New, expensive-ish bra uncomfortable - after expert Bravissimo fitting, no less

[PacificDogwood]

So, lovely Bravissimo lady put me in a 34G rather than my usual 36D or DD.
I had kind of expected something of the sort to happen after a lot of threads on here mentioning that they tend to recommend smaller band size/larger cup size. Also, I've had 4 DCs, Bf, gained wt, lost weight since I last had any kind of bra fitting several years ago.

I have just worn it the 2nd full (well, almost full) day, but just caved and changed back in to one of my well-worn, comfy, non-underwired, too-small bras. Oh, the relief!

The underwires dig in to my ribs underneath the cup and hurt at the very outside of my chest, where the wires comes back up IYKWIM. It is as if the front of the bra is too wide for my chest. The skin is red and rubbed, and I know will feel bruised by tomorrow if the last time I wore it longer than just to prance in front of the mirror. It is a balconette bra, bought to go with a smart dress I am hoping to wear soon.

Having worn it twice, I can of course not return it and that's fair enough.

However, how do I avoid this kind of thing happening again??
Avoid balconettes?
At this kind of cup size anything with a full cup is just really frumpy IMO .

Any ideas/recommendations?

Of course you can return it. If your skin is red and rubbed then it doesn't fit you properly.

You can return it - my DM went to Bravissimo (on my recommendation as I've only had good experiences there) and didn't get on with hers. They gave her a replacement even though she'd washed it.

I completely agree that it may be the bra and not the size.

I'm a 36HH and only find Panache comfortable. Anything else digs into my ribs too.

Oh gosh, quick responses, thanks.

Ok, I think I'll phone the shop in question tomorrow then. It is a challenge to find the opportunity to get into town with out little helpers in tow... Toddlers and bra-fitting don't really go well together IMO .

It is a Panache bra, PersonalClown.
Maybe my chest is 'wrong' ...

It is good to hear that they have the reputation for good customer service. I still have my receipt and all the packaging, although I must have bought it about 4 weeks ago, went on holiday and have only worn it since our return 10 days ago.

Take it back! I took one back after being fitted at bravissimo and they replaced it.

Hmm... I'm betting its the make rather than the size. Panache and Freya are a nightmare for me. Fantasie is the only one that works. So much so I even have Fantasie bikinis now too.

Oh, I have lusted after Fauve bra, but never actually tried one on. And I don't think Bravissimo do those, do they?

Never having baught anything by 'mail order' (how quaint that now sounds!), I have almost exclusively shopped on-line since the darling offspring came along and not trying on doen't not really work in the scaffolding department, does it?

Although, on this sad occasion even trying on did not do the trick. Yet. Will try again.

I think its probably the make, I find Panache wires were too large for my small rib cage (small chest , whopping boobs), try other styles and makes. After all they want your custom, they want you back!

Hmm, I dunno, most bra's need 'breaking in' ime, like a pair of shoes. It can take a few wears until they become your new best friend and more wears when you have dramatically changes size. It is normally recomended that after a size chande you wear a new bra for a few hours a day and something you are used to for the rest of the time. I think this advice is actually on the Bravamisso website.

When I went from a 36C to a 32F they were so uncomfortable, I hated them. I have now gone down a back size to a 30 as I prefer the tightness and suport.

You can bend the underwires which will make a huge difference, but render the bra un-returnable, so bit risky.

I have this with a couple of bras bought overseas. They are actually a cup size too large on me but the cup size below was too small. Rigby and Peller SA told me that this rubbing tends to happen when the cup is too big because the underwire comes too high up your boobs. This is exactly why you need to balance the back size with the cup size. Often tricky when (like me) you have a small back and big boobs.

I had the very same problem just recently. Bought three bras, fitted in store, and one of them just hurt so much by mid morning on the first day I wore it. I had tried loads on too, as all the makes do vary in shape and fit. It was a Bravissimo make bra.

The problem seems to be that the underwires are quite short within the channel of material, so the wire only comes partway up your boob under your arm, resulting in the end of the wire poking into your flesh. I resorted to padding it out with tissue to stop the end of the wire poking in until I could get home to change.

I rang Bravissimo customer services and they were very helpful. The operator had a sample of the exact bra to look at while we were on the phone and she said something along the lines of 'they are designed with some play in the underwire pocket'. This I think is strange, to have spare empty material where the wire should be all the way up in order to keep your boob contained. I checked other bras I had, from Debenhams and M & S, and their underwires all go up to the edge of the material and have a padded bit so the end of the wire is protected, which I would assume to be normal.

Bravissimo said I could return it to store or by post, as it's all part of the fitting service that the customer is satisfied with the bra, so as I would have had to make a special trip 30 miles to return it, I printed a label off their website and posted it with a letter explaining the problem. I got a gift voucher back, which was great, but I was disappointed that they did not address any of the comments I made.

I have also had problems with Panache bras recently too in that, when you go to fasten them and the sides strech, the band of elastic along the bottom of the side bit just isn't substantial enough to stretch (IYSWIM) and ends up curling up and then digging into your sides as just a very thin edge bit of material leaving red marks. Anyone else get this problem? While their bras give a good shape, I am fed up of this happening even on brand new bras. They are not too tight in the band either, as going a size up would result in the band being too loose. The Panache sports bra in purple is brilliant thought, can't praise it enough.

What a lot of effort we have to go to to get suitable bras! So yes, OP, do return the bra, as they are expensive to just not wear again.

I had the same experience at Bravissimo, yes they were nice and helpful but actually not that fussed at making sure the bras were comfortable. I got red marks/rubbing from the underwires after a few hours. All the bras I bought from them were like that (were different brands). Ended up returning £140 of bras, most of which which because they were so uncomfortable or, in one case, simply badly fitted. The cup fabric on one of their best sellers creased like mad so you have to assume the cup was too damn big. When I queries this I was told 'it creases like that on everyone'. I think their fitting ability is wildly overrated actually. They were a bit 'thingy' about refunding even though a lot of the stuff was unworn with tags on, and it took nearly an hour to get my money, standing at the till at the shop whilst they tutted and fussed with the computer. I wouldn't go back there.

Since then I've had much better results with the Debenhams 'Gorgeous' DD++ range (I am 30F). That Debenhams range has great balconnette and half-cup styles (I loathe full cup bras with a passion), are super comfy, beautiful fabrics, well 'engineered' and cheap enough, at £16, to be thrown in the washing machine in a lingerie bag. Life is too bloody short to handwash bras, in my book.

On the other side of the coin, am deeply fed up with poor choice and high prices at HoF, JL, M&S. La Senza are doing nice big cup sizes at great prices (fab colours, designs, and very sexy) but the fit and comfort is no where near as good as the Debs stuff.

I can't get on with Panache bras either. Fantasie, some Freya and Empreinte for me. The latter are incredibly expensive but amazing and I have one that I've worn as much as possible AND washed it in the machine and its as good as new. I cant say that about other bras so they are probably value for money.

Thats a great tip re the Debenhams range. Thanks "Claudia".

I have a mostly Fantasie/ freya (but prefer fantasie). However, I do have a couple of Fauve sets...seriously the best bra's ever IMO. But can't jusitfy the cost for everyday wear.

I've had problems with a bra from Bravissimo several weeks after purchase, and had a refit and a totally new style given back to me. That time I had the manager come and fit me - and I got her advice on which style was going to suit my shape best and chose between the two or three she brought out for me to try.

I more recently had trouble with the finish on two fantasie bras - and got them swapped, again without any trouble.

I find Fantasie better than the Bravissimo bras for me though.

32F here.
I love Empreinte bras...such pretty straps.
I go to R and P and was surprised last fitting to go from 34 to 32.
Prima Donna I love, but for some reason, they didn't fit this time.

I have breasts that go up and down in size faster than a 60feet Voldemort [ smile]

bander ...oh sweet lord! I haven't come across that site before. I almost had a moment. Thank you!

Merissa balconette ! I have the Dali set already. Love the greens
I'm lucky in our little town we have the most fabulous independent lingerie shop. Run by a wonderful woman who remembers your bra size! Service is amazing & she checks fittings etc every time & will order anything in for you.

Fauve just fits me perfectly 36E so not mahoosive but good enough. Love the colours & designs too

Fauve are the fancy end of Fantasie (I believe)

Thank you for more ideas - if I ever get a chance I will have a go at Debenhams lingery department too, thanks for that tip.
And the Fauve link, wow - I feel a purchase coming on

Good to know too that I am not alone in this problem due to freakish anatomy

Just a quick update, ladies: I phoned the shop, the woman on the phone obviously could not comment without seeing me/bra, but was perfectly happy for me to come in and have the situation assessed inspite of my purchase being more than 28 days ago (baught before 3 week holiday).
So, I am happy so far and will try to go in some time this week.

Also, that brastop links is dangerous... thank you so much for the link, Bandersnatch; I feel a looooong relationship with that site coming on .