Yet another bra one! Bruises from bra and no natural padding!

[wooly31]

Hello, I hope one you lovely helpful people can give me some advice. I'm a 30 under and just about 35 inch bending over (only just) but I have a bony frame!! I've been really busy at work and lost a bit of weight and even more padding round my chest! My bras are now feeling really uncomfortable after a long day.

I went to tried some 30c and d s in M and S (I know!), instead of my usual 32Cs. In the 360 degree mirror and harsh lights that the bra I had taken off (32c) had imprinted on my back and chest and that the under wiring had rubbed and bruised under the arm (just clear of the breast tissue).

The smaller band seemed to dig in even more and create a bulge under my armpit. Can anyone advise a hardwearing, comfortable, and flattering bra? Measurements as above, bony chest wall and wide spaced boobs (god that sounds depressing!) Thank you in advance xx

[Fluffycloudland77]

When I went down to a 28 it felt like wearing a bra for the first time but you get used to it & my clothes look better.

I think you'd need a 30DD if you've got a 5 inch difference though.

[wooly31]

Thanks, I've measured. The 35 inch is leaning over and being "slack" with the tape. Somewhere between 34 and 35, I guess. Does the smaller band not make the bra imprint on your back worse? Thanks for the advice x

[ilovepowerhoop]

if the cup is too small it will make the back feel tighter as the breast tissue 'steals' some of the fabric. If there is a 4/5 inch difference then you need a bigger cup than a C

p.s. a C cup on a 32 band is bigger than a C cup on a 30 band so if you go down in the back size you need to go up in the cup size to get the same cup volume.

I would try a 30D and DD especially as you had underarm bulge (extra breast tissue that there was no room for in the cup you were trying on)

[wooly31]

Thanks fluffy and ilove. I'll do that. Any good brands for the wide-of-boob that are comfortable! I've had it with scratchy M and S. Not much choice locally but I'm London in a few weeks and could try on bras while there.

[bonzo77]

If you are a 30D bravissimo will stock your size. They'll know what style suits your shape. Lots of branches in London: Covent Garden and Oxford Circus probably your best bet.

[bonzo77]

Oh, My boobs are quite wide apart and I find bravissimo own brand very good. Their half cup styles are so comfy.

[Fluffycloudland77]

No it doesn't mark me and I don't get backache anymore.

We need statistically to see this! She'll know what to do.

[wooly31]

Thanks guys ;-)

[SorrelForbes]

OP, you need to try a a 30D at least. I wouldn't be surprised if you need a 30DD and even an E in some brands.

If you're going to London then head straight to Bravissimo in Oxford Circus or Covent Garden. Their own brand half cups and the Satine might work as might the Freya half cup styles.

[marriednotdead]

What Sorrel said

[alemci]

I'm 30E and quite wide, fantasie and freya seem to suit me

[SuperFlyHigh]

Go to a bravissimo for years I was measured as 32c or d but then I realised I was a 28 in back and they didn't really widely stock that size. A good bra should be firm fitting.

[SuperFlyHigh]

Also m&s are rubbish with larger busts and small backs it's strange bravissimo doesn't use tapes but they're spot on re size.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Some marking is fairly normal, but not bruising. I have a mark when I take my bra off - roughly follows the bottom of the band and the wires. But it's just a red mark, like a deeper version of the mark you get from sock elastic.

You will almost certainly need a D/DD or even E. Agree with the suggestions above for wide wires, curvy kate are wide too

[wooly31]

Thanks everyone. Lots of ideas and helpful information. (is now the time to whisper M and S had me at a 34A, but I never believed them)

[SoMuchForSubtlety]

I have quite a bony frame too, relatively narrow back and not-tiny boobs (currently in a 30F).

The key for me is how much the wire wraps around my boob. If I have shallow cup bras such as half cup they are usually much more comfortable - full cup I find often digs in at the top of the wire. If that makes sense?

Also experiment with different brands, some make the cup larger by making the wire wider, some by re-engineering the cup itself to poke out more. This is quite crucial to a good fit - not all boobs get their volume from the same shape.

[wooly31]

Yes, that does make sense! The bra that has given me a bruises (or non fading, discoloured marks) has done it at the top of the wire. I feel a whole new world (of bras) opening up to me!

[bonzo77]

Are the marks between your boobs? I had this really badly with balconette styles which had suited me really well prior to babies / weight loss. They were actually grazing me and leaving marks which persisted even until the morning when is been bra-free over night. It taken to padding the area with cotton wood! I also have wide set boobs and therefore a lot of breast tissue round the sides. The bravissimo half cups I think "rococco charm" and "hearts amour" and their low cut balconette called "Alana" (will check that one though) are brilliant for me. There was also a Freya half cup which was ok. One called "juna" had wires that didn't go deep enough into my arm pit.