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!

Some people suggest stepping into them. Fresh out of the wash I just stretch it slightly by hand then pull it on over my head, both arms in, then reach around to pull the back down. Then I bend 180 degrees, scoop and swoop and I’m in.

Re. designs. I get they are not to everyone’s tastes. Personally, I like that they are for me, as opposed to something designed to appeal to men, which I often felt was the main point of mire standard designs. But I absolutely believe in each to their own.

I like the plain black ones. I don’t find they minimise my FFs-they just hold them nicely in the right place and are very comfortable!

I step in and pull up. The space design is going to be back in stock very soon.

Thanks for the donning ideas folks - I'll see if I can step in. Otherwise I'll just have to improve my shoulder flexibility!

I need a 36jj bra and find the bravissimo Melrose really good. Full cup but the wires aren’t too high at the sides. Only basic colours but comfy for all day wear and good shape

Thanks @Thisisnotwhatiwant I hadn’t looked at that one before but it looks good, I’ve added it to my ‘to try’ list! Bravissimo seem to do a few styles up to K or L unlike so many other brands so I’m hoping at least one of them is good for me

Freya always suit me.

Have you tried Curvy Kate? They have several styles in 32jj, and some are in their sale now.

I’ve not tried Curvy Kate but particularly like the look of one of their styles, thank you - will try them out!

I like Elomi Cate bras, are they really discontinuing them Fionacorkes!? No! They are great for work, good support and not visible under smooth clothes but pretty too I also like Fantasie Rebecca for tee-shirt bras and Fantasie Jacqueline.

@makingmyway10 Oh I used to really like the Fantasie Rebecca! Unfortunately they seem to stop at an H cup

Thanks @IncogMeToo a lot of people rave about the Deco, I’ve never tried it as I discovered it when I was an H cup and was annoyed even then as it looked great thanks for pointing out the Viva, I hadn’t spotted it. I’ve had mixed experiences with Freya, depending on the style - some have made me a bit pointy, but I used to have the Idol and it was my favourite by far, looked great under clothes and lifted me nicely. Wish they did it in a JJ! But it seems like once you go past H/HH, moulded bras just don’t seem to exist

Right I’ve done some shopping quite excited now! I bought Freya Fancies to try and it was quite cheap in the sale, plus the Panache Envy and Bravissimo Darcy. I also bought two Molke (one Everyday, one Firm) to see what they’re like. Although I have a long list of more styles to try too! Curvy Kate Victory looks good, and Bravissimo Melrose, and a few others. I’ll see how my first batch goes, if none are keepers then I’ll order more, or if some do the job then I’ll try more in store in Bravissimo next month. I’ve also bookmarked Elomi and the Ewa brand.

Really appreciate all of the contributions, it’s helping a lot! Thank you MNers, I’d still be moping around whilst I Google otherwise.

I hope you have some successes with your orders! For future purchases, I had the Panache Envy for a long time and got on pretty well with it though found I needed to break them in. I've just bought the Bravissimo Millie rather than the Envy (I need a nude bra for work) and I love it so far, it was comfy from day one which is a real rarity for me. The cups are lace, so it won't work with everything but beyond that I think it will become my new go to. It also comes down a little lower under the arms than the Envy, which is useful.

I bought the sugar candy bralette thing at the same time. I'm not convinced I got the sizing right on it, in fact I returned my first one for a smaller size and could probably have gone down again but for a non-wired bra it's very good, and will work really well for me on night shifts when I want something comfy to snatch 5 minutes sleep in.

I like the Goddess brand bras - the Amplebosom website stocks a wide range (plus lots of other brands)

Thanks @tentative3 I’m looking forward to trying a broader range of Bravissimo’s own bras, I’m hearing good things.

I’d not hear of Goddess or Amplebosom @WhenDoISleep thanks for the suggestions, I’ll be having a nosey.

Amazingly my orders all arrived today, much quicker than I expected. I have a few keepers! The Freya Fancies is good, fits well and looks fine under a t shirt. I understand now what people mean by the Panache Envy having less support, I’ve got more jiggle in that one, but it’s pretty (even though that wasn’t a requirement, I do like how it looks!) but also fits well and looks good under a top also. Currently comfortable, might feel differently over the course of a day but promising right now Bravissimo Darcy is going back, it fit well in terms of cups and comfort but under a top it was clear that the shape wasn’t quite right and gave an odd effect to my breasts.

Molke has been a real surprise. Found them fairly straightforward to get on, understandably a bit trickier with the Firm one but still fairly simple. But the lift, support and shape under tops are surprisingly good, so I’m keeping them and will probably buy more in future. The Firm has a slight minimising effect on me, but that seems unsurprising given it is supposed to hold firmly and be okay for exercise and I think it still looks good. I’m now wearing my Everyday one and it’s great! I still need ‘regular’ bras as the Molke wouldn’t suit under all of my clothes (eg bands are very wide so wouldn’t suit some of my more sheer tops or boatneck styles and more formal wear where I don’t want to show the band). But these are likely to be a regular bra for me.

I’d never heard of Molke and went straight to the website. -I probably won’t buy anything as I am a fan of lacy and nude bras but just looking at the site has made me smile. It’s nice to see women with normal figures smiling and looking happy whilst they model underwear.