How many bras do you own ...?

[Ooopsadaisy]

I've been in denial but I have to face it.

I have expanded.

I need new bras.

I am sporting the classy, "four-boob" look which is spectacularly dignified and smart under my tight fitting work t-shirts.

Even more classy is the "wrench the fabric over your boobs after you've bent down, cos they've fallen out, and I don't want anyone to notice" look.

So, bearing in mind I am on an arse-clenching budget, how many of the bloody things do I need?

They are sooooo expensive and suuuuuuuch a waste of money that I really resent this.

I am also an awkward size so this makes the whole experience really horrible.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

(Hitches tits back into straining fabric angrily).

Oh M&S is truly terrible at bra fitting. I don't understand why they don't do something about it. Surely they must know that everyone thinks they're terrible.

Have you got a House of Fraser or a John Lewis near you? Or even a little independent lingerie shop? I reckon you'll find them more helpful than M&S.

Freya and Fantasie make some really nice unfussy t-shirt bras. You can find very good deals on ebay, check it out. I often go to Bravissimo, try the bras on and they search ebay for the same models.

craftynclothy - £30.00 a bra???? Oh God. It makes me want to weep at the waste. Looks like I got away cheaply.

M&S are doing buy one get one half price on their 2 packs of t-shirt bras so I got 2 packs each with 1 black and 1 white in. They were £16.00 a pack, so I paid £24.00 in total.

I have to confess that I really don't think they are a particularly good fit even though they were the best there.

M&S lady brought me one bra that fitted really well but it had lace on it.

FFS. FFS. FFS. Really. FFS.

I am 42. I am sporty and the most un-girly person imaginable. And you bring me lace?

I was itching like a crazy person.

Oh, I know there are really important things going on in the world, but puuuuurlease.

Hello,

The ideal underwear wardrobe is :

Day:

2 t shirt bras in nude, 4 knickers to match
2 interesting sets
A multipack of knickers

Eve/going out:

2multiway bras, one black, one nude, knickers to match
2 gorgeous sets

Bras should be replaced approximate every 6 months as the elastic gets loose.

X

Karbea - replace that lot every 6 months?

I own knickers older than I am. (Oh - yuck - TMI)

How does anyone afford to replace bras like that?

Is it just me?

I had been wearing the same size bras for 11 years, despite 2 pregnancies. and losing 4 stone. I never seemed to find the time to get measured.

However, I did this 2 weeks ago. I have gone down 2-4 inches and gone up 1 cup size. I threw out all of my old bras ( actually recycled them, they are going to Africa to a charity for women ) I purchased 6 new ones in different colours. I plan to buy a couple more in the next month or so.

I now look much better and by boobs are about 5 inches higher.

uggmum - 5 inches higher !!!!!!

Yes £30 and it's true that they should be replaced every few months but who can afford that???

I can't get any M&S bras to fit me, they just seem to be the wrong shape.

craftynclothy - I hope I haven't made a bad purchase. If I'm really honest, these are not a particularly good fit. They do prevent the 4-boob thing though and that is my main concern.

I just couldn't bring myself to spend £30.00 on one single bra.

Let's face it. No-one sees it (or would want to).

I'm the sort of person who would still whittle and worry about money if I won the Euromillions.

Bahonkers are such a burden.

M&S fitting is worse.

oops... it's only really 4 bras and knickers you'd replace really as I don't wear my nice stuff that often.
Go and throw those grey pants out now!

How can you feel good about yourself whilst wearing elderly lingerie?!?!?

I HATE M&S bras. Fucking hopeless. for all the big boobed, look at www.brastop.com. They have all the good brands (freya, fantasie, panache) v.cheap, mostly under £15. also swimwear and sports bras. They often have Bravissimo's stock from last season. I have 3 bras that actually fit and 3 others that are wearable. DS is 14 months, and we're TTC so no point buying more. Though maybe if I had nicer lingerie I'd be pg by now!!!

Oopsadaisy it sounds like you're not happy with your M&S bras. If you haven't worn them yet why don't you take them back and get on ebay or brastop.com and get yourself a cheap but better quality bra by Fantasie or Freya. They both do lace free, simple styles if that's what you're after. Like Freya Deco or Fantasie moulded smoothing bra.

I think there's a guide to fitting on Bravissimo website if you can't get to a shop. It's not about tape measures. It's about trying on a bra that more or less fits you and looking to see how it fits to work out the correct size. Eg. If you try on a 34E and it's riding up in the back, try a 32F. If you're getting the double boob look, then go up a cup size or two. If the wires are digging in to the soft breast tissue at the sides, go up a cup size. Etc. I think there are fitting guides on Figleaves too.

PS. I don't really hold with replacing bras that often. I think if you look after them they last for longer. I only hand wash mine (and don't wash them very often ) and they seem to last forever.

I don't replace bras that often either. I wash them cool, in a bag, and I've had some for a good few years. I just replace them when the elastic is obviously going.

Rambling - thanks for that.

I apologise because I'm going to whinge again ....

I really have sooooooooo much trouble finding anything that fits right that the idea of ordering online fills me with a sense of "I don't know why I've bothered - they'll have to go back - I've wasted time and money ...."

I don't know what's wrong with my shape/size. I'm a freak.

I am also very fussy.

I want a plain bra that is padded. I have to wear quite figure hugging tshirts for work and don't want anything showing through, whether it's lace or bows or colour. I also don't want nipples showing - yuck, yuck, yuck.

I can't abide big straps or thick back-bands (I am a small person) and anything with silicone or rubber in the straps make me itch and sweat.

The whole bra business makes me miserable.

Go on - tell me to get a life and rediscover my priorities!

Oh god...bra buying. Nightmare.

Being very overweight currently (but actively doing something about it) I am in a...............deep breath...........40 HH.

Try buying that size on the high street...it does not exist. Or the odd one that I find is simply hopeless as supporting my humongous boobs.

So I buy online.....at neary £40 a time.

And they wear out fast, so need replacing every 4 months or so. So I only have three on the go at the moment.

Looking forward to shrinking a bit and being able to shop for bras in normal shops (two stone down...going well so far!)

Selks - Wow - 2 stone! Well done, you! That's fantastic.

Our problems are clearly very different though. I am a smallish person - size 10/12 top and size 8 bottom.

I have never found bra buying easy, even when I was 20 (now 42) I seemed to be an odd shape.

How do you know the bras you buy online will be suitable for you? Do end up sending masses of them back? I am so useless at this.

The bra make/style that I currently wear and buy online was originally stocked by Bravissimo and I was fitted for it there...but then they stopped stocking it - GRRR!

I think bra-buying is a nightmare for most women, regardless of size of boobage.

I hate being fitted too...far too personal/invasive, but I know I'll need to have a new fitting session if/when some more weight comes off. I think I'll have to pre-warn the young, trendy fitter before I get my top off just how far my boobs hang down when free-range...I don't want to see any horrified looks.

Oops, is it worth going somewhere really expensive like Rigby and Peller (I know, I know, bear with me!), just getting measured, and then shopping elsewhere when you know your size? R and P might also be able to advise you on what shapes/styles/materials etc are the best for you.

Well I spent a year as a bra measuring 'expert' in a lingerie store and can honestly say that having a good fitting bra is the best thing you can do if you are going to wear them.

I think bra's are awful and really bad for the female body but came to that conclusion waaay after working for the lingerie store.

Bra buying is not easy and not cheap which is an even better reason to get fitted properly so you don't waste money. Try having different stores fit you to see where does it best as some stores are not very good at this. You could also learn to do it yourself.

A woman should own at least 10 IMO. They should fall into different categories too. An everyday bra, a sports bra for more rigorous activities and a strapless bra with good support and changeable straps should be accompanied by a few more to use throughout the week regularly. Bra's stretch and wear much faster than people realise so it is good to have interchangeable ones for the week so one doesn't wear too quickly without you noticing.

I did not wear a bra for 2 years (until I recently got pregnant) and found my breasts were much healthier IYSWIM. Now I have invested in some full support ones and have bought 6 to start with, two being maternity and specifically for future feeding on the go situations. I will invest in a few more.

When I did wear bra's regularly I owned about 20-30. One thing I have found is that my breasts are always sore when taking a bra off and never sore when I went without. Plus new research indicates that bra's may help sagging along as opposed to reducing it which is a common misconception.

Oh and I also found that different bra styles suit different people. I look and fit terribly in a balconette bra for instance but look great in other styles and other women can be the opposite. Some lucky women can wear all the styles.

Anyways thats my opinion

Selks - I am strangely pleased that you think bra shopping is a nightmare for most women. I have friends who breeze happily into really cheap shops and pick up bras for £6.00 and a handful of matching kecks without even trying them on and keep them for years without any problems.

I don't mind the fitting experience so long as I am not left utterly confused and exhausted like I was in M&S. 36???? I'm barely 36 round my hips. Adding on to allow for elastic??? Huh????????

LadyClarice - R&P is a nice suggestion but we barely have a Waitrose round these parts. R&P's website states that they are located in "prestigious shopping locations". I don't think they hitch up a stall outside the 99p shop or Sports Direct! We have a Bravissimo about 30 miles away and I am tempted to try the experience. I just don't like the idea of using their expertise and then not buying - it seems rude and disrepectful to me. Also, I get so pissed off with bra-buying that they would hate me anyway.

Oopsadaisy from what you've said about your ideal bra, I would recommend the Freya Deco bra or the Fantasie smoothing bras I linked to. You can always find them cheap on ebay etc.

As for feeling like nothing will fit, that's definitely a sign you need a good fitting somewhere decent. I've been there before and it's quite a revelation when you finally work out the right size and find a bra that works for you.

Sometimes you can be in the right size but the style of the bra just doesn't work for you. Or if it's a cheapy one it can just be a bit uncomfortable (eg. La Senza ones always give me a nice shape and look good at first but for some reason they always start digging in as the day wears on. Same with M&S).

Why don't you try some of the Freya and Fantasie ones that are going really cheap on ebay?

If you don't have a Bravissimo near you, do you have a john lewis or a House of Fraser?

Give Bravissimo a go! If you 'use' them and then don't like the bras, or don't feel that they work for you, then it's not at all rude not to buy. On the other hand, you may find them so helpful and the bras so perfect that you might feel tempted to splash out on just one. Then at least you'll know what size and style fits you and be able to look for similar, cheaper ones.

I have 6 but none of them fit me since having the surgery so i'm waiting till my back isnt all sensitive and numb and gonna get myself measured. Love a good excuse to buy new stuff!

Oopsadaisy, for your requirements you really should to try this Fantasie moulded one as suggested, one of my all time favourites. A good bra can make such a difference, they are not a waste of money.

And yes, 36 is obviosly NOT your real size, what a ridiculous idea.