to say that bras affect my mental health?

[Worried3456789]

I wish I was joking! I truly hate them. When I wear one, it's all I can think about and it honestly puts me in a massive strop!!!!

I hate how they give me back fat, I hate the feel of the straps, the clips, everything about them.

I have done everything I can - been accurately measured (NOT M&S) , tried every bra you can imagine and I can't handle it.

I also hate socks and tights and don't wear them either, so feel like it's a sensory processing issue.

I live in crop tops, those seamless ones. But they severely limit what tops I wear as they don't give enough support.

I am wondering if there is any other bras that people can reccomend? Ones without back clips, that are pull on if possible, but offer support.

My boobs are a 36 C

I've been wearing tight fitting vests this winter and loving life. Not sure how I'll handle going braless in summer, though. I have a couple of bralets as pp mentioned but I'm not enamoured. Maybe the size is wrong.

As a 34F I'm afraid I can't imagine not wearing a bra. They can be slightly uncomfortable, but not wearing one is so much worse! I find m&s quite good, but you need to try on quite a few to find the right one

@Cryingoverspilttea by people plus 4 measuring I’d imagine. You’d need to be at least a 16 to measure a 36, and many size 16 women are in fact smaller anyway, and a C cup is only 3 inches over bust than under. Really not a very common size. But they make loads of bras this size and then try to convince women they fit

I'm a 32f, was a 32h when I was breastfeeding and not being able to wear an underwired bra was detrimental to my mental health. The relief when I bought an Anita underwired feeding bra was immense. I can't bear non wired bras. Even my sports bra is wired and it makes me feel so much better about myself. I couldn't even contemplate not wearing a bra!

@ BuffaloCauliflower I still find 36C very believable...we're aren't a slim country

I must be unusual - I'm never even aware that I'm wearing a bra, it just feels like any other piece of clothing. I feel for you though, as if you really hate them then it must be uncomfortable.

BuffaloCauliflower I still find 36C very believable...we're aren't a slim country

But when someone is not slim, there is even less chance of there only being 3 inches of difference between their underbust measurement and their over bust measurement.

My teenage daughter is thin as a whippet and quite flat chested but still has about five inches difference between her underbust and overbust measurements.

I love my bra(s). My brain doesn't function without one on.
Most essential item of clothing ever.

This thread is reminding me that my running bra doesn't restrain very well, any more. Must go shopping for new one.

A bit of a left field option, but have you considered maternity/nursing bras?

Very supportive and designed for very sensitive boobs. Some nice ones in Next or Hot Milk Lingerie

Bam, the bamboo clothing catalogue does really supportive yoga bras. I’m a D or DD and they work for me.

What on earth are you talking about a 36c has to be at least a size 16. I was a 34dd when I was a teenager and weighed less than 45kg and wore a size 4. My mom was a professional bra fitter so I have no doubt about being in the correct size.

I wear sloggi crop tops. I've taken to wearing two, one over the other and both inside out! It's the only way I can be comfortable. Don't like going bra-free either...

I am loving the idea of the supportive vest option. Does anyone have any links/reccomendations?

Going to investigate Molke! And the maternity bra suggestions.

I am a size 14 top and bottom (in Next etc)

I was measured in Debenhams a couple of times but I really don't think the sizing is the issue, it's just the whole thing. Gives me shivers lol.

So glad it's not just me though. Very jealous of those who love bras!

@tinofbeans
That sounds good. Does it give you a bit of support?

I'm sadly just not comfortable going braless. I would look like Charlie Dimmock haha

I'm the opposite - feel irritated when my bra is off! Can't wait to get it on in the morning. Love the support. Some would say it's because I'm in my 40s with several children but I've always felt like this.

Although I must add I can't sleep in a bra! Need to take it off at night (same with knickers - can't sleep in them)

You can’t have had a 34’’ underboob measurement and been a size 4 @purpleartichoke more like 24

Tbf Charlie Dimmock looked great.

Sloggi zero are great under most things and are basically a shapely padded crop top. I'm gradually collecting them all. Dd1 is 13 and i've only ever brought her crop tops. As i no longer see the point of proper bras myself, what would be the point of starting her down that road at a time when she doesn't even need that support? I'm sure i read something about the way bras cut in actually making everything sag much more than necessary anyway.

your mum was wrong purple artichoke.

OP, check out Molke. Surprisingly supportive, and no monoboob

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

@elfbuddy that's interesting as my waist is 28 and hips are 38.5 so according to that I am a size 14 but if the bra measurement I had was a 36C, I should be a size 20?!

@PerfectPretender
True. But I'd hate to be known as the woman who doesn't wear a bra

I have ASD and SPD and adore a set of crop tops I got from Next last year. Unwired, fairly decent support ( I'm a 36E/36F) and so comfy

YY Molke. They didn’t work for me but their FB page has lots of women who wear them for sensory reasons because they find conventional bras unbearable.

OP - for vest tops with a built-in shelf bra try J Crew (although it’s an American company, so they’re probably called ‘tank tops’!)