You bra experts are Very Bad People <glares>

[needasilverlining]

As of this morning, a scant two weeks after putting me in the right size bra for the first time EVER, I own seven new bras.

Seven.

And I am STILL LOOKING. I am obsessed.

You will drive me to the poorhouse.

(It isn't quite as profligate as it sounds: most have cost me 5-8 pounds; the most expensive was 11. But even so.)

Please tell me I'm not alone and there are other MNers with a drawer full of new undies thanks to the Bra Enablers?

[StatisticallyChallenged]

I bought the purple but have since ordered the red too from crazy clearance. The pants are frilly and very low rise-worse than the meg ones. Might be worth phoning bravissimo cos my local didn't have them out on the floor but I asked to try 'everything cleo in a 30h' and it appeared

curvy Kate are also bringing out a baby doll in their spring summer 14 range-pics of it on their website

[StatisticallyChallenged]

sorry meant phone re lily

[GobblersKnob]

I LOVE the Cleo Marcie, I have the red and turquoise and have just ordered the new pink one

[SorrelForbes]

The only Marcie I can find on-line in a 30GG is at Crazy Clearance in Red. No pants though but I can probably track them down elsewhere. If anyone spots a Turquoise one in a 30GG, please let me know.

[GobblersKnob]

Sorrel ASOS have it in 32G here? just a thought.

I am a 30G but all my Marcies and most of my Cleos (except those based on the Juna shape) are 32FFs. I tries the Marcie initially in a 30G and it nearly crippled me

[StatisticallyChallenged]

pants on eBay, turquoise marcie too I suspect as I found most sizes last night

[SorrelForbes]

GobblersKnob thanks for checking for me. My Megs etc are all fine in a 30 (my 30 Juna is a bit big) so I think a 32 will be too loose).

Just checked eBay and they have it in Turqouise. £27 though!

[SorrelForbes]

Some great Cleo bargains on ASOS though!

[GrandstandingBlueTit]

Be thankful you can even buy bras with smaller back sizes and bigger cups.

I'm in the Antipodes, and it's virtually impossible here! I went into a department store with a huge lingerie section, and without exception, the bras were all the-bigger-the-back-measurement-the-bigger-the-cup.

In fact, I couldn't even find a 32 back in any cup size, nor anything above a DD or E, at a push. Let alone a combo of that..!!

I am stuck in ill-fitting bras, seemingly...

[marriednotdead]

Marcie and Lily are new in at Bravissimo

[CelticPromise]

BlueTit sign up to get emails from Brastop. They have frequent special offers occasionally including free worldwide delivery

[SorrelForbes]

I'm hoping to get to the Bravissimo in Leamington Spa or Solihull later this month with my DSis so will definitely be trying the Lily then.

[milktraylady]

Wonderstuff I agree there is a gap in the market for 28 backs in all sizes.
Why not set up a company to make them. I'm pretty sure we could pull together a team of people with the right skills to make it work.

Sorrel & statistically have to be the Grande Dames though!

(I can sort out the shipping/ logistics)

[Fairylea]

In quite surprised people seem to have such a hard time finding bras in a 28 or 30. I've been that size for the last 20 years and in the beginning I had to go for a 34 everywhere as a 28/30 just didn't exist. Maybe I'm just overly grateful but now I think there's a huge choice... I can usually find 28s and 30s in debenhams (which come up small anyway so a 30 is like a 28) and most major department stores. And there is a very good selection online at bravissimo (if you can't get to a bravissimo shop) and asos and all kinds of other shops. I think there is more choice now than ever.

However, I really wish shops like new look and topshop who are geared towards teenage girls size 6-10 would start their bras at 26 and 28. Maybe then women wouldn't be so surprised and amazed when they are told they are probably a 30 - 32 back rather than a 36 as they would have already heard about smaller back sizes.

We have to change the thinking that a 34 or 36 back is average. I seriously doubt that it is if everyone was fitted correctly.

[SorrelForbes]

As long as I don't have to do any drawing or sewing, count me in! I'm not very grande though

[SorrelForbes]

I think it differs from area to area and store to store. My local HoF and JL have no 28 bands at all and very little in a 30. The local Debenhams is a bit better but only stocks a handful of 28s and only in their own Gorgeous range (no Freyas etc even though they do stock them in toehr sizes).

I totally agree with you re. Top Shop et al. The problem is that young girls don't look at 28 bands because they're convinced that they are only an A cup. Of course they can't fit into a 28A because the cup is too small! I think the average band is probably a 32/34.

[Wonderstuff]

I did get the 28c issue discussed at Bravissimo, they decided they weren't going to start stocking a c cup in any size...

[StatisticallyChallenged]

The availability of small backs around here isn't great TBH. I live very close to the main high street. Roughly we have

House of Fraser - no 28s, 30s limited and stop at GG
New Look - 32A - 38F I think
Primark - not great, never seen less than a 32 or bigger than an F
La Senza - 30A-38E
Debenhams - an odd set up, lingerie dept is split level. Bottom bit has 30A-38DD I think, and nice PJs, chemises, wedding lingerie etc. Then you go through to the fuller figure bit, which has a couple of stands each of Freya and Fantasie (I didn't see any 28s at all and very few 30s), and bucketloads of Gorgeous stuff. And all the shapewear. Gone seriously downhill, used to stock Cleo and the Ultimo D-G range.
BHS - not a great range, not been in for a while but last time nothing below a 32 or above a G
M&S - 28s in A and B, 30 and 32 up to a G(which is really a FF), I think 34+ up to a J. But they'll never put you in the 30s anyway :)
Jenners - as per house of fraser
H&M - not looked in a while but around 34A-38DD i think
John Lewis - Hit and miss, normally a couple of Freya 28s, 30s in freya, Fantasie and a few in their own brand. They also have some teen bras in 28A-32DD I think which I approve of. Not seen any Panache. They do have a few of the Freya up to the J/JJ range but generally very few, seem to be focusing more on silky nighties!
Bravissimo - hallelujah, somewhere I can buy a bra

[Dancergirl]

Hmm, need some new bras!

I've always liked Bravissimo. Do you know if you can just try on at your lesiure in there rather than have a fitting? I've been fitted in there before and am roughly a 32FF.

What styles would you recommend? I'm not keen on patterned/dark coloured bras, prefer white/cream...

[GrandstandingBlueTit]

Celtic - thanks for the tip!

[SorrelForbes]

I want to live near a Bravissimo

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Oh gosh yes. I tend to go for a best of both worlds approach. On saturday I knew I wanted to try Decos and Cleos, so I literally walked up to the girl at the fitting room entrance and asked for "everything she had in Deco in a 30GG and Cleo in a 30H" - she came back with half the stockroom. Alternatively just walk around and pick up any styles you like - they don't have all the sizes out for obvious reasons.

I then got to try them on myself, however any time I needed a different size, straps adjusted, or just a second opinion I stuck the wee hangy tag out and someone came and helped me - very useful and one of them suggested the new Satine too and she was right, it was lovely on.

[SorrelForbes]

Stats If DH ever gets sent to work in Scotland, I am going bra shopping with you!

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Hell yes! The poor bravissimo girls wouldn't know what hit them!

[Flibbertyjibbet]

Is one of the expert ladies about? I has a budget and have been on the bravissimo site. The returns look good so I'm going to order online as I'm nowhere near a store.
so might order in a couple of sizes and send half back.
Am 34 back, almost 41 leaning forward. Quite round boobs. But the problem I have is that all my M&s ones in 34dd (the cups on their 34f were ginormous and the wires really sort of wide) is that the wires start mire than half way to the back of my armpits...so even the firmest bra still makes me have middle agey side-sag looking boobs. Also I am quite short so by the time I scoop and pull up the straps, the side where the strap meets the cup is right up under my arm.
And I'm a bit overweight and ona mount is scooping gets rid of the armpit bulge.

Please advise people, is there a make with cups positioned more, er, frontwards? And what size shall I order fro bravissimo?

Jeez ny old 38b (as measured by marks crappy system) must have been soooo bad that I thought these M&s 34dd were brilliant when I got them. But they aren't now I'm used to them. And I keep standing in front of the mirror putting my hands flat at the sides and pushing a bit to put my boobs where I think the BRA should bloody well put them!