Best bra style for 'empty' breasts?

[NoSnotAllowed]

Hi all, really hoping you can help.

I'm after some new bras but the thought of bra shopping fills me with dread. My breasts have not recovered from having (and feeding) two children in quick succession. They are quite big but empty looking - deflated you may say. From a side view they look a bit like a ski jump! However I have quite a lot of breast tissue under my arms. I'm finding it hard to find a bra that contains the side boob without leaving the top of the cup gaping away from the breast.

Does such a bra exist?

[BingBongSongEveryDamnDay]

Firstly, are you wearing the right size? thebetterbracampaign.blogspot.co.uk/p/fitting-advice.html

I'm a 'ski jump' as you describe it, I love the Panache Cleo Maddie, recently discovered it after seeing it recommended on MN.

[Chandon]

I find the Calvin Klein lightly padded ones great. Only up to a D cup though.

[agoodbook]

depending on your cup size - look for one with a side sling- its a seam from top to bottom of the cup, (but obviously at the side !)- it pushes you in and up!
eg here
www.bravissimo.com/products/lingerie/sensational-sets/elodie-bra/black-berry/fag7bb/?brand=fantasie

[NoSnotAllowed]

Fairly sure I'm not wearing the right size. I've just measured using the mumsnet technique and got 30" and 38" which would be a......30FF? I that right? Think I'm wearing a 34D at the moment but no idea as it's so old all the writing has washed off the labels!

The side sling design sounds good although not sure I could bring myself to spend £40 on one bra!

[AnguaResurgam]

I like the Panache Tango, and wear one cup size under that from the bra intervention maths.

Bravissimo stock them if you want to try on a few adjacent sizes to see which holds yours best. And they're always available (often discounted) online when you know which size you want.

[burnishedsilver]

I find balconette the bras suit because there less fabric at the top.
Get the size sorted first and then look at styles.

[Grammar]

I love the 'vintage' bullet bras (see 'Bewitched' the series) they can be got from'What Katy Did' and fit well with pads supplied if you want them. Most recommended

[agoodbook]

Bravissimo have a bra fitting guide on their website - you can always try a few on and send them back- so you can do it at home if you are not happy going for a fitting. A good fitting bra makes a massive difference and they all fit differently depending on make .

[StatisticallyChallenged]

If you have lost upper fullness, which is really common, then balconette and half cup styles which basically don't have much of a top half to the cup can be great. Moulded T shirt bras, on the other hand, are awful!

[yazzy85]

I have the same deflated shape after breastfeeding. The lovely ladies on here recommended Panache Jasmine and Idina on another thread and I really like them because they have stretchy lace upper section and lota of support.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00KTCE7VW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1418679299&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX110_SY165&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00BXA6DNE/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1418679458&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SY200_QL40&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[ouryve]

Balconette bras are usually best for empty-ish boobs, as there's not much fabric at the top to hang loose. A bra in the correct size is more likely to have underwires that go right under your armpit and hold in all the breast tissue there. if the cup is big enough, then you can scopp the breast tissue into the cup and there won't be anything to hang out of the side.

I have most success with Curvy Kate bras, though some Freya and Fantasie have a nice cup shape, too.

I don't get along with any of the Panache bras I've tried. The cups are usually too much at the front and don't gather in the breast tissue at the sides.

[RojaGato]

Balconette, as they don't have fabric on top of the cup. Try on a cup size smaller than your usual size too just in case it looks better, there is so much variation between different brands anyway. Chantelle balconettes are lovely, go up to an F cup and even though they tend to be in the 40-60 range, on figleaves they are often up to 40-05% off in sale, which shouldn't be long in coming now. They last ages, I have never worn one out, I only ever stop wearing if my size changes due to weight loss etc.

On a much cheaper note, Ann Summers do great ones that have soft boning in the cup, that sort of springs back and pushes you up:
www.annsummers.com/p/pure-lace-2-pack-underwired-bra-white/pink/01brpgas1201091
They do them singly and in other colours too.
Some italian bra maker used to do them years ago and they were great for upper back/neck pain due to the extra support the boning provides mid cup (I was an F cup at the time, now a DD). Unlike padded bras, the boning is flexible so adapts to your shape- it is a bit springy so it is a really good at pushing you up wihout getting the two footballs look. Went hunting for a similar style when italian ones became unavailable and found these.

[yazzy85]

Any recommendations for good balconettes?

[NoSnotAllowed]

Thanks everyone. Really useful help. I shall start looking into your recommendations!

[AmazingDisgrace]

Fauve half cup bras are brilliant (I have similar lack of top volume) I also get on really well with the Panache Rhea style. You can often find (Bnwt) bargains on ebay..I got a Fauve one recently for about £12

[Tannitot]

I'm having the same issue post breastfeeding. The thing is I cannot wear a bra which is too high in the middle as they are quite close together no gap in between and the wires dig into my breast even if the wires are flat to the centre of my ribs. Any styles anyone can recommend? I used to go for plunge styles but with the emptyness at the top my old bras don't look right. Thanks

[StatisticallyChallenged]

The best I have found for close set (I'm very close set) are Ewa Michalak and Comexim, both polish brands with very narrow central gores.

[Tannitot]

Thank you for that, is the postage expensive? Is the sizing accurate and do they allow returns if I order a few sizes? Thanks again.

[Tannitot]

Also any particular styles you could recommend? I think I'm around a 32G maybe slightly bigger need to measure again

[StatisticallyChallenged]

For ewa, As long as you get one of their non custom orders -so a size on the drop down menu -then they are returnable. Price wise they're on a par with bravissimo, I just placed an order for two which was 73 including delivery I think. The s style is a nice in between, not a full plunge but great lift and cleavage. The chp is more of a half cup so might work too. I've tried a fair few -do you know what size suits you in Cleo or Freya?

[StatisticallyChallenged]

For some people half cup can be too low - they're great for others. If you are very soft it's easy to fall out of them or just sink! The line between balconettes and half cups is very thin too, often half cups are balconettes, balconettes are half cups, or balconies... Wish it was better defined as it's very inconsistent

[Tannitot]

Thank you to both for your advise and suggestions. I've looked at those links and they are lovely but I already know the wires being so high in the middle won't work for me as I literally have no gap between breasts. It's really tricky trying to find a good fit in the correct sizing. Any other suggestions welcome

[StatisticallyChallenged]

I don't have a gap either -the wires are much narrower than normal, they cross over the tips. I literally have no flat area in between at all

[Tannitot]

StatisticallyChallenged thank you it sounds like you're very similar. Could you suggest anything at all from Bravissimo or figleaves or similar? I will take a look at the polish brands you mentioned but in the meantime I'm in need of anything that fits reasonably well. Is the website viewable in english? I took a quick look earlier but couldn't see an option to do so. Thanks again for your help.