To be so frustrated with my bras?

[Elephantina]

Last year I tried the "bra intervention" method of measuring, and after years of wearing a 36G found I was more of a 34H or HH. 32J at a push.

So I bought a multitude of different makes of bras in various sizes, shapes and types, and spent a bloody fortune. 50% went back as they didn't fit me at all. Some fit but the wires dug in at the front or under the arms, or the side boning was uncomfortable. Some fit but the straps constantly slip.

After 12 months of trial and error I still have no bras that fit reliably, so I kept the ones that felt most comfortable and bought some clips to hold the bloody straps up, and binned the rest.

I did finally find some nice 2-packs in great colours on Simply Be - the 34H was a touch too small in the cup, so I ordered 6 of the poxy things in the sale, in a 34J. Cup is too big, and it doesn't come in an HH or a 32K.

Bravissimo is expensive, Brastop is alright but I haven't had much luck with the fit really, Simply Be don't have any value packs in my size and I just want some inexpensive bras that are vaguely the right fit!

Any ideas? My bosoms crate a massive shelf about 4 inches wider than my actual ribcage. So fed up with looking so wide.

www.molke.co.uk/shop?category=1&order=name

Try a Molke. with your size range youve tried, id go for a medium mega

Just be warned - I find Pour Moi are small in the cup: I find the J isn't quite big enough (the wire isn't flat between my boobs, but it's not that far off)

Their side support is really good, though

Thanks so much everyone, I didn't expect so many responses. I'm usually invisible on MN, wish I'd had so many replies about my random navel/abdominal pain which is still bugging me. Not one, where's the MN medical contingent when you need the eh.

Yes I know I have to suck it up (have done for years, just don't have as much spare to spend at the moment), and yes I know its all about trial and error - that's why I posted. I've had some excellent advice which I will take on board and which I appreciate, thank you. I will keep trying.

Oh fuck Desperate, really? Shit bollocks.

I get mine (34E) from Lingerie Outlet (online). They sometimes do four bras for £20 and I have had some lovely, branded bras from there. All their bras are a decent price and they have a much wider range than any shop I've been in.

SirVix that's really useful thank you. I have a narrow ribcage and close-set full breasts (central gores are tricky ). I'm getting sick of bras sending my boobs east and west and feeling unsupported! I'm going to investigate Ewa Michalak.

Thanks Fuzzy, just had a look - never seen that site before!

I hear you! After years of expensive poorly fitting bras I found the perfect fit at 2 for £10 in Asda! I padded on 34f

My pleasure Ele I've had a couple of orders from them (total of 7 bras, I think) and my friends has also used them on my recommendation,. We're both happy with them...about a week to deliver the goods. I'm particularly fond of the Bestform ones which seem to fit me well, but also have Charnos and Elodie which are good too.

booborbust.com/dd-bra-retailers/

Gareth, Polish bras are the ones for you. The central gores are very narrow ( only ones i have ever worn that don’t dig in on me) , and if you buy from Comexim, another Polish brand, you can ask for the wires to actually overlap in the centre and they will sew the bra like that for you.
I also don’t get the horribly underarm digging in thing with Ewa bras.

Sorry, OP - it might just be my deformed boobs though...

Bestform - I'd forgotten about them: really comfy.

Charnos are hit and miss for me - I have one great one and three (deep lace on the cups- could be called Viola maybe?) that make me look like the figure head of a ship. Way too in-yer-face and up front for work. And for some reason, they nip right at the bottom of the cup, on both sides.

I used to wear loads of Freya and Fantasie, but since putting weight on, I can't get a good fit in either.

As we're shopping some useful bra tips - I was told (by Sadie the Bra Lady, if anyone is from the NE...) that black in a range often comes up slightly smaller than other colours.

That's a great bra tip utterly but WHY? Is black fabric pricier? Does it only come in smaller widths so they need to squeeze it to get the same umber of pieces out of a length? Bemused....

If your near Salisbury there is a fabulous lingerie shop called Just Jane and the elderly ladies in there are great at finding the right bras for your shape. I'm different sizes in different styles but they always get it right.

try Bravissimo, and I found ones with side sling keep everything at the front and not the sides! Like this one:
www.bravissimo.com/products/jasmine-bra-navy-multi-pn103nym/

Bravissimo are good if you phone them up for advice as well. I ended up ordering loads and trying at home and have found some really nice ones, including the Jasmine one linked to above.

I gave up and wear sports bras. I have a wide back (38) but I only take a C cup. The ones that are wide enough have cups way way too big.

Yes black bras are smaller, you normally notice that in the band. It is the way they are dyed I think. White bras are more generous, so if you are on the edge of a cup or band size in black, then it is always worth trying the white, ditton the reverse if you need a fractionally smaller size.

Sorry did anyone mention bratabase or a bra that fits on Facebook?

What panache styles did u try ?
Have you figured out if your full on top or bottom? Short roots etc? Make a big difference for choosing bra styles that are flattering and comfy purpose haha

Black bras are smaller because the dye shrinks the fabric apparently

Utterly I don't rate sadies at all.
Northerner here too x

After all these years, MN has answered the why of the black bra thing that I've been musing on for twenty years - you lot are brilliant!

Great tip on white SirVix: didn't know that.

Don't say that, monkey Actually, she made me a 38 FF. I was much comfier when I discovered 32 HH! But she's the stuff of legend even so

Rigby & Peller - expensive initially but last forever and have good sales. The whole consultation was an uplifting experience

Another one who says: check out Bratabase. Look at Boob or Bust- they are great at explaining what styles suit and what size you need in certain shops/brands- some miss the double cup sizes except add, so an FF in some brands would be a G in others. You’re unlikely to be a band size that is more than 20larger than your dress size, and many, many women are wearing the wrong size. Molke are fab. I’d never have tried them but for the fact I was breast feeding. It’s not particularly glam IMHO, but for the first time since I was a teen, I’m not desperate to get my bra off at the end of the day. It actually gives me a lovely shape, though I can’t wear it with everything. I’d like to add to your AIBU- to expect that bra makers realise that +4 is outmoded and that their insistence that most women are a D cup or lower is falsely ensuring there is no demand for larger..... I can’t buy a bra that fits in most high street retailers, therefore my demand is not counted......

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