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How do you wear your bras?

759 replies

BedHeadTigi · 25/08/2012 18:44

Do you like to wear them super tight so you know they are there and leave bra marks when you take them off, or have them at a looser more comfortable setting? Im asking this because i have realised all of my old bras are pretty super tight on me, but my new ones are so comfortable and no way as tight but i wonder if they will still support my bust the same?

OP posts:
SorrelForbes · 29/08/2012 08:49

Great link brighthair. This says it all:

"I see and hear a lot of women talking about their bust as a letter and nothing else, something that infuriates me.

“This dress was perfect on me, and I’m a DD!”

“I don’t get how she’s a G? I’M a G!”

Here’s the thing: to label yourself solely as a letter or make assumptions about a letter is misguided. Without a back size a cup size means nothing. It would be like telling the time and only telling the minute not the hour. It’s half past…but half past what? The two pieces of information need to go hand in hand as without one the other does not make sense.

So when we see a women and she is labelled as being a “32DD”, we cannot, in our 40DD bra, scoff and say ‘But how can SHE be a DD when I am a DD?!’ – it just makes no sense. A 32DD and a 40DD have nothing in common at all apart from the fact that they both have the DD label. They are not the same size, they are just the same relative size – by that I mean the ‘DD’ is an indication of how proportionally large the bust is in comparison to the frame, NOT how large the bust is all on it’s own.

" The assumption that ALL DD cup women have huge breasts is false ..."

Cup size ignorance leads to ill fitting bras – women assume, for example, that they can’t be a D cup as D cups MUST be huge, and therefore they suffer in too small cups and riding back bands. Do yourself and womankind a favour and wise up about bra sizes. Don’t always put it down to ‘vanity sizing’.

SorrelForbes · 29/08/2012 08:51

ApricotPoodle - a new bra! So pleased you're happy with your new look Grin

I'm surprised you went up in the band and the cup though. Are you positive the band isn't too loose? I wouldn't be surprised if you end up in a 32 eventually! I bet you feel much more comfortable now?

SorrelForbes · 29/08/2012 08:57

Change - TBH the only Curvy Kate bras that really work for me are the Show Girl range ones (Thrill Me etc).

I know £50+ is a lot of money to spend on a bra but I am practically living in my R&P and Prima Donna ones (and doing a lot of hand washing!). I wish I hadn't bought all the Freyas and Lepels that are now languishing in my knicker drawer!

This site are offering 10% off first orders:
www.jolielingerie.co.uk/lingerie/prima-donna

SorrelForbes · 29/08/2012 11:43

I obviously have too much time on my hands today and decided to measure my collection!:

Curvy Kate Thrill Me 30G - 25" unstretched, 31" stretched
Debenhams Gorgeous padded balconette 30G - 25" unstretched, 29.5" stretched
Freya Sophia plunge 30G - 25" unstretched, 30" stretched
Freya Polyanna 30FF - 26" unstretched, 30" stretched
R&P Vintage 32G - 25.5" unstretched, 30" stretched
R&P Alondra 32G - 24.5" unstretched, 29" stretched
Prima Donna Wonderland 32G - 24.5"unstretched, 30" stretched
Ewa Michalak CH Karmelki 32G - 26" unstretched, 30" stretched
Lepel Fiore full cup 30FF - 25" unstretched, 30" stretched

So (if anyone is awake!), not a huge difference. I think it shows than the R&P and PD ones come up slightly smaller in the band which is probably why they fitted me as a 30G but put me in a 32G in the bras I chose.

hawthers · 29/08/2012 12:27

Mn you are blowing my freaking mind!

So before kids I was a 34a, after DS1 it all looked very sad and still vaguely bfing DS2 but I now measure 30 and 37 so does that make me 30g?

I've got 34a, d and 36a, and b bras but seemingly nothing that will actually fit. I'm off to r and p as soon as I can!

HazleNutt · 29/08/2012 12:34

hawters, as most brands also have DD cup, I would recommend 30F. Just a guess though, nothing beats a good fitting.

fridgepants · 29/08/2012 17:14

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the user's request.

ComeAlongPond · 29/08/2012 17:46

So it turns out I'm between a 28D and a 28DD! You are all amazing. There wasn't a huge amount of stock in my size so I've done an online Bravissimo order in both sizes, fingers crossed!

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 29/08/2012 18:00

I am going shopping on Friday. I AM going to buy some new bras.
For my 30e (afaik) I won't be able to buy primark but I can't afford really expensive.

I will be in west end do lts of choice. Are la senza crap? I really want matching knickers and it's easy to get them there.

I just find bras so uncomfortable now. I am quite ribby with my boobs being much softer droopy than before. I also find low cups look awful. The didn't used to be a problem!

I like decent support, not so much because of size but for shape.

It used to be so easy when I was 32 c.

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 29/08/2012 18:17

Just checked out R&P.
No way I can afford even their cheapest. Bravisimo looks more hopeful.

brighthair · 29/08/2012 18:21

La senza are shite. Sorry BlushGrin
Debenhams? Even m&s if you select your own size and totally ignore the bra fitters

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 29/08/2012 18:28

I get confused in department stores. I will never buy one in there (although I luffs Debenhams)

What about Bravisimo? Are they ok? I can make an appt to get fitted and they have a sale on.

I go all cold at the idea of bra shopping and I usually love shopping.

I can tell if a frock will look good on me from 50 paces but bras defy me.

HazleNutt · 29/08/2012 18:37

I agree with brighthair re: la senza.

Bravissimo is great, you should certainly go there for a fitting. The bras are usually not the cheapest, but decent brands and sale sounds good. you can check out the brands you like and find them cheaper on Brastop.com or ebay.

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 29/08/2012 19:00

I will do. Thanks.
It's just so confusing because all the brands ardor differently.
Oh for the days when I could pop into asda and buy them by the handful.

Can anyone tell me why I can't wear the lower cup styles now?
What has changed about my cpshape that makes them look so awful?

brighthair · 29/08/2012 19:04

Try as many brands as you can and styles
Make note of style and brand
Come home, search eBay Wink and bra stop. I picked up a panache bra for £15 with tags. Amazon surprisingly is also cheap, I got a curvy Kate bra for £13

brighthair · 29/08/2012 19:05

Re brands generally people fit panache or Freya better. Freya doesn't fit me, panache does while my friend is the opposite
Bravissimo have good own brand stuff, their satine bra is a great plunge

maxybrown · 29/08/2012 22:12

I never could get a panache to fit me Sad Freya always fitted brilliantly before DS though not tried since, I seem to need a fuller cup - so Fantasie fit well atm for me

AuntPepita · 29/08/2012 22:12

Oooh MrsDeVeere I am going to Bravissimo in Covent Garden on Friday - I will eye the other customers suspiciously, wondering if they are you...

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 29/08/2012 22:20

Listen out for the wails and moaning in the next cubicle.
I usually say something like 'but I can't be an 28e that tooooooo weird, I used have normal boobs '

PacificDogwood · 29/08/2012 22:21

Bravissimo recently stuck me into a 34G - rather than my usual 36D Shock.
After some initial problems (you don't have to yank the shoulder straps up until your circulation is cut off apparently ShockBlush) and them adjusting me, my life has changed.
I have perky, round, perfectly seperated boobs, almost as nice as 20 years ago Grin.

Brastop has seen some serious business from me - thank you to whoever it was who linked to it on my thread.

Bravissimo also do not measure, but do everything by eyeing you up and offering lots of bras to try on.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 29/08/2012 23:04

I have just splurged and ordered myself a Prima Donna in a 36G, which is my usual size in Fantasie.

I have got a Playtex in this size as well, but the band is quite loose after only a month's wear - so I am hopeful that it will be the right size if as Sorrell says it comes up a little on the tight side.

SorrelForbes · 30/08/2012 00:16

Ali - enjoy. I love my PD bra. Grin

BandersnatchCummerbund · 30/08/2012 01:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CrunchyFrog · 30/08/2012 09:11

I'm in a 34FF having added an inch to my bust somehow (while losing weight, WTF?)

I measure 33 under, 40 over.

Might go and try a 32 G or H and see if I can't shift some back fat!

phlebas · 30/08/2012 09:47

I'm 42DD according to M&S (terrible fit - boobs falling out of bottom of bra as band too lose & cup too small). I've just ordered two 38Fs to try.