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Original poster

Bra help needed - Desperately need help to find a comfortable well-fitting bra

32 replies

katalex · 18/07/2019 14:38

I am having an absolute nightmare finding a comfortable bra. I have put on a bit of weight so my 32DD was a bit tight. The underwire was pressing into my ribcage and there was a bit of overspill in the cups. I always go to M&S to get measured and fitted and I always come out with a comfortable bra. I have never had any problems. This time, however, I was measured 34DD. The fitter got me the same bra that I had been wearing but in this new size. She told me it fit me nicely and it seemed comfortable when I was in the changing room. I wore it for a few days but it was so uncomfortable. The underwire was digging into my breast and poked me in the armpit every time I bent down. I went back and tried on dozens of other bras in various sizes. I even bought some of them and wore them at home but they were all uncomfortable. I then found a 32E which seemed really comfortable in the changing room but after a couple of hours wearing it, I was in pain from the underwire pressing into my ribcage under my breasts.

I decided to try John Lewis who measured me 32DD. The fitter found me two soft, non-wire bras (I had been put off wires by this point). She said that both of them fit well so I bought one of them. After a couple of hours wearing it, my breasts were so painful that I had to take it off. I guess that they were squashed and I suffer with painful breasts anyway so I was in agony. I went back and tried the 32E but that didn't seem much better. So I thought I would see which underwire bras they have. I picked out a 32E which looked and felt like it fit perfectly. However, I get the same problem with the wires pressing into my ribcage under my breasts and it hurts.

My underbust measures 30 inches with no bra on. My overbust is about 35 inches with a bra on. I thought maybe I should try a 30F but, if I'm in pain wearing a 32 band, wouldn't a 30 be worse?

I am so stressed trying to find a good fitting bra. Please help me find one. I need one where the band is thin and soft and preferably no band around the front. I like a full cup and I have a short torso. The one I normally wear from M&S is this one but they don't go down to a 30 band.

www.marksandspencer.com/floral-jacquard-lace-underwired-full-cup-a-dd-bra/p/p22079331?prevPage=srp

OP posts:
Jolonglegs · 18/07/2019 14:47

I feel your frustration. If its the wiring thats causing the problem, have you tried a non-wired bra?

Original poster
katalex · 18/07/2019 14:51

I've tried a few non-wired bras but I think they were all the wrong size. They either caused me pain or I didn't feel supported.

OP posts:
Chickenish · 18/07/2019 14:51

I’m severely lacking in knowledge about bras, but I’m sure if you have put on weight, you shouldn’t still be a 32.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Clothing General pregnancy
MrsBertBibby · 18/07/2019 14:53

Go to a proper lingerie shop. Not a dept store. So much better!

NoBaggyPants · 18/07/2019 14:55

What dress size are you? If you are a 30 back now then you weren't a 32 before you gained weight

NoBaggyPants · 18/07/2019 14:56

And how does the bra fit at the back? Do they ride up at all?

Original poster
katalex · 18/07/2019 15:02

I'm a size 14.

The bra seems to fit fine at the back and doesn't ride up.

Which lingerie shop would you recommend? Is Bravissimo any good?

OP posts:
Ribeebie · 18/07/2019 15:04

Try doing your own BOB measurement -Boob or Bust - see how to do it online. Then go and try some on in that size or try somewhere like bravissimo

dementedpixie · 18/07/2019 15:07

Measure your overbust without a bra and bending forwards

reluctantbrit · 18/07/2019 15:07

If you have a Bravissimo shop nearby then please go. They are great with no-tape measuring and will provide endless styles to try on. I go there for years and changed not only my size but also the brand I need to wear. Similar to all clothing, nothing is cut the same and you will have patience to find out what fits.

amicissimma · 18/07/2019 15:46

While people on here swear by the Boob or Bust method, I don't get on with it at all.

According to BoB, I 'should' be wearing a 30D, but I'm yet to find one which will meet around my chest. A 32 C is painfully tight. I've always worn a 36A, which is comfortable, looks like the cups fit, doesn't ride up and doesn't give me odd bulgy bits at the back of my shoulders. So I stick with the 36A, which is, apparently, 'wrong' but works. I can also manage a 34B on the loosest hooks, if I can't find a 36A. I must say this works for Primark, JL, M&S and my local specialised bra shop, who are scandalised by my choice of size, but have to admit that it looks as if it fits well when on.

So I'd recommend going into your preferred supplier and taking armloads of bras into the changing room. Try 36 band and 38 band in a variety of cups, as well as the smaller bands that the shop may recommend.

Original poster
katalex · 18/07/2019 15:50

Boob or Bust calculates me as a 30FF. I tried it a few weeks ago but I thought it must be wrong considering my 32 band bra was too tight. I guess I've been wearing the wrong size all this time.

I think I will try Bravissimo reluctantbrit. My closest shop is in London and it's probably 90 mins to get there by train but I'm willing to try anything to find a bra that fits.

OP posts:
mummmy2017 · 18/07/2019 15:52

Victoria Secrets no wire are amazing . 38dd...

TigerCameForTea · 18/07/2019 15:52

Another vote for Bravissimo! They were really good and definitely worth paying a bit extra!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 18/07/2019 15:59

I'm a 30DD and I've given up on any underwired bras at all. Once they go over a DD they are so heavily structured, they dig in terribly. Any smaller and I fall out everywhere. I may be a DD but I don't have a heavy bust, I am surprisingly flat chested and can count my ribs through my breasts. I now only wear sports bras for daytime use, and have some cute padded non wired bras from primark for if I need something lighter (eg with a nice dress). I was so sick of armpit bulge or feeling uncomfortable all the time.

Not sure that's any help to you OP but I feel your pain. It's frustrating trying on hundreds of bras in every size and not finding a single one that fits!

MrsMoastyToasty · 18/07/2019 16:15

Try some branded bras, not just stores own brand. I always get on well with Fantasie or Freya.
Sometimes it's as much to do with the length of the wire and it's shape (some are more of a V and some more an upended C).
If you are in the South West I can recommend an independent retailer.

kunderscorej · 18/07/2019 16:21

Really recommend bravissimo. I recently got fitted and was shocked. I was previously wearing 36B, had a baby 6 months ago, and got fitted as a 32FF! So while my boobs had got bigger from pregnancy /BF I had definitely been wearing the wrong size my whole life. Most of the support should come from the band, so it should be tight.
The London store is fab, so many helpful shop assistants.
Hope you find a good one!

slithytove · 18/07/2019 16:30

What is your rib cage measurement and your body circumference around the nipple measurement? Also are they full or a bit empty on top

Original poster
katalex · 18/07/2019 16:31

Thanks for the recommendations.

I had considered sports bras, thenewaveragebear1983, the crop top style. Is that what you wear? I really want something that has nothing to dig in or poke or cut into my skin. Do you have one that's soft and smooth that you can recommend?

OP posts:
slithytove · 18/07/2019 16:34

Sorry you said in the OP

I’d try:
32 E, 34 E
30 F, 32 F

In as many different colours and shapes as you cna from pour moi - same bra in 4 sizes

Stick it on a credit card and send back the non fitting

Pootles34 · 18/07/2019 16:36

Independent lingerie shop is best - I can recommend in york. Bravissimo is ok, better than m&s, but independent is better again.

RushianDisney · 18/07/2019 16:39

I'm a 30E and exclusively wear yoga bras. They are very supportive but not as constricting as a full on sports bra, and also work under all types of clothes. I think the problem with bra sizes is it only takes into account two measurements, so depending on how your breasts sit on your chest means the 'right' size doesn't work. I have very high, widely spaced breasts and find plunge or push-up styles simply don't work, balconette styles are better as long as the wires have space between them and the straps go short enough. But it's such a slog trawling through multiple shops and trying on hundreds of bras that I've pretty much given up looking and just bought multiples of the yoga bra I liked best. Much cheaper too!

MmeBufo · 18/07/2019 16:39

A bra is too big in the band and too small in the cup can feel very tight indeed - the breasts 'borrow' some of the band to accommodate themselves.

The best way to see if a band size is right is to try the bra on back to front, the breasts can't borrow any of the width that way.

Original poster
katalex · 18/07/2019 17:03

Thank you for all your suggestions and advice.

OP posts:
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