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!

Sounds mad but it's the equivalent of looking for wide fitting shoes, you need to find bras that have cups that extend wider to encompass the breast tissue under your arms. It's very common to wear bigger bands when you have breasts that width- the extra band spaces the cup out to position them better for your shape.
Goddard are good for wider cups.

Thanks so much for all the advice. I sadly had to cancel my shopping trip today as DH wasn't able to look after DD. So I am going to hopefully go next weekend when I have someone to entertain DD. I may also give bravissimo a call and see if I can order a selection to try at home as that might be easier anyway. John Lewis do have some of the styles recommended online so could try ordering from there too.

I've made a note of the styles recommended and have been eyeing them up online! They look just what I'm looking for but I guess I won't know until I try!

Although it doesn't separate the boobs in the middle, so doesn't work under all clothes , I strongly recommend this for when you want to hoik them up but still be comfortable. The straps are wide and padded. It's non wired and they wash well in the machine. Panache non wired sports bra. Comes in lots of colours.

I thought I would update as I finally went for a fitting at john lewis.

It was a disaster. First they refused point blank to fit me in an underwired bra despite me saying i wore them throughout my first pregnancy. Then when she measured me, she only measured under and didn't do the other measurement but proclaimed me to be a 38D. Perhaps she did it on sight though. Advised me to go for a 40DD so I have room to grow. To humour her I tried on the suggest non wired bra and it was awful. How they could say it was perfect was beyond me, even I could tell as a non expert that it was wrong.

I gave up and said I'd look round myself. They had virtually nothing in a 36FF or 36G for me to even try as a starting point.

I walked over to m&S and they at least had a good choice of sizes and styles but i didnt try any as read so many negative things. So I am going to have to take the risk and order online from bravissimo in a variety of sizes and see what fits and what doesnt.

I actually cried when I got home to poor DH as I felt so flipping frustrated!

I should have actually taken a photo in the one they fitted me in to give you all something to chuckle over!!

I should have actually taken a photo in the one they fitted me in to give you all something to chuckle over!!

I think generally m&s bras themselves are ok, it's the fitting service that gets slated.

Pooch, I'm genuinely sorry they made you cry, but I did try to warn you upthread about their no-wire-when-you're-pregnant policy! Complain if you feel it warrants it- I'm sure they don't want the reputation they're earning on this matter..,

Agree it's the fitting at M&S, not the actual bras that are the problem and they are trying to remedy that a bit. Still wouldn't let 'em loose anywhere near anyone I know but I'm biased.

Bravissimo have a live chat now with a webcam option so you could try ordering some of the styles mentioned and get them to visually check them if you're not sure. The real test can only be your comfort though

Just realised an autocorrect from before- it's Gossard not Goddard!

My friend bought bras from Bravissimo (at my suggestion which is perhaps why she is unhappy with them - has history for rubbishing anything I suggest). I have had some good bras from Debenhams but my only complaint (as with many shops) the bigger the bras the nearer the floor they are which means almost lying down to get to them, then they all fall off the stand and the SA comes over all suspicious at this red faced sweaty article who clearly should not be allowed in the shop!!!

Thanks married yes you did warn me - I was fitted with wired bras by jl in my last pregnancy but perhaps I was just lucky last time!! But lesson learned.

I'm going to give bravissimo a go by phone/chat and if not will go and just try loads on m&s and self fit.

My mil is bigger of chest and she said Debenhams have a good range for bigger cups. So will pop in there next time we got to visit her maybe.

I am large of boob and large of underarm flesh. Large generally tbf. Bravissimo always sent me home in bras that were far too tight and uncomfortable. But I thought that was 'right'. Now I swear by John Lewis and in particular Freya bras. Weirdly the balcony ones work for me, although I didn't realise that was the cut.

Tara ago I thought I was a 36D. Bravissimo put me in 32FF - and I was thinner. Now I am a 34G (!!) in Freya and that seems right. Comfy and no double boob.

Just try a shed load on. I hate bras. I spend all my time at home with no bra on.

id start with a 36FF as a starting point. Id recommend debehams own brand bras.

Pooch Just wanted to send my sympathy as I know how frustrating it can be. I am at the other end of the scale, but have similar issues trying to find anything that fits (38a and they're set 'wide apart' to make it worse!). My friends who are better endowed than me seem to rate Debenhams. Good luck.

although debenhams bras are great once youve found the right fit, they do need to be tried on, as sometimes their sizing is a bit random, but the actual bras are good quality, unlike m&s bras, which ive always found the underwires far too hard, rigid and uncomfortable, even in the right size

Sorry - saw your update. JL - so dependant on fitter!

little I'm 32 F and find the best thing to do, now you know you're correct size, is to order lots and lots from the internet. Try them on at home and then send back if they don't fit. Figleaves and Amazon are great.

I find Chantelle and Pananche great- go for the smooth fitting T shirt bras and they are very comfortable.

The thing about any shop is they don't stock huge amounts of bigger cup sizes so getting them from the internet is so much easier.

Rugby and peller are the only place to go if you actually have boobs! All other shops are for women who have small boobs and would like to look bigger.

From an ex 40G now 36DD

I have some bras which I bought on a trip to Hong Kong that are non wired but have a firm fabric bias binding like support where the wires usually go and frankly feel like a really comfortable under wired bra. I have several styles including balconettes and they also only cost £5 each. I tried to buy them online in the uk but no one stocks them unless you are wholesale. Like Asian skin care I reckon their non wired bra technology is miles ahead of the U.K. as Asian women prefer non wired bras but also want decent support.