Bravissimo.

[poorbuthappy]

Got measured on Thursday.
Bought 2 bras, have worn both.

How long does it take to get used to a new bra size etc??
Also they rub just under my arms (at the very front) and now have very very red areas which tbh hurts like buggery when I move.

When do I admit defeat and drive back to Cardiff??

Yikes. If they fit correctly, you shouldn't have to "get used to" them! I'd admit defeat I'm afraid...

The last time I got a bra from there I did find I had to break it in a bit. It took a week. I thought I'd been measured wrongly and even brought it up at the fitting, but the woman told me it was definitely the right size and going larger would have meant the bra riding up my back.

She was right, it fit like a dream after a week. The rubbing doesn't sound good though, I had it a little bit at the sides where the underwire stopped and the ends dug into my skin though the fabric, but I put cotton wool pads underneath and they stretched it out. It might seem like a lot of work to get a bra to fit though, up to you whether you think it's worth it.

I bought a bra from bravisimo and the top of the underwire rubbed under my arm, it came up quite high ifswim. I took it back even though I had worn it a couple of times and they happily changed it. Some brands they told me have higher underwires than others so now I make sure I get the shorter underwired ones (I have a very small frame, just huge boobs!). Having said that, although new bras aren't uncomfortable it normally takes a few wears for them to feel part of me.
Very very red areas definiteley doesn't sound right and I think they should take responsibility for bad fitting and change them.
Good luck.

Thank you for responses.
I expected it to take a few days to get used to going down a back side and actually I can feel me getting used to it.

But the side rubbing thing is really getting to me. My boobs are up round my ears now (and tbh I like where they are!!) but as a result the bit where the strap joins the top of the cup is almost under my arm hence the rubbing.
I think I'll go back tomorrow.

Ummm ooops
Back size, not back side!

They don't fit. A bra should feel a bit "harnessy" to start with but should NEVER rub, take them back!

Bravissimo have a poor range IMO, there is very little variance in cut and the "fitters" (some of them are RUBBISH) seem to be under a lot of pressure to make sales. I've never managed to find a bra in there that actually fitted me properly as they all seem to be that balcony style which looks good on its own but doesn't give me a good shape under clothes.

There's more to bra fitting than size, especially as you get into larger cup sizes. Where abouts on your chest are your boobs, are your boobs more at the front or more spread across your chest, are they heavy for their size, what shape are they, etc.

Try and find a small independent bra shop where the staff will understand their stock well and be able to find something that really fits you, rather than shoehorning you into something they sell iyswim. For some reason these tend to pop up more in towns rather than cities so might be worth an ask on MN local or a look through the yellow pages...alternatively I have heard great things about John Lewis lingerie department, is there a JL in Cardiff?

Ooh, one last dig at Bravissimo, a lot of the stuff they stock isn't finished very well I don't think, specially not for the price. the wires do tend to be quite "pokey". Spend an extra tenner on something like Prima Donna or Marie Jo and you will really notice a difference in the comfort wrt seams, smoother fabric etc.

In all honesty I think a lot of brands stocked by Bravissimo, like Freya, are simlilar quality to supermarket lingerie ranges but get away with charging ££££ as they got in first with the "niche" sizes. And now general vanity sizing has plunged a lot more women into back sizes of 32 and smaller that "niche" and their profits just go up and up and up.

TBH I would disagree that bravissimo have a poor range. It depends where you live, but there is nowhere else locally to us where you can get anything like the variety of bras in sizes above a g-cup. There just isn't. John Lewis here only have Freya, Debenhams are a bit better in terms of range but useless for fitting, and the local independent tried to convince me to try on a 32ff when I was a 28HH as it was the closest she had.

It does sound like the bra you have isn't perfect. If you have changed size quite a bit - especially if you have gone down a lot in the back - then that will take a wee bit of time to get used to, and isn't necessarily a sign that the fit is wrong. The rubbing under the arm is more to do with the shape, some bras are cut a little higher here. The Bravissimo Alana is one I find sometime rubs at that spot, where as something like the Freya Arabella is a little lower. I'd suggest you need to try a couple of different styles to get one that is right.

Bravissimo are generally very good at taking things back if they have got it in any way wrong. I had a bra which split along the underwire recently and they replaced it even though Id had it for at least a year. As it was now discontinued, they gave me an entire new matching set. So I would just go back.

I had a similar experience, I got fitted and found I'd gone from a 40F to a 34G so I really needed a new bra- this was due to weightloss not a bad choice! I bought the one they recommended and wore it for 4 days but had to admit defeat- it rubbed two 50p size marks on my back and I was so, so aware of the bra every second of the day. I went to M&S and got a 36F after much trying on- was much better.

I emailed Bravissimo saying 'is this the right size, should it rub' etc and they appologised and offered to either accept it sent back to them or go to the shop. Which is miles away so I'm not doing that! I'm away right now but when I get home I'm returning the £25 bra from them and sticking to the 2-pack for £25 I got from M&S!! I was so excited to have gone down that much too....

I love Bravissimo and I've nothing but great service and perfectly fitting (non-balcony) bras from them :)

I bought my first one from there about a fortnight ago, it did feel slightly uncomfortable under the arms for the first week, but it is absolutely fine now. It fits extremely well and I feel better supported than I have ever have been in a non sports bra.

It sounds as though yours is rubbing too much though, I would go back.

I love Bravissimo. I went there again on Friday and got fitted.

The first bra I had from them had to be 'worn in' because I was a 32, but had been wearing a 36 for years! Once I got used to it it was great.

They definitely take some getting used to imo. Have you washed them yet? I always soak them in fabric conditioned warm water for a couple of hours before wearing for the first time to soften them up, then wear them for a couple of hours only to break them in so to speak.

Fab bras OP.

Have to say, I clicked on this from 'most active' thinking 'This better be S&B and not Baby Names'

Ha ha!
I was going to go back to Cardiff (with 3 kids in tow oh yes looking forward to that) today after having to put plasters on yesterday to stop the rubbing.
But I decided to try 1 more day and I think it's getting more comfortable.
So I will be persevering and trying some more on in M&S in the right size tomorrow.
Cheers all.

Went to Bravissimo today, waste of time. I was so surprised to find they don't do anything past a 40 (I need a 42).

So much for the "big bra specialists" even the much-maligned M&S can offer something.