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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To despair at EVER finding a bra that fits?!

999 replies

Silverstar2 · 06/02/2013 17:41

So, I have read every website on the subject, been measured at Bravissimo, and STILL find every single bra uncomfortable - even the ones that Bravissimo said were the right size. I just want to rip the thing off as soon as I get in from work. They seem fine for about an hour, then start to dig in.

I find that they just 'curl up' at the back, and I get horrible back fat, or dig in at the side/arm pit, but mainly on just one side! The band never seems to sit flush to my side iyswim. I have tried going up a band and down a cup, down a band and up a cup etc, have tried every style going..........

I found when I wore my saggy old too big bras they gave me no shape or support, but my god they were comfy!

I think I am about a 36/38 E/F. I have ordered and sent back about ten bras this last month as they just all HURT.

So, AIBU to just let 'em all hang out and be pain-free??!!!!

OP posts:
SorrelForbes · 19/02/2013 18:25

Thanks Coral. Must pass on thanks to fellow bra enthusiasts SC and HN. Many hands make light work

That sounds wrong somehow when talking about bras!

StatisticallyChallenged · 19/02/2013 18:43

I dunno Sorrel, I reckon it might be easier if we just carried our breasts around in our hands!

Figleaves are abysmal when it comes to the photos. I think part of the problem is that they use models who are a 28 back at most, on ranges that don't start until a 32! But they also obviously just stick them in whatever is handy.

I will also confess to major quadraboob in the past Blush

JeffFaFa · 19/02/2013 19:05

thanks for explaining is sc that makes sense. My bra back doesnt do anything at all i tighten the shoulder straps as tight as they will go to hold everything in place. I dont even get red marks on my shoulders anymore i seem to have permenant indents instead! :( heres hoping i get on better with the new bra ive ordered

IcaMorgan · 19/02/2013 19:09

I just watched the news on Ch5 and there was a woman on it whos boobs were round her waist and she had so much quadra boobage that it was bigger than my boobs

SorrelForbes · 19/02/2013 19:10

Ica. You will notice bade fitting bras everywhere now Grin

WeAreSix · 19/02/2013 19:44

I've been fitted!!!

Out with the random sizes - was wearing 34B pre breastfeeding, 34D while feeding.

In comes my new Bravissimo nursing bra in a............ 30F. Nearly fainted, I did! Thank you for the boot up the bum I needed :)

StatisticallyChallenged · 19/02/2013 19:46

Welcome to the club WeAreSix! Do you keep marvelling at your new boobs (I still love the new bra perkiness!)

Cj1981 · 19/02/2013 21:37

To all those ladies who gave me advice on Sunday evening, a massive thank you. I am now the proud owner of 32DD boobs, the old 38A's having been rightly relegated! I cannot believe the difference a well fitting bra makes and without you lovely ladies I would never have had the guts to try anything like a DD cup. So thank you once again - DH is also very grateful Wink

WeAreSix · 19/02/2013 22:16

The biggest difference is comfort. No rubbing straps or fidgeting trying to get it in the correct place. Can't believe how low the back is! My shoulder blades are freeeeeeeeeee :) :)

TheDoctrineOfSciAndNatureClub · 19/02/2013 23:16

Yay CJ!

StatisticallyChallenged · 19/02/2013 23:57

Classic..story in paper, M&S have released a new bra which is "specially designed to combat sagging without padding"...it is available from a 34b to a 42DD

AARGH

TheDoctrineOfSciAndNatureClub · 20/02/2013 07:13

Aargh indeed!

Original poster
Silverstar2 · 20/02/2013 07:22

That's great Cj, so pleased for you!

SS2

OP posts:
SorrelForbes · 20/02/2013 08:18

Right, that's it! We need to email that new woman at M&S (if I can recall her name!)

AgathaF · 20/02/2013 08:29

The model wearing the new M&S bra (apart from the fact she is too young and too slim to need it/fit it) - how much airbrushing??

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 20/02/2013 08:34

Sorrell we must, they clearly are just so blinkered. They MUST be losing market share hand over fist as people turn to online places like Brastop? Why aren't they looking at how their competitors size and fit?

StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2013 08:48

It's definitely worth a try. Might be worth including links to some of the better fitting blogs such as butterflycollection, investinyourchest etc as well.

It's just infuriating, they get it so so wrong. I have a feeling someone wrote to them before and their response was the polite equivalent of "there there dear, we're the experts"

Chickengirl · 20/02/2013 09:10

I can't remember who, but thanks for bravely taking on my impossible challenge to fit my 26" back 28.5" bust! Sadly the Royce in the 28" back doesn't really fit and just flattens what little I have and the other, sorry cant remember what it was, I couldn't see in a near size to me. It seems there is a big gap in the market for slim and small of bust, in sure I'm not the only person this size. Sorrel, Statically, any ideas that don't involve made to measure or little girl cropped tops? I want a nice grown up bra with some shape!

StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2013 09:27

ChickenGirl, I think to get something that really fits you well, then either somewhere like Ewa Michelak (who are under £30 for a bra in any size I think) or making adjustments yourself may be the way forward.

Alternatively, if you can find a 28 back which is good in the cup, then you could get one of these clips which you use to reduce your bra.

what about these in a 28A?

StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2013 09:50

Also, have you tried Mimi Holiday? Expensive, although I found this and this on ebay, and they at least do grown up lingerie!

Also:
28A Returnable

marriednotdead · 20/02/2013 10:21

hotair
The Melody full cup does not fit to size- it's looser in the band from GG upwards and the cup is small. A 38kk fits like a 40jj. Given that you're finding the back loose and the cup is not quite right still, I'd suggest ordering a Panache Tango in a 38k and a 40k. It's usually the solution.

Sorrel just for future reference, Freya/Fantasie in J upwards are absolutely shit pretty useless on the vast majority of women. From GG upwards most styles are looser in the band, so for example if a 32g is slightly small in the cup, you'd need to try a 30gg or 30h Hmm

Panache and Bravissimo own brand are the only ones with strong enough wires. And Cleo are fab if you want your boobs on your chin! I find the wires dig me between the boobs < many ishoos> but the lift is amazing.

If you're above a J and want the Cleo lift and shape, Panache Jasmine is the only bra to do it. It's the best thing they've ever done and even women who can only usually wear Tango finally have an alternative.

StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2013 12:00

Married, I struggled when I was over a J cup (pregnancy etc). I had a couple of Freyas which were very good (I miss the Eleanor, it was a seriously sturdy bra which seemed to have a much better fabric than many of their recent ones) but mainly lived in Bravissimo.

I wish I could get on with Panache, as some of their designs are gorgeous. But they just are completely the wrong shape for my breasts. Although saying that I do have one on order at the moment as I found an Amira plunge reduced and it's so pretty I had to try it anyway!

The Curvy Kate moulded/padded ones I think are OK (I have them in J+) because of the extra strength the padding gives, but I can't get anywhere with their unpadded. I ordered an Emily in 6 different sizes and it was useless. Fitted, but it just sort of sat there like a lacy ornament!

marriednotdead · 20/02/2013 12:33

SC I just had a look at that Amira. It looks as if it's a similar shape as this Masquerade but I hope not as everyone falls out of the front of that as the cups are so wide apart Hmm

Panache tend to make bras for women with full but wide boobs. If you are narrower either in the shoulder, or across the width of your bust at the front, then the cup flaps about at the top. That's usually when Bravissimo styles work better. Their Jasmine is not at all their usual shape so definitely recommend. They've got a few sizes left on Amazon.

I've had limited success with Curvy Kate. Some styles are better than others but they tend to fit big in the band and small in the cup. Good for shallower boobs I find. I know what you mean about the ornament though- it's got no oomph!

StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2013 12:47

My boobs are a bit strange. I would say they have quite a wide base - i.e. the buggers go pretty far under my armpits, but they are also extremely close set in the middle. Literally no gap. They also don't look anything like the size they are due to the wide base. Which means that as a rule I either need bras which are very low in the middle, or really high. It's actually been slightly easier since I went over a G, as the GG+ shape Freya use suits me far better than the lower cut one they use for

thesnootyfox · 20/02/2013 12:51

I never had a problem with bras until recently. Before children my measurements were 28 under measurement and 36 over measurement. I wore a 32DD and it was so comfortable, according to those measurements I should have been a 28 GG but when I was fitted in Bravissimo they said that they prefer to ignore measurements and look at the individual fit.

Now I have put on weight and my measurements are 32 under and 39 over. I am wearing a 32 F, it is uncomfortable and wrong. The back is so tight and I can only just do it up and there is room to stuff a couple loafs of bread down each cup. I think I would be better off in a 36c but I have been told that you shouldn't add on inches anymore.

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