Bra woes

[littlepooch]

I am honestly at the end of my tether with bras. I have never ever found a bra that fits or is comfortable. They all hurt me or rub. I'm now pregnant again and I've had to rip my bra off today as it was killing me sore gigantic boobs. I keep seeing recommendations re bravissimo but I haven't got one near me. I never ever want to step foot in an m&s again. I'm sorry if this subject has been done to death but I'm confused and honestly don't know where to start with it all!

[inappropriateraspberry]

Also, if the wires are rubbing, the cup is definitely too small! The wire should surround the boob, not sit on top of the edge. People don't realise how far around under the arms boobs go!

[littlepooch]

Thanks inappropriate what you say about the cups rubbing makes sense. Maybe I should self measure and then order a load from bravissimo. If I didn't have toddler dc I would try and travel to a store but it's just too tricky with her on the tube etc

[TheHodgeoftheHedge]

Bravissimo customer service is also superb so have a chat online or by phone if you want some advice about which size to order. They can always advise which brands come up small or large - that kind of thing.

[WildwestWind]

I was measured in John Lewis a couple of months ago and found the service to be great. I bought one bra and then picked up a couple more in the debenhams sale.

[Ollivander84]

If you're ordering online I can recommend brastop. Free returns and they refund mega quickly if you decide to return something

[Goingtobeawesome]

Thank you blodynmawr.

[marriednotdead]

Try self measuring using the link above and post the results here (or PM me if you don't fancy sharing with everyone) and I'll give you some suggestions.

[Shelby1981]

Sorry if this has already been suggested but have a look for the Boob or Bust group on Facebook, lots of good advice

[littlepooch]

Thank you married I've got hold of a tape measure so will measure tonight once DD is in bed and report back!

I haven't heard of that group shelby thank you.

[RegTheMonkey1]

Sorry to butt in on your thread, littlepooch, but I was struck by that photo too. Can I ask the experets - the sides of my bras come right up under my arm pits and don't have that comfy looking gap in the photo. Why is that? Do I have the straps pulled too short?

[RegTheMonkey1]

experts

[mrsmortis]

@RegTheMonkey1 - it probably means that your back size is too big. If you follow the instructions in the link on the last page what measurements do you get? I suspect that you're in a bra with a back size several sizes too big and a cup size that's several too small.

[RegTheMonkey1]

Mrsmortis - I'm at work, so will have to wait til I get home to do that! I'm wearing a 34 band, and I don't think I could do up a 32, but you never know ... will see what the measurements are.

[Oblomov17]

I'm a 33. 34 too loose, 32 too tight. Nightmare!!

[marriednotdead]

Reg, it may also be the style. The bra pictured has centralised straps and quite short wires, if you're wearing a balconette, the straps will sit further towards the sides with the apex closer to the top/front of your armpit.

[littlepooch]

married if you are around - help!

I measured 36 and a half and then 44. I am struggling to work out what means. Have I got two boulders strapped to my chest!?

[delilahbucket]

I order lots from Bravissimo online as they do free returns/exchanges. As a starting point I would try a 34 back. As a size 16 I was a 34 back. They have good guides on their website and if you ring them they are very helpful.

[delilahbucket]

That should have been 34ff.

[marriednotdead]

Littlepooch- That would give a start point of around 36FF.

[littlepooch]

Wonderful thank you. I guess I will order some styles online and try them. Hopefully something works! Sounds like bravissimo may be the way to go.

[marriednotdead]

Based on what you said previously about softness, rubbing and width, I'd suggest trying Freya Fearne or Fantasie Alex. Bravissimo own brand tend to come up a bit smaller so you may need a G or GG by comparison but the side sling styles are good. If you're happy to have patterns/colours then Darcy, Selina and Primavera all have them. Fantasie regularly bring out new side slings- the latest one I've seen is Sasha.

Normally you'd be aiming to fit on the loosest hook but at this point in your pregnancy, the middle or even tightest wouldn't be end of the world as you may need a bit more breathing space for later!

[lalaloopyhead]

I need help here too! I have tried the boob or bust measuring and it is giving me a size to try of 30E!
I am currently wearing a 34B and I accept this is not the right size but even with some new 34's I find the band too tight - how can this be??
I have pretty small boobs but seem to be flashy under the pits which means I get really unsightly bulge where the side bands go.
Anyone have an ideas what I might be doing wrong?

[Hulder]

You have basically got used to wearing the wrong size bra.

All that bulge around the side is breast tissue and supposed to be in the cups which is why you measure a bigger cup size than a B! Also most of the support is supposed to come from the band not the straps.

Have you tried any 30Es or are you put off by your experience of 34 bands? When you try on a new bra with a 30 band, it will feel tighter than you are used to and scoop everything you have round into the cups, ideally lowering into them not doing the fastening up in front and then swooshing it round to the back. Have a go at a 32 as well.

[PyjamasBySeven]

OP, it sounds like you and I have similar boob issues. The last fitting I had, the fitter euphemistically described my boobs as being "a little, shall we say, East-West!"

I found the Sophie bra by Panache really comfortable, should you decide to go down the non-wired route. It was sooo much prettier than the other soft cup bras, which frankly looked like I'd raided my grandma's underwear drawer! Bravissimo stock it in both standard and nursing versions.

I also had a great fitting at John Lewis and got some really comfortable bras from there.

[OhNoItIsntOhYesItIs]

lala, when your cup size is too small, your boobs 'steal' fabric from the band as they need somewhere to go. If you try one of your current bras on backwards, just doing the band up, you will see how much room there is in it (can you fit a couple of fingers under it, or a whole hand?)

The media has taught us to think that anything above a DD is ginormous, but it all depends on the size of your frame, and everything is relative. I wear a 36GG, I am a size 18-20 and don't appear to be especially large of nork.

The Better Bra Campaign (can't link, sorry) have loads of useful info about measuring and sizing, and scoop/jiggling.

Also, it's worth bearing in mind that not all styles of bra fit all women. I have to wear bras with wires that end quite low down in the centre, otherwise they dig in. So unfortunately you might have to try on a lot of bras to find the right one for you.