Where Can I Find: A Swimsuit for DDD Boobs — for Under $40?

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

Every spring, I say a little prayer to the swimsuit gods: Please, please let me find the DDD tankini trifecta — wide straps and underwire under the breast and on the sides — for under $40! I scour the internet and shop all of the retail stores [for the] right combination of support, fashion, and function.

Does anyone make an affordable DDD suit... with the Big Rack trifecta? —Terri

Okay, this is a tough one. But there are a few brands and stores with consistently good bathing suit options for those of us larger than a C or D cup. While most admittedly aren’t under $40, they’re still less expensive than a lot of other options on the market, without sacrificing quality.

Freya Swim: If you’ve got big boobs, get thee to Freya ASAP. The brand specializes in big sizes, running up to cup size J, and with wide or reinforced straps on nearly every top (including this sexy black macrame suit, my personal favorite).

Modcloth: This beloved e-commerce site wins on the variety front. Right now, you’ll find no less than 201 different options, including plenty with underwire, like this sweet floral bikini top or this retro daisy one-piece.

SwimsuitsForAll: With sizes 4-34, SwimsuitsForAll makes a true effort to outfit every body. The online store has an entire underwire category with options both classic (like this timeless black tankini) and trendy (like this strappy one-piece).

Hot Topic: You might think this mall staple is just for DC Comics fans (and if you are one, great! This cute Harley Quinn bikini top is right up your alley). But even if you’re not, Hot Topic has a variety of supportive underwire swimsuits in larger sizes.

Lilly & Lime: This might sound crazy, but I'm bullish on Lilly & Lime for one counterintuitive reason. Check out the brand's website for photos of models wearing their balconette, full coverage and underwire halter-style tops, and you'll find that some of them look... pretty unflattering. But to me, that's a reassuring sign Lilly & Lime's showing us what these suits actually look like on "real" women with real big chests (something most retailers don't show!). And most of them look pretty great — understated, unflashy, and super supportive. I'm digging the Sunset Shell Balconette ($70).

The one big caveat: Few of the above are particularly cheap. The hard truth is that for big-boobed shoppers, a bathing suit is an investment item. Find one or two that you love, and treat ‘em like gold.

And if you’ve got more recs, send them along!