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Style & Beauty

bras with side boning?

29 replies

PickleFish · 18/01/2018 09:34

Can anyone recommend bras with side boning that might be available on the high street rather than just online?

I tried the Debenhams back-smoothing bra and it didn't fit me well at all (and still had to be ordered as they had none in the shop).

I've seen others listed on blogs and articles, but either discontinued now (articles from a year ago or more) or only in the US.

I have a lot of back fat, and always end up with the bra band folded in half. Even the smoothing bras with very wide side panels end up rolling up at the bottom so don't seem to be enough - i think it probably has to be some kind of boning to prevent that. I'm not that large a cup size though, 38D usually, and sometimes the ones with more support start at E or higher.

Ideally I want a bra to wear everyday, so fairly smooth, and preferably not any more padding than necessary.

I have a couple of curvy kate moulded t-shirts bras now that I wear all the time, but they still roll up a lot at the bottom of the band. I heard that Triumph did some boning in the larger sizes, but when I emailed and asked for which bras specifically had this, they couldn't tell me, and there isn't one close. There is a Bravissimo here, but I'm not sure I"m larger enough for that. We have a Debenhams, and a John Lewis, and I'm fairly close enough to London or other cities to get to most high street shops. But even if I had to order online in the end rather than trying it on, that would be OK.

Any recommendations for specific bras that have boning that are easily available? thanks

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ilovecherries · 18/01/2018 09:58

My advice would be go to Bravissimo, and get properly fitted. Your bra shouldn't roll like that. I was a 38-40 for many years, and my bra never did that. Even if they don't have anything your size (unlikely) they will be able to show you exactly what you should be looking for to get a good fit.

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TaurielTest · 18/01/2018 10:09

Some Fantasie and Freya bras have side boning - Debenhams and JL stock these brands, so does Bravissimo. But I agree, go and get properly measured. You may find less rolling in a "sister size" - i.e. smaller band, larger cup - with or without side bones.

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Saladd0dger · 18/01/2018 10:16

I get mine from Asda online

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PickleFish · 18/01/2018 10:35

Thanks, will have a look for some brands.

I have been measured by Triumph before and that's what they recommended, and it generally does seem that they fit. But I have never found a bra that doesn't roll. My 'rolls' just happen to be right where the band is, and I'm very high waisted (and round shouldered) so all my rolls are right there as soon as I sit down. And as soon as it's happened once, it keeps happening. Sometimes I have a couple of weeks with a new bra where it doesnt, as the bra is still quite stiff. Often it's just the bottom cm of the band that rolls, but still irritating and lumpy.

Maybe a sports bra with more elastic would work, not pretty but none of mine really are.

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Furball · 18/01/2018 10:47

I would measure yourself as per this blog and go from there.

And then believe in that measure - you may be surprised what it comes out as, but this is what the tape measure says .

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Furball · 18/01/2018 10:48

Bravissimo is definitely your best bet and if you don't get on with what they fit you they offer you your money back

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PickleFish · 18/01/2018 11:45

I'll have a go re measuring as per the blog when I get home.

I expect mostly it's just I'm too fat for a bra to fit smoothly, which I know is my own fault. You can't hide rolls really and they're always there when I sit. I'm very short from armpit to shoulder too (or very sloped shoulders) so straps have never stayed up either.

Don't know how f I'm big enough for bravissimo but maybe I am. I'm not that large busted, only a D and that's only one side, I'm just fat. When I was thinner was a 34 or 36 C.

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thedevilinablackdress · 18/01/2018 11:56

Bravissimo have D cups, deffo worth checking out.

Some of John Lewis own bras have side boning iirc

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MagicFajita · 18/01/2018 11:58

The John Lewis classic underwired t shirt bra has this and they're sold in-store.

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sanitygirl · 18/01/2018 12:25

Fantasie side support bras are good - John Lewis stock them

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PickleFish · 18/01/2018 12:38

I found one Fantasie one that had them in the JL sale, but not my size, sadly. I couldn't see any new stock with them, but that might change once the sale is over. The salesperson didn't even know what I meant by side boning, so there might be some other name that I don't know.

I tried on a JL brand one, but the cups were the wrong shape entirely for me. I don't know if it was the classic t-shirt bra, though. I think I need to look online more at the whole range and then get them in if needed. thanks.

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wonderingagain21 · 18/01/2018 12:40

I have found side boning in Sainsbury's before but you have to go in store to find them.

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LoniceraJaponica · 18/01/2018 12:44

Often straps falling down is a sign that you are wearing the wrong band size.

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PhilODox · 18/01/2018 12:47

Side-boning seems pretty self explanatory to me! Maybe they didn't know much about bras?
Fantasie side support are fantastic, really good- I am fairly well-endowed compared to my build, and they are the best I've found.
In true MN style of bra intervention, have you tried going down a band size and up a cup size?
So if you're 38D, try 36E on the widest clip setting.
Try on at JL, then look on fig leaves etc in the sale for fantasie side support- make sure it's that not the plunge version. Elodie, Darcie models are good.

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LoveMyLittleSuperhero · 18/01/2018 12:50

Beware of side boning if you are having this problem. My bras only roll when I've been sat in an unusual position for a long time but it annoyed me so I tried it and found instead of solving the problem the boning bent into a curved shape and dug into me.

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PhilODox · 18/01/2018 13:13

To clarify, fantasie Darcie doesn't have side boning- the side support is special panels (am wearing one today) can't remember about Elodie, will check tonight

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PickleFish · 18/01/2018 13:27

I've just realised that my Curvy Kate bras already have side boning - not really rigid ,but probably as hard as any of the ones I saw in JL. So I guess that is not the answer, as the band can still roll at the back! And it has bent to my shape.

Even as a small child, any straps on pinafores, swimsuits, etc fell off my shoulders, and it's even more so now. It's so frustrating!

I have tried different band sizes, but the fabric is too soft somehow at the band and so rolls, or digs in. I'll keep trying a few different ones though.

Some have side slings rather than boning, which didn't sound like it would help, but maybe it would.

D is almost too big now - it fits nicely on one side, but too big on the other. Moulded cups sort of hide that. The band feels fairly tight.

Probably massive diet is the only solution!

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PickleFish · 18/01/2018 13:32

Or maybe I just need to replace bras much more often?! I usually have 2 or 3 and wash them every few wearings (not every single time), so they do get quite a lot of use. They never look particularly worn out, and I expect them to last a year at least, but maybe that's unrealistic. I suppose the elastic could be wearing out a bit and making it easier to roll. Though I'm pretty sure it does that even within the first few weeks.

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StormTreader · 18/01/2018 13:34

The Fairy Boobmother page on Facebook is pretty good for this kind of thing.
It may well be that your band is too loose. Its not supposed to sit lightly, its supposed to grip your ribs firmly enough that it takes the majority of the weight being supported. If its loose enough that it has enough slack to allow rolling up, its probably not tight enough. It should be like someone is gripping your ribs firmly with both hands as if they are going to pick you up - not painful but firm.

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StormTreader · 18/01/2018 13:35

You may also find that what you think of as back/side fat is partly actually sideboob that needs a bigger cup to be scooped forwards into.

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TossDaily · 18/01/2018 14:20

Am I the only one smirking at 'side boning'?

I'll get me coat.
Blush

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BunloafAndCrumpets · 18/01/2018 15:15

I'm currently wearing a Debenhams own brand t shirt bra which has boning in the back of it. Is very comfy! The boning is only in the larger sizes of the bra though I think. The fitters were quite helpful when I went. Good luck!

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PhilODox · 18/01/2018 19:17

Oh no- I'd expect them to last far longer than a year! Just checked the Elodie, and that doesn't have side boning, but still nice and supportive.
Tbh I could wear them without the straps over my shoulder and they are still supportive.
You can usually get end of lines (change of colour etc) on eBay, so brand new but a more affordable price. Think the one I'm wearing today was £12.

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PhilODox · 18/01/2018 19:18

I am also wondering if longline type bras might help? But I don't have experience of wearing them I'm afraid.

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PickleFish · 18/01/2018 22:30

yes that does sound like a good idea; I'll google them - it is probably the same idea as what was making me think of sports bras, that kind of wide band

maybe I'll have another look at debenhams too. The one I tried didn't fit well in the cups at all, but another one might. And if there are some with boning more towards the back, that would be even better.

I've also found you can add your own to already-made bras - you can buy casings and the boning separately, though I"m not sure I'd really know how to do it as it'd have to be by hand. But it's a thought. If I could add extra bits at the back, maybe it would work better than the sides. Or maybe stronger boning rather than the plastic stuff that bends would be good.

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