, Her Room, Lion’s Lair, and Bare Necessities.
I just got another new bra in the mail last week, have an exchange on its way from Bravissimo, and two from eBay UK that have reached NYC but have been languishing in customs for three weeks (because the US Postal Service is the worst—give me my bras, damnit!).
I have basic bras:
Molded-cup bras:
Cut and Sewn bras:
Boudoir bras:
I still have a few bras that no longer fit sticking around, because they’re too old to replace but I love them so much I just can’t bear to get rid of them:
I even have a stack of bras that don’t fit well waiting to be sold or donated!
Yet despite owning far more bras than necessary, I keep buying more! I rotate out ones that I’ve grown bored with or have decided aren’t a perfect fit for others that are cuter or fit better. It’s getting to the point that all I have left are well-fitting, cute bras—but my eyes still light up every time I get a sale email from Figleaves or find a good deal on eBay. It’s a fight to keep myself from clicking “buy” every time.
I can try to justify it with the knowledge that big bust bras don’t last that long, but when you’ve got more than a week in between wearings of a bra, it is going to last a long time! And though my finances are in better shape than they were twelve months ago, my money could definitely go toward more important things (like a new laptop, which I do actually need). Though thanks to Hourglassy, I can at least use bras as a tax write-off.
How many bras are too many? How many do the rest of you own? Do you ever feel like you have enough? And does anyone else start to feel guilty after a while when you’re spending upwards of $50 for a piece of underwear? I rarely even pay that much for shoes—and I’m even more of a shoe-aholic than I am a bra-aholic!
For some reason, I am really horrible at getting “basic” bras and molded cup bras. The non-molded cups always look better on me. 😛 I really need to work on my bra wardrobe. All of my molded ones don’t really fit anymore.
I think I have 10 bras; and one on the way.
I get the same emails that you do, and I am ALWAYS scouring eBay for a good deal. I can’t help it. I want every single pretty, well fitting bra that exists.
The most I have paid for a bra was $65.00 – full price for a Panache Andorra. And it is worth. every. single. penny. Until I found out that I could get it on eBay for somewhere around $36… O.o
I try to keep my purchase prices around $25-35. But it is definitely hard to do when you have to order from the UK and shipping is around $12.
I love your collection!
I have 15 bras and counting! I like to wash mine often, and when I see new ones, I feel as though I need them before they sell out. I guess I am making up for lost time when I had ugly bras that didn’t fit that well — now they are all pretty, and fit great! I have been pretty good recently, and am waiting for more new Freya bras to emerge this season.
I was wondering though — I have a few older freyas that stil fit, look good, but don’t really ‘lift’ as well as they used to. I like them so much, but cannot bear to part with them. How can I tell when it is time to let go of a bra, especially one that used to work well, but doesn’t really do its job as well? Usually, It is the stretched out ones that I eventually put in the donate bag.
The way I finally let go of bras I like is I assess whether I wear them or not. Obviously I have those three bras above that I don’t wear but refuse to get rid of. But for bras that at least started out the right size, I have specific rules: They have to go if I literally never wear them, wear them less than at least once a month, or don’t WANT to wear them (because the shape isn’t good or it’s not comfortable or whatever the reason may be). Then I remind myself that I’m making room for new ones!
Thank you for the great suggestions — I can tell the new ones fit better, but sometimes the older ones are just the right colour to match a top/ or cami — I will try them all on again and re-assess as well — as you say — making room for new ones is the best part, especially after letting go of old/little worn ones.
(for some reason fantasie, does not work for me as well as Freya, so I have only worn my two fantasie bras once, and I feel guilty ‘letting go’ as they are both pretty, but maybe once I ‘remove’ them from the rotation I will feel better!)
You know what I found scary?
That just by looking at your collection I could identify almost every bra. The Decos had a me bit puzzled at first and I didn’t know the Just Peachy and the two Caprice bras but apart from that I could have named them all.
Guess I am addicted too.
how I envy all your pretty bras!! My finances are a bit short right now to afford so much pretty! If I could I’d spend my fortune on nail polish, shoes and bras =-D
Have you added yours to Bratabase? you totally should before getting rid of them, it’d definitely help a lot! ^.^