Bra issues/tubular beasts

[Nobranothanks]

I've name changed for this one as I feel a tiny bit exposed!

Can anyone recommend any bras for those of us with wide set tubular boobs where the "boob" so to speak spreads right round to under the arm pit. To make matters worse I also have dodgy joints so find narrow bands uncomfortable.

I have tried EVERY bra out there and have been Measured in every shop (except rigby) and done boob or bust all to no avail. Boob or bust suggests I'm a either 34 or 36 e to give some idea HOWEVER because of the shape of my boobs I do not ever fill the cup/boobs do not stay in.

I have had moderate success in the past with asda 2 sizes bigger bras however they do not "fit" so to speak.

This has been a problem for as long as I can remember and brings me down so so so much. I've recently had to give up bras altogether due to severe shoulder pain and am currently wearing unsupportive crop tops..... This means I am confined to hoodies/jumpers. I am a size 14-16. For reference, I used to be a 22 and got down to a 12 (slim for my frame) pre child.

I cannot wear sports bras as they give the appearance I have bound my chest.

Pre covid I have gone Into many department stores and hve tried on up to 50 at a time and still been unable to find one that fits. I'm honestly not exaggerating.

Please, any input is gratefully received. I'm in tears every morning because of this.

Thankyou in advance.

Have you got Amazon prime OP?
Last week I ordered several bra's from prime wardrobe to try on, when you order you don't pay, just add your card details but no money is taken, they send you the items, you have them for 7 days, you try them on, keep and pay for the ones you want and send the rest back with a pre paid label.

In my case, I tried them on loved them all but sent them all back as they were cheaper elsewhere

They're definitely tubular - been exactly the same since my teen years and through pregnancy didn't change so much as a mm 😊

I'll have a look at the brands and styles you've all suggested - prime wardrobe was a good shout too, I hadn't thought of that.

I'll report back on progress as you've all been so helpful so thankyou

Fantasie illusion might be worth a try, I haven't got tubular breasts but I have problems with bras! and this bra is excellent.

I know you’re not keen on bralettes, blossom apologies, but I love this one from Sloggi - it has padded cups inside, so more structured than a normal bralette, but super comfy and soft. uk.sloggi.com/women/discover/zero-feel/10186738.html?color=3140_Blue%20Ink&cgid=s195000

Hi. Your drawings are quite helpful actually!

The bra needs to be where the majority of breast tissue is so for you that is at the bottom rather than the top and wide spaced.

I'd seriously suggest a half cup, Freya do one in their Fancies range that scoops quite wide to the side without drowning you in fabric everywhere else. They seem to be harder to find on the high street even before lockdown but are a shape that is very needed.

If you want a lower centre, the Boux Avenue Piper balconette has a wide base and push up (rather than in) padding so you can get lift without being actually tipped out.

Get a next account and order loads from there . No money needed and they sell loafds of bra brands , Freya etc .. return what you don't want . Shops are open for collections and returns

I was also thinking half cup, as they sit high up in the middle where you're flat and their space is at the bottom. Something like this and it's on sale !

Or the bay bra from Bravisismo looks to be your shape, it won't push them together or anything but goes round the sides. I just got it today and it goes high up the sides under the arms and I really like it!

Fantasies side support ones are nice but their wires don't go very high so you might feel as though you're spilling over the top at the sides. The freya, fauve and fantasize brands are from the same manufacturer and have shorter wires. Panache, Cleo and masquerade are all "sister brands" and have much higher up wires. I expect you've tried the panache tango as it's a popular bra but it's very good.

Also this Goddard glossies bra is very gentle, it has high sides and side support but is moulded (not padded but shaped on a mould so seamless and more likely to adapt to your shape.

In case you haven’t seen it, the BraStop website has a sizing guide which includes options (with drawings) of breast shape and location - it then suggests which bras brands and size would suit you.

If you Google what shape bra? They'll usually have good articles because the fit of the bra is as important as the size

www.brastop.com/collections/side-support-bras

These are the side support bras on brastop. Not sure if they'll be enough for tubular tits but I'm going to give some a go I think.

It sounds as though you need a bra with wide wires but a shallow cup ? If so then minimiser bras may be better as they have wide and shallow cups to slightly flatten the breasts. Have you tried a style like this ?
I am not sure what you mean about your breasts escaping the cups at the sides, is this because the band is loose ? Or because the cups are too narrow ?

I have tubular breasts and I often wear masectomy bras with small pad inserts. They’re comfortable and always have full cover without the tightness of sports bras.

Incidentally, as you’ve mentioned joint issues too, do you have Marfans? I was only diagnosed with Marfans when I visited the GP about my tubular breasts in my 20’s.

Another one with good side support to have a look at OP-

www.pourmoi.co.uk/products/flora-lightly-padded-underwired-bra/?styleid=76278

OK....i did boob or bust again. 36gg which I cannot possibly see being accuratebby any stretch of the imagination lol. In the name of science (in case someone else reads this) I've ordered some of your suggestions in that size as a starting point. I'll report back!

@Nobranothanks I feel your pain
I think mine after also tubular, I don’t have the problem of side wandering so much but they are like a pair of elephants ears, and severely mis matched ones at that.
My official size is 34G but as I say they are sort of long and pendulous not full and round.

I have the say the most success has been with ones from rigby and peller, and for me the best have been full cup balconette. The top of the cup can be sort of underfilled but it doesn’t show because the cup comes quite high.
I can message you some specific ones I have if you like, but as I say I don’t have the side issue as much although they’re a good couple of inches space inbetween them

Good luck! If I was younger I might consider surgery, especially with the added issue mine are such different sizes

Just a tiny not very exciting update - popped to my local M&S food Hall yesterday which is also a clothes shop. Curiosity got the better of me and despite knowing how rubbish M&S bras are I grabbed one in the right style and size in the sale just to see how badly wrong boob or bust has got it (I'm not patient and am Waiting for the proper ones to be delivered) ...... Imagine my surprise when they were surprisingly close to fitting. So excited for the proper ones to arrive now! IF boob or bust is right this time I've been wearing one back size and about 5 cup sizes out bras which may explain why I can never find one to fit.

I'll report back when delivery arrives!

Once again, I can't thank you all enough for taking the time to reply.

@ruggerybuggery I am with you on the surgery - I have a goal to do it before I'm 40 lol. I've never tried rigby as the cost has always put me off. I've resolved to go in the shop once covid goes away. Which ones do you have?

@Nobranothanks one successful one has been the primadonna satin cup
First recommended by R & P but I’ve bought elsewhere since and prices vary quite a lot.
Non padded but non stretchy cups that really hold their shape. Made mine into a nice shape but bit of a minimiser, so depends what you want.

More recently I’ve had some cheaper ones which have been initially good but cups have a bit more stretch and I can already feel they’re not as uplifted as they were initially 😁. I’ll see if I can find pics of those

This fantasie Leona one

Thought I didn’t feel it held me in at the sides as much as others even tho it has side support

Plus a black Wacoal one which is very comfy and again has a pleasingly small amount of stretch. Not sure of the style - but when I take it off I’ll see if I can tell 😁

Have a look at Glamorise bras. I buy a front-fastening one and it is the only bra that works for me, albeit not a perfect fit.

This bra fitter really helped me.
I have sooo many issues

www.brasense.co.uk

Currently she is doing zoom sessions

Hi ladies...time for a little update!!

Still trying to pin down the right size - the 36gg's just weren't quite right. I seem to be between back sizes for different brands and styles.

Had an amazon shipment and that was moderately successful. The gg was too big in the cup with some gaping but I think I'm much nearer the gg than the d I was wearing!

Ordered a load from boux in a 38g and it was hilarious. They were ENORMOUS in the cup although the back was OK so they're all going back.

Have a cheap from asda that is wearable. And the next shipment to try is arriving tomorrow.

I'm finding that whilst round the sides and the bottom of the cups the fitmos. Good where the upper part of my boob is just non existent I end up swamped in fabric and even balcony style bras appear like a full coverage bra that does nothing for me.

Tomorrow's delivery is mainly half cups in a multitude of sizes so I'm hopeful I'll be a bit more successful!

Once again, all input most welcome 😊

I'm glad you're getting somewhere. Maybe bra extenders will help if you're between band sizes?
I have a bit of gaping in the bra's I wear too. I think as long as they're comfortable and fit nicely everywhere else, then I can put up with slight gaping. Finding a bra that's 100% perfect seems impossible.