Bras - here we go again!

[PinkSparklyElephant]

Just as I thought I had my bra problems sorted I've now gone down a back size! I've lost 1.5st and I think most of it has gone from my rib cage - I've gone from 36" to 34" and now down to 32". Thankfully I can still wear all my new ones on the tighter hooks but it's annoying that they won't last as long.

I like being thinner but it's getting expensive now! I'm also fed up as when I was a 34H I could get bras in Debenhams but no high street stores do a 32HH

Debenhams do lots of bras in 32HH, although I find they come up a bit big in the body, they go up to a K cup. As do Bravissimo, John Lewis, House of Fraser. I feel your pain though, I have also lost 1.5 stone, now verging on a 30 back,it does get harder and the choice more limited.
With Bravissmo, they sill send bras in exchange for free, so if I ring and say I am sending one back, but don't want to wait until it gets there before they send the next one out, they take off the postage. Great customer service.

There are good options online for bargains - have a look at Leia lingerie, Belle lingerie, mycurvesandme, brastop and Amazon (honest!) for good deals.

I think most of the Debenhams Gorgeous either stop below HH, or only go above it in a 34+, although they do have a few to a J. They should have Freya/Fantasie in stock though.

Ooops, I forgot I'd posted this - sorry for not saying thank you!

I didn't like the Debenhams bras as anything above an H seemed to be a full cup and I prefer balconettes.

At the moment I can only find Bravissimo bras to fit and I really need to find one of the brands so I can shop around. I tried a Panache Envy and was pleasantly surprised as I don't usually get on with Panache. I've given up on ever getting a moulded bra though!

Moulded are difficult -are you fairly full on the bottom of your breasts relative to the top by any chance? Which bravissimo bras do you get on with, we might be able to suggest some if we know what currently works

I'm sure the fitter in Bravissimo said I'm bottom heavy. My current Bravissimo favourites are Candy Bliss (the new navy is gorgeous), Tartan Fling, Betsy Bow, Cherry Blossom and Paradise Fizz. Sadly none of them are plain so I'm having to buy clothes to accommodate my bras!

The moulded styles I have tried are Cleo Maddie (straps too thin), Juna (gave me square boobs), Freya Deco (comes up big but not big enough), Fantasie Moulded (too much between cup sizes), Curvy Kate Smoothie (same as the Fantasie) and Bravissimo Purity (comfortable but flattens).

The one bra I really want to fit is the Panache Tango. There are some gorgeous colours and also the basic colours as well but sadly the wires dig in my armpits!

The Panache Tango has very long wires - it stabs my armpits too. Moulded bras are a nightmare to fit, because most of them are relatively tall in the cup so it you are bottom heavy they either gape because they fit the bottom but not the top, or they flatten you!

Have you tried the Cleo Marcie at all? It's not moulded and the colours are currently bright but it's coming out in nude and black next year (hallelujah!). The Bravissimo Alana is often good for bottom heavy boobs and comes in plain colours too.

I haven't tried the Marcie, I'll have a look, thank you. I've tried the Alana and it's another one I want to fit (especially this season's scarlet!) but I find the material is quite scratchy. I might try again though just for the colours!

The Alana fabric is quite firm - it's definitely a bra which needs broken in but it's worth a try if you generally get on with Bravissimo balconettes. I'd maybe order one online to give a longer try on at home. Marcie is worth trying as even if it doesn't fit (which it might not, depends how bottom heavy you are) it will give us an idea what might work. You could also try something like the Cleo Minnie/Millie/Lily which are good.

Thanks again. I've got some returns for Bravissimo so I'll place an exchange order for the Marcie and Alana and let you know how I get on.

Right, I wore one of my new 32HH bras yesterday and this morning and I've had to change back to one of my old ones before the skin under my boobs is rubbed away! I have a raw line around my rib cage and, if I'd carried on wearing it, I think it would have broken the skin.

I'm going to return the unworn 32 and stick with what I've got for the time being - I can't run the risk of not being able to wear a bra. The world really isn't ready for that!

I find new bras are like new shoes, need to be worn a few hours at a time to be broken in.

I had this one on for a few hours this morning and it cut in so badly I couldn't stand it any longer! I know I need support but I need comfort as well

It's actually still sore to touch now...

DH to the rescue! He suggested I buy some bra extenders so I've just ordered some from Ebay. I've used them before so I'm hoping this will solve the problem.

I actually know a few people who do that to break in new bras however, this sounds sorer than a normal new bra syndrome. Which bra is it? I think this probably isn't a good bra for you - maybe the right size but the wrong shape.

It's the Cherry Blossom balconette which is a similar style to all my others. I've also tried the Candy Bliss for a little while and that cuts in as well although my other one in a 34H doesn't.

I hate bras!

I've just changed size myself so I'm waiting for what feels like half of bravissimo to be delivered, I feel your pain. The bravissimo balconettes can be very firm in the band, but the rubbing is a concern. Are you just getting a sort of single red line where the firmest bit of the band is, or is it a deeper bit which suggests that the band is moving! Are you filling right to the bottom of the cups? And how far from your body can you pull the band

I've had a look at my rib cage (thankfully no one came in the toilets as I'm at work!) and I think it's more cutting in than rubbing. It's a single red line exactly where my bra cuts in (I'm wearing an older one today) but it was very deep yesterday. I'm hoping the extender makes a difference as I like the shape of the balconettes and I generally find them very comfortable.

I've got a couple Purity bras on order - I'm not over keen on the shape they give me but they are the only moulded bra that fits me. I'll soon be up to my second free bra from Bravissimo!

Good luck with yours and don't forget to share if you find some new ones!

It sounds like you might just be at that pita in between stage -your existing bras have probably stretched a bit and are more like a 35 than a 34. The new bras are snug new 32s. And you're probably a 33 if they existed IYSWIM. You could buy shiny new 34s and they'd probably feel better than the old ones but might not last long. Catch 22

That's what I was thinking

I measured my rib cage again and it's 33". It seems a waste of money to buy any more 34" bras so I think I'll have to persevere with the 32" and either wear it with an extender or break it in for a few hours at a time.

You're right about new 34s feeling better - the one I had on today is the last 34 I bought and it was fairly firm on the first hook. I know that won't last though.

If you're after coloured extenders to co-ordinate a little, I've bought these on ebay and was very happy with them.

Thanks Time.

I tried on the other 32HH and 34H from my Bravissimo order last night and decided to stick with the 34 as the back band came up a lot smaller than the offending Cherry Blossom. It also hasn't got the annoying extra lining that the HH has!