Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Sigh... Bras are expensive but necessary

27 replies

Whenisitmysleepytime · 14/09/2012 20:54

Two new bras = £64! Shock

They are lovely, good fit etc etc but £64!
I seem to have the worlds most awkward boobs, 30dd, the wrong shape for Freya, too many bras come up too high around my armpit etc etc.
I've tried bravissimo and there was nothing there that worked.
High street doesn't seem to cater for 30 back.

Does anyone have any genius bras/ shops I've not tried yet? Confused

this is what I bought

OP posts:
FermezLaBouche · 14/09/2012 20:59

I feel your pity at being "breastily difficult"
If you can find somewhere that will do me a good bra in a 40GG please let me know. Currently, being fairly skint, I get 2 new bras every month from Debenhams - the only place that do my size on the High St. By the end of the month, both have lost their underwires as they burst out.

Have you tried Brastop.co.uk? I hear this Rigby and Peller place is the place to go... but ££££

azazello · 14/09/2012 21:00

Have you tried Brastop.com and Figleaves? Both do free returns etc and lots of special offers in small back, big boob sizes

Hopefully · 14/09/2012 21:01

I am a 30dd (most of the time) and I do quite well with the tango bra (panache?) and I think lejaby, the nuage range (OMG autocorrect keeps trying to change that to Mugabe range).

StatisticallyChallenged · 14/09/2012 21:01

I was in TK Maxx earlier and they had a lot of Calvin Klein bras in stock at vastly reduced prices. They also had the Wonderbra ultimate strapless reduced to £7.xx. Hit and miss but worth a look?

Have you tried brastop? If you don't like Freya you might like Curvy Kate as the wires seem a different shape and some were quite lot under the arm.

Original poster
Whenisitmysleepytime · 14/09/2012 21:24

I haven't tried bra stop but have looked at figleaves - trouble is I have no idea what some of the brands are like size/ shape wise.

I've tried panache - the cups get weird lines across them horizontally.
Curvy Kate were wrong too - I tried them via bravissimo. I can't remember what was wrong.

Wonderbra untimate strapless cut into my armpits horribly. It came up way too high.

Trouble with ck is that they don't usually do dd from what I can see online.

Will check out tk max too but online only as I can't stand the mess in our one!

OP posts:
noisytoys · 14/09/2012 21:27

I am a 34c. An average size that you can buy anywhere. But cheap bras are crap even if you are boobically challenged. I tend to spend at least £25 on a good bra

Itsgottabebags · 14/09/2012 21:42

Habe you tried Fantasie?

Original poster
Whenisitmysleepytime · 14/09/2012 21:51

Fantasie were no good either.

I need a bit of padding to combat the spaniel ears effect the dc created. Hmm

OP posts:
GotMyGoat · 14/09/2012 21:53

Have you tried Debenhams - I got a pair of 30dds for £20 there recently, balcony style (the only comfy ones for me) they also had some tshirt bras with light padding £16 for a pair or something.

mrsconfuseddotcom · 14/09/2012 21:59

I'm a 32DD and have this bra in various colours.

It is very comfortable and only £20 with Amazon Prime.

brighthair · 14/09/2012 22:59

I know you said you had tried bravissimo but have you tried their Satine bra? Bit of a plunge, light padding, v comfy and wires don't dig in

LaFataTurchina · 14/09/2012 23:04

£64!? Shock

At times like these I am grateful for my teeny 32Bs. Most of my bras are 2 for £6 from Primark!

trixymalixy · 14/09/2012 23:07

eBay. Try on instore to make sure of your size and buy on eBay.

wimbledonmummy · 15/09/2012 07:08

Rugby & Peller are expensive but they do achieve an excellent fit and last brilliantly. In the long term I've found I've spent less overall by having a couple of bras from there than buying more cheaper bras that don't last.

Original poster
Whenisitmysleepytime · 15/09/2012 07:09

I tried debenhams last time. The bra I bought did not wash well and shrank in places after a few washes. I didn't think I could return them after they'd been washed an worn.

I tried panache porcelain - weird horizontal lines across cups after being worn for a few hours. I returned that one to bravissimo. (repeatedly after trying different sizes)

Bravissimo didn't have the satine when I looked last. It does look like it might be too wide/ high cut near the armpit but I could try it. It's v similar to what I bought.

Think eBay might be worth a trawl. Trouble is finding the brand and size and style in store. not enough places stock enough sizes and styles IMO! Hmm

Think I will be working on wash one, wear one basis for a while...

OP posts:
poorbuthappy · 15/09/2012 07:14

I bought 2 bras in bravissimo in April.
Both wires have popped through. Angry

Will not buy fantasie again. Any bra that is sooooo delicate it can't cope with a washing machine quite frankly can rod off.

Original poster
Whenisitmysleepytime · 15/09/2012 07:14

Rigby and peller are nowhere near here. Expensive bra + half a tank of petrol for the proper fitting experience seems a bit too £££

I do agree my cheaper bras (pre dc) didn't last that well a lot of the time.

OP posts:
BrandyAlexander · 15/09/2012 07:29

Have you checked Freya properly? Sorry don't mean to be rude but I am usually 28E (believe me the worlds most awkward size!) And 30DD when I have my period. I have lots of bras from Freya via figleaves.

Also that new Rosie range at M&S has 30DD. Not 28E though. Bastards.

Original poster
Whenisitmysleepytime · 15/09/2012 08:14

Novice I've tried on at least 10 different styles and sizes of Freya bras. Because they aren't padded they are not at all forgiving if the shape is wrong. They are more sticky-out and triangular than my boobs iyswim. The couple of padded ones they do that I tried from bravissimo were very gappy at the top of the boob.

Having children and being a epic milk producing machine does irreparable things to boobs! Hmm
Just as well my dc are so lovely mostly :)

OP posts:
MrsRobertDuvallHasRosacea · 15/09/2012 08:19

I have just bought a Prima Donna bra from an little independent shop...not cheap £55...
Think of bras as an investment...you will look slimmer and have better posture wearing the right fit. I have 2 neutral colour and one black...all seamless for under jersey tops, plus a couple of lacier ones.
I'm a 34E.

Rosebud05 · 15/09/2012 08:22

I'm also having bra problems. Over the past few months, I have tried on scores of bras and found precisely one that fits. There's so much variation in sizes between the different makes and styles that the only way seems to be to devote days of you life to trying the bloody things on.

I'm a 26 or 28 back, and have been bf for over 5 years. Debenhams was the only High Street place that stocked a 28. They had quite a lot in their summer sale.

Rosebud05 · 15/09/2012 08:22

Meant to say, that if you look after them, your £32 bras should last well and it's gotta be easier than buying new ones every couple of months.

BrandyAlexander · 15/09/2012 10:03

when, ah, I usually avoid the padded ones. Have just had a look at my bra draw.... I have padded 30DD from John Lewis (own brand), Gossard, Lepel and Fantasie. Any of those any good? Am fairly sure that I got those cheap as I don't normally do padded so wouldn't have paid £32 for them!

Rosebud, I didn't know that you could even get a 26 back. I am 27" around ribcage so thankfully round up to 28 and that's nightmarish enough to find bras in that size.

motherinferior · 15/09/2012 10:06

I'm afraid I've found that I'd rather be fitted for each bra, and have something that is comfortable - and I am usually the world's biggest cheapskate. BTW am currently wearing a 30FF btw Grin

Original poster
Whenisitmysleepytime · 15/09/2012 10:37

Novice - I've tried fantasie - similar problems to Freya. John Lewis - came up too high and rubbed. Gossard - tried and can't remember what was wrong - possibly gappy at top (?) same problem with lepel I think. Hmm

I have the world's most odd boobs.

OP posts: