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Original poster

Why are bras so ridiculously uncomfortable? And phones and...

107 replies

WomenUnited · 13/07/2019 19:37

It is all just made for men isn't it?

I can't find a decent smartphone that fits in my hand any more never mind my pocket (I get those sewn in by the tailor now since they are mostly absent from women's clothes these days). I got tennis elbow and the physio partly blames the phone and banned me from typing on it rendering it fairly useless.

I hate bra shopping, it is always the same and I am always driven to it by summer heat making the usually uncomfortable completely unbearable.

Why all the sharp pointy scratchy spikes and lacy ribbony stupid bits and pinchy elastic everywhere?

I am allergic to latex which makes it all nigh impossible and not as svelte as I used to be so braless is no longer an option.

I am feeling very frustrated with it all and have been reading Invisible Women which is an incredible book and is making me brave enough to complain about what needs changed in my world!

We need women run companies making women centred design and development entirely accessible and the norm, like actual women not what men think women should settle for.

OP posts:
dottiedodah · 13/07/2019 20:40

If you are not too big on top ,then you may be able to get away with wearing a vest top under your clothes. M and S do a temp controlled one ,and its great.My problem is I have a wide back and small front!.I find bra hooks (avaliable on Amazon) very good as well if I really need to wear a bra.(By the way what happened about that Bra Burning stuff from the 70s!)

ArgyMargy · 13/07/2019 20:37

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Melroses · 13/07/2019 20:35

Warner used to make comfortable woman shaped bras, but they got taken over by ultimo and were disappeared.

Melroses · 13/07/2019 20:33

My bra fits and is expensive and is still driving me up the wall. It appears to be the edge of the wire casing, especially where it joins the elastic edge of the side bits.

It is hard to find natural shaped underwired ones with a narrow back and large cup size that do not set off my menopausal duct irritations. The are all too pointy and uplifting. Non underwired ones do not work (even if you can find them) and bralets are mass produced for smaller cups and larger backs and create a monoboob under the chin.

My new mobile phone is too big and got scratched in my handbag. Sad

ArgyMargy · 13/07/2019 20:30

And no one is forcing you to buy a massive phone. For god's sake!!

ArgyMargy · 13/07/2019 20:29

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Grasspigeons · 13/07/2019 20:27

I fell some marketing abour bras - its a brand thats said to be designed by two women and something about a link between breast cancer and underwires. They have yet to arrive but i will report back if they work.
I also wonder about leg lenth and cars. I can see over the bonnet fine but to reach the steering wheel comfortably, my legs are all bunched up. Do i have a short body, or long legs or do wmen have different proprtions than men on average (in terms of the % of their body that is leg v torso)

ArgyMargy · 13/07/2019 20:27

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Original poster
WomenUnited · 13/07/2019 20:23

If your bra is hurting it's because it's the wrong size.

Nope, just the wrong material.

Please note that latex and elastic/lycra allergies are remarkably common and become worse with exposure. A perfect fitting bra can still result in swollen itchy sore skin and bruising after just a few hours and can take days or weeks to heal.

It is really not helpful to continually impose blame on the wearer!

I agree about cars, at a very average 5'4" I have had to have driver's seats taken off the runners and repositioned closer to the pedals in past cars. Dismal.

OP posts:
ProfYaffle · 13/07/2019 20:21

My Sony Xperia is massive! Had to get a pop socket to keep hold of it.

FeministCat · 13/07/2019 20:20

ISmellBabies

Yes, it can be difficult if you are a short woman (or a short man). My 5’10” mother on other hand never had an issue ha ha!

I love my Mazda CX-5 for this. I have the higher model but my seat is incredibly adjustable and the visibility is great. I am 5’4” so yes a fully adjustable seat - with lots of range - is a necessity. My colleague who is 5’0” drives a Lexus SUV for the same reason - seat adjustability.

omione · 13/07/2019 20:16

M&S Flexifit bra is heaven on earth

Outsomnia · 13/07/2019 20:14

Why are iPhones and the like so expensive, and they cannot stand up on their own anywhere. Cannot clip them to your body, cannot clip them to anything. But I am sure there are ways. Watched YouTube and it is hilarious what people do to get their phones to sit up straight without any Apple or Android help.

Honestly. WTF.

FeministCat · 13/07/2019 20:14

Rabbit ears?!

I’ve used them for under a matron of honour dress. Okay for a while if you don’t need a lot of support or lift but I would not wear for long periods. It’s rather thick silicone (ie can be hot). And I have limited sensation in parts of my breasts but taking them off the skin was ouch. Would not want to do that daily.

LassOfFyvie · 13/07/2019 20:14

Sony Xperia and cheaper Motorola phones are small. Nokia is back and doing Android phones and I think there's are quite small too. Don't know about iPhone- the only Apple product I have is my work provided phone (which I hate- not for its size but its general uselessness compared to Android)

If your bra is hurting it's because it's the wrong size.

ISmellBabies · 13/07/2019 20:13

Can I add cars in here? It fucks me right off. Men build cars for men, and when women can barely see over the bonnet because you can't put the seat up high enough while still reaching the peddles, then they think it a hilarious old lady driving stereotype. Their shit design gives us a problem that they then take the piss about. It's taking the piss squared. The great piss robbery.

Original poster
WomenUnited · 13/07/2019 20:10

I have been ok with the sloggi zero feel ones over winter but then it got too hot and sweaty for that sort of material (and also they don't give much support).

I do get properly fitted, my local John Lewis is very good but there just isn't what I am after. I had some really nice (expensive) Temperley silk bras a few years back which were brilliant for summer heat and didn't hurt me anywhere but they have never been repeated. Also some Missoni for Target silk bras with a kind of almost padded soft round the rib bit that were fantastic but again just a one off and got those in Australia. I am now 32F or FF depending on the fit which is just that bit too big for the comfy bra styles I used to enjoy at 32E.

I will try Molke, the wonder woman look is always a good one!

OP posts:
whatthewhatthewhat · 13/07/2019 20:07

Rabbit ears?!

(On order,haven't tried yet! 😂

Chickenish · 13/07/2019 20:05

I gave up on bras because I’ve tried them on in the shop, they’ve seemed fine and then half way through the day I have to de-bra as I am in so much pain. Thankfully my boobs aren’t too big to do this and I don’t care if someone else thinks I should be wearing a bra.

FeministCat · 13/07/2019 20:04

I’m a 34FF/32G and am much more comfortable in a bra than not.

Yeah, I am a 30E and agree (I hoped after my mastectomies and reconstruction I could go down in size but nope, due to my reconstruction type I ended up at the same size). My recon means I am more comfortable going without wires for brief periods (like lounging at home) but overall am still more comfortable and supported in a proper fitting underwire.

NancyJoan · 13/07/2019 20:01

If your bra is uncomfortable, it probably doesn’t fit you. Agree that phones are too damn big though.

TheInebriati · 13/07/2019 19:59

I've got big man sized hands and a shit phone so I'm ok there, as for bras I switched to sports bras and theres no going back.

timeforakinderworld · 13/07/2019 19:56

My phone is also the right size! Invisible Women is an amazing book though.

dun1urkin · 13/07/2019 19:56

Re bras, agree with PP about fitting, for both cup and back size, and shape. I’m a 34FF/32G and am much more comfortable in a bra than not.
I do wish for more pockets though. I love pockets.
Not got a problem with phones as have massive hands Grin

timeforakinderworld · 13/07/2019 19:55

*gave