I ask b/c I am flat in the chest and it seems a bit silly to shell out $20-60 for ill-fitting bras when the only function they serve is to cover up that area, plus I don't need the support at all. I was thinking of wearing sports bras, bralettes, or camis instead. They run far cheaper and accomplish the same purpose. I don't know if I can pull it off, though. Any advice?

I felt the same way until I found a bra that fits. The Little Bra Company (www.thelittlebracompany.com) may have a retailer in your area that you can try on for sizing. Because of the mark up, I buy from TLBC online. I was inspired by seeing this bra fitting and review video: http://www.frmheadtotoe.com/2010/08/ask ... g-101.html. My younger sister swore she wanted a boob job until I found her the perfect bra. It was the Simona Super Push Up bra from Intimissimi. Unfortunately, this is a European brand that I cannot find in the US.

In comparison, I have the Angela, Lucia, Sascha and Mercedes bras from TLBC and this Super Push Up from Intimissimi has MORE padding than any of those TLBC bras.

http://uk.intimissimi.com/thumbnail/pro ... 3/4875.uts

See if you can find free shipping/return sites online to try out some of their bras. I'm sure that if you find the perfect one, you'll feel like it's worth the money.

Finding the perfect bra made me feel more womanly and grown up since they mold your breast instead of acting merely as a cover-up (training bra).

I think this is totally a personal choice issue. The only thing that would give me a second thought in your case is "show-through" on cold days or under sheer tops. These "coobie" bras appeared in EVERY boutique in my town over night a few months ago and the retailers tell me they are extremely popular,.

http://www.shopcoobie.com

It might be a nice alternative to an athletic sports bra because it has camisole straps and a pretty lace edging at the top, and is very very lightly padded to prevent anything showing through. It looks very comfortable. Let us know what you think if you try them!

Target sells non-padded bras from size 32A for like $7. We have similar measurements and I would NEVER leave the house without a bra! Most tops fit better with some "shaping" up there, and jiggling just isn't comfortable (or attractive).

Well thanks for your suggestions and input. I bought a "smart size" wireless bra for $4 at Ross today. Doesn't smoosh my chest flat like sport bras, yet doesn't feel like I'm trying to fake my size, like with padded bras or ones with overly big cups.

I've heard of figleaves.com, which sells bras as small as 28A: [urlhttp://www.figleaves.com/us/department.asp?dept=Womens_Bras&searchhandle=A%3dwomenswear+not+in+olet~B%3dwomenswear+not+in+olet~&answerhandle=11191&departments=&page=1][/url].

If you're feeling bras simply cover the area instead of support, more likely than not you're wearing the wrong size. jldang's link to frmheadtotoe's video is a good start for how to measure yourself if you are more small-chested. Most women with the incorrect bra size need to go down a band size and up a cup size.