Bra help - again!

[Shantotto]

Thanks to the forum I've made great advances in better bra fitting, but still having some issues.

Measured myself and ended up 36D rather than the 36B I'd been wearing for years - 37" underbust and 41" around (I think, trying to remember!) Also went to a local shop who had a good reputation who out me into a 36D. Ended up with a panache super bra and a Bon-something. They made my boobs look great, but the wires really dug into my sternum and were painful after a little while.

Went back, got a panache plunge and a triumph one without wires but plastic tubing. After a good scoop on the plunge I'm spilling out. The wire situation is much better though, but I'm getting some terrible back fat rolls with the 36 band - I started looking at new bras as I thought the 36B was too small for me. I'm really tall and seem to have huge ribs with a bit of squishy fat on. Anyway, just after some tips. I'm off to bravissimo for another try later today. I guess I just need to live with bulge? It is my fat after all!

I'm getting a bit fed up of wasting money on bras that seem ok in the shop I change my mind about after a few wears. Thanks!

I think you probably need a bigger cup -if you are spilling out that's normally why. And a good scoop can't get rid of back fat if the cup is already full IYSWIM -I'd try a dd and an e at least

Thanks a lot - I suppose in both D styles I was quite full with just small scooping so no wonder I can't fit more in! Although im still amazed a good scoop can get rid of the fat roll under the bra band! Time for a bigger cup and much scooping practice!

I have the same problem with Panache bras, even in correct size. Try Fantasie and Freya.

Gorgeously are you advising the OP, or the OP in disguise?!
Agreed Hazle, it can be a narrowness of wire issue with Panache - I think the fact the op has central overspill and armpit suggests it's probably too small in the cup but Freya/Fantasie might well suit her better too.

On the way home from Bravissimo clutching a bag of two new bras - both Freya and both 36E! The fitter suggested 34F would also work, but I felt the 34F a little tight so was wary and will see how I go with these.

I need to practice manoeuvring myself into them, my smaller boob cup was very big when I tried to do it myself, the fitter had magic hands I'm sure!

Thanks for all your advice - the bulge is much better. Now to see how much I can get on eBay for my others are find some kind of bra intervention swap service!

You might find once you are used to a 36 you will sometimes want the 34. It's quite common to go in stages to the "perfect" bra, and it also varies betwee brands and bras.

The best way to get yourself in is to lean forward and drop your boobs in to the bra, then do it up at the back. Then stand side on to a mirror, put left hand inside right cup and pull everything round, and repeat on other side.

Thanks for the tips! Any suggestions for other brands / styles that may fit well similar to the Freya plunge? Going to raid the clearance section on bra stop. Just realised one is a Bravissimo - candy bliss.

If the Candy Bliss works then lots of the other Bravissimo own brand balconettes will too

which freya is it?

It's called ignite I think - but that might be the design. It's the plunge balconette here:
www.bravissimo.com/m/#products/lingerie/sensational-sets/ignite-bra/yellow-multi/fy167ylm/

Oh heck, just tried the Freya on again and now I'm sat down the lace on those cups on what I just linked to is empty of boob - is that ok as it's more of a trim? It's very obvious on the smaller side, just a little on the bigger. And I scooped and scooped and scooped on the smaller one.

That's fine and pretty normal,your boobs are a bit different when seated so it's common to have a bit of space along the top edge when sitting

That looks like a pretty classic Freya shape to me, they do have some different ones (so anything "deco" is moulded) but you will probably find if you are compatable with the ignite then a lot will work. Have a look at brastop, Leia Lingerie, Debenhams and Amazon who often have good last season bargains.

Great, I'll have a look. Thanks for the advice.

I'm wearing the 36d Bestform (not Bon-something, no idea what I was thinking in my first post) today that I bought first, too nervous to take the tags off the new ones until I can sit around the house for them. This actually feels ok, the cup seems to fit nicely. Anyway, the band! I'm beginning to think maybe I should be in a 34 and am just not used to the firm feeling. This one on the loosest I can fit a few fingers under. If I wear it on a tighter hook will that squish the front? I'd like to salvage this one as it's much conifer than the two Panaches on me and I'd less bad for wasting so much cash!

Actually, anyone fancy doing some bra swapping?! Is it the done thing to start a thread on this - aware I'm a new poster so may look suspicious! Have a couple of lovely Triumphs in a 36B, the two Panache, two emergency bought m&s 38B when I was trying to refit myself, all new or barely used...

Try putting it on a tighter hook, but I suspect that might end up making the cups feel small. It may well be that the only reason the cups feel ok on that one is because the band is a bit big so the issues aren't showing up. Hard to tell though.

Argh! Yes, me again. So, I wore the Freya to work today, after sitting about at home for an hour last night. It felt quite good at first, but after a few hours it was really cutting in under my armpit, I suppose the top of the cup comes up quite high and the strap is quite far over towards the armpit. It wasn't too bad but every so often is was really noticeable.

Then, I had the odd armpit poke and noticed although the wires were low, they seemed really far around the side, halfway to the back. Finally, even though it's been off for about 4 hours, I've got a raised red mark on my side and one under a boob.

Does it maybe just sound like it's a bit stiff and needs breaking in?! I am terrible for slumping especially in my office chair so maybe the upside is I'll have to sit up straight! Sorry for all the questions, I just want to get it straight finally if I can! I don't think it helps these bigger sizes feel very stiff and well engineered compared to the floppy bits of 36B cotton I was wearing. I'm just not used to feeling it. Thanks!

The strap towards your armpit could well just be new bra syndrome - it's a bit like shoes. You know, the first time you put flip flops on after winter and after an hour they've rubbed sore bits, but after a couple of wears the skin toughens up? The same is true with bras, they all have their own pressure points and especially with a big size change those pressure points will be very different to what you've been wearing

The wires will go further round as well, because the cups are wider on your new bra.. They're meant to be. However - if you have the bra on the wire should basically be sitting in the fold where your breast tissue meets your torso, so it shouldn't be on breast tissue but neither should there be a gap between where the wire sits and where your boobs starts.

I'd give it another try to see how you get on but I'm wondering if you need a slightly narrower cup.

Thanks, I think it's new bra syndrome and I'm being super aware of every twinge and odd sensation. Typically the bestform and panache were wrong in other ways but there was no strap/ cup dig in.

I had no idea what an exact science proper bra fitting was! Any suggestions on narrower cup styles? Thanks again - you're super helpful.

Hi, I've been watching with interest.

I am going to contradict and say that actually, I think you need a wider wire and a shorter, shallower cup. The Panache one is narrower and the fact that it was digging into your sternum is a classic sign that it was too deep- it does the same to me. The straps rubbing at the top by your armpits will happen if they are too widely spaced or the cup itself is too high at that point.
Bestform bras have always been ridiculously generous in the band in my experience.

Take the Ignite back to Bravissimo and ask to try a Freya Patsy half cup, a Fantasie Salsa and any other wide styles such as Freya Marvel that they have in stock. Also, a Fantasie Rebecca and Belle as the straps are more centralised away from the armpit. Their own brand Satine might be ok too.

Thanks - it should be ok even though I've worn it for a day, right? I was trying the bravissimo I bought last night and I still struggle to adjust myself enough to fill the cups. I think I'll take that back too, at least so they can show me how to fill it again!

Fair point married, I was forgetting about the earlier panache issues!

Out of desperation I wore the bestform today. However all I can think about is armpits! I imagine it's rubbing a bit where I was sore yesterday, so is causing discomfort even when it didn't before. Really, this shouldn't be so hard! If I try more on tomorrow I'm going to hunch up like when I type or ride my bike and see what happens!

The only thing worse than bra shopping is jeans shopping. I loathe both lol!

Tomorrow I'm back to bravissimo AND trying to buy some jeans - I'm 6ft tall with a big bum. It's never going to happen!

Oh your poor tortured soul! , lots of !