Bras - Recommendations please (32ff)

[Anothername19]

I am so fed up of spending a lot (to me) of money at bravissimo and then the bloody underwire breaks through/pokes out.

Can anyone recommend a brand:
Not going to break after 5mins
Ideally not thousands of pounds
Good for size 32ff or similar

I’ve always worn underwired but willing to try non wired - bit worried I will look ahem saggy?

Any tips welcome as I have no style/fashion/basic dressing myself skills.

I'm the same size as you and I always wear the Fantasie smoothing t-shirt bra. It's currently on sale on Figleaves. It's lightly padded but that helps give a good shape, rather than adding extra to your size.

I'm a 32FF, my favourites are the Cleo Marcie and the Mimi Holliday Maxi Bra.

Freya bras. I usually pick them up in the Debenhams sale or on Brastop.com

I second Freya bras. I always wear the Freya Deco ones (like a t-shirt bra) but they have a lot of different styles.

Another thought - if your underwires keep breaking, how are you washing & drying your bras?

Hand-washing is best, but I'm lazy, so I wash mine in a lingerie bag (so that they can't get caught up in the holes in the drum) on the gentlest 30c cycle. I always air-dry them, outside when possible, never tumble dry. I have Freya bras that are 3 years old and still look good and more importantly give good support.

I’m the same size and the Fantasie Rebecca bra is my absolute holy grail. I have five and wear nothing else now!

I replaced every bra with these Curvy Kate Daily Dream bras. I stock up on them when they're on offer. I'm a 30G and these bras give me a good shape and some lift.

Fantasie and Freya

Agree with previous posters, fantasie bras are great. I wear the Rebecca lace ones (t-shirt style) and they’re great everyday bras.

I love freya bras. Consistently comfortable and quite cute designs

I really like Chantelle bras, they are expensive but they work. Prima Donna are even better but they are around £80 each.

Another fan of the Fantasie brand; my fav is the Helena. I machine wash but always dry on an airer and never tumble dry.

Freya Deco are my favourite. I was fitted by an independent fitter last week and she said not to use fabric softener on bra's just gentle detergent. I'm going to try that as my last lot of bra's haven't lasted that long at all, which isn't great as they're so expensive.

I've recently been on the Boob or Bust website & based on their sizing, bought a white one in a 34F from Figleaves (via Next website) and it fits perfectly. (I wasnt far off with my sizing but have lost weight so needed to re measure) Not the prettiest you'll ever see - no lace, but I dont mind that as they look smoother under fitted clothing. I have now bought two more in nude, and black as they do the job for me.

I like curvy Kate. I find Freya deco has to big a gap between cups (I’m 30f and have no gap at all)
This is my fave www.brastop.com/curvy-kate-smoothie-balconette-bra-wild-blush
I have it in 2 colours and have pretty much alternated wearing them for the last 6 months and they’re still fine. I wash on a cold gentle machine wash in a net bag. No softener but every so often I add dettol laundry.

I'm a 28ff, and also wear Freya.

Brastop are excellent, a lot of these brands above are there and prices are good.

As you've been fitted just go on eBay and buy bnwt but old styles of fantasie, Freya, fauve etc from lingerie outlets. I spend in the region of £10-15 a bra. Like a pp I wash in a laundry bag on delicates setting and line dry and have not had issues with underwire malfunctions since I started doing this.

32FF and have come to realize it’s Panache or nothing for my shape. Mostly wear their T-shirt type bras and have only had one underwire issue and that was with an odd internet purchase in a style I never saw in the main outlets.

I do hand wash though. Soak wash is great!

Freya for me too. I've been 34d to 38g and back again and they've always been great.

34F - Fantasie T shirt bra too.
There’s a Charnos one - Everyday bra I think it’s called - which is not particularly attractive, but really comfortable and gives me a great shape. I used to get it from the Goddard factory shop at our local outlet village, but can only find it on eBay (new) now.

Panache Tango II.

Don't buy from ebay until you know exactly which style you want. You can be different sizes between brands and even between different styles in the same brand.

I've generally been a freya or curvy Kate girl but I have recently bought a non-wired bra from m&s (32gg) and it's brilliant! Really good lift and shape...probably wouldn't go running in it but great for day to day.
And it was only £20!