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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To object to paying £40 for a new bra?

397 replies

PomBearWithAnOFRS · 12/02/2015 03:09

Just cos I have Norks! (with a capital N Grin )
There is one style and brand of bra that I have ever found, that I can just buy "off the shelf" that I know will fit me -as long as I take the bloody instrument of torture wires out - but the damn thing is at least £40 :(
I have tried others over the years, but they just don't fit, even in supposedly bigger sizes Confused
I tend to have one really tatty one, one with no wires in that is on the road to being tatty, and one newish one for "best".
Last time I bought one I got lucky and found one in my size on eBay for £25, but today I had to fork out forty quid :( and to add insult to injury my new knickers were a ridiculous price as well Confused
£48 for six pairs of giant pants!
I give up, I am becoming a hippy and wandering the streets commando, with my Mighty Norks swinging free in the breeze round my knees from now on!

OP posts:
OneDayWhenIGrowUp · 19/02/2015 15:26

married ha thanks for the pant-matching support. Clearly, if I'm ever in a major accident and the paramedics are snipping my clothes off, the fact I'm in a beautiful matching Freya set will make everything alright Grin

Feminine · 19/02/2015 15:30

I have been doing it all wrong Grin for ever!
Okay, new bra coming in the mail.
fingers crossed

Thanks again.

Original poster
PomBearWithAnOFRS · 19/02/2015 17:13

I've ordered one in red Grin
Anyway, does anyone want the black Fantasie one? If not I guess I shall have to work out how to send the bugger back - the red one was £52.50 so I need the refund Grin
Now everyone cross everything, including norks, that this new one fits when it gets here... and if it does I shall fall at your feet married and give thanks and Wine and Cake

OP posts:
EponasWildDaughter · 19/02/2015 19:24

Norks crossed Pom :)

Thank you married and statistically. (The 34D would have been nice though Grin)

I've peered at my Freya labels and they're 36s, not 38s. They are 36FFs in fact.

I've ordered a couple online - 34GG and 36GG - so 2 cup sizes up - to see what's what.

My boobs are very squishy, (breast def till a few months ago) and do 'bottom out' in a big cup, leaving gapeage around the top line in a full cup. Which is why i prefer a plunge or half cup with a fair bit of bare cleavage.

It's all so darn complicated!

StatisticallyChallenged · 19/02/2015 19:35

The 34GG is only one cup size up remember.

The GG plus Freya really are dramatically different shapes - I had the arabella in a G and GG and it was like two different bras.

DrFoxtrot · 19/02/2015 19:37

This thread has been so helpful. I've ordered 32D and it's a little tight round the band and i'm getting appearance of back fat. Could the cup still be too small?
My measurements were 32 under bust and 36 dangling! I was originally wearing 34B or 36A - with these the cups never seemed to be full but the bras were too tight and I just assumed the band was the problem not the cup. With the 32D the cups appear to be much more full and I think I could go DD or E.
My ribcage is quite bony and I read in previous posts that a tighter band might be a problem - have I interpreted this correctly?
Thanks so far Smile

StatisticallyChallenged · 19/02/2015 19:52

It could be cup or band. I'd be inclined to try a cup up first though.

Have you tried it back to front to see how the band feels when the cups are taken out of the equation?

Feminine · 19/02/2015 19:59

drfox
You are very similar to me.
31 and 37.
I just ordered a 32e
My old bras are 34d and they always felt/looked correct.
I just bought one from eBay (new) to compare. :)

DrFoxtrot · 19/02/2015 20:01

When I tried the 32 band back to front, it felt snug but not digging in, tighter than I'm used to though. I'm thinking of trying 32DD and if it still feels too tight, maybe up the band, possibly 34C?

I need one of you clever ladies round my house! But this is the next best thing, thanks!

DrFoxtrot · 19/02/2015 20:04

Feminine it is costing me a fair amount but I want to get it right, I feel I'm nearly there. My old bras never looked right, I thought I was just small breasted and destined to have underfilled cups. I can't believe the D cup was full!

StatisticallyChallenged · 19/02/2015 20:15

I'd expect it to feel snug especially given you're going down in the band and it's a brand new bra - they do stretch rapidly. But, it sounds like it's OK when it's back to front, so I'd try going up a cup first. Once you have space in the cup, scooping should sort the backfat

DrFoxtrot · 19/02/2015 20:18

Thanks, I'll have a go at DD first

marriednotdead · 19/02/2015 21:01

Pom, I'm crossing my everything that the red one works, but I will be deeply envious of you if it does as I haven't had a red bra in ages. I never did get the beautiful one I saw many years ago but look where my quest for one has led me Grin

Original poster
PomBearWithAnOFRS · 20/02/2015 03:53

I got the red because the dress I've got for my pfb's wedding is mostly red - I have never owned red underwear in my life before Grin
I once had a pair of red shoes and someone referred to them as "come fuck me shoes" and I never wore them again Confused but I shall wear my red bra with pride (as long as it fits Grin ) I may even get some red knickers to match!

OP posts:
midgetgem2211 · 20/02/2015 18:43

Okay help!I measured 39" under bust and 47 and a half on top. What does this make me?! Thanks!

fukkigucci · 20/02/2015 18:53

I would love if someone can help me. I am so desperate for some good bras. I'm currently wearing a 34 c from Victoria's secret. But it doesn't feel quite right.
My under bust measurement is 31.5, and my boobs measure 36".

Thanks interventionists!

StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2015 19:15

OK:

Midget, start with a 38FF, 38G, 40F and 40FF. I suspect the 38 is more likely to fit as in general people with your measurements get on best rounding down. You may even want to try some 36s (try a GG and H cup_

Fukkigucci, not surprised it doesn't feel quite right. Your measurements suggest a starting point of a 32D/DD

fukkigucci · 20/02/2015 19:48

Thanks statisticallychallenged.
I'm going to go and try some on on Sunday. If the 32 D/DD's don't fit what would you suggest? After breastfeeding 2 kids my boobs are sort of empty, not all lovely and full!

StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2015 20:13

If you've lost upper fullness thanks to babies then you might want to try balconette and half cup styles which basically don't have a tall upper section so don't gape as badly.

What you need to do is start with the 32D/DD and work from there. There's some advice on the better bra campaign website but, to start with try the bra back to front so you can see how the band is - the cups can distort it. If you can pull it more than a couple of inches away, try going down to a 30 (and up to a dd/e cup).

Once the band is sorted, pop it on the right way round and SCOOP (described upthread!) all the breast tissue in. The cup should completely encase all of your breast tissue - it may well feel like it covers more of your torso than you are used to.

midgetgem2211 · 20/02/2015 20:27

Thanks statisticallychallenged!

fukkigucci · 20/02/2015 22:13

Thank you!

ApprenticeViper · 04/03/2015 15:02

Am I too late for some assistance please? Grin Saw this thread weeks ago but couldn't find my tape measure anywhere and kept forgetting to buy a new one. Found tape measure last night in cupboard where tinned food lives (as you do).

Anyhoo.....I'm 30.5in under bust, and have 39in "dangle distance". Have been wearing 32D but the straps aren't half digging in my shoulders recently.

CMOTDibbler · 04/03/2015 15:03

You are probably a 30FF Smile

ApprenticeViper · 04/03/2015 15:44

I didn't expect a reply that quickly! Thanks very much CMOT - I'll give 30FF a try. DP will be pleased - he's old school and thinks anything above a C is enormous! Grin

cmb535 · 13/04/2015 20:58

Is anybody still checking this!?
After reading this whole thread I finally decided to try out the technique, I measure 27.5 under and 33 bending over ( glad the neighbours can't see) went to debenhams and purchased a 30C ( very shocked when I put it on in the changing room) I have been wearing 32AA for years. However having worn my new bra today its really tight round the front and the straps are really close to my armpits, should I be trying a 28 DD? Thanks anyone who can helpSmile