Bra advice needed please

[LilyRose88]

I recently got fitted again at Bravissimo as since starting on HRT I found my bras were getting a bit tight. I have gone up from a 32E to a 32F and I bought two bras, a Panache Idina Balconette and a Panache Jasmine Balconette. Both look fantastic on but the Jasmine has quite high wires in the centre of the bra and they have made deep red marks in my chest which are still there a day after wearing the bra. They fit perfectly under my arm - they do not dig in there at all, in fact they feel really comfortable and gather everything in.

I have wide set breasts which are fuller at the bottom and I usually find that balconette or half-cup bras suit me best. Can anyone recommend some makes/styles which do not have such high wires in the centre? I have quite a bony chest and rib cage so I have to be careful with wires as they can sometimes leave deep red welts in me.

I any help with styles, but I believe if you go back to bravissimo they will change any bra they fitted if you're not happy with it.

*can't, not any.

Thank you Anything I may end up returning the bra as I only bought it on Tuesday and still have the tags and receipt. It is currently in the wash but Bravissimo is not too far from where I work although I have never returned anything there. Hopefully they could suggest another bra that would be better.

The sad thing is I absolutely love the Panache Jasmine as it makes me look such a great shape and is a beautiful style.

Speak to bravissimo but as a rule panache wires are pretty firm so you may find its just that it needs broken in

Thank you Statistically I will call Bravissimo and see what they say. Are there any styles of bra which have lower wires in the centre of the chest? The Idina is perfect and I would love some more with a similar shape wire. How do Cleos come up?

I get that red indent/mark from all my panache and cleo bras. THE it doesn't hurt so I just ignore it!

The only bras I've been able to find with wide enough wires not to dig in under the arm and low enough in the centre are Bravissimo Satine

I have a Cleo Juna which doesn't dig in. I also have a Cleo Lucy which felt ok when I first tried it on (luckily only paid £15 from Amazon). Now it's torture and distorts the inner curve of my boobs. I don't even have close set boobs.

I've heard the Panache Envy is good - I'm going to try that and the Idina

The cleo lucy is much shallower than most other Cleos. If you like the Juna, try the Marcie, Millie, Minnie, Meg, Lily etc - one of the ones where the bottom of the band is straight rather than shaped to the underwires.

The wires on the Lucy are as high as the Juna on me, it's more that the gore is too wide, hence the digging in. It's a pity, because the shape under clothes is the best I've ever had in a soft cup bra. In fact it's the first soft cup bra I've bought for about 20 years.

I'm determined to find another soft cup one for our impending hot summer...

It's not the height, when I said shallower it's that the cup shape is totally different giving quite a different shape and proportion. It's not comparable to the Juna, and normally people who like Lucy hate Juna and vica versa.

SorrelForbes is a devotee of the Juna, and adores the bras I mentioned. She also really likes the Panache Idina. Their gores aren't that wide either - I have freakishly close set boobs and they are ok on me.

Ah right. I'm still a total bra novice

But nevertheless much improved on my former misshapen M&S 40C bras! Looking forward to trying some Cleos and the Idina and Envy next week...

I'm giving my Panache another try after washing it as I looked at it last night and realised how much I like the style. It didn't hurt when I was wearing it, I was just really shocked by the depth of the red welts in the centre of my chest when I took it off

I now have a list of other bras to try, including the Cleos that Statistically suggested and the Bravissimo Satine. I was amazed at the difference in shape and comfort that going from a 32E to a 32F can make so I am on a mission to get more bras that fit me well.

The Satine is good, very comfortable. I have the flowery one Not as impressive a shape as the Deco though!

I've just received my nude Idina balconnet (don't Amazon deliver late in the day now?! )

It's sooo comfortable. The straps are in just the right place on my shoulders. The shape is pretty natural. And it doesn't feel too hot. Definitely my best unpadded purchase yet.

I love my Idina! Bravissimo do it in baby blue. Just saying...

Yes I've already spied the blue unfortunately baby blue really does not suit my colouring. Maybe a black one though... What's the Idina plunge like?

And Panache sizing in general - is it smaller than Freya? My Juna is 36FF and definitely big enough, the Idina is 36G, but I have a Freya that is 36F. I only need one more bra (just one!) in black or a very dark colour. I think I've learnt that I prefer the Panache/Cleo fit but John Lewis and Debenhams don't stock them and I don't have time to go to Bravissimo, so need to order online. What should I go for?!

O generally find the cups on Cleo the same or bigger than Freya with the exception of the deco which is probably pretty similar. The Cleo marcie is lovely -they made it in purple.

Thanks, I love the look of the purple Marcie, just haven't found it online yet in my size.

I think it was exclusive to bravissimo.