(Utterly, utterly trivial) rant about all the dress styles in Topshop/Mango/Zara that cannot be worn with Bras.

[Rainbunny]

Obviously these retailers are geared towards younger people (I'm in my late thirties but still trying to figure out what the hell "dressing my age" means, hence I still look at these places). However, I can't believe that a majority of the female population (at any age) can go braless. Am I crazy? I have never had the luxury of being able to skip wearing a bra but looking at these stores' offerings right now you'd think a majority of women apparently don't need bras. This isn't a complaint against those lucky, lucky women who can skip the bra, just a comment (rant) about the proliferation of dresses that cannot be worn with a bra.

Sorry, a bit fed up after a fruitless shopping trip for a dress to attend a wedding this weekend :(

What about a strapless bra?

Which kind do you mean? I shop at Mango, Zara etc and have massive knockers. I can wear at least a strapless bra with all my clothes.

I have huge breasticles and wear a strapless bra. I only have 1 strapless due to the cost

www.bravissimo.com/products/lingerie/strapless-bras/evie-bridal-bra/ivory/pnn2iv/?criteria=strapless%252Bbra

I know it's bridal but a very practical bra

I'm your age and I'd never shop in those places. You should look in Coast. They have nice things...

Add in to the mix that you can hardly find a dress with a decent sleeve to hide the bat wings that isn't half way up your arse either .

I too have had the fruitless search...

Ah the strapless bra, my old nemesis! Yeah, I have a couple but frankly I hate wearing them. I'm a 32E size (that's the old bra size measurement, I only recently discovered that bra sizes apparently changed in the UK? - I live overseas). Anyway, I would spend the evening feeling my lungs constricted and constantly re-adjusting if I went with a strapless bra. I won't go into the bra bulge that appeared from out of nowhere a few years ago either... I really just want a dress that I can wear a bra under.

Coast is fine for more pricey things but what about inexpensive summery dresses?

I'm with you op -I have a very good strapless but it's not ideal for everyday and not as comfortable or supportive as a proper bra
The number of dresses about just now which look Ok but have cut away shoulders, slightly racer backs or just entire missing back panels on otherwise sensible dresses...makes shopping even harder

YANBU! I think this and I am in my late twenties. I'm slim enough but don't feel comfortable walking around braless and find strapless bras a bit uncomfortable and not v secure. Maybe my ribcage is the wrong shape. I favour Phase 8/Hobbs etc. Also learning to make my own dresses so I can have them exactly how I like (so fuck you high street).

Cardy. It's a fact that ALL dresses which have a nice shape and fabric NEVER have sleeves. I don't hold with "pashminas" at all they're the work of the devil.

Having said that I quite like some of these kimono cardy affairs if you don't get a cheap tacky one.

Salmo but OP is going to a wedding...

Strapless bras are all and good for the less norkier people. Try sticking G cup norks in a strapless bra. You spend all day honking it up, you don't try and move at a fact pace and they are hideously expensive bras.

And once you get into your late thirties, early 40s it's not a good move to wear cheap dresses....there are always sales on. A frock in topshop is about 60 quid and you can get one for that price on sale almost all year round from "better" shops.

If you've got big norks then strapless doesn't look good anyway!

Salmon - How funny, lack of "sleevage" could be my next rant! Cap sleeves that seem to accentuate one's bat wings are even worse.

MrsWinnibago - I have heard good things of Coast, unfortunately I'm not in the UK. I should have listened to my mother "Always have a dress ready for every occasion" sigh.

just remembered when i could go bra less i stepped on the front of my strapless dress and they boinged out! (slightly wistful here as they would flap out now not boing

have you tried ebay?

if you buy a strapless bra it might need breaking in like a pair of shoes mine creaks and squeaks so i don't wear it out of the house are clear straps an option?

Rain I only have two good dresses....and they've both been lent out to my best mate ans sister so many times that they now feel old ....they're both from Coast. They do such flattering shapes but they're not old fashioned or matronly at all.

Couldn't agree more - YA definitely NBU! Fucking racer backs and giant/low cut armholes on everything. It's obviously all designed by men.

OK ladies. In a moment of desperation and after paying loads for quick shipping I have purchased this dress: www.amazon.com/French-Connection-Womens-Memphis-Bakelite/dp/B00H3AFLAE/ref=sr_1_23?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1404427611&sr=1-23&keywords=french+connection+dress

Hope this works!

I'm with you
Strapless don't come in my size which rules out halter neck, strapless, backless, thin strap, or low armhole dresses

Lovely! Quite short though! Have you got cracking legs on you? I don't...I'd look like...well...a bugger in that! But it's a really pretty dress imo.

Mrswinnibago - Thank you! I'm pretty (well, very) short so I'm confident that this dress will barely be above my knees. I already know I'm going to have to sew up a few inches on the v-neck line though - the bras I need to wear are not low v-neck styles.

I have to say, I'm a 34G size 10/12
and I've got an AMAZING strapless bra.

m.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_152010108886_-1

I have huge boobs too but get around the thing with the odd strap dresses by buying little lace bralets in contrasting colours and wearing that over a bra, under the dress. (Ie, white dress, white bra and hot pink lace bralet).

While I would never make such a hideous faux pas as wearing a bra with a halterneck dress (and ladies, please step away from the clear plastic bra straps), they look really good with thin spaghetti straps or odd cut out bits from the back etc.