BRAVISSIMO SIZING and other bra questions

[Missbopeep]

I'm looking for some advice- am going to try ordering my mum a bra online as she is unable to get out due to various things ( illness etc).

She normally wears a 34 DD but measuring her she is under bust 32.5 inches and over bust 37. This to me is a 32DD or maybe a 32E? Or should she try a 34DD?

She is elderly and her bust needs quite a bit of support, but she says she finds underwired not comfy. I think she ought to try underwired if poss for support.

She's currently wearing a Fantasy bra in 34DD with an extender back strap but when I checked it was far too loose so we managed to remove that and fasten the bra in the middle hook.

What size in Bravissimo ladies?

I worked for them until recently so know a fair bit about the sizing, and it depends on the style. Is the 34dd fitting well in the cup? Are the wires flat in the centre and not digging in under her arms? Is there bulging or gaping?

Underwires aren't normally uncomfortable unless they are in the wrong position so its likely she will be fine in a better size. The wires need to completely surround the tissue, sitting flat under her armpits, right under her bust and coming up in between, seperating her boobs. Of course there are style issues, so someone with a bony sternum may need a plunge as the wire can hurt if it pushes into the sternum, and if you have very high set boobs (often petite ladies) shorter wires are better so they don't dig in underarm.

Assuming the cup size is right on the Fantasie, If its a Fantasie full cup, the bravissimo balconettes come up smaller, especially the Alana so she may need a 32F. The back size is too big and ideally you want a brand new bra to fit on the loosest hook as it will stretch. Depending on how old the Fantasie bra is, it will already have stretched so you may find a brand new 32 to fit too tightly even if she's measuring 32.5

I would try the Alana in 32F, 34E, 32FF, 34F.

Or, ring the bravissimo customer services with your mum there for a full phone fitting, they will ask you a few questions about her bra as she's wearing it and get an accurate measurements.

Thanks- you are a godsend!

I don't think the one she has is underwired.
It is a full cup bra and quite a traditional style.

I was looking at the Alana and the Melrose- do you have any opinions on that?

We tried some M&S bras at the weekend and the 34DD were too small- she had the ' 4 boob' look spilling over the top. I think she has been making the classic mistake of too big back , too small cup- she says she was measured in J Lewis a while back and they suggested a 32 back but she found it tight- but I think she just needs to get used to it- and have a more supporting bra. The Fantasie one is all lace and TBH it doesn't seem very supportive, especially as it's older now and has stretched.

The Melrose I don't have as much experience with as I was just leaving when it came out, I think it was more standard and fuller than the Alana, so more similar to Fantasie styles.

(When you go down in the back the cup goes down too so a 32dd is one back AND be cup smaller than 34dd)

A lot of older ladies who had been used to wearing looser or non stretch bras did find it difficult to get used to tighter backs. So maybe get her a 32 and suggest if she finds it really uncomfortable she can wear the extender for a few hours on, few hours off to get used to it. Also, a looser back can disguise a too small cup, as the boobs push the centre wires away instead of spilling over the top.

Depending on how extreme the 4 boob was, she probably needs to go up 1 or 2 cup sizes and down a back size. The Alana is small fitting on most people so allow an extra cup size for this one. Also Fantasie full cups are generous so maybe 2 sizes up would be a better idea. (I don't know any non-wired Fantasie so don't know that particular style I'm afraid).

So I make that:

Melrose 32F or 32FF (1 back size down, 1 or 2 cup sizes up)
Alana 32FF or 32G (as with Melrose)

The Alana really is very good and a best seller, and Melrose seemed very sturdy so both good choices! the Melrose had side panels so more of a traditional style. If you can, order 4 or so and use the free returns to send the others back.

I hope this helps

Thanks- you are very kind:)