I just want a bra that looks good under clothes and is comfy - help? (32JJ)

[cubesofjelly]

The title says it all really!

Over the years I’ve managed to find decent bras that look good under clothes. I wear smooth tops and dresses often and don’t tend to wear anything plunging, so full cup bras and moulded or relatively smooth cups tend to be best. I don’t want my breasts to look pointy or low down. And I don’t want to be in pain. I am not fussed about having ‘sexy’/‘pretty’ bras, if they tick the above boxes I’m happy to just have black and nude for versatility.

That’s not too much to ask, right?!

However, with each DC my cup size has increased quite a bit. Growth has always happened in first trimester and remained after pregnancy. I can’t breastfeed so that has never affected my size. Pre-DC I was a 32E. 3 DCs later and I am now a 32JJ. It’s this cup size which seems to be the hardest to find a bra - the choice is much more limited, even when only compared with when I was a 32H.

I can’t get to a Bravissimo for a month at least, and I really need a new bra. I’m currently living in the Bravissimo sleep bra, which is comfy and fits but doing nothing for me! I’ve been reading reviews online and checking Bratabase, the Panache Envy full cup bra seems alright but slightly dejected that after all of my researching I’ve managed to find just one possibly alright bra

Any recommendations? I don’t mind ordering and returning stuff, I’ll swallow the postage costs if I can potentially find something decent!

Molke! Seriously. :)

Ooh, thank you! Off to have a look, I haven’t heard of Molke before.

Lingerieoutletstore
I just ordered a heap of bras (I’m a 30F) from them and kept only one. Returns are free but you have to go through an Asda. I got a panache bra reduced from 40 to 12 pounds

Vanity Fair. They're about £20. Well worth it. I'm a 40DD and like nice lingerie.

Fantasie fusion is a very comfortable bra and a good shape, well it is for me in a 32Gg. The fabric does not show through t shirts

I used to be a fan of Fantasie, thanks for reminding me, but unfortunately it seems they have very little in a JJ cup what they do have is remarkably old fashioned (satiny cone type bras!).

Thanks for the recommendations all, I am searching through them now to see if I can find something suitable in my size!

@Writersblock2 the Molke bras, they have different firmness levels. Do you have experience of what they’re like? Trying to figure out what the difference might be like between ‘everyday’ and ‘firm’. Also have you worn them out and about? They’re such a different type of bra, wondering what they’re like under clothes.

I i use a molke level 2 for most things - feels good. for low impact exercise ( yoga, body pump, all day hill walking and climbing) 2 is ok, but 3 is better

I like the look under clothes, it’s very natural. Since I started wearing the m several people congratulated me on weight los, so I guess they look good ( 30hh)

I’m 36gg /h and I like fantasie. They aren’t cut too high under arms so don’t stick in and rub, you can get them in Debenhams or I go to bravissimo

You could try a Prima Donna Deauville. They are £££'s but at that size the most comfortable bra you'll own. I used to be a 34H and it was the only bra that I could wear comfortably. I have the Envy from Bravissimo and it's lovely but to be fair not as supportive at the Prima Donna.

Brastop. Lots on there and returns are v easy

Do you know about Ewa Michalak? It's a Polish brand that makes beautiful, well made bras up to K.

Pricing on the site is in Polish zlotys but you can easily convert it to £ and they ship internationally. There are lots of online reviews.

www.ewa-michalak.pl/eng_m_BRAS_Nude-Bras-139.html

Molke are fab! So comfy and give great shape!

@cubesofjelly I have two in firmness 2 and one in 3. The 2 are more comfortable and are definitely my favourite for everyday. 3 gives a little more “oomph”. It’s still comfortable, but I’m more aware of it after an 8 hour shift. I’ve exercised in all three and they give great support. The cleavage is fantastic too! I feel surprisingly sexy in them.

There’s a brill group on FB - Fans of Molke. The inventor/owner and some of the team post there and there’s also lots of good advice re fitting etc.

Honestly, I wouldn’t go back to normal underwired bras now. These are more supportive and way more comfortable (and fun!).

There are also loads of pics of women wearing under clothes on the group. They look great.

Thanks @MIdgebabe and @Writersblock2 that’s really helpful! I’m quite intrigued by them now.

Thanks @CmdrCressidaDuck I’ve not heard of that brand before, so I’ll take a look!

Likewise @Moonba haven’t heard of that either, so will do some digging. To be fair I don’t mind paying out, if I can actually find something that fits the bill!

Thanks to all again for recommendations and website suggestions, I’m going through them all, this is really helpful

When I was a 32JJ/K, I wore mainly Bravissimo Alana, Bravissimo Erin and Panache Jasmine. Panache tango was also a possibility for me, but I hated the heavy embroidery. Envy never worked as my shoulders are quite narrow and they always slipped off. Molke I found to be the devils work, hideously uncomfortable and u flattering, but I know it’s a marmite bra and much lauded on here.

Have you looked at Primadonna satin cup?
They are very nice and seamless under clothes.
A bit ££ but best price is normally on amazon.
In 36G but with strange shaped saggy boobs and they work wonders for me.

Although just did a quick check and I can only see up to 32H. Sorry it must be such a pain to be so restricted in choice.

I love molke too.

I can't tell the difference between fabric rating 2 and 3, they both give quite firm support, but rating 1 is noticeably more bouncy.

@ilovecherries - with the Molke I’d assume the sizing was wrong. I did have a few days’ break in period with the fabric rating 3 but no issue at all from day 1 with the 2s. At the start, you also have to make sure the band is sitting right under the boobs (not on the rib cage) otherwise that can be uncomfortable.

So, I guess I’m saying they can be awkward for a few days. It’s a totally different type of bra. But that little period of stubbornness absolutely pays off.

Thanks @ilovecherries, that’s really helpful, I’m going to try a variety of Bravissimo brand bras when I can get there perhaps next month, but I’m thinking of ordering one or two which look like the kind of shape I usually go for to see if it works. Reviews sound promising so hopefully they will be good! I did have one of their bras previously in a slightly smaller size and it was really good (unfortunately they don’t make it in a JJ), and I really like their sleep bras (for sleep, obviously ).

Thanks @itsabongthing and no worries, I keep thinking I’ve found something and then realising it stops at H or similar! Had a look on a few different sites and they do seem to stop at H. A lot of stores even for bigger cups stop at J, it is weirdly limiting. The crazy thing is, I don’t think I look super busty?! As in, I’ve obviously got a larger bust, but it’s not like I walk around looking like I’ve got mahoosive balloons on my chest! I feel like it should be easier to dress them!

Thanks @Branleuse super curious about them now, might buy a 2 and a 3 to see what they’re like. Especially if the 3 is alright for some exercise, that would be handy (I don’t do anything high impact but I do flexibility stuff and I’ve found it awkward when my breasts start sliding about!). My previous Panache sports bra that I liked was an H cup, and that’s the largest cup they do in those bras.

I feel much better now thanks to this thread, I’ve actually found a couple of contenders now, thank you!

Elomi are the only brand that work for me (34K), I just wish they'd stop discontinuing the ones I like (Caitlyn/Cate) There's a bit of embroidery on them at the top of the cup but you can't see it through clothes. You do have to order them online in the larger sizes though, AmpleBosom are actually pretty good to order from as they will find the JJ/K sizes for you where places like Figleaves don't often stock them (for the ones I mentioned at least). .

with the Molke I’d assume the sizing was wrong. I did have a few days’ break in period with the fabric rating 3 but no issue at all from day 1 with the 2s. At the start, you also have to make sure the band is sitting right under the boobs (not on the rib cage) otherwise that can be uncomfortable.

Well, had multiple sizes and lots of fitting advice, and wore them they way you describe, but I’m afraid I still hated them, they were truly uncomfortable, which was a shame as I had high hopes. Sold the lot!

I find the Molke designs a bit twee and silly. I like to wear lingerie so stick with other makers. I think they look like sport bras, too. I prefer an underwire and side support and but not minimisers, I don't care to minimise my bust at all, it's bloody gorgeous.

Just wondering if anyone has a tip for getting Molke bras on without struggling. I'm comfy once I'm in but the 5 mins of wrestling puts me off wearing them often. I'm about 34H and not very good at reaching back round to my shoulder blades. Is there a trick?

If it takes you that long to put one on, then maybe its the wrong size?