Why are bras so ridiculously uncomfortable? And phones and...

[WomenUnited]

It is all just made for men isn't it?

I can't find a decent smartphone that fits in my hand any more never mind my pocket (I get those sewn in by the tailor now since they are mostly absent from women's clothes these days). I got tennis elbow and the physio partly blames the phone and banned me from typing on it rendering it fairly useless.

I hate bra shopping, it is always the same and I am always driven to it by summer heat making the usually uncomfortable completely unbearable.

Why all the sharp pointy scratchy spikes and lacy ribbony stupid bits and pinchy elastic everywhere?

I am allergic to latex which makes it all nigh impossible and not as svelte as I used to be so braless is no longer an option.

I am feeling very frustrated with it all and have been reading Invisible Women which is an incredible book and is making me brave enough to complain about what needs changed in my world!

We need women run companies making women centred design and development entirely accessible and the norm, like actual women not what men think women should settle for.

MOlke Do three levels of suppprt, level 3 is great for climbing/mountaineering/yoga as well as general wear . Level 2 is fine for general life , walking and such. ( I a am a small super size) .

ANd I have to disagree about climbing gear, at lot of my stuff is nearly identical to DH so I no longer need to buy mens. And the fit is better than most ladies clothes, the trousers have more thigh room, so they fit around the waist. I can’t pull my climbing stuff off without undoing the waist! May be brand specific though.

latex and elastic/lycra allergies are remarkably common and become worse with exposure. A perfect fitting bra can still result in swollen itchy sore skin and bruising after just a few hours

Likewise - and my skin reactivity ratchets up a few notches in the summer heat.

Add in a non-precious metal allergy so that I need plastic fittings where there is skin contact (absolutely no underwiring).

Plus, I was born with a scoliosis that adds to fitting problems. That said, it's not unusual for women to be a little asymmetric yet absolutely nothing allows for a sufficient degree of adjustment.

I loathe clothes shopping as nothing fits - and that puts aside the increasingly common reality that shops don't stock my sizes at all.

Thanks fedup. I’ll give them a go!

@nonsenceagain report back and let me know what you think!

Will do.

Thanks for the rec, going to try a Molke bra.

Massive market for non-wired, cotton, comfortable, natural looking, supportive bras. I hope these might be the ones ...

While we're here, also: Shoes. How do most women even walk in the crappy, uncomfortable, designed-by-robot contraptions in most shops? I pretty much wear only Birkenstocks now, but they are a fortune.

Bras have become more restrictive and confining since I started wearing them. I would also like more choice of non-padded bras as I'm quite happy with my breast size and don't want wads of sweaty polyurethane foam down my top when I already sweat a lot.

Shoes are a nightmare as well. I want and need shoes that fasten properly over the instep, and come high up enough over the front of my foot to keep my toes secure. Otherwise they fall off. Men do not have this problem.

Bags with proper straps, as well, that you can fit stuff in without it breaking.

I pretty much wear only Birkenstocks now, but they are a fortune

Me too. Molke bras and Birkenstocks!

How do most women even walk in the crappy, uncomfortable, designed-by-robot contraptions in most shops?

German brand Trippen, and street shoes by athletic brands (Adidas, Puma, Nike, etc). I don't do heels at all.

Deep pockets, good bras, comfortable shoes. It doesn't take much to make me happy.

I’d forgotten pockets!

Pockets of resistance.

I’ve had a look at Molke bras and my main concern is that they look pretty hot for the summer, my underboob temperature reaches volcanic heights if the temp is much above 21 degrees.

Are they oK for the summer?

The Twin bra is by Anita Rosa Faia

I no longer wear bras after mastectomy but when I did these were the business. They do non wired ones too.

www.anita.com/shop/en/underwired-bra-serie-twin-080f65.html

I asked on another thread about Mole bras. It’s over in style and Beauty. My teenage daughter doesn’t want itch or lace or ribbons. She doesn’t want frills or pink, and she certainly doesn’t want pain! I’m going to try the Molke bras for her. She’s only got a small chest at moment though.

I don’t find the Molke any hotter than my other bras.

I think they are brilliant-a bit of a revelation, tbh.

The never-ending search for the perfect bra..... count me in

I hate bras, but am uncomfortable without them, and because I'm over a D cup is a fucking nightmare to buy them, and they aren't cheap. Currently I'm having to resign myself to spending far too much money on bras that cause me pain

men's pair also have a cargo pocket on each leg, but the women's ones only have one
It's the pocketriarchy

I’ve had a look at Molke bras and my main concern is that they look pretty hot for the summer

Sorry but I think the Molke bras are hideous. There's far too much fabric - you're practically wearing a t- shirt - and they don't look as if they give any support.

www.anita.com/shop/en/underwired-bra-serie-twin-080f65.html

Do they do any which aren't "Double-layered, pre-shaped cups" ? So many bras are that style and are horrible. The layer and pre- shaped cups feel so strapped on and unnatural.

I don’t find them hot , which I did think I might as I have menopausal temperature control issues. Even in the hot weather I don’t get painful sweat rash undEr the boob which i do in conventional bras.

support for me (30 gg ) is grand at level 2, not tried a level 1, but you do get a more “natural” shape than the lift and separate artificial shape that is the norm, so it might seem strange. Since I have always been rather self conscious about my boobs, I really like this ( and several people have asked if I lost weight so it can’t look all bad)

Sorry but I think the Molke bras are hideous. There's far too much fabric - you're practically wearing a t- shirt - and they don't look as if they give any support.

They give lots of support actually.

Sports bras are good. They give reasonable support and are so comfortable you can sleep in them.

Try being pregnant. I’m struggling to get my average size legs close enough to the peddles because of my to be able to drive.

On the plus size I have found some really comfy stretchy nursing bras and dresses with pockets