Why are my bras going this to me (pictures attached)

[BakerBear]

My bras are so uncomfortable! They dig in and make awful marks around me.

I ve been fitted by bravissimo and wear fantasie bras. They are a 34G and I’m a size 18.

They are cutting in and giving me sores. I itch along the redness during the day.

Whenever I mention about having a 36 band instead they always say it’s too big for me. I can turn the bra around on me on the 34s that I have.

Surely bras are not suppose to make this much redness on you?

I turn the bra when I put it on and can get my hand down the band when it’s fastened.

The band is too big if you can put or hand down, that means the weight of your boobs is nor supported nad your shoulders (and shoulder straps) take all the weight.

Look out for something with a wide band and wider straps.

Something like this, the weight is taken mostly by the band

www.dhgate.com/product/large-size-bra-bra-lace-wrapped-around-the/405257810.html

Bravissimo are good at identifying your size but seem to be hopeless at identifying bras that work with your shape. I had the same problem - they sent me away with a Fantasie spacer moulded bra that was the most painful thing I’ve ever worn.

I actually now wear a band that’s 2” smaller than Bravissimo recommended. I measure 27” under and they put me in a 30”, I look and feel better in a 28”. I need a lowish gore and a balconette shape to be comfy and look good which Bravissimo didn’t help with at all, partly because they have hardly any 30” (let alone 28”) bras in stock in store, and so I suspect they just put me in whatever they had.

Sorry, forgot to say that the bra Bravissimo sold me caused the same marks - it was absolutely excruciating.

i've been watching this thread hoping for some good bra recommendations for those like me who are heavy (i do NOT need any foam padding).
my fave bra for formal occasions is the Hedonia by Chantelle
www.chantelle.com/bras/style/dd.html

however based on this thread other than this bra, i won't hold out much hope of finding a soft day bra that gives support and will look into reduction surgery tomorrow...maybe today....

Simply Be and Ample Bosom sell a brand called Glamorise.

These bras have amazing support that are very comfortable. Some are rather ugly but who cares.

The wired ones have a kind of velvet/felt band between the wire and your skin. I've had a few of both wired and non-wired - both offer great support. They give a good shape under clothes, too.

If you can get to a shop to try these, do it. They're an American brand so the sizes are bit different to ours. Order a few to get the right size and fit.

So......

I went to M&S and i couldnt find a 38FF on the shop floor anywhere. Tried one of their crop tops (dreadful) so i went back to the original shop.

Its not actually bravissimo but it was easier to say that as they are all from bravissimo (the staff i mean). They are an independant bra store but stock the same stuff as bravissimo and have all trained there.

Anyway saw the woman i usually see (i buy 5 bras a year from them) and explained my situation. She actually got a tape meaure out which they have never done before and i measured 39 inch ribcage with a bra on.

So she put a 38FF on me and it was a bra that had abit of padding on the wires rather than just wire with abit of material.

It feels alot better!

budget ths is the most comfortable bra i own, great everyday bra.

www.thelingeriestoreuk.com/our-brands/prima-donna/satine/bra-primadonna-satin-in-black.html

once you go Primadonna you never go back.

I used to go to Bravissimo. I think I'm a 38 E and they would say something ridiculous like a 34 ZZ whatever.
SO SO tight.
Yes I probably do wear the wrong size bra but at least it's comfortable!

Baker, that's great that you have got a new one, which feels comfortable. They should have given you it for free though.

Bit of a difference in size there op! Hope they are much more comfortable.

Oof, well done OP. I came on to say I've had exactly the same problem with all the Bravissimo purchases I've ever made - agony!

Well done, OP.

Don't forget that you won't always be that size (mine changes through the month), and you won't be the same size in all brands or even designs in a brand. Just try everything on until you find the one for you.

New bras need to be a snug fit when new and on the loosest fitting, but not too tight to breathe Bravissimo style (another past victim here).

Freya deco was always my go to bra too

I can offer no assistance in terms of bigger boobs as I'm a 34C but still have the same red marks all over me after a day at work.

When you're all fully healed and if you want a switch-out alternative bra option, have you thought about this type of style (a longline bra):

www.bravissimo.com/products/soiree-lace-longline-bralette-red-fy307red/mumsnet.com

It would spread out the pressure and help hold the bra up I would think due to its wide base. Then the pressure of your knockers pushing down is pushing down on this wide band, rather than a narrow band of lace covered wire. That's my thinking anyway, but my apologies if others with similar sized boobs have tried these types of styles and found them absolutely useless!!

I'm a size 8 and wear a 36B. I absolutely detest bras being too tight and seeing any bulges around the straps/back through tighter clothes. I've had bra fitters frankly furious with me for even suggesting that size but I'm well supported and it looks like a good fit in the mirror too. The last Debenhams 'expert' admitted defeat when we spent about 45 mins finding a strapless bra for a bridesmaid dress. Handing me dozens of what she thought should be my sizes which all looked or felt terrible, with me eventually trying on my usual size and loving it.

There's no way you should be getting marks like that from something which is supposed to make you more supported and therefore comfortable!

I'm size 14, measure 42" over the bust and 36" round my back. I wear a 40D - don't get fitted for them, just try different ones and see which is the comfiest. The bra size calculator someone linked to above suggests that I would need a 40E so not far out. Bras need replacing quite frequently (3-6 months depending on how often you wear a particular one) as the band stretches with wear. When I buy a new one I compare the new one with the old one (easy to do as I tend to go for the same design and the old one's band has stretched by about 2 inches). Obviously it can get expensive depending on where you buy them from. I go to ASDA where they do a very wide range of sizes and styles at more reasonable prices, that way it's affordable to replace them regularly. When I tried a 38 band on it was very uncomfortable and I'm smaller than you so no wonder you have sore areas. You say that your old bra felt loose in the band, I guess that after 8 months it would have stretched a lot but would have been far too tight initially causing the problems. Pleased to hear that you have found a more comfortable bra. Why on earth didn't the fitter measure you before?

jollyholly I think when you have relatively small boobs it’s easier to wear the “wrong” band size because it doesn’t have to work as hard to hold weight up.

I am a 30D /DD but can also wear 32C or 34B 🤷‍♀️

@MayFayner yes. The bigger the back size for me, the more weight on the straps and shoulders which is very bad for your back (when the weight is substantial.) If your boobs have a bit of self support maybe they’d be ok- mine are nightmares. Like pancakes slipping towards my naval. Heavweighted pancakes. They literally ache with weight when I remove support at the end of the day. The ache stops, but it’s a decent reminder of why I endure the red back marks!

Have you got some cream for those sores? You look like you have intertrigo - v common under large boobs.

You need Canesten HC - it stings like crazy at first but in a few days you will be so much better. Plus better fitting bra, keep the area clean and dry and as much bra free time as you can manage until completely healed.

@Mayfayner Yeah you make a good point and I agree with you there. I lost 7st a few years ago and before I definitely felt it with a lack of overall support if I wasn't wearing a small enough back size, but now that I'm a lot smaller I can definitely get away with looser fitting bras and so go for comfort over feeling like I'm all strapped up!

Tried on the luna bra today from bravissimo. it seems very comfortable however I’m going to test it properly tomorrow and wear it for a full day I really hope it works because I’m really fed up, yesterday at work I had to remove my bra for the last two hours, it was driving me nuts luckily we wear a really hideous baggy unflattering uniform so I don’t think anyone noticed!

.

I’m a 16, flabby with it.
My best bras are unpadded T-shirt bras from Bestform. They have two layers of material but no padding. Very smooth and comfortable. Like a pp I get them from lingerie outlet.com

I'm size 18 and I haven't been officially measured for a long time, but size 40D fits me best. I find it a bit hard to believe that a size beginning with 34 could ever be comfortable on someone who is roughly the same size as me.

@foxtiger I'm a solid 16 and wear a 34