Supportive bralettes? (32FF)

[DidntHaveTheLatin]

Is there such a thing? Obviously I'm not expecting the same support I'd get from a wired bra but I'm looking for a step up from flimsy crop tops.

I'm yet to find one that gives enough support but, for context, I was a 34E before years of breastfeeding and now a 36C so maybe my poor boobs are knackered!! I LOVE Triumph Doreen non wired bras. Ive had women compliment my perky bust (result)

Following with much interest!

I've started off with a selection of M&S ones as I had a 20% Sparks discount - will report back once I get those delivered, and will progress to experimenting with the other brands recommended if I have no joy!

Good luck getting a refund. They owe me £120 for bras I returned. They insist I was refunded but I never received the refund. It’s an ongoing battle. The call centre is useless.

Another vote for lemonade dolls. I'm a 34ff and the cross front one is so comfy.

Wow, I've never had that issue with M&S and I've sent back a lot of stuff over the years! Did you do an in-store return? Surely they have to provide proof of the payment?

M&S bra update whilst it's fresh in my mind!

Flexifit crop top, 14 - amazingly comfortable ,and true to size. Support is pretty good considering it's a crop top and it gives a nice shape. Straps are more like a tank top rather than normal bra straps, so can't be worn under anything scrappy. Will keep.

Flexifit lace bralette, 32G - comfy and looks good, but although it's supportive, it gives a bit of a weird, slightly pointy boob shape! Normal bra-type straps. It's just bit quite right under a t-shirt I'm afraid.

Flexifit minimiser full cup, 32G - very comfy and gives a nice shape. Feels like a sports bra but good support. Straps are thicker than normal and wider at the top. Does flatten my boobs down very slightly but I'll take that, for the comfort! Will keep.

Flexifit full cup, 32G - comfy but not as good a shape as the minimiser. Normal bra straps.

Sorry, should have said - all these were £22 I think. Also the minimiser was the wired version, but still very comfy!

You’re not allowed to return in store at the moment of bought online. They received it back and said it’s been refunded but it hasn’t shown up in my bank account.

Oh really? I didn't realise that. I'm miles from the nearest store anyway so would usually just post them back. I hope you get it resolved soon - how annoying!

I’ve already spent considerable amounts of time calling their useless call centre. It’s infuriating!!

I can't find the cross-front one - do you know the style name, please?

Further reporting back on M&S Flexifit (I did a second order...):

The non-wired lace full cup minimiser is nice but is much low-cut than the wired (non-lace) minimiser, and doesn't give as nice a shape for me - not enough lift and separate 😁 It has normal bra straps and clasp, and now I've worn the wired minimiser for a few days I don't want to move away from these comfy wide padded straps!

I've now also got the crop top in a 12 (I'm a 12/14) and will keep it in that size instead of a 14, on the basis that there's not much difference and it'll probably bag slightly.

I'm expecting a Lemonade Dolls delivery tomorrow/Weds so will report back on that too.

Still haven’t received a refund

Continued adventures in bralettes!...Lemonade Dolls order received:

• So Soft Mesh Fuller Cup Bra - pretty and soft but laughably tiny cups leaving very little actual boob covered - going back.

• Signature Fuller Cup Bralette - gorgeous and very soft and comfy. I accidentally ordered the Emerald in a 34 rather than a 32 band and they have no more in stock 😳 I ordered a pastel blue and pink one too, in 32, which was more expensive (still sale) but fits nicely so will keep that. The support isn't bad considering.

PSA: these are beautifully soft but very plunge - so if you're wearing anything low cut and bend forward, there will a lot of cleavage on display. This is probably why I've never had success with bralettes before - I prefer the separation of a minimiser! Hence am v glad to have found the M&S Flexifit Minimiser, even if it does have wires. The M&S Flexifit Crop Top is a good compromise I think - no wires but a bit more separation/less plunge than the Lemonade Dolls one above.

Been following this thread and if anyone has liked Sainsbury's bras. My local has a big sale on with 50 or 70% off just on bras at the moment not sure if it's nationwide

Ah good to know @GardenersDelight , thank you!

Re Lemonade Dolls - I also found very reduced Synergy Bralette in my size on Very, but I don't like that as much as the Signature, which has more lace. (Also weirdly it's sized in S/M/L etc - I think this is from when maybe all their bars were sized like that, maybe old stock?)

Thanks for your good work! I currently wear the m and s full cup non wire flexifit and find them comfortable but not perfect. They do make me look huge. Will deffo try the minimiser and the crop top, thanks.

I did try a molke bra a few years ago and they definitely aren't for me.

I'm baaaaaaaaack with more bralette blather...

I had an email a couple of days ago saying that Bravado Designs were sadly ceasing operations and everything was half-price, so ordered a couple of their Everyday Sculpt. They're final sale/non-returnable, but I've had their bras before, albeit nursing ones, and really liked them. They've arrived today and I'm pleased - I got Medium Fuller Cup as a 32FF, and they fit pretty well, albeit with a little bit of squashing on top. I think that's par for the course tbh.

They've very comfy and more supportive than the M&S Flexifit croptop, which I've been wearing a lot (and still like, but the straps could definitely be shorter/less saggy).

I'm still keen on the M&S Flexifit wired minimiser too, and the Lemonade Dolls Signature Lace bralette I bought, although the latter is very much a squish-together-in-the-middle kind of situation - I only really wear it under high-necked t-shirts.

Ooh thanks for the update you brilliant braletter experimenter! So which would you say is the number one for you so far if you could only pick one?

I'm very attached to the Flexifit wired minimiser, @Arlanymor , even though it's not technically a bralette, it's just a bra! 😱😁 It's just nice and comfy and has a good amount of lift and separation - I do NOT like my boobs being too squished together without good reason (i.e. comfort). I do have caveats though...the strap adjusters have a tendency to slide down during the day, which is annoying, and I find the band size is slightly smaller than a usual M&S 32in. But I got it at 20% off, and for that I'm happy!

Bralettes-wise, the Lemonade Dolls one is so pretty and comfy, and makes me smile when I wear it (lovely emerald green), even though it's not that practical.

I think the Bravado Sculpt ones will probably be my new everyday go-to, although I'll report back obvs 😂

@DidntHaveTheLatin Technically a BRA?! 😱🤯

But thanks so much for the update, that’s great and really helpful thank you. I think I am going to take the plunge with Lemonade Dolls because wearing something lovely and fun - even if no one can see it! - really makes me happy. So if has the support and it looks lovely and is in the sale then I think that is the best place for me to start.

I just had to throw out my ‘lucky reds’ on Saturday. Not lucky in a pervy sense, they are my lucky rugby set! But after the abysmal performance by the Lions, as I was walking home the underwear decided to try and prematurely end my life via a puncture to my armpit! No longer lucky, no longer comfortable - into the bin! So I am due a new set… goes off to google

I have been following this thread and ive just started wearing this bra from Shapermint, who id never heard of, but it is so comfy and I really like the shape it gives. https://shapermint.com/en-GB/products/truekind-supportive-comfort-wireless-shaping-bra?variant=40278561030278 They also have more like crop top style ones as well. Im basically planning on buying 3 more after several failed attempts to find an M&S one that works for me.

It’s such a shame about Bravado - I only discovered them about 6 months ago and I love the sculpt bra. Was gutted when I got their email about them closing.

Ah well, I guess my quest for comfortable, supportive, non-mono-boob, good-shape-giving wireless bras will have to continue. (But hopefully my existing Bravados will last me a longish time).

Shapermint have popped up a few times in my searches, good to see another option @Sunnyshoeshine !

@RockaLock agreed - their nursing bras certainly got me through a tough time 😳 I suspect a lot will pop up now on eBay and Vinted, as people buy up their end of line stock.

@Arlanymor that sounds brutal 😂 good luck with your next lucky set!

On a related note, I tried some of the Uniqlo in-built bra stuff this week...I really liked the long rib stripe dress but the in-built bra, although a good idea in theory, makes it harder than usual to get the right size, as they're just XS/S/M/L etc. I tried M in the equivalent vest tops, and L in the dress - they were pretty similar tbh, and I'm a 14, 32FF. I think it's just enough support for a day at the beach/nipping out with a jacket over the top, but I'm not quite convinced it's enough for a full day out with no bra. (Quite what I think will happen I'm not sure 🤣.)

I might order the dress in an M, as I thin the sizing might vary a bit from style to style so maybe worth trying for a slightly tighter fit in the bar area, although tbh thr dress in an L was a good fit everywhere else, e.g. hips.