To have a rant about bras in America - GRRRR - International Bra Intervention Needed!

[AhDinnaeKen]

After wearing ill-fitting bras for years and being measured anywhere between a 34B and a 36DD (with the exception of pregnancy and bf'ing) I was finally measured properly at Bravissimo and discovered I was a 28F Ever since I have been much more comfortable and look much better. I moved to the US a year ago and I have not been able to buy a single bra since I moved here - the smallest back size is 32 - everywhere! I have been in Macy's, Nordstrom, Victoria Secret & Soma and looked at over 10 different brands - they all only go down to a 32inch. WHY?!?!?! Can anyone enlighten me? The labels all say UK/US implying that the sizes are the same in both countries so why on earth would they not go lower than a 32? I am a size 8-10 which is a 4-6 here and there are sooo many women who are a heck of a lot skinnier than me who must be a smaller back size than me - what are they all wearing?

Bravissimo do swimsuits too - and international delivery. Plus they keep a record of your orders (for when you forget what size you are and the label has worn away) and have a loyalty scheme. Bravissimo has changed my life! I am more or less the same size as you - with the same problems about being wrongly measured previously - and got a stock of new bras last year before moving to the US as I anticipated this problem. they have a clothes range too called Pepperberry.
I love Bravissimo!

Are you in Houston? in the galleria there is a bra shop called 'intimacy', it is amazing! its quite pricey, but the bras are phenomenal. felt like a new woman with new tits walking out of there

Yes I am Karma! I am rarely in the Galleria and have never even heard of intimacy - every time I've asked for advice on where to go I've just been told to try Nordstrom and they were useless! I'll go tomorrow! (unless I reach my limit online today ) Where in the Galleria is it?

It's the opposite end of the mall to Nordstrom, so up and back down a few escalators. it's on the 1st floor. you won't be disappointed! they are quite 'hands on' when getting you measured and in to bras, but the girls are so lovely I went there for my first proper bra after getting out of maternity bras, it was such an ego boost!

*I don't envy you living in Houston though haha! Hope you're enjoying it. I am firmly back in the 'deen

Thank you!

No problem

Have fun shopping!

I've heard good things about intimacy

For the Canadian ladies there is a shop called the butterfly collection who are also good and run a very informative blog too

For swimsuits it depends how much you want to spend but I'd say look at these places online

Lands End (already mentioned)
Garnett Hill
Bloomingdales online

Nothing beats trying things on though. I don't know the shops in Houston I'm afraid as I'm in LA at the mo.

I had my nice black Lepel T shirt 30 D bra go missing from my hotel room in California many years back. Luckily I had packed 2.

It wasn't until a thread here on MN that I realised it had most probably been stolen.

Apparently its only French women and UK women that have a good selection of Bras to choose format reasonable prices.

I think that's why donating bras is "a thing"