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Talk to me about bras.

120 replies

CaulkheadUpNorth · 15/12/2014 10:44

I've just ditched two bras, and I need to replace them. One black and one white.
I can't remember when I last bought a new one, or where is best to get them from. I'm a 34b (measured about a year ago) and can spend up to about £25 unless you tell me I can't get anything for that

Where shall I go? I'm in a large city, so most shops are here.

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Mrs81 · 16/12/2014 07:30

Good morning Smile

You lot have inspired me! And I need new bras. I dug out the tape measure this morning and measured the mn way. I am 77cm under bust and c90 around fullest part of bust.

Please wise women, what is the answer? guessing not 32D which is what I currently have I have been 30-something many moons ago; I found that really quite tight but I have lost a bit of weight since having ds that shows no sign of reappearing 18m down the line...

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treaclesoda · 16/12/2014 08:08

Mrs81 when I convert that to inches it is about 30DD or E, so actually the 32D wasn't all that far out. But losing that extra inch from the band, and compensating for it in the cups could make all the difference to the comfort and support of it. Smile

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JLucky · 16/12/2014 08:22

Try the clothing department at Asda. I have bought a few bras from them over the years, and they have been comfortable, fitted me properly and washed well. They do t'shirt bras in most sizes for about £4 each and other styles for around £5 - £6

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Mrs81 · 16/12/2014 08:31

Thank you :) It has been so so long since I bought new bras that it may simply be that they are knackered rather than wrongly sized. I might brave the shops later this week!

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treaclesoda · 16/12/2014 08:53

JLucky online Asda have a very poor range of sizes, and only start at a 34 band. Is it different instore? Genuine question, I have never looked at them, because I just assumed that the bras instore matched what was available online.

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StoicButStressed · 16/12/2014 09:30

caulk - cannot tell you the uplift (no pun intended!) it has given me to see this thread and you out bra shoppingSmile

Separately, I would HANG.ON.EVERY.WORD of MarriedNotDead - she is frankly a Goddess (in many areas but including the bra dept!). She fitted me with 2 new bras that were MILES apart from my 'own' Blush size and OMG it was frickin revelatory! AWESOME tits (immodest but true!), sooooooo comfortable compared to fucking wired agony in wrong size before and just all round amazing (her AND her bra sizing!) No clue where you are based but I'd PM her if I were you as she truly is the Queen of BrasXmas Grin

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ItsGonnaBeCoolThisChristmas · 16/12/2014 10:14

I had my most successful bra shop ever recently - I measured myself as per the Bra Guru guidelines upthread.

I went to M&S and selected every single bra in my size I liked.

Tried all bras on (about 15) - discarded some completely, some I needed to size up/down, some I liked and set aside.

I got new sizes as required & tried them on.

Then I had several bras that fitted really well that I really liked to choose from. They had several offers on and I bought them all. I now have 7 bras that fit and look gorgeous

FIRST TIME EVER this has happened!!!

Every morning now I LOVE putting my bra on :)

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elfofftheshelf · 16/12/2014 10:28

I always thought I was a 34C - just measured using this method and it would suggest I am a 30DD or E!! Mind blown. Xmas Shock Off to the shops to put it to the test!

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CaulkheadUpNorth · 16/12/2014 10:31

I was telling a friend about this thread, and she asked if it meant I would stop wearing two bras at the same time.

Blush I will.

OP posts:
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rivierliedje · 16/12/2014 10:39

I might just have to take a deep breath and go in to one of those very intimidating lingerie shops or wait until visiting the UK after Christmas.

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StatisticallyChallenged · 16/12/2014 10:43

River if you are coming over to the UK, find a Bravissimo. That way you can try on loads, different brands etc and even if you only buy a couple you will get a better idea of what fits you in different brands and styles which will make shopping online easier.

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OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat · 16/12/2014 10:44

JLucky online Asda have a very poor range of sizes, and only start at a 34 band. Is it different instore? Genuine question, I have never looked at them, because I just assumed that the bras instore matched what was available online.

Treacle I looked in Asda after reading on here they were good for small backs, but my experience was that they generally started at 34 but had a very small selection of 30s and 32s in D cup and below, so utterly useless like most places unfortunately.

It's so frustrating. I would say I am medium build with medium norks, just by looking at the size and shape of me compared with most other women I see but a bit taller than average (30FF/32F, size 12 to 14, 5'7") so I should be able to walk into any shop and have the pick of everything, but can I buggery?

I am as average as they come, so shouldn't have to go to expensive specialist shops to buy bras FFS! I find sizes very inconsistent so buying online is difficult - in the past I have ordered a dozen bras online and being lucky to find one or two that fit, even when I was buying a style I had been fitted in Bravissimo previously.

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OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat · 16/12/2014 10:51

YY to Bravissimo. Can be expensive but worth it if you can afford it and you really don't have to be that large of nork to shop there.

I desperately need new bras but also would quite like to lose a stone, so don't want to spend a lot of money on bras, but I really like the bit where you just sit in the changing room in a dressing gown and the assistant runs back and forth with styles and sizes that she knows will fit you.

After Christmas I'm going to have a real good go at the weight loss thing and then hopefully around Easter, I'll be able to go and buy a nice selection of bras that fit properly (My current bra wardrobe extends to 2 Panache porcelain T-shirt bras in a 30G, that if I'm honest are too small in the cup but annoyingly are noticeably smaller in the cup than the same bra I bought a couple of years ago especially the black one).

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DrewOB · 16/12/2014 10:55

from what I understand M&S still measure as Back +4", which for me would make a 38 D ==> went to Bravissimo and got 32G and it's soooo comfy :)
shame how expensive they are though.
I have a lot of nearly new bras in cups ranging C to DD, does anyone if there's any special charities I can give them to? I'd rather they didn't just go to bog standard clothing ones if possible.

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CharlotteLucasOliveBranch · 16/12/2014 11:11

What a great useful thread! Thanks OP for starting it Flowers. Getting the right bra can be really hard, and I've heard that most people are wearing the wrong size. I have (up to now) implicitly trusted M&S, and have tried to make a special trip around once a year - (helps to make an appointment, too, as they get very busy) - to get properly measured first, and fitted by their expert. But now I'm wondering if they do actually get it right....?

On my last visit (to the M&S branch in Oxford) the lady told me that I needed a smaller cup (which surprised me, as I'm not getting any slimmer!) and also that I need to get new bras around every 6 months, as the stretching of the elastic round the torso would not last longer than that and the bra would then deteriorate in terms of effective support etc (I am quite a 'big' lady, at the large end of the scale, enough said). Good bras aren't cheap, but that did make me think that I should stop wearing out my threadbare old bras, as hitherto - as this could be harmful posturewise, etc, long term.

Another thing I've learnt - NEVER waste money on cheap bras that look like a bargain! I made this mistake buying a couple of lacy numbers in less expensive shops like Bon Marche (or was it Peacocks) not that long ago, seduced by the prices.... They were ghastly, the straps didn't hold, once actually worn. They had to go straight to the charity shop, so it proved to be a totally false economy. So, does anyone have any experience of the really high-end shops like Rigby and Peller (if that's the right name?). I'm wondering whether getting a really expensive bra from such a place would be worth the cost (and would they measureyou for it too?) - if anyone has experience of that brand?

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SuperFlyHigh · 16/12/2014 11:25

Charlotte - Bravissimo do their own ranges which can be cheaper.

I also find Figleaves/Bravissimo sales are great... Figleaves they can talk you through the size online. I've successfully bought 2 bikinis and 2 bras from there in sales all 28FF. Bra Stop are also good and cheaper. The type that tend to go on sale first are the more colourful styles but they're ok. Debenhams Gorgeous range (and their SAs) are really good too and reasonable prices, great in sales.

I haven't used R&P but a friend has. They are worth it but they are expensive.

Personally I wouldn't touch M&S with a bargepole anymore as a) they don't do 28s.... or they do but teen bras and not my cup size FF etc (they're supposed to do it I think!).

I'm not affiliated with them but //www.investinyourchest.com is one of a few really good blogs where they rate and try on good bras. A lot of the bras they try I've found afterwards on sale... they like bright colours there.

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SuperFlyHigh · 16/12/2014 11:26

everyone - there are quite a few bras that if you see them about and then research online especially the colourful Panache/Freya etc ones they get put on sale... maybe not a huge discount but quite good. The Figleaves etc sales are good too.

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CharlotteLucasOliveBranch · 16/12/2014 11:54

Thanks Super, that website looks really helpful! I'm beginning to realise that there's more out there than just M&S, who maybe aren't the last word in bras after all.

Bravissimo sounds worth a second look - I hope they do big sizes, though. My problem (being a big girl, around 44D /DD) is that it often seems that the choice gets really limited when support becomes the more important factor. Hard to find something that actually looks OK as well as does the job properly: the bras I end up with are rather...ah....well, sturdily reinforced, shall we say!

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StatisticallyChallenged · 16/12/2014 11:58

If you have been sized by M&S it's almost certainly wrong, they're terirble at fitting

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WowserBowser · 16/12/2014 12:01

Have you measured yourself using the method above Charlotte ?

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mrssmith79 · 16/12/2014 12:17

Charlotte I'd bet the remainder of my lindt advent calendar that you're not a 44d Wink

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Scaredycat3000 · 16/12/2014 12:21

Last time I got measured in M&S was 23 years ago, she measured me over my large jumper! Things don't seem to have changed much. Thankfully a few weeks later I got 'interventioned' by a shop assistant in an independent who looked at me in my clothes and brought me the right size, much to my 15 yr old embarrassment! Last time I tried on an M&S bra was when pregnant 5 years ago, gave me no support what so ever.
It's not that people are against cheap bras, it's that the engineering, designing and quality of materials needed to hoist large boobs up for a full days comfort needs money spent on them. I've been to Rigby and peller, it was nice, still didn't sell my large size, they really are luxury bras, great if you have money to spare. Bravissimo stock the bras I buy, don't have many reduction's but you are paying for good quality bras at the RRP, good service and fitting so less expensive mistakes and good customer service if anything goes wrong. Your clothes are likely to look much better. Once you're more confident you can start to save money shopping in Debenhams sales (own brand can be very hit and miss), Amazon, Ebay, Brastop , TKmaxx.

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SuperFlyHigh · 16/12/2014 12:32

totally agree with Scaredy cat re shops and she's recommended some new ones too

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StatisticallyChallenged · 16/12/2014 12:37

Mycurvesandme, ewa michalak and comexim are worth checking out too, as is Leia

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CharlotteLucasOliveBranch · 16/12/2014 13:01

I will use that method when I get a minute Wowser - must get on now, having spent far too long today enjoyably wasting time Mumsnetting! The chores are calling!

Engineering is the right word for me Scaredycat!

(Choc Advent calendars sound rather unwise if your boobs are as big as mine, mrssmith!)

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