Does anybody else not wear a bra most of the time?

[OMGhelp]

I find that I just can't find a bra that fits right, and when I do find one, it will only fit for 1 week of the month, I just cant afford £20+ a time for a different size bra dependant on my cycle. And if I wear a bra for a whole day it hurts by the end of the day. Also I am not a small person, Im a 44E so going braless in public is not something I would normally do as I tend to swing a lot (having a jaunty walk is something to be done only if there are no males driving cars on nearby roads), and with nipples the size of scammel wheel nuts cold weather makes for a 'pointed' conversation with people. I would like to be a bit more in control, and look as if I have taken a bit of care over my dressing, but the ache just doesn't make a bra worth it.

have ypu toired a reputable fitter like bravissimo or rigby and peller. I wore the wrong size bras for years, but finally two years ago got properly measured and it was a revelation in comfort and how I looked. I honestly felt like I'd had a boob job...it was fab!

also, have you tried soft cup bras for more comfort?

I think at 44E you really need a good fittinng bra, or your poor bosoms will be around your waist before you know it!

Charlie Dimmock. Who has, allegely, piled weight on so whose norks are probably quite scary now.

Sorry to be unhelpful.. but am answering the title question!

Shiny, what are you like !

OP - I too am,ahem, well-endowed.

Please please try to get to somewhere like John Lewis, or Rigby and Peller, Daisy is so right, a good-fitting bra is a godsend.

You might think, 'OMG 32 quid, you have got to be joking' but truly you are worth it.

I finally did R&P at easter - I now own a whole 2 bras that fit - they just get washed and reworn a lot... it is amazing the difference it made.

Does anyone know of a decent fitter near Hereford? I do get fitted,but only by my local 'Contessa' type shop, and they never have any nice bra's in (nice bra's stop at 36c), they also don't do underwired.
I am very overweight, but working on it. Which is going to be a problem as I shrink. (Ive lost 2 stone in the last 6 months) and I have changed my bra's as the weight came off.

bump

i thought this thread was going to be by someon who was a 30 aaa. and was about to post about how some of us dont have a choice.
to the op. i am much smaller than you. 32ee. and i can not afford not to wear a propeperly fitting bra. if you get three or four good bras that fit properly at different times of your cycle as need be. hand wash them etc. yo ushouldnt have pain at the end of the day.
i know what you mean about the cost.but personally, this is soemthing that has to be budgetted for. it's like glasses for someone with bad eyesight. you cant just say, ok, i've broken my glasses and cnat afford another pair. i'll have to go round in a blur. this is osmething i simplY HAVE to prioritise

figleaves do free returns. 11% cashback via quidco. and you can usually find 20% off codes floating round mumsnet.
they have gorgeous bra's, and if you can pay using a cc, free returns and that means it doesnt work out mega expensive. their advice is excellent too

Thanks, I will try figleaves. I remember the embarresment when we were having a family measuring session and my daughter was 36 inches around her bust, so when it came my turn and she wrapped the tape around and anounned in her loudest voice, 4 foot, I could have crawled under a rock.

I need to find a new bra. I was fitted by Bravissimo in Covent Garden. Went from a 38C to a 32E. Bought a comfy bra from M&S. But it makes me really itch. At the end of the day, when I take it off, my boob are so itchy. I must be allergic to ......polyamide / polyester / elastane in it.
You need to find a comfy bra. It is essential. And so do I

Covent Garden is just too far. I haven't been to London since I was a teenager in the 1970's.

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Bravissimo in solihull not too far for you. I go there once in a while (I'm in worcs) and they are V G. Once you know your true size and what is comfy, you can do mail order afterwards.

It is life-changing, honestly! (says she, owner of pair of 30Js!)

Arrrggghhh!

Ive just been looking at fig leaves and Bravissimo web pages.
Bravissimo don't do my size!
and fig leaves do, but, both sites have show me that I am actually wearing bra's that are too small in the back and the cup so in reality I am more likely to be a 46F, which puts my bra prices in the £40+ mark.

Bravissimo gave me these web sites to try out.
www.amplebosom.com/

naturallycloseuk.drct2u.com/home.jsp

shapelyfigurescom.drct2u.com/home.jsp
So I will have a browse these as well. There goes my budget for the next month.

fashion world

and ambrose wilson

do bras in your size.

I just bought a 3 pack for £21

Ok, they aren't sexy (I don't care) or very girly (also don't care) but they will mean that my breasts aren't polishing my shoes (and those of any passers-by) with each step I take

This is great, Im off to M&S tomorrow to get a fitting and try on some different styles, then when I know my size I am going to have a buying frenzy. Sigh! sexy underwear, bliss.

I am lucky so far in that my boobs haven't even reached my belly button yet, but when (a non-specific time in the far distant future) I lose my weight, I don't want dangling flaps that reach my knee's and have to be rolled up and pegged to fit in my bra.

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i think m=s have got a bit better. i have said this before but i'll say it again tho, i used to work at Rigby and peller, and of course most of the things we stocked were very expensive.
BUT

the cheapest we stocked was a Make called fantsie, who happen to be run by the makers of the off the peg R + P bras.

Have you got a Debenhams near you?? They stock fantasie.

I bet you are not 44, thats the normal mistake. They try and fit you with a bra that your boobs will fit into, and to hell with the band width. So you will prob be in a bra thats far too bigh around your ribs, and therefore rides up.

You need to measure under your boobs. Go and do that now, i'd be very interested, in a bra way of course to know what your measurement is. The going by what you have told me about your cup size, i can prob work it out roughly.

so go get ur tape measure for me!!!!

I am rather small-of-breast and only wear a bra when I am out jogging, or when I am wearing rather nipple-revealing clothes.

I would go to debenhams over MandS everytime.

Mand S keep telling me I'm a 38 band size, but both Debenhams and Bravissimo say 34. I bought some maternity bras in M and S and after one wear they were riding up my back.

I wouldn't trust them at all now, and they are always limited on stock in bigger sizes.

there is a Bravissiomo in Swansea. Is that anywhere near you?

I'm sure there is a company who weill come out to your house to measure you, but not sure how expensive that would be (or if indeed it wasn't something I dreamt ?)

you need measuring properly otherwise your boobs and back will suffer i wear 34gg/32gg dependin on style etc (m&s said i was 36dd!) so have no choice but wear bras that cost me £30 ish would love to be measured properly at bravissimo my sis has shhe went nottingham if this is any help!

OMGH- I am in Birmingham, and Fantasie is also stocked in Rackhams and they do have lovely designs, usually with matching knicks if that is your thing. They also stock Freya which also are not too expensive, and I believe Bravissimo stock Freya too.

Please don't rely on M&S to measure you! They were rubbish when I went last (admittedly for nursing bras) - they won't touch customers bodily, and do it all 'by eye' but how they think that helps I don't know! I was really quite unhappy with the service.

HTH

Bravissimo are now in Leamington Spa. Perhaps a teeny bit closer than Solihull?