Are bras supposed to be slightly uncomfortable?

[ElizabethBathory]

When I wear the (according to Bravissimo and MN) right size bra for me it feels like a corset! It's definitely supporting my boobs very well and giving them a great shape, but the next band size up is so much more comfortable. I'm not in pain by any means, just feeling slightly crushed around the rib cage, especially by the underwires which dig into my ribs a bit

Another one here who's sticking with the "wrong" size. I've been buying 34A for years but read here that this was unlikely to be correct. I measured according to the instructions and I got 31.5" (rounded up to 32") and 34". So that would make me a 32B?

Tried 2 bras from M&S in that size. One was tight but wearable - however after a whole day it gave me painful red marks. So hasn't been worn again. The other was too tight to even wear and went straight back.

I find you have to persevere a bit and I think it is about getting the wires to mould to your shape. I have a very comfy bra but it did cost £75. Then I have several others which are comfy now but needed to bed in a bit which cost around £30. That's as cheap as it's going to get for me - H/HH cup.

M&S bras have gone a bit wonky size wise recently 50shades. We've had lots of people saying they seem to have made them about a band size smaller in the last year. Quite a few of the ladies who actually need 26s are buying the M&S 28s

The Bravissimo woman told me that you shouldn't be able to pull the band more than a couple of inches away from your back - is that correct? I'm going to persevere with the 28E now I've got it, as it does up perfectly easily and I like the fact that the band stays put rather than moving up my back.

Yep that's absolutely right. Persevere with the 28. I guarantee that it'll soften and stretch (hopefully not too much though) and you soon find that trying a 30 will feel very odd.

yes I have a couple of per una ones at 32 rather than my normal 30.

also a fitter told me you should replace bras after 6 months', seems an expensive exercise.

I think the 6 months depends an awful lot on how many bras you have! If you're a bra addict like me with a drawer full then no chance would they need replaced every six months.

When I was pregnant and went up a size or five, I only bought I think 3 bras and by the time I had outgrown them (about 6 months roughly) they were pretty f*cked!

Just to echo someone else down thread, not every bra in your measured size will fit you well, that's just a starting point. Finding a bra that fits properly is about trying lots on, like jeans. Sometimes you may try very combination of sizes in one particular bra, but it still doesn't fit as the style just doesn't fit your body shape.

I'm very skinny around that area, though not particularly small measuring 29in around, and find that a 30 band can dig painfully into my ribs unless I'm careful about the style. Balcony bras are a big no no as the wires come up too far in front and dig into my sternum.

While we're talking about bras, I can't find a 30C/D non wired slightly padded bra anywhere! Or the other thing I'm looking for is a non balcony, wired, slightly padded (rather than moulded or fully padded cups) in a 30C/D. Slightly padded is v necessary nips could take your eye out. Any ideas, dear bra ladies?

Hester have you tried anything by Ewa Michalak - www.ewa-michalak.pl/search.php

They do lots which are lightly padded (lots have removable pads too)

When you say the wires dig in at the front, is it just the ribs or is it that your boobs are quite close together? I have this issue (freakishly close set!) so a lot of bras are really uncomfortable and feel like they are digging in really badly. I love Ewas for this, they're very narrow in the middle and their PLs are quite low too

I'm a 28F and generally wear my panache sports bras everyday as they're so comfortable. When I wear my "proper" bras I spend the whole day waiting to take them off. Wouldn't mind but being the size I am every bra costs a bloody fortune so it would be nice for them all to be comfortable!

Thanks for the link - I will investigate.

No my boobs are really far apart which leaves me with nothing but skin and bone between them! I can never get a cleavage no matter how much I shove them together. Massive sigh :( Add this to a distorted rib cage caused by scoliosis, this makes the high bits of wire on the front of a balcony bra dig into my ribs/sternum. Dead attractive me :o