I remember when I first heard of the Ahh Bra – the bra that was so good women tried it on and let out an ‘ahh’ of relief. The bra that promised wire free, hook and eye free miracle tits. Having always been bustier with boobs that enjoy gravity a leeeetle too much I was of course dubious at it’s claims.
Recently I was offered the chance to give one of these miracle bras a go, and due to curiosity I decided to say yes. I’ve had many readers ask if I would review the bra, and about the same amount who swear by non wired bras and it seemed like something I should try for myself! The lovely lady who contacted me asked my bra size and decided to send me a variety of Ahh Bra styles and sizes: one non wired original Ahh bra in a Large, one Ahh bra in an XL and an actual bra, size 2XL.
When I first opened my beautifully wrapped box and pulled the pink tissue paper apart I was struck by how SMALL the Ahh Bra was. It was structured like a crop top but with slight ruching in the middle of the front section where the cleavage would sit. The bra had soft thing moulded pieces inside it, about the size of the bottom of a wine bottle. It was easy to put on, I didn’t have to strain or stretch the material, and it almost encompassed my bust. Almost. This is the best photo of how it looked on me, the rest were somewhat indecent!
What can I say about this ‘bra’? Well, frankly, it’s not a bra, it’s not even close to being one, at least not on me. I was all South, East and West, the boob section was pretty small and the straps and band too big. My cleavage was smushed together and I felt all kinds of wrong. From what I can gather from the brochure that came with the products, the target market for this bra are women who’s bras are irritating – and from what the pictures suggest, that is because their bras fit them HIDEOUSLY.
The Ahh bra offers relief to those who loathe underwires and straps that dig in, who are sick of back fat and struggle to do up their bands, but I’ve yet to meet a woman who resents her bras after having a correct fitting. After trying all three Ahh Bras on and becoming less and less impressed with the products I can only conclude that they are either not meant for someone with my bust size, or they should be worn as sleep/lounging bras – they are in no way a rival to a well fitted regular bra and it frustrates me that the American lingerie market are more focused on producing products like these rather than realising that boobs go beyond a D cup in the majority of women. You cannot buy a bra in a single size as you have two different measurements to account for: the under bust and the bust. The chances are that very few women will fit perfectly into an Ahh Bra, especially as the straps are not adjustable at all. I do understand that on paper this product seems amazing as it aims to be so much. But realistically the lingerie market does not need such items polluting it and masquerading as a ‘bra’, it needs more focus on fit and more outlets that sell bras in every size. I wish I could be more positive about the product, but I see SO many women desperate for a store to go too and buy bras that are fitted onto them by properly trained professionals. I am sure that there are women out there who genuinely love the Ahh Bra and really have no need or desire to find a bra that actually fits them, but most women will do far better in a well fitted regular bra. It’s time that they were catered for in all corners of the globe.
Alas, Ahh Bra, you are not a bra substitute product I would ever recommend to anyone. It was good to try you out but all seem to be is a glorified crop top, no miracles were worked on this bust, all that I could say was ‘aargh’, not ‘ahh’.
Amen to that, George!
Completely agree! I can use this as a ‘sleep bra’ but that’s it. Massively unflattering, I’m not sure how it works to make te smaller busted ladies either.
i had my suspicions about that bra… after reading more of your posts, I think I need to have another fitting. I’m left with so many marks and digs by the end of the day I can’t wait to take off my bra.
Completely agree with you, the fit should be firm enough to give you uplift and take the weight of your bust off your shoulders but it should’nt ever leave you feeling you’re trussed up and can’t wait to take off your bra – go to an inderpendant lingerie specialist if you can!
Thank you for writing this i I’ve always wondered about this product. Still in search of the perfect bra
Could you go into greater detail of the bras that they sent you? You said they sent you “one non wired original Ahh bra in a Large, one Ahh bra in an XL and an actual bra, size 2XL,” so which one are you wearing in the picture? I wondered about them when they first came out and got two off of eBay a few years ago (I’m almost the same size as you, I went with the large Ahh Bra) and agree with everything you said, and I only use them for sleeping. I looked the new line up and I didn’t realize they had more different styles. I had no idea they were attempting to fix their failed sizing issues by making an underwired version, let alone why they would send you a 2XL of it.
Sorry for being vague, there were literally no redeeming features and so I didn’t go further!
This was the non wired bra, an original Ahh Bra:
http://sophisticatedpair.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Ahh_Bra_3.jpg
The wired bra was identical but it had flimsy wires.
The bra ish bra was this one:
http://sophisticatedpair.com/blog/?p=2408
Thank you for this revieuw. I’m about your bustsize and I’ve always wondered how an Aaah Bra would fit me, but never dared to order, because of the fact that I was sure I was too busty for it. I’m glad I’ve read your review… (and I’m sure my husband is also….)
I have yet to read a positive review of this bra in any of the bra blogs I read. I wonder why they keep trying instead of reconsidering the product.
Perhaps ‘any publicity is good publicity’? I’d never heard of it until I read about it on the blogs.
I’m pretty sure this is the bra my roommate has..she loves hers but only because she prefers to be in sports bras or no bra at all (really no clothing at all but that’s unrealistic). She’s also smaller busted-a B cup- but the bra doesn’t really work as a real bra for her either.
there are loads of bras like this. theres one that i found in asda called belvia bra and it was appaling! i have a big bust and i thought i would give it a go… when i put it on the fabric went see-through and i had more support when i didnt wear a bra than when i had the bra on! goodness knows who could wear a bra like that.
I will say this… I liked this bra as a maternity bra (and I left the house in it on more than one occasion during pregnancy. It gave me a better shape than a sports bra and wasn’t as uncomfortable for me (with a very painful floating rib) as my wirefree nursing bras. I am breastfeeding now and still wear these around the house, because they can easily be stretched down when I am feeding the baby. They are certainly no substitute for a good nursing bra, but given the price of even “lounge” nursing bras that will fit a 34GG, they work for me.
I am overjoyed that you have reviewed this bra as it would have been one very expensive msitake as I had hoped this would have solved my girls problems with underwires.
Are there really so many people who sleep in their bras.Isn’t it uncomfortable?If not can you explain.
Thank goodness you agree about this bra! I’m a 34J and I love bras (that fit well), when I first watched this bra on the shopping channels I thought it looked wonderful, however I was not willing to buy because as everyone with ample boobs should know not have to try them on to know if it will fit. A few weeks ago I got the chance whilst out shopping with my sister (a 32G). Well I chose the biggest size they had, I was popping out on top, underneath and out of the sides as was my sister! I think with the weight of larger breasts a bra needs proper structure. Anyway love the blog would love to see some ideas on winter clothes for this year <3
I have used mine as a lounge/sleep bra, but it still doesn’t provide the same support as the Freya soft cup styles. I think this bra would work okay for women in the 34+ band size range who have a smaller bust (A-DD) rather than women who are truly in that full-bust market. Love your review, and the pic you posted on facebook comparing the Ahh Bra to the Rhea really says it all!
It’s so hard to find a good sports bra when you have big girls! Thank you for the honest review, I won’t waste my money on one of these. I prefer Panache or Freya sports bras.
Kia ora from New Zealand.
Couldn’t agree more. They were horrible and reminded me of a tight vest which, if I’d worn for more than a couple of house, would have left me with a rash. fit me like a tight vest.
I guess we’re always after that perfect bra. About 10 years ago on British television there was a series on design. They covered things like making the most comfortable, economy class plane seat and the best bra ever. I waited and waited. Even went to the faff of ordering one from M and S ( about 60 quid) and when it arrived it was a nightmare.
Right now I’m waring $20 bras from The Warehouse ( a really cheap New Zealand store) and strangely enough they fit me much better than those I had fitted at a specialist department. They left me looking as if I had two icecream cornets stuck to my chest.
right back at ya kiwi I live in auckland, the Ahh bra as we all agree is a nightmare.I thought I had two balloons for breasts at a 42c it was not a good look ,but after shoulder surgery last week I realised I could not go bra less, as I really have 2 globes of the world for a bust. I popped over to local chemist and bought the Thin Lizzy version of Argh Bra while not perfect ( only because the band under bust is not designed for the ladies who do not have a six pack for abdomen) it is not too bad once you take out the ridiculous excuse for padded cups. The band does curl due to lack of six pack if they could fix that they would be an okay little item…..
Honest, well written article, particularly your comment regarding the USA lingerie market. I’ve seen women come in to our lingerie store wearing one of these aahhh bras (and similar derivatives) there is more support in a properly fitted maternity bra. The bra has been overhyped and particularly older women have brought into it – shame!
I’m with you 100%, single sized bras are not made for most women!
I am a fan, however, of the “un-bra” from Decent Exposures (www.decentexposures.com). It is comfortable and reasonably supportive, but it doesn’t really give a nice shape nor provide the uplift that a regular, properly fitted, wired bra does. I bought my first one in 1995, when I outgrew all the available nursing/maternity bras and was only 7 mos pregnant. I was clearly in the wrong bra size (but had no idea, until a year or two ago), and went from a 34DD to a 34I in their bras. I probably should have had a 30K or so.
This was pre-internets, and their customer service was phenomenal, and I liked supporting a women-owned/operated/staffed company.
Now I know I belong in a 32G/30H (and have found several bras that work great for me, mostly from Fantasie, my latest favorite is the Tina). I recently purchased a bra from Decent Exposures (30G I think), and I sometimes wear it on weekends when I feel like “hanging out”.
If you’re interested in something like but way better than the Aah bra, you might consider one of these. It won’t be your most fabulous bra, but it’ll be great for those days when you want to be bra-less but don’t want to be bra-less because of what that means for us big-busted women.
If this is the one that you’re also able to pick up at Walgreens, then I gotta agree. This was such a colossal failure on me. I just felt really stupid for thinking that something like this would ever work for me.
I guess they just caught me on a bad bra day. lol.
When I find a really, really comfy bra for my 40Gs, I will shout it from the rooftops, but I’m thinking it’s unlikely to be an Ahh Bra!