Marisota.co.uk - has coloured bras. Cheaper than Bravissimo but haven't bought from there yet.
Never thought of that sausage but will give it a go.

Hi, I haven't read all the thread but has anyone mentioned dying white bras? I have always done this, orange looks particularly good. Dylon dyes are fab for this.

I have these in a 34 E and they are my current favourite. There are other sorts form REd Herring at Debenhams but most are out of stock in larger sizes online - a stopre might be better. Being T Shirt bras, they are padded which is a bit annoying when you have large norks but they are wonderfully comfortable and supportive (and there are matching boy-shorts)

pre pregnancy i loved my bras from matalan, £7 each with matching knickers for £3 and in some beautiful colours too. i was a 38g (could get away with a 40f done up on a tighter hook) now almost 29 weeks pg and just been measured at a 38j so limited to white and white it seems.

anyway recommendations for non pregnant mners, are matalan and simply yours whihc is a website, it seems to be aimed at larger women but their unerwear come in a really big size range and if you cna;t find soemthign there then i'm not sure where else you would.

fishie it wasn't that i had problems with, although they didn't seem to have much.

The reason i didn't like them was because just over a year ago i went there to find a bra/body/all in one to go under my wedding dress. At the time i was a 36E but was wearing an old bra that was 38D (i had just stopped expressing milk and my boobs seemed to be changing shape/size at an hourly rate!!) Anyway, the woman in there took one look at me at said "32FF" i thought "great,no fussing about" All the bras she brought to me i literally couldn't get to meet across my back, but she wasn't having any of it. She even tried to do it up her self, and when that wouldn't do up, she tried telling me it was the design, that i should try another design. Er, why not try a bigger size?

And that is why i don't like bravissimo

i agree with alice re bravissimo. they do fittings well but the stock is really limited, they just have that bloody panache one with the leaves on it. any time they get anythign interesting it sells out straight away which you'd think might tell them something...

I have a fantastic new discovery!

Asda (yes, Asda!) are doing brightly coloured bras for £5 / £6 up to a G cup!!!

I mean they're not the best quality, but they've got great colours and you can;t argue with a fiver!

It must be over a decade since I've been able to buy a cheap and cheerful bra (36G here) - I bought 3 - my favourite is a shocking pink one - can't find it on their website, but I know the one down the road still has it.

<waves> Ooh Alice - a voice of dissent!

John Lewis would be a lot easier for me to get to than Bravissimo.

Ali i found John Lewis was the best place. I found a Freya bra (loads of different colours) and a Fantasie one. Both are a great fit (i'm a 32F)

I hated Bravissimo, it was possibly the worst place i have ever been to buy anything!

Hmm.

Well I went into Triumph yesterday - didn't ask them to fit me as I didn't have time - but I did try on a 38 band size in an E and F. It was sooo tight I could barely do it up. I think the one I have is very old.

I do need to get to Bravissimo, but it will be a while before I can get to one.

I think Bravissimo is worth an hours trek for a proper fitting.

Does the bit between your boobs sit flat against your breastbone, or can you pull it out a bit? When bras fit properly, it is initially a challenge to get used to doing them up when they are tighter, and they do feel restrictive at first, but once you're used to it, they are so much more supportive and clothes look better. Speaking as someone who went down 2 back sizes after a proper fitting, and I thought my old bras were 'ok'.

As for brands agree with above I love Freya and now I know how to fit them properly will buy online cheaper. All my bras are multicoloured creations.

I actually bought a 38F turquoise t shirt bra from Primark for £4 yesterday! They are doing a few in larger sizes now in lots of colours. I didn't try it on so it could be crap for all I know.

ali if you have any small lingerie shops go there, we have one in the very small town near me - the people in these shops really know what they are doing - I first got measured properly in Jenners in Edinburgh, but since then I have always gone to small independent bra shops.

Alibaba - thanks again for the heads up on the dress, I got one today in a 14

Got fitted at Bravissimo originally - was wearing 36D, should have been 32F, just bought some really pretty coloured ones in Asda, two for a tenner. Sort of nautical, if you know what I mean . Now deliberately having my bra straps on display!

Find a local person who makes corsets and ask them - I'm not taking any commissions at the moment due to having a 11 week old! - most people who can make a corset can make a bra as well due to a particular corset type. They aren't cheap but they will fit and be the best bra you've ever owned. If you have a bra that fitted you but is a bit old now take that to them and they can usually take a pattern from that and make you bra's that fit, look lovely and come in a rainbow of colours.

Dxx who has to many corsets she no longer fits in due to ds and the same for bras!

Sorry for hijack alibaba - wondering if dawntigga can tell us more about how to get bespoke bras made...

Have you got a john lewis or large dept store near you? They are usually better than m&s I find.
Check the bravissimo fitting guide online and have a critical look at whether you really fit your own bra.

You could always have one made for you, there are plenty of us lingerie makers around

dxx

John Lewis can be good for fitting but a bit hit and miss

Bravissimo will advise you over the phone if you can't get to a store

I would expect you to be in a 34/36 poss 38

I know I should get fitted, it's a question of where though. AFAIK there is nowhere near to me to get fitted properly. The nearest Bravissimo is over an hour away and M&S are to be avoided I've discovered.

Port I would love to wear a 36 bra, but they don't do up!

I'm pretty sure I'm in the right size, following the old M&S fitting method they'd have me in a 44C I worked out - most people you talk to seem to go down a band size or two and up a cup or 3 when they move away from that.

Do get fitted Ali, but look out for Freya bras, they come in lots of colours and styles, but it can be a hit or miss... they are not old lady-ish in style though and usually flattering.

I'm a large 16 and a 36E, so I suppose I would expect you to be a 36 or 38 band size; the 40 surprises me.

<takes note of dress and described lump and bump skimming and plans trip to Fat Face>

Eldon really? What would you think I should be in?

The bras that I have fit well, no gap under the band at the front and no riding up my back. The cups are a smooth fit - no four breasts here They are comfy, don't rub anywhere etc.

I second Eldonave

I would suggest that based on your dress size you are wearing the wrong size bra - get down to bravissimo and get fitted

32E here (in my non-pg state anyway) and bought a £6 bra from Matalan once - they have a Dcup plus range. It was a slate blue/grey colour, and a perfect match for a dress I had bought for a wedding.

I thought it would die shortly thereafter, but has so far given nearly 2 years of good service with no special treatment from me - gets bunged in the wash with DH's socks and pants.

try brastop (online) or figleaves (ditto) though I tend to see more pinky than bluey bras and I am a similar size to you. worth a try though.

Well that was a quick way to spend £50! Have ordered a couple of very pretty ones without industrial straps!

Thank you

Oh that is lovely, just my style too, hmm - thanks Alibaba, I'll have to have a look, I'd avoided FF lately due to it all looking crap!

Def have a look at Bravissimo, great customer service too. Or is there a John Lewis near you, I found them good too.

Ooh - will have a look on the website, not sure there is a shop near me.

Princess I am normally an 18, and the dress is a 16 and fits beautifully. I was so surprised.

yummy dress!

Ooh what dress> And if not too personal what size are you normally vs new dress?

def bravissimo, was in thgere today and they had lots of diff coloured ones

Bravissimo, even.

Bravissimo? PITA isn't it!

Following on from the thread the other day about visible bra straps, I need some help.

Bought a lovely dress in Fatface today - size smaller than usual too and it skims over all the lumps and bumps so feeling rather chuffed . It has thin straps, not spaghetti but close so bra strap is visible. The straps are well positioned though so they do line up with bra straps which I find things often don't.

Anyway, mindful of the verdict on here that it was ok to have bra strap on view if it was a nice colour I went into La Senza and M&S to look for something to wear under it.

Nada.

I am a 40 DD/E, or a 38 E depending on the style and shop. It was so depressing. Everything colourful didn't go big enough, everything in my size was hideous hideous hideous and either white, black or beige

Please help me so I can wear my lovely (smaller than usual!!) dress!