This post was originally posted on Wardrobe Oxygen.
I LOVEDย Glamour Magazineโs feature on plus size fashion. However, their picks for the best plus size fashion skewed a bitโฆ 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.ย

I wanted to see what plus-size grown women wear and love so I created my own survey forย Wardrobe Oxygenย where over 500 women shared their thoughts, their style desires, and the best places to findย plus size fashion for grown women.ย For this post, I am focusing on the results for the best plus size bras, panties, shapewear, and other intimates.ย ย
What Are The Best Plus Size Bras for Grown Women?

Shop the Top 10 Best Plus Size Bra Brands for Grown Women:
#1:ย Caciqueย | #2:ย Soma| #3:ย Wacoalย | #4:ย Elomiย | #5:ย Glamoriseย | #6:ย Prima Donnaย | #7:ย Auden by Targetย | #8:ย Natoriย | #9:ย Warnerโsย | #10:ย Chantelle
Lane Bryantโs in-house brand Caciqueย 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 fit, style, and comfort in the past year.ย

Somaย was the second most favorite bra brand, but some commented that their band size selection was too limited.ย ย Wacoalย was in third place, many sharing they first heard about the brand fromย Oprahย and have been wearing it for decades. Those who need a larger cup and/or band sizes raved aboutย Prima Donnaย andย Glamoriseย for their selection.ย
โIt is so difficult for me to find bras where the straps donโt slip off. The best style I have found isย Wacoal 855192 Basic Beauty Full-Figure Braย 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.โ
โThe Matilda bra from Elomiย is the best bra Iโve ever worn. It is comfortable, has great lift, and creates nice cleavage. Theyโre pricey but so worth it.โ
โThird Love 24/7 Full Coverageย is the ONLY bra that doesnโt 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.โ
โPrima Donnaย has the most beautiful and luxurious bras for large busts. They arenโt cheap but they make me feel beautiful and womanly.โ
โElomi. Other brands claiming to be plus-size donโt have nearly large enough cup sizes.โ
โI think Torrid is great for bras! Theย Torrid Back Smoothing Plunge Braย is the best!โ
โAfter reading theย A Bra That Fits Reddit, the bra that works for each woman will be different based on her shape. But Panache and Chantelle have been game-changers for me personally.โ
โI am a recent convert toย Soma bras. They are the first in years I can comfortably wear all day.โ
What Are The Best Plus Size Sports Bras For Grown Women?

Shop the Top 10 Plus Size Sports Bra Brands for Grown Women:
#1:ย Brooks Moving Comfortย | #2:ย Caciqueย | #3:ย C9ย | #4:ย Enellย | #5:ย Elomiย | #6:ย Wacoalย | #7:ย Panacheย | #8:ย Glamoriseย | #9:ย Natoriย | #10:ย Freya
The top answer isnโt in the graph above. Most entries were from women saying they havenโt found a decent plus sized sports bra. Knowing from my previous posts and reviews about sports bras, there is nothing more personal than the fit and support of a sports bra for large busts.ย One personโs Holy Grail is anotherโs fail.ย
The most popular entry was forย Brooks and their Moving Comfort Bras.ย

In second place wasย Cacique by Lane Bryant and Lane Bryant in general, with several specifically mentioning theirย High-Impact Max Support Wicking Sport Bra.ย Many raved about the price and fit ofย Championโs line for Target called c9.ย
โTheย Enell bra is sold as the last resort braย on the Title Nine website. My girls donโt move a centimeter.โ
โI really likeย C9, it is the Target version of Champion. They are just as good as fancy ones I bought at department stores.โ
โIf you have boobs, you need at least three hooks on the back of your sports bra.ย Lane Bryant makes theseย and they WORK!โ
โPanache has a sports bra with underwireย and it is AMAZING! I ran a 10K no problem, I wear it to CrossFit, I wear it to dance class. My breasts donโt go ANYWHERE.โ
โGlamorise has a wire-free sports braย that looks great and comes in a 48 H (my size)โ
What Are The Best Plus Size Underwear And Shapewear For Grown Women?

Shop the Top Ten Plus Size Underwear Brands for Grown Women:
#1:ย Jockeyย | #2:ย Caciqueย | #3:ย Somaย | #4:ย Duluth Trading Companyย | #5:ย Torridย | #6:ย Wacoalย | #7:ย Vanity Fairย | #8:ย Hanky Pankyย | #9:ย Aerieย | #10:ย 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 donโt care and just buy what is on sale or they can pick up at Target or Walmart.ย Itโs clear that underwear isnโt as important to many plus size women as their bras.ย That being said, there were some clear leaders.ย

Jockeyย had the most votes, with specific mentions for theirย No Panty Line Promiseย andย Elanceย collections.ย The second most popular brand wasย Lane Bryant and their Cacique brand, but few replies about a specific style.
Somaย was the third most popular, but several commented that they felt bad even mentioning the brand since they only go up to XXL.ย Somaโs Vanishing Edge collectionย was by far the most popular style mentioned.ย ย Duluth Tradingย was the brand with the most passionate responses for fit, quality, and comfort.ย
โDuluthย โ no really! I am slowly converting all my friends they are the BEST!โ
โFor underwear, to be specific: Aerie โย the high-waisted lace undies, in black. SWOON.โ
Soma [vanishing] edge pantiesโ, after trying them I wonโt wear any other kind.โ
โI donโt know ifย Ex Officioย makes plus size. I am a 14/16 pants and wear an L. Love theirย Give N Go Bikini Briefย for day to day and working out.โ (FYI Ex Officio goes up to 2XL)
โJockey #61683 [Elance]ย are perfect under dresses for summer.โ
โI swear byย Soma Vanishing Edgeย though I feel bad mentioning since they only go up to XXL. I am a 22 and wear their XXL.โ
The Best Plus Size Shapewear Brands For Grown Women

Shop the Top Nine Plus Size Shapewear Brands for Grown Women:
#2:ย Spanxย | #3:ย Assetsย | #4:ย Jockeyย | #5: Maidenform | #6: Soma | #7: Shapermint | #8: Nancy Ganz | #9: Yummie | #10:ย TC Intimates
I gotta say, I love that the #1 answer for this question was that women donโt wear shapewear!ย For those who desire shapewear for specific situations or because it makes them more comfortable, the top answer wasย Spanx, though many said they wear it because they donโt know of any other brand.
Several shared that in place of traditional shapewear they like slipshorts or slips to smooth without compression; their favorites wereย Thigh Societyย andย Jockey.
โI rarely wear shapewear but I have anย open bust bodysuit from Spanxย just in case a dress needs it.โ
โI donโt like shapewear but I do likeย Jockey Skimmiesย for smoothing me out.โ
โThe only shapewear I own areย Power Pantiesย [from Spanx]. Go up a size and you will get smoothing without the stomach pains.โ
โTC has a high waist pantyย like Spanx but I find it fits better.โ
You mentioned anย open bust bodysuit from TC Fine Intimatesย several years ago. THANK YOU. Itโs the only shapewear that is comfortable, wonโt roll down, and works with any bra.โ
โI hate shapewear but I needed it for a bridesmaidโs dress. I foundย bike shorts with straps that go over the shoulders from Assets at Target. It stayed in place and no panty lines!โ
What Is The Best Product To Prevent Thigh Chafing

Shop the Top Ten Products for Preventing Thigh Chafing:
#1:ย Jockey Skimmiesย | #2:ย Megababe Thigh Rescueย | #3:ย Monistat Gelย | #4:ย Bodyglideย | #5:ย Thigh Societyย | #6:ย Snag Shortsย | #7:ย Undersummersย | #8:ย Skindura Secret Shieldย | #9:ย Soma Smoothing Shortย | #10:ย TomboyX Boy Shortsย
I must say I was looking forward to these results. I usedย Jockey Skimmiesย for years, in recent years I was introduced toย Thigh Societyย which is a small Canadian woman-owned business with an extensive size range and variety of lengths and types (my favorite are the cooling slip shorts which are thin and silky and donโt give muffin top).ย I have tried a few topical products likeย Megababeย and was curious if there were any great products on the market I was unfamiliar with.

The two I hadnโt heard of were the two that received the most passionate responses:
- Iโve heard about the awesomeness that isย Snag Tightsย but didnโt know they had a short aptly namedย Chub Rub Shorts. Theyโre made with yarns to keep you cool and wick away moisture, have a cotton gusset, and a unique size chart that measures not just by clothing size but height. I appreciate the photos of people of varying sizes and heights in the products at Snag to help you see how they may work on your body.ย
- Skindura Secret Shieldย is a product from a brand called Skindura that was created by a woman who dealt with chub rub and wanted to find a solution. Many of the responses voting for Skindura raved about the simple yet effective ingredient list (jojoba esters, fractionated coconut oil, octyl palmitate a palm oil derivative, comfrey) and that it is a small business with amazing customer service. Secret Shield is waterproof, vegan, and free of petroleum, animal by-products, or silicone.ย ย
โJust discoveredย Body Glideย and it has changed my life!โ
โTheย Thigh Societyย are my fave anti-chafe shorts after much trial and error with other brands โ donโt roll, donโt make noise, not sweaty, excellent size chart with inclusive sizing, can be machine washed and dried. Amazing.โ
โI used to wearย Under Summersย but after findingย Snag Chub Rub Shortsย I canโt look back. Best fit, best price, best everything!โ
โI loveย Katie Sturinoย and I loveย Megababe. It saved my summer in Italy!โ
Where to Buy The Best Plus Size Bras For Grown Women
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:ย
- Bare Necessitiesย was by far the most popular retailer to buy the best plus size bras โ they have the most brands, the most band sizes, extensive customer reviews, and easy shipping and return policies.ย
- HerRoomย was another winner for where to shop for the best plus size bras, offering plenty of size and color range.
- Several suggested my favorite tip for bra shopping โ find the bra you love, then search for more of them on Amazon and/or eBay.ย Once you know your size, brand, and style, search it on one of those sites and you may find previous season colors brand new but for less.ย
- Many who loveย Somaย recommended you get sized at one of their stores to know what size you are in this specific brand. While Soma has more sizes in back and in drawers, many said the best selection of larger cups and band sizes is online. Sign up for Somaโs emails and youโll know when theyโre having sales.
- If you donโt have a store near you to help you be sized, check out theย Reddit A Bra That Fits calculator. It will help you get accurate sizing from the comfort of your own home.ย ย
If you didnโt get a chance to fill out the survey, feel free to share your recommendations for the best plus size bras, intimates, and products for thigh chafing for grown women in the comments below!
I love wearing my Jockey underwear, especially for work. Itโs comfortable and it really is seamless against your clothing