The comfy bra thing....

Bad experiences with both - Bravissimo twice carefully fitted me with much too tight bras. Bra fitter in House of Fraser told me that is not unusual from them. She also told me (correctly) which Triumph Doreen bra size I needed although she didn't have it in stock. I bought it online and I've been happily wearing that size ever since. I was also badly fitted in M&S, they just seemed keen to make the sale.
Years before all that and when I weighed a couple of stone more, I saw Jo Brand on the Trinny & Susannah programme. She was fitted at Rigby & Peller with a gorgeous and effective bra and I thought I would like one for Christmas. A relative who went in intending to get bras for herself was put off by the attitude of the staff so I changed my mind about my present, didn't fancy being patronised!

Won't the seams be on the outside then, and show through thin tops? And the strap adjusters would be back to front and could be uncomforable....

Never thought of that, Elegran. Thanks for the tip, I will certainly give it a try

Some people do say go to a Bravissimo and/or Rigby and Pellers[queen uses it apparently] place and get proper advice.
Both places cost more, but some people think it is well worth it.

Just wondering if you've tried asking over on Mumsnet? I finally got a properly-fitting bra (32F) when I was convinced I was a 36B. What a difference!

Bella Wear your bra inside out, then you have the flatter side of the hooks next to you (IYSWIM)

But I might try one as they are so cheap. Any advice on sizing - they seem to go by dress size (I am 14) - are they true to size or is it better to get size up or down?

I've just looked up Genie bras - I would guess they do not do much for your figure!

It's the hooks at the back that I find so uncomfortable. They dig in whenever you lean back on a chair and really can be very painful. I am very flat-chested but wouldn't go bra-less

I bought a Genie bra a few years ago and even though I've got an assortment of very expensive bras purchased over the years [I'm pretty flat and don't actually need to wear a bra a lot of the time anyway] I seem to end up wearing that. It is on offer somewhere for £2.99 as well. Great to wear at the gym as well and I do think that, with the 'padding' it's quite flattering as well.

I agreeLona bra extenders are brilliant. I bought mine online.

I wear the Genie bra and love it. (I did try the Sainsburys version but found it wasn't as comfortable and fell apart in the wash). You do have to be careful to get the right size though or the band underneath will roll up (as a rather well endowed friend found!).

I too have struggled to find a comfy bra and I've settled on non wired ones. Still too tight round the band (any bigger sizes have buckets for cups!) So I got some extensions from Tesco. They are only in white but make a huge difference to the comfort.
They come in two and three hook widths and they are usually in with the cotton reels and needles and 'useful bits and bobs'.