Why are nearly all the bras in the shops underwired and padded?

[schroeder]

Are they supposed to be the best?

Are they 'fashionable'?

I want a nice supportive, non-wired bra, non-frumpy but comfy.

I find non wired bras rather unsupportive. I guess you could go for a maternity bra, non drop cup, as they have some nice styles occasionally.

I hate padded bras and all the shops are full of those nasty moulded foam ones that make you hot and itchy and are not at all attractive is someone gets their hands on your assets. DH like nice silky or lacey non padded and they are really hard to find.

I find bra shopping depressing too. My boobs are compact but I won't go bra-less outside the house.

Don't want to wear super-padded / plunge / fluoro pink bra's under my work clothes .

Lacy, flesh tones are nice.

Oh God I'm so with you. I detest underwired bras with a passion. All they do is dig in and offer no support whatsoever. And at 38G the last thing I need is padding too!

right with you on padding. but not underwire. if it is hurting you are wearing the wrong size, I can't feel my bra when its on at all. John Lewis lady say padding is because people are embarrassed about nipples. I'd like more plain no lace as it not attractive through clothes.

Yes I don't understand at all the need for padding the larger sized bras. It's freaking ridiculous.

I'm big enough that I don't need padding, but I prefer it as it gives extra support.

M&S have got some ridiculous obsession with padded plunge bras at the moment - everything seemed to come with a great wodge of padding in the bottom. I tried on a couple of D/DDs and it was like I had Barbara Windsor hiding in my shirt.

M&S do non-wired bras in a wide range of sizes. They're super frumpy though and look on the pack as though they are a rather strange shape.

IMO non-wired bras are neither supportive nor non-frumpy. Happy to be corrected, however.

Padding stops nipple show-through. For those who say they've got enough padding of their own, Bravissimo has lots of larger-cup unpadded (but not non-wired) bras.

padded also means it doesn't need to fit properly, it won't be obviously wrong if too big.

I am a 34-F normally and I am on my 3rd pregnancy. I have found the Elle Macpherson bra's for pregnancy to be fantastic and not ugly this was my fave one www.figleaves.com/uk/product.asp?product=Elle-Macpherson-Intimates-Rainbow-Rain-Nursing-Bra&product_id=MC-E71-935&size=&colour=Black

Or there is this one I have orderd these this time around and found them to be very good, and a good price as well. www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10001_10001_152010209560_-1?breadcrumb=Home~Lingerie~Maternity+%26amp%3B+nursing+lingerie

And for when you are breast feeding or for the best bra to sleep in this model I found to be very comfy and when you lay on your side your boobs dont fall out www.figleaves.com/uk/product.asp?product=Elle-Macpherson-Intimates-Maternelle-non-underwired-drop-cup-bra&product_id=MC-E71-135&size=&colour=Black

Copy and paste the links into your browsers as it seems this site disables hyperlinks on messages.

I have never bought a push up/padded bra in my life although all mine are underwire. I am a 32FF so just need a really good fitting bra and padded are not that. Have you tried Bravissimo?

Underwires make it a better fit and more supportive because of that, light padding (NOT thick foam!) add shape and hide chilly nipples

I like Bravissimo, and they also have lots of non-padded styles.

Underwiring is good for me, but all that padding is not only very ugly it also makes me hot and itchy - not good for concentration at work.

I only wear underwire...no wired bras jsut don't offer the same support.Padding is necessary for me to make my boobs stick out further than my belly.

Padding also makes t-shirts hang much better.

see I just see the padding as industrial re-enforcement

I like non-padded (big enough already) but wired and quite happy with M&S but the more pricey ranges, their cheaper ones just don't fit as well, also always buy from DDplus range.

Elle macpherson do beautiful lacy non padded bras. If you are in the NW there is an outlet store at Cheshire Oaks where you can pick up a bargain.

I find I need an underwire for the erm.... scaffolding properties but at 32F, I most definitely do not need padding. We are lucky enough to have an independent bra shop, not cheap but, the bras are good, sturdy without being ugly and plenty of non padded styles and their fitting service is really good, have never bought a bra from them that wasn't comfortable. Unfortunately the bigger the norkage the more you have to pay to get a good bra. Oh to be 32 B.
This is their website btw, so if you know the size might be worth a punt. Here www.louisesboutique.co.uk/

Another one here who agrees that if you find underwiring uncomfortable then it is highly likely that you have the wrong size.

Bravissimo was a revelation! Now that I know I am 32E/F I can no longer buy supermarket bra's though

my office and cantine are too cold, has to be padded for me :o
and I hate wired bras, if they don't hurt you they ruin the washing mashine...

I love slightly padded t-shirt bras - they make my droopy new pregnancy D-cups a nice round shape and avoid nipplage.

Another vote for Elle MacPherson for non-wired bras. The postman just brought me a lovely EM nursing bra in navy/red lace from ASOS sale, has boosted my boobs spirits no end.

DH also likes non-padded and non-wired, think it's better for groping

Like people have said, a small amount of padding (= thickness) on the cups is to stop nipples showing through. I like wearing the M&S Tshirt style bras for that reason. And like someone else said - mostly I am really cold so the warmth is appreciated!