bravissimo - any good?

[Whenisitmysleepytime]

i went for a post baby bra fitting today in john lewis and i'm a 28e.
i got a john lewis own brand nude bra and a panache strapless one. that was all they had in a 28e apart from freya bras which were all totally the wrong shape.

it seems to be a bit of an odd size. m&s don't do it, neither do la senza, figleaves have bit of a rubbish looking selection online.

bravissimo do a 28e but i know nothing about them other than they are bras for larger ladies.
do their bras work on a smaller frame?

anywhere else i can look?

TIA! :)

I've not bought bras from anywhere else since getting fitted there years ago (34E here). Great sales. I especially love the swimwear and strappy vests with bras inside. Not bought any of the clothes though, so I wouldn't know about that. I do an annual trip there for a re-fit and stock up. And the bras last and last for years...

(I also experienced the Bravissimo diet - at least half a stone off my torso!)

Well they came and they're all rubbish! :(

They turned out to be two Freya bras which I already knew were the wrong shape and a panache one which was too small in one cup and too big in the other.

I'm so disappointed.

I love bravissimo but do recommend that you go to their shops first to get fitted. I only buy bras from their website once I know they fit.
Love the service in the shop. I'm a 32J. Quite like their clothes but again I've stopped buying online. Love the strappy tops and would be interested in knowing if anybody else makes this sort of top? They're not perfect but hell of a lot better than wearing normal strappy top with the thick strap of my rather large bras showing.

Got to say I also like Leia in bluewater - again great service for the larger boobed lady.

Agree, all my bra's are Bravissimo but I have a low success rate with online unless I'm buying an exact copy of one I have. (There are some styles that come out each season in new colours).

I find it weird that they seem to come out with a smaller back size and a larger cup size if they measure you than most other shops.

I'm in Bristol so there's not one here. :(
I think the nearest one is Cardiff which is a bit of a trek.

I think I'll go to debrnhams and see what they've got.

Any recommendations for somewhere near Bristol?

wanksock - I think the answer to why they come out with a smaller backsize and larger cup is that they know how to measure properly unlike other shops.

being measured up in bravissimo correctly made an enormous difference to me. My bras fit so much better now.

silly Agree with that ! cannot believe the difference in comfort .Plus I dont have that four boobs look anymore

Just had a bravissimo fitting today, have also gone up a cup size, the only thing I'm disappointed with is the lack of pants in the shop to go with the bras. Some they ordered for me but one of the others they didn't have at all and I had to go chasing round debenhams for them. Guess it's probably the wrong time of year with the sales going on.

Never had the confidence to wear a bikini until I discovered Bravissimo (30dd).

I would also look on Figleaves for Freya and other brands as there are some price differences.

Just trawled their website again. There's very few moulded/ t shirt styles to start with and even fewer available in my size or that aren't Freya or panache which don't fit my shape.
Bloody fed up already of being this bra size. Bloody stupid 28e!

I was there today and can't sing their praises highly enough. I've been fitted there and at John Lewis in the past (pre most recent pregnancy) and was pretty sure I knew my correct size but post BF this second baby I was struggling to find anything to fit. Tried on soooo many bras and no luck.

Got to Bravissimo fitting (late ) rushed into changing room. First bra confirmed as the right size but I had the same problem. Girl takes one look, I know what you need....and yes! Spent a blinking fortune mind but finally have something that fits!

nigel - would you say john lewis were accurate with their sizing?

they've measured me at 28e and i have one bra in that size now that fits. its one of their own brand. however freya and panache 28e aren't right at all.
i'm sick of the lack of bras i like in a 28e so i'm hoping they were wrong.

Whenis, yes, I've always found JL to be accurate with their fitting ie not just using a tapemeasure but looking at fit of various bras etc.

My problem (and maybe it's yours too?) is that I only seem to fit a small number of bras in my size. They are all a correct fit around the back and under the cups but often my boobs don't fill the cups correctly. I'm a 32E though so I have more to choose from I suppose.

If you can't get to a Bravissimo you could always try calling them and describing the problem you have with the ones that don't fit in your size. I've heard they are good via the phone too. Or loads of wisdom on [[http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/1240096-Can-anyone-who-understands-bra-fittings-come-and-tell-me-where-Im-going-wrong
this thread]] (perhaps you've already found it?) You could maybe get away with the odd 30D perhaps in the right style?

Good luck with your mission

thanks nigel!

it is very irritating being a 28 back size as lots of places don't go down that small and if they do they often don't go as big as an e.
i bought the only 2 28e styles that fitted in john lewis and after wearing the strapless one for a day realsied that it doesn't fit if i move about. so i'm going to try and take it back. it was a panache one.

bravissimo were lovely on the phone and suggested their own brand.

the trouble is i like a moulded cup to wear under t shirts as i like the smoothness and no visible pointy nips i get cold easily . BUT it seems most places don't do moulded cups in an e. soft cups make me feel a bit bare iyswim.

going to trawl online...

I'm currently wearing this one from my purchase yesterday. I think it fits your criteria? Could be worth a try?

yeah i'm going to ask bravissimo to send it but i'm a bit skeptical about the fit as the strapless one i need to return to john lewis is panache and not a good fit. i tried a panache tango plunge bra from bravissimo and one cup was too small and the other too big.
debenhams and house of fraser will be my plan for monday when i can go shopping but not holding my breath...