500 Women Share The Best Plus Size Bras and Underwear

I LOVED Glamour Magazine had a feature on plus size fashion. However, their picks for the best plus size fashion skewed a bit… young. Nothing wrong with that, Glamour is a magazine catered to younger Millenials. But what about us grown women? Those of us over 35, and maybe over 65? We have different fashion needs and different economic means. 

I originally published this in 2019, but it is still valuable information so I updated it to ensure all the links are still active. Since 2019, some product names have changed and items are sold at different retailers. However, the favorite items are all still available so it's a really useful resource!

500 Women Share The Best Plus Size Bras and Underwear

I wanted to see what plus-size grown women wear and love, so I created a survey for the Wardrobe Oxygen Community, where over 500 women shared their thoughts, their style desires, and the best places to find plus-size fashion for grown women.  For this article, I focus on the results for the best plus size bras, panties, shapewear, and other intimates.  

What Are The Best Plus Size Bras?

Shop the Top 10 Best Plus Size Bra Brands:
#1: Cacique | #2: Soma | #3: Wacoal | #4: Elomi | #5: Glamorise | #6: Prima Donna | #7: Auden by Target | #8: Natori | #9: Warner's | #10: Chantelle

Lane Bryant's in-house brand Cacique was by far the most popular brand mentioned for having the best plus size bras. Many Wardrobe Oxygen readers commented that their bras have improved in the past year in regard to fit, style, and comfort. 

Soma was the second most favorite bra brand, but some commented that their band size selection was too limited.  Wacoal was in third place, many sharing they first heard about the brand from Oprah and have been wearing it for decades. Those who need larger cup and/or band sizes raved about Prima Donna and Glamorise for their selection. 

“It is so difficult for me to find bras where the straps don’t slip off. The best style I have found is Wacoal 855192 Basic Beauty Full Figure Bra because the straps are attached closer to the center in the back. It is a very comfortable style unless one of the underwires escapes and starts poking me.”

“The Matilda bra from Elomi is the best bra I’ve ever worn. It is comfortable, has great lift, and creates nice cleavage. They’re pricey but so worth it.”

“Third Love 24/7 Full Coverage is the ONLY bra that doesn’t gap, make the girls conical, or just serve as a glorified shelf. The online chat was my lifesaver to find my best fit. Took some time but free exchanges made all the difference.”

“Prima Donna has the most beautiful and luxurious bras for large busts. They aren't cheap but they make me feel beautiful and womanly.”

“Elomi. Other brands claiming to be plus-size don’t have nearly large enough cup sizes.”

The Best Plus Size Sports Bras

Shop the Top 10 Plus Size Sports Bra Brands:
#1: Brooks | #2: Cacique | #3: Champion | #4: Enell | #5: Elomi | #6: Wacoal | #7: Panache | #8: Glamorise | #9: Natori | #10: Freya

The top answer isn't in the graph above. Most entries were from women saying they hadn't found a decent plus-sized sports bra. From my previous posts and reviews about sports bras, I know there is nothing more personal than the fit and support of a sports bra for large busts. One person's Holy Grail is another's failure. 

The most popular entry was for Brooks. In second place was Cacique by Lane Bryant and Lane Bryant in general, with several specifically mentioning their LIVI Max Support Wicking Sport Bra. 

“The Enell bra is sold as the last resort bra on the Title Nine website. My girls don't move a centimeter.”

“If you have boobs, you need at least three hooks on the back of your sports bra. Lane Bryant makes these and they WORK!”

“Panache has a sports bra with underwire and it is AMAZING! I ran a 10K no problem, I wear it to CrossFit, I wear it to dance class. My breasts don't go ANYWHERE.”

“Glamorise has a wire-free sports bra that looks great and comes in a 48 H (my size)”

The Best Plus Size Underwear Brands

Shop the Top Ten Plus Size Underwear Brands:
#1: Jockey | #2: Cacique | #3: Soma | #4: Duluth Trading Company | #5: Torrid | #6: Wacoal | #7: Vanity Fair | #8: Hanky Panky | #9: Aerie | #10: Just My Size

There were as many passionate votes for a specific style of underwear from a brand as there were votes where women stated they didn't care and just bought what was on sale or what they could pick up at Target or Walmart.  It's clear that underwear isn't as important to many plus-size women as their bras.  That being said, there were some clear leaders. 

Jockey had the most votes, with specific mentions for their No Panty Line Promise and Elance options.  The second most popular brand was Lane Bryant and its Cacique brand, but few replies about a specific style.

Soma was the third most popular, but several commented that they felt bad even mentioning the brand since they only go up to XXL. Soma's Vanishing Edge collection was by far the most popular style mentioned.  Duluth Trading was the brand with the most passionate responses for fit, quality, and comfort. 

“Duluth – no really! I am slowly converting all my friends they are the BEST!”

“I don't know if Ex Officio makes plus size. I am a 14/16 pants and wear an L. Love their Give N Go Bikini Brief for day to day and working out.” (FYI Ex Officio goes up to 2XL)

“I swear by Soma Vanishing Edge though I feel bad mentioning since they only go up to XXL. I am a 22 and wear their XXL.”

The Best Plus Size Shapewear Brands

Shop the Top Nine Plus Size Shapewear Brands:
#2: Spanx | #3: Assets | #4: Jockey | #5: Maidenform | #6: Soma | #7: Shapermint | #8: Nancy Ganz | #9: Yummie | #10: TC Intimates

I gotta say, I love that the #1 answer to this question was that plus size grown women don't wear shapewear!  For those who desire shapewear for specific situations or because it makes them more comfortable, the top answer was Spanx, though many said they wear it because they don't know of any other brand.

Several shared that in place of traditional shapewear they like slipshorts or slips to smooth without compression; their favorites were Thigh Society and Jockey (check out my Thigh Society review and use WO215 for 15% off your order).

“I rarely wear shapewear but I have an open bust bodysuit from Spanx just in case a dress needs it.”

“I don't like shapewear but I do like Jockey Skimmies for smoothing me out.”

“The only shapewear I own are Power Panties [from Spanx]. Go up a size and you will get smoothing without the stomach pains.”

You mentioned an open bust bodysuit from TC Fine Intimates several years ago. THANK YOU. It's the only shapewear that is comfortable, won't roll down, and works with any bra.”

“I hate shapewear but I needed it for a bridesmaid's dress. I found bike shorts with straps that go over the shoulders from Assets at Target. It stayed in place and no panty lines!”

Where to Buy The Best Plus Size Bras

This was not a question on the Wardrobe Oxygen survey, but many shared their thoughts on where to buy the best plus size bras and their tips on successful bra shopping: 

• Bare Necessities was by far the most popular retailer for buying the best plus-size bras. They have the most brands, the most band sizes, extensive customer reviews, and easy shipping and return policies. 
• HerRoom was another winner for where to shop for the best plus-size bras, offering a wide range of sizes and colors.
• Several suggested my favorite tip for bra shopping: find the bra you love, then search for more of them on Amazon and/or eBay. Once you know your size, brand, and style, search it on one of those sites, and you may find brand-new previous-season colors for less. 
• Many who love Soma recommend getting sized at one of their stores to determine your size in this specific brand. While Soma has more sizes in the back and drawers, many said the best selection of larger cups and band sizes is online. Sign up for Soma's emails, and you'll know when they're having sales.
• If you don't have a store near you to help you be sized, check out the Reddit A Bra That Fits calculator. It will help you get accurate sizing from the comfort of your own home.