Bra's

I always go braless at home and wear a stretch camisole. It's so much more comfortable.

Of course, if out and about I wear one.
Usually the comfort stretch band ones with removable pads.
Can't be doing with boned bras.
No matter what sort of bra I wear, I can't wait to get it of at end of day though.

Bravissimo are brilliant- I buy a basic T-shirt bra in a range of 3 basic colours for everyday- gives a great shape & is comfortable & cheap!
I buy their more glamorous stuff for 'going out' or special events.
Their staff are amazing their service second to none. They can talk you through getting a perfect fit over the phone & you can return anything with no quibbles.They insisted I should wear the bra I was ordering for an hour or so before I decided if it was comfortable or not- made sense but normally I would have had it off & on very quickly. I have been using them since 1995 & have never had anything but excellent service from them- I wish we had a shop near here but I have managed very well ordering online.

grannyactivist I had to look at your R&P link and am equally horrified at the price. I also can't quite get the image out of my mind of what my own ample rear would look like wearing it being more of a 'big pants' girl! Re bras, I recently bought a pack from Tesco with a white and black one. Not very expensive and they are extremely comfortable for everyday. Being a B cup, if I go bra-less I have no shape at all.

I'm a bit late on this post, but do try Royce range from John Lewis. They are largely nursing/post surgery bras, but the cotton-pocketed Jasmine bra (my favourite) fits my remaining side just as well as the missing one in which I slip the prosthetic. So should be fine for normal wear, as the cotton pocket acts as a lining, so is nice and cool in hot weather. Non-wired, well covering/supportive, and comfortable. Not too costly either. VAT can be reclaimed if you're post-surgery.

empriente best fit very expensive last for ever try to find a shop stocking them for sizing .

asda for me - their padded and underwired ones. i bought a load a couple of years ago and they're still looking as good as they did when i first bought them.
some of them are tee shirt bras and they came in packs of 2 for £5!! i think i've got about 20 of them - all different - and daren't walk down that particular aisle as i know they've got loads more in such pretty colours.

Jenty on a previous thread re comfy bras I followed a recommendation for Genie bras and have never looked back. They are really comfortable and very inexpensive.
Look for them on Amazon.

tubbygran...the genie bra isnt any good as the cup size doesn't fit like all similar bras if youve big boobs theres no support at all..

I googled Marks and Spencer bras, and then put bras non-wired 42b in the M and S search box. I find this is more accurate than using the options on the left. I got lots of different styles, and as most are around £16, very reasonable. I recently was 'over-tempted' by their pretty 38b selection! They fit beautifully.

After years of trying different brands and sizes, I now go to my local lingerie shop and get fitted for each new bra. Quite rightly the assistant there says that even same make, same size can vary depending on the machinist who made it. Being a very ample bosomed lady, I am now happy to invest in my bras as they do make or break the clothes I wear. I always buy Prima Donna bras although they are expensive but do last much longer than other makes which makes them value for money in the end.

Double G cup, narrow back and shoulders = nightmare! Usually I go to Bravissimo (involving a nice day out in sunny Solihull). I've tried M&S but they and I clearly have differing ideas about size and fit. (That's shoes and bras, btw). I'll try Sainsburys now I've read these posts and take a look in Bon Marche. I doubt they do a GG cup though. Hey ho, onwards and upwards....

I, too am a fan of Bravissimo, staff are so patient and helpful. I think if you are a bit older they choose a mature assistant to fit you. I go to store at Milton Keynes. I wish Bravissimo would do what I call big knickers to match their bras, we don't all want or can wear tiny ones. I want the ones that come up to my waist.

grannyactivist
I never look at the 'knicks' on R&P as I know they don't stock anything that would suit my more than ample backside!
Thongs look really uncomfortable too, a bit too like a cheese wire for my liking

Hi Jenti I have been measured at and m&s but they could only offer choice of two one of which fitted where it touched but thanks for reply hulahoop

I was a bra lady at M&S. Most women are wearing the wrong size and mostly what is wrong is they need a smaller underband and a larger cup. All of the breast tissue needs to be hoiked and scooped and got into the cup and this should not overflow, top or sides or underneath. The trick to a good fit is finding the right style first, then the right size. I was trained to fit the bra to the middle hook, so that two fingers could just slide round underneath the bra at the back but then we advised the customer to wear the bra on the last hook if that was more comfortable when the bra was new and to tighten the bra to the second and then third hook as it stretched with wear. I would recommend being fitted at M&S. All the girls I worked with strived to get a good fit and did their best to send the customer out happy and more comfortable than when they went in.

Triumph Doreen is the answer. It's like the proverbial sheepdog which. "Lines them up and points them in the right direction". Two years go I treated myself to a Rigby and Peller experience,- no tape measure,just a "let me look at you", then an expensive sale of a 34H (as opposed to my 34F Doreen), which made me appear to have 2 Flying Frizbies spreading to under my arms. I only wear it under a loose garment!

Bras can be so uncomfortable depending on boob size and shape. Tucking them in to my knickers works for me.

I like your attitude , fifeywifey! ,

Bra sizing and sizes are a nightmare. A couple of years ago, after saving some, well in truth, many pennies, I decided it was time to treat myself. I went down to London to Rigby and Peller for a proper fitting. R+P supply and fit the Queen, so I decided that they must know what they are doing.
Firstly, they do not use a tape measure. They are so experienced that they can tell just by looking at you what size you are. I thought that I had been doing a good job of measuring myself as a 34DD, but the lovely lady fitter shook her head and said that I wasn't. She left me for a few minutes to collect some bras to try on. She helped me put them on, adjusting the straps in seconds and voila, an absolutely perfect fit. My boobs were right where they should be, and all without scaffolding
As for my actual size? I am a 32 E
Yes, the bras themselves are expensive, but they are lovely quality.
Well worth saving my pennies for believe me.
As for the hooks, the fitter told me that you start off with the first hooks because as you wash the bra, it will stretch over a period of time.

fifeywifey love your user name. Wifey is in common usage here, not as an insult.

Not strictly on bras, but our PE teacher at school was Prussian. Ma said of her boobs, "head em up and move em out".

thuberon - it sounds as though you did a great job fitting bras at MnS and I wish I'd met you there. Last time I tried to get measured it was at the Tamworth branch. The bra fitter was also running the till and had to keep leaving me half naked in the changing room to go and serve someone. Perhaps you can tell me why I keep being told I need a 36C or 36D when I know a 36 will just cut me in half by the end of the day? This has happened in MnS as well as Debenhas.

Debenhams!!!

thuberon All of the breast tissue needs to be hoiked and scooped and got into the cup and this should not overflow, top or sides or underneath. Well put.

This is exactly what I do when I put my bras on. I hate bits of boob poking out. My M&S ones work well on this basis.

I am lucky to be a fairly regular size though. Not everyone is that lucky.

Thanks michellehargreaves and tizliz. I am actually going to Bravissimo tomorrow to see if my boobs can be tamed. My daughters call bras over shoulder boulder holders. My daughters crease me.