Bra's

I was in Primary with my dh and he saw some very pretty and sexy looking bras and panties sets. After some persuasion I took some into the changing room and wow they looked super and felt very comfortable. I bought about seven sets and went back and bought more after my dh approved!! I wear them all the time now and don't look at M&S's anymore.

I've just had a bra by Glamorise delivered having measured myself as per easy instructions on their website and amazingly it fits! I ordered a 36D whereas before I've always had a 36C or a 38B.

From age 13 till marrying, I lived with my grandma, who`d never worn a bra in her life, and was so proud of the fact, even though they did overhang her waist area. She raised so many objections when I said I wanted to start wearing a bra that my auntie took me to get a couple.
Years later, I`d measured myself and bought bras in 38d, because that`s what I thought I needed, even though they didn`t fit all that well. Then I followed the directions in my daughter`s catalogue for measuring myself, and it turned out I needed a 42c, since then, no problems. I mostly buy from Bonmarche, or sometimes Fashionworld, always non wired, and they`re always hunky dory.

I went to R&P a couple of years ago when I got a small windfall. Having been wearing 34B she said no, I was 30! However, the 2 bras I bought are both different sizes, 30E & 32 D. So I'm still confused as to what size I actually am. Have since bought 32D from M&S which seem fine.

Very interesting to read this thread - I thought it was just me that couldn't get on with my bra. I wear it for most of the day but as soon as the evening meal is over and I'm ready to relax it comes off. I've never found one that's comfortable, I might give Bravissimo a try next time I'm in Leeds.

I read in a magazine last night of a useful way to use old bra's. Make em into hanging baskets, lol. The illustration was good but I guess my small cups wouldn't even grow a daisy, you would have to be a double something or other.

Thanks, mogsmaw. I did the obvious thing last night and measured myself. I came out at 35" so those fitters who said I should wear a 36" were correct after all. Maybe, as you suggest I need a bigger cup.

second batch of bras have arrived and one lot fit woohoo...I bought the Glamourise soft shoulder bra...I did their bra measurement sizing and it was exactly right! will be interesting to see how long they last @£40 each...

My Rigby and Peller bras certainly last far longer then 8 months Jenty61

Hi NotTooOld.
I fit no wired bras and they have to build from the band so l would always suggest a firm fit on the band. I joke I want it so tight you can't breath , however it is how it feels that is important! You should be able to slip two fingers under the band.
Often a bra feels too tight but you can see the band pulling away from the chest wall between the breasts. This means the cups are too small to acomidate the breasts. Think of a jumper with too small a hood, if you put the hood up it will feel too tight under the arms but the body could be the correct size.
So if the band is too tight it might be the
And yes. I've fitted some of my friends from my knitting group for bras and they are my age ( I have four and a bit grandweans! )

Mogsmaw - thanks for the informative post. Can you tell me why bra fitters always suggest a 36 for me even when it is so tight when I try it on that I can hardly breathe? They usually say 'a bra has to be tight fitting'. I always buy the 38 and even that is quite tight round my middle. I'll have to try Mothercare - does it matter if you are not pregnant or nursing, will they still fit you?

starbird if the shoulder straps are too short jenty61 has great advice. However , if the blackstrap rides up your back it's usually because the band is too big.
Try a smaller band but remember if you go down a band you have to go up a cup or it will be too tight .

Just reading through all these posts, made me remember getting measured by an 'expert bra fitter' in Bon Marche a few years ago....she brought a bra she said was the correct size, I put it on and she hoiked the strap up so fast and hard, she actually hurt my shoulder! I'm sticking with Tu at the moment, but I did see a lovely bra in M & S the other day which was very pretty and without wires, it was £18 but I cant seem to find it online, but might give it a try when I next call in, will let you know.

Yes I could do that, thanks Jenty61

are you handy with a needle Starbird?

lingeriearchitect.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/lengthening-bra-straps.html

Mogsmaw thanks for info, very helpful, but my problem is that I have a long body and even with the straps at their longest bras ride up the back, what is the answer to that?

experts say the average life span of a bra is 8 months which isnt very long when you consider the cost of rigby and pellers bras....

Yes Rigby and Peller are great , it's worth going there to get measured even if you don't buy any of their stuff. I went there when they had s sale and bought a couple of bras , have since bought other stuff online and from TKMaxx etc using their measurements.

I have found that the only place that fits a bra well is Rigby and Peller. Yes, I know their bras are expensive but they are cheaper in the long run because they are so well made they last ages, and wash beautifully. I've wasted more money over the years on badly fitting bras that I have vowed never to go anywhere else but R & P.

I'd love to look flatter. My 32Ds stick out a mile .

If you want your bras to last longer don't put them in the washing machine, wash by hand.

Rugby and Peller Empreinte every time. Horrendously expensive but in the long run cheaper than the drawerful of bras so many on this thread semm to have. They never seem to wear out.

Kateyk thanks for the tip - will be ordering a couple to try.

I was in Mothercare today buying some toys for my granddaughter and was really impressed with their clothes, especially nightwear which was 95% [ish] cotton. When I have more time I'm going back to look properly. They had a really nice grey'ish/black dressing gown that I thought would be good for someone like me that flops around in nightclothes for a lot of the day sometimes !

I'm a bra fitter, by profession and passion! I work in mothercare where I fit no wired bras only. These have to fit properly as wires will make a badly fitting bra sit "right" , there is nowhere to hide without wires. I have also made my own bras so I understand the "mechanics"
To properly fit a bra you need to take measurements while wearing a well-fitting non padded bra.
To get your band size measure firmly under the bust and......
Add 4, if you need it, 1 more, your looking for an even number (did I mention I was a trainer)
To get your cup size measure loosely over the fullest part of the bust making sure the tape is level.
Cup size is the difference between band and cup measurements
No difference... A cup, plus 1 B, plus 2 C
So far so simple..... But
If your wearing too small a cup and spilling out you will get measurement of the cup your wearing,
Some people are "all back" and others " all bust" , I have a very good visual aid I use then training , but basicly if it doesn't look like a D cup it probably isn't.
style affect fit, colour affect fit, yes really! Putting a bit of lace on the bridge affect the fit. Power bands and cup seams really alter the fit! So don't be surprised if your sometimes different sizes even within bands.
Now hooks...... Bras are not designed to go baggy! You have multiple hooks because you can be either 31 or 32 inches under bust to be a 36 band so you have two hooks 1 inch apart, extra hooks are for days when you need an agustment, my pregnancy/nursing bras have 4 hooks but I use these to allow for a woman's changing body

Put a bra on properly don't "clip and swivel"

Lean forward and let your breasts drop into the cups and clip to where it is comfortable today and adjust the straps. Always take the stretch through the cup when adjusting the strap, don't just pull from the top of the cup.
If you need a well fitting G,H or J cup come to mothercare (other bra fitters are available!)
I wear a 36 DD or a 38 D if it has a lace underband, I never take my bra off when I come home anymore since I started wearing our non wired brasi just ignore the nursing clips
A well fitting bra is our right just be patient with a fitter, always try before you by and get a bra that fits now not when it's "gone through the wash"!