Bravissimo bra agony advice

[Galliano]

I put weight on in the pandemic and bmi increased from 19 to 23. Pre pandemic I wore a 30g. I’m 5ft 10 so have a narrow frame relative to height. After weight gain Bravissimo fitted me in 32hh - their own brand bras. I’ve recently lost a stone and bmi down to 21. The bravissimo bras are now too big in the cup but still the bands are agony, the underwiring causes huge red marks under my bust and I’m permanently aware of being in pain. I did not have this problem with fantasie bras I wore before weight gain.

I don’t know what bra size I am now. I need new bras but I’m reluctant to pay to continue to be in discomfort. Are bravissimo bras particularly fierce or is it the bigger size? If I ask them to fit me in fantasie will that be less agonising?

[marriednotdead]

I’d really recommend going back to the store and getting a refit. If the more recent bras weren’t comfortable from the start then they would exchange them.

Their own brand styles have a range of different shapes but not many are like Fantasie- if you can name the styles that are/aren’t working then I may be able to help you work out alternatives.

[LookItsMeAgain]

@FinallyHere - there is a reason why Her Majesty used to shop there for her lingerie. They know their stuff. I think I saw one of the founders of the store on tv recently and she said that she could tell someone's size just by looking at them.

I'd agree with the other poster who suggested a supportive wireless bra, they do exist and you're not going to be flapping about in the workplace.

Something like this is non-wired and should be supportive and straps shouldn't dig into you:
www.johnlewis.com/panache-non-wired-lace-effect-sports-bra-black-latte/p109321907

[Newusernameaug]

I haven’t worn an underwired bra for a few years now and will never go back to them.
there’s so many comfy nice looking cheap ones now that are just soft stretchy fabric, surely something like that would be better than being in pain?

[LookItsMeAgain]

Another one that might work for you is this:
www.johnlewis.com/royce-fearne-front-fastening-bra-pebble-grey/p109607973

[DilettanteMum]

Try a Prima Donna bra. You have to find the brands and Tykes that fit you.

[DilettanteMum]

"Brands and types"


Available at Rigby & Peller

[Iizzyb]

It comes down to the style & fit of the bras. Panache generally fit me better than any other brand these days. I have a great bra which was described by the assistant in a Bravissimo shop as "tricky to fit, doesn't suit many people" and in the recent catalogue as "fits well if breasts are close together"

I can only buy plunge bras as the wires often come too high up. I had a long call with a fitter over the phone & she helped me choose a few & of those 2 were a good fit. The shops don't seem to carry as much stock which is a pain.

Also as we age our bodies change & this makes it difficult as the fit/what suits us changes.

[newtb]

Royce non-wired are good and bravissimo stock them.

[Galliano]

@marriednotdead

I’d really recommend going back to the store and getting a refit. If the more recent bras weren’t comfortable from the start then they would exchange them.

Their own brand styles have a range of different shapes but not many are like Fantasie- if you can name the styles that are/aren’t working then I may be able to help you work out alternatives.

Millie, Jenna, Alexa are all causing me problems.
Jenna is what my daughter recommended as comfiest ever!

[Galliano]

@FinallyHere

I've been fitted in many, many different places. The only place I've found to be reliable in finding really comfortable bras are

https://www.rigbyandpeller.com

Completely worth taking a days holiday and travelling in to London, for me, from pretty much anywhere.

I first read about them in the '80's, an interview with the founder June Kenton who encouraged anyone contemplating. Breast reduction to try a fitting first.

In my early twenties, as a skinny 'very large breasted' self conscious wreck, I saved ferociously for ages, fully expecting to need a bespoke solution. Desperate to hide my shape, I was wearing a puffer style duvet coat when I showed up for my fitting.

As promised, not a tape measure in sight, the fitter gave me one bra to try on, saying it would help her gauge my size.

Stone the blessed crows, it fitted me perfectly.

Now, I return anytime I have lost or gained weight, so that I need a refit, otherwise order online. Not cheap, but really really brilliant value.

I am near a Rigby and Peller and also Leia mentioned by previous poster. For Rigby and Peller my hesitation is that I end up paying £100 to be uncomfortable instead of £40! If I’m comfy it’s a small price but if not it’s galling to waste.

[RoxTen]

Bravissimo brand bras just don't work for me at all, so it's worth trying other brands. Gossard glossies are my every day bra now.

[jumperoozles]

So many lovely and supportive wireless bras nowadays. You can get them in packs of 3 from Primark once you know your size. Comfiest bras ever and give you a nice shape.

[marriednotdead]

@Galliano

Millie, Jenna, Alexa are all causing me problems.
Jenna is what my daughter recommended as comfiest ever!

That's 3 different types and if they're all wrong, it's definitely worth starting over. Any idea what Fantasie styles you had that worked before? Suspect it may be ones with a side sling because that's what's missing from your list.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

@marriednotdead

That's 3 different types and if they're all wrong, it's definitely worth starting over. Any idea what Fantasie styles you had that worked before? Suspect it may be ones with a side sling because that's what's missing from your list.

👋 not seen you here for a while!

I agree with you, I suspect the size is quite off. Too big/wrong shape bras with firm wires can really irritate badly IME. Suspect these are both. My breast shape changes a lot with weight loss - I don't just need the same bras in smaller sizes but totally different bras.

[marriednotdead]

@StatisticallyChallenged 👋😃

[Silverstreaks]

Are you still wearing the 32HH?

If you've changed your shape due to weight loss your band size a cup size will be smaller. Your breast tissue will be slipping down into the band causing pain.

A good bra is snug around your ribcage to support your boobs and cups fully encase your breast tissue.

Too large a bra is as much to blame for discomfort and pain as a small bra.

Have a proper refit. You may be a 30 or even 28 back now.

[Galliano]

I am still wearing them mostly because I’m stingy! I’m intending to lose another stone if I can. I’m 51 and concerned if I don’t lose the weight now it’ll become increasingly tricky to get rid of it.

Cant name the fantasie bras I wore any more but yes to side support.

I was very thrown in bravissimo when I was fitted as had almost twenty years of consistent size/weight after the birth of my last child in 2002 to the fitting. They did actually fit me in a 30 even then which I felt was too tight and asked them to find 32s.

[midgemadgemodge]

If the band is moving a lot - weight loss - you will get red marks and that can be very sore


Personally I like Molke as they seem to be much more tolerant of weight fluctuations- not everyone gets one with them o k kw

[MrsMoastyToasty]

I always find that fitters always fit too tight. I have a set of bra extenders that I wear with the bra for the first few weeks until the fabric has stretched a bit.
I go to an independent fitter; John Lewis; and Bravissimo. A lot of the fit is down to the person who is fitting you, even in the same shop.
(My problem is narrow shoulders).

[StatisticallyChallenged]

@MrsMoastyToasty

I always find that fitters always fit too tight. I have a set of bra extenders that I wear with the bra for the first few weeks until the fabric has stretched a bit.
I go to an independent fitter; John Lewis; and Bravissimo. A lot of the fit is down to the person who is fitting you, even in the same shop.
(My problem is narrow shoulders).

This isn't all that unusual - some bras stretch so much that if you buy them the size up they're too big within a few weeks.

Narrow shoulders here too, some straps are so far in to my armpits it's painful. Some brands seem to assume that if you are a large cup your breast root is extremely wide and it results in really weird fits

[mumof2fromstafford]

Can't recommend this bralette enough www.loung-erie.com (I should be on commission as I want to tell everyone about it) but I honestly am not wearing anything else. I used to only wear Freya bras size 32FF currently going through menopause and my boobs are constantly fluctuating aswell as my weight. This bralette adjusts at the shoulders, has extra stitching in the shape of an underwire to give the support and has an amazing soft, underbust band that is so comfortable. The customer service is amazing too, I have bought one in every colour, initially I wanted it for lounging in but I am now wearing outside - check it out loung-erie.com

[HeadNorth]

I go to M&S and try on loads of bras until I find the right ones for what I want (eg running, night out, lounging about). Works for me and not expensive.

I am hugely sceptical of the tiny band size/vast cup size beloved of the Mumsnet massif - tight bands hurt, why would you want a bra that hurts?

[lindyloo57]

Don't do the boob or bust I found it put me a band size much too small, I could hardly do it up.

[Thighdentitycrisis]

@mumof2fromstafford
can I ask what size you are wearing in the bra lette ?

I am a 30 G and struggle to find a bralette to fit. If it’s snug around the rib cage it’s usually a S/M and the cups aren’t big enough and squash my boobs. M/L is too loose and I might as well not wear anything!

[StatisticallyChallenged]

@Thighdentitycrisis

@mumof2fromstafford
can I ask what size you are wearing in the bra lette ?

I am a 30 G and struggle to find a bralette to fit. If it’s snug around the rib cage it’s usually a S/M and the cups aren’t big enough and squash my boobs. M/L is too loose and I might as well not wear anything!

They're not cheap but bravissimo has cup sized ones. The Zara is nice on