I need bra help please

[thenewaveragebear1983]

I’m so sick of my bra dilemma so please please can someone help me?!

I’ve lost a fair bit of weight this year and I’m measuring around the band 30-31 inches. I’m measuring across the boobs 35 inches (following the intervention guidelines, I’m a regular on these threads!). So I took 11 bras into the changing rooms today ranging from 30 d and dd and 32 d and dd and c (which was way too small)

Here’s my issues- I have small, wide boobs. I have no weight on them at all. They don’t meet in the middle and have been destroyed by pregnancy and bf. But I really do need a d or dd cup, nothing else holds the breast.
I need a full cup. No balconette or triangle shape as they gape.
I’ve lost so much weight on my chest that I am struggling with wires. They dig in terribly in my chest, and once over DD cup they seem to use thicker wires which are even worse. So I’m limited to non wired styles at the moment.
I have a lot of excess skin under my arms, and a 30 band, despite being my actual measurement just creates these awful overhangs of soft skin/fat on my back and in my underarm, which is really visible in sleeveless tops. This also occurs in 32 inch bands.

I am so desperate to eliminate this, I ended up buying 2 34d non wired in primark which resolved the back skin issue but now the cup is too big. But the 34c cup was too small. I am prepared to spend £££ but not if they don’t fit, hence the crappy primark job.

I’m despairing. I’ve tried on hundreds of bras in every department store and I just can’t work out where I’m going wrong and what size to try. There’s no way I’m wearing a 36 when I’m a size 8 and measuring 30 inches, do what do i do???!!!!!

I will post some pictures if anyone can help me, please!

Bravissimo?

A plunge style might work well for you - they have more fabric at the side for you to "scoop" into and will push your boobs more into the middle of your chest (not necessarily a wonderbra style uplift!)

Something like this? (I know M&S bras get a bad rap on here, but this one is seriously the best bra I've had in the last 5 years)

If money is no issue try Rigby & Pellar - fitting was easy and now it’s a joy to put my lovely new bras on (also went to Bravissimo - not such a joy - one digs in and is painful!)

Olenas maybe that would work; in the first picture the strap seems to be on the very outermost ‘corners’ of the cups, (i really struggle when they aren’t because of my fat/skin issue!) but in the second pic there seems to be a noticeable gap, which wouldn’t work for me. Do you find that the case? It’s s nice bra though, that’s the sort of thing I’m looking for /aspiring to.

I’ve not tried bravissimo as I thought they were only for bigger sizes, maybe I should try there.

I’d be tempted by R&P and to be honest if they could find one to fit me I’d be sorely tempted regardless of the price. I just begrudge it a little to be honest, being a mainstream size you’d have thought I’d have hundreds to choose from!

This is a 32DD, my best fitting one on the cup, but I hate the arm fat thing. Am I just being too vain do you think?

If I went up to a 34 back size, would I go down a cup to a D?

The R&P ones I have give me so much joy they were worth every £ (££!)

Have you tried putting your hand under your boob (in the bra) and scooping your boob towards the middle?
I hope that makes sense?

Italian yes, I have tried the sort of ‘leAn forward and scoop’ thing, but within a minute or two this fold is back.

I’m pretty sure it’s just skin and it may go eventually but gah, it’s annoying.

Dora with r&p, how many £££ are we talking??!

It's hard to tell for certain, but it looks a bit as if the cup in that photo isn't far enough around your chest. If you go up a band size, it will make the bra far too big and it will ride up your back and not give you any support

Yes, the straps on that M&S bra are quite wide set. I've got this one as well and it's not as comfortable for me but it might work well for you because it's got higher sides (which would help with your extra bits)

£85 - £95 each! I have no regrets (other than the £70 spent at Bravissimo which could almost have bought a decent well fitted bra at R&P)!!

I have also bought some more online a bit cheaper now I now which ones I like and the size I need !

Know !

Olenas, I know- if I add any more to the back it will be so loose. If I add more to the cups then they gape. I feel like i need the band and the piece that joins to the cup to be about 4 inches deep! Funnily enough, I bought a sports bra/crop top style with cups (Also in primark) and it goes some way to holding in the bulge, but I wouldn’t/couldn’t wear it all the time.

I am short from the band to the shoulder too, any bra that has only half adjustable straps (some only have a small part that can be adjusted) I cannot wear as the straps gape.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions . I may try bravissimo first and then maybe R&P if necessary (it’s a lot of money!)

Try a fitters in a decent store too as they’ll have a wide range of makes/ prices to try. It’s hit and miss, friends who you get, in London I liked selfridges lingerie dept now fenwicks, Debenhams ...

It depends who you get .... ( evil autocorrect)

Kaths I live in a pretty small town so we only have Debenhams and they were useless today. I might head to Birmingham one day next week and see what’s available there.
Any experience of John Lewis? Are they any good?

I'd second the pps saying get a fitting if you are able. I usually go to M&S If you have one in travelling distance? You can book ahead so no waiting around. I've always found them really helpful and have a range of styles so can try lots until you are happy. Once I know style and size often shop around elsewhere!

If you are in the midlands, there's a Freya and Rigby and Peller factory shop in Northamptonshire that is often well worth a visit

Birmingham has a bravissimo and Boux Avenue have a shops there I think they are both in the bullring.