Recommendations for Comfortable Bras

[GinnyW]

I am a size 10 and a 34c. I don’t know if it is my age (54) but I now find underwires really uncomfortable. I used to buy Victoria Secret, but wish to avoid US brands.
I just had a much anticipated delivery from Lemonade Dolls, but although I followed their measuring guide all of the items were way too small (really lovely though) and I might try the next size up but their styles for padded bras are limited.
I prefer brands that can go in the washing machine and styles that are lightly passed.
Please help!

My underbust measurement is 31 inches. This is why I wear a 30 in some brands but 32 in others. I’ve only broken one rib but that was when I WAS a size 10 and wore a 28 band.

Admittedly M&S still use the outdated method of adding inches and that’s why an M&S fitting reckons I’m a 36 despite that meaning my breast tissue fell out of the bottom of my bra.

I haven't had breast surgery, but for the last ten years or so I've worn post surgery camisole bras from M&S - super comfy, and if you wear anything low cut, it just looks as if you have a camisole underneath rather than flashing your bra.
They're reasonably priced, and they take the VAT off, so £15 rather than £18.

Cotton Non-Wired Post Surgery Cami Bra A-H | M&S Collection | M&S

Sloggi Zero Feel - barely know you are wearing it. Removable pads - but if you like the pads in, then wash in a laundry bag as they come out in the wash. They are sized S, M, L etc and so probably not suitable for a large cup size.

I liked the review titled "Like a kind man walking behind you holding them up" !!

What is your underbust measurement? It is pretty unusual if you are a size 10 to have an underbust measurement of 34 inches.

I am a size 12 and wear a 32D.

OP said she has an underbust measurement of 75 cm, so 29.5 inches.
If the 34C cups fit, I would try 30DD or E.

Sorry but I don't buy this whole "you need a smaller band size" mantra that women are so often told. If the OP is already finding the bras dig in at the ribs, why would she be better off with them even tighter?

I'm a size 10 and 34B. Once I went to get fitted at Rigby and Peller - bra fitters to the queen, no less! - and they put me in a 30D or something, told me it was definitely the right size. In fact it was SO uncomfortable, almost painful. I couldn't take a deep breath. If that's what the queen was wearing, no wonder she was so cranky.

she might not be. But when I was wearing too big back size myself, I always found my bras hugely uncomfortable, as they were not working as designed. Instead of band providing the support, the straps were, which meant that wires were not sitting where they were supposed to, but at a funny angle, with bottom of the wire digging into my ribs. Does that make sense? I went from 36D to 30G and yes it initially feels tighter, but is actually way more comfortable and my backpain is gone.

Do you have a specialist lingerie shop near you? We are very lucky to have one locally. Book an appointment and allow about an hour. My size completely and radically changed but it makes such a difference. Very supportive, very comfortable and very pretty bras. I went from a 38DD to a 34G! The difference is like night and day. The bras I got change my whole torso shape in clothes - I look much slimmer and my boobs look fantastic in and out of clothes!

I always used to be a 30G / 32F - measured at Bravissimo/ used boob or bust etc etc. But now I’m menopausal and have put on weight around my middle (despite lots of HRT etc) I just can’t stand anything smaller than a 34 back and can’t stand wires - they just feel so uncomfortable now. I don’t really know what it is, I think my whole body has just changed shape. I know officially I’m wearing the “wrong” size but the right size just makes me miserable. I like M and S flexi fit non wired bras and also Sainsbury’s Tu non wired ones (although horrifically I think they’ve stopped doing these in the larger cup sizes). I do find the back sizes in M and S come up small so I wear a 36G in their brand.

I agree. These well fitting bras may a better fit but at what cost? Not everyone finds them comfortable.

I know you said you don’t want a wired bra but the Millie bra at Bravissimo is an absolute game changer for underwired bras.

It's true a lot of women do say this. Maybe it's a size thing. My pathetic B cup pancakes don't actually need support - the bra is there for nipple coverage and general concealment. So for me, the bras where the straps are doing the work are the most comfortable, and a tighter band is agony.

The best bra I've ever had is the Spanx bravissimo. It's made of Spandex or some really strong elastic, so the straps don't slide off your shoulders, but it doesn't dig in. It gets even more comfortable as it stretches out over the years. But they're not easy to find in the UK.

Organic Basics core wireless plunge bra could be one to look at. They are made from a sort of moulded foam so no separate padding. I also like the fact the straps convert to cross over and they come in a wide range of colours. No scratchy lace either. They do take about a week to arrive, though.

Dora Larson have nice bras, I only have the underwired bras but they do a lot of non wired as well.

And I hate to say this but think that with those measurements you should be trying a 32” band at least… I’ve been up to a size UK16, currently a small UK8 and my band has always been 32” (borderline 30” but I don’t find that overly comfortable). I’ve been fitted a number of times and I’ve always remained the same, regardless of size.

With the rib issues you're experiencing, I would recommend Bravado Sculpt. I have a couple of them and they give a really good shape and lift. The band is wide and soft yet supports well, and the size chart on their website is pretty accurate.

However, if I bought a size 30, it wouldn’t fit. The 34 does😀

Bravissimo bras are really comfortable, the Millie one recommended above and is good it stretches with you and I really like their Lacey Bra which is similar. They have lots of options and if you have a store nearby it's worthwhile going in to have a try on of different styles.

Sorry, the Spanx one I mentioned earlier is actually called the "bra-llelujah". It's such an idiotic name that it won't stay in my memory!

But are you going up a cup size?
The cup on a 34C is the same size as the cup of a 32DD or a 30D (or is it a 32D and 30 E?).

@GinnyW
i injured my chest wall and have been unable to wear underwires bras since so I sympathise.

If the bra is comfortable, fits and supports, then of course you should wear it. Except that you're saying your bras do not fit. If it really is the underwires as such, in any size, I would still suggest a fitting. Non-wired bras offer less support, so will be more of an issue if the back is too big. Incidentally I measure 75cm under bust, I'm a size 10 and I'm very comfortable in size 30 bra. So if your ribcage measures the same, would be surprising if you couldn't get the same bra around you, no?

No. I was not saying that I have a problem with fit/sizing. I was saying that since I fractured 2 ribs 6 years ago I haven’t been able to tolerate under wires. I don’t have a problem with sizing.

Thank you for understanding!

I agree with sloggi zero feel being comfortable. I also love Boody Bamboo bras. So soft & no annoying scratchy bits.