Despite the fact that our culture is obsessed with large breasts, the truth is that when it comes to shopping for sexy lingerie, finding a fabulous bra is about as hard as finding that tiny popcorn hull that just fell into our cleavage.

Larger breasts, be they 32DD or 48J, require more support than smaller ones; most bras made for ample-bosomed women (as they used to say) resemble more something cast off from Barbarella than anything you'd want to show off in the boudoir. Unless Barbarella's your thing, which is a whole other topic...

Although some national lingerie chains carry sizes up to 42DD, their bigger selections aren't sexy, and they are likely to be simply larger versions of bras designed for smaller-breasted women, which means that they often don't provide the specific support that well-endowed women need.

For those women whose band size is a 38 or larger, plus-size stores like Lane Bryant and August Max usually carry several different bra styles, many of them trés sexy. There are also numerous websites that provide X-rated plus-size lingerie. Although these are more likely to be constructed with the mammaries in mind, they are still probably not as high-quality as the expensive European brands favored by independent lingerie stores.

A good bra -- one that will last you more than six months -- is likely to cost you $100 or more. On the other hand, if you just want a super-vixen look for one special night, there's nothing wrong with a bargain (and if it doesn't fit perfectly, well, it's not going to stay on that long anyway, right?). Here are some recommendations for superior bras you can find in most fine lingerie stores.

Barbara of Paris is a personal favorite, although some styles only go up to an E. For durability, comfort and absolute no-holds-barred sensuality, Barbara is the only choice.

England's Rigby and Peller is the UK's most fashionable and reliable lingerie retailer, with the high prices to prove it. In addition to providing a wide range of beautiful bras for all sizes, they will also custom-make luxurious bras -- for the mere price of approximately $600 US (plus the trip to London for the fitting).

Chantelle's Passionista line says it all. Their lacy Oslo and Venice styles run up to 38E, and they have other styles that go up to 44G.

If you have an unusual breast size, Bras for Body and Soul is the ultimate resource. They carry a collection of the world's best-made bras in 200 different sizes, from bands ranging 26-52 and up to an M-cup. Unfortunately, they don't sell online, but you can phone them at 510-490-SOUL [7685] or visit their store in Fremont, California. At the very least, they may be able to give you ideas about which manufacturers make ooh-la-la bras in your size.

Now stop reading, start shopping and have a fabulous Valentine's Day!

-- Sarah Chauncey