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Underwear

(54 Posts)
Tooyoungytobeagrandma Tue 26-May-26 13:51:56

Hi I'm a late 60s lady who loves strappy dresses and now we have the weather to wear them. I am looking for recommendations for a strapless supportive (38DD) bra that is easy to get on with arthritic fingers. I've seen lots of online adds for bras but don't know anyone to ask if they are as good as they make out. I currently wear an M&S multiway but have just purchased same one in same size and cannot even do it up!! Any help folks 😊

Luckygirl3 Mon 01-Jun-26 12:34:29

Janal1

I haven't worn a bra for years and years,can't get one to fit when i did try.I've got a broad back and not much in front,i did go to a fitting in M&S some years ago but the assistant couldn't find anything with a small enough cup size.
I would like to wear one underneath some clothes to give me a bit of shape but i'm used to looking as flat as apancake.

This is me!

38 chest size but probably AA cup. Never bother with a bra unless I am wearing something where my nipples might be visible through a summer top. But it is impossible to get anything that fits and is comfortable over my very sticky out pacemaker.

Just seen recommendation for nipple covers above - never heard of those! - might try them out!

Stillness Fri 29-May-26 19:28:00

Someone in the know said to me that you should always do a bra up at the front and then move it round. Also, I know most people won’t want to shop with them and I rarely do, but I did add a bra to my order once, and it is the most comfortable one I’ve ever had. I haven’t looked to see if they do strapless, but no doubt they do.

hollysteers Fri 29-May-26 09:32:19

I have a couple of camisoles with built in bras, as well as t shirts. I size up and they are comfortable.

Bra extenders sound a good idea, but for me (wide back) a bra rides up when I use them and I have to keep pulling it down.

Franbern Fri 29-May-26 09:00:45

It is all very well for those with small boobs to talk about going braless. For me that is not very uncomfortable but looks dreadful unless I wear something like jumpers about two sizes bigger than I require.
I have always been well endowed. As a teenager back in the 1950's was very ashamed of how I looked - thought I was deformed. My bras all purchased in M&S then, but they only did cups in A B or C and I spilled out of these even though purchasing large sizes like 40.
My Mother eventually took me to specialist shop who stocked American bras and it was discovered that I needed a 34D bra. For the first time I looked good,, was comfortable and they even managed to supply strapless ones that really supported me.
I am now a 38E, hate anything with boning in them, but find that the Doreen bra by Triumph works well for me. I have now found a company on the internet which supplies a bra which is identical to these Doreen ones, but at half their price.
Even at night cannot go without some sort of support and use sports bras then.

Swimming costumes have always been a big problem for me. Very few companies sell these in cup sizes, back in the fifties I actually used to have one of my expensive strapless bras that i would wear under the costume so that I could take off the costume straps for my suntan!!!

Have other problems with cossies now - I also have an ileostomy, so need something that does not 'bulge' where the bag is, AND something which can give me support and comfort at the top end.

welbeck Fri 29-May-26 05:14:30

Flesh is not an objective descriptor of colour.
?whose flesh?
One in 4 women in England are non white. Nearly half in London.

welbeck Fri 29-May-26 05:08:22

For those who just want to obscure nipple outline you can buy soft nipple covers.
They are silicone I think and kind of stick on and peel off.

Coops74 Thu 28-May-26 22:45:41

I wear Walcoal Bras very comfortably I did not know you can buy them from M& S will look on their website site.

twiglet77 Thu 28-May-26 21:36:54

I never had much to show off but have shrunk to an A cup. My most comfortable bras were from Aldi a few years ago, twin packs of pink and white, no wires, soft padded cups, size 12-14 with no cup size. Comfy as they are, they are cut high enough to show under a strappy top or sun dress, and the straps are quite wide. A sports bra shows under strappy tops either, boob tubes are high across my very little cleavage. I bought a lightweight lacy underwired bra from M&S specifically for a holiday and after wearing and hand-washing it three times one of the wires was emerging. And it was really uncomfortable anyway.

My boobs are small enough to not need support, but I’ve had a mastectomy and own-tissue reconstruction. They’re not equal sizes, the reconstructed side has shrunk a lot more than the post-menopausal shrinkage the other side, and the nipple that was constructed and tattooed has long flattened. The ā€œgoodā€ side obviously has its nipple and I absolutely hate it showing when I’m bra-less, I’d hate it just the same if I had two nipples showing. Perhaps I should stick circular plasters over them.

Oh, and I always do up my bra, step in and pull up, I find that easier than pulling it over my head or twisting it around.

I long for cold weather when I can just wear a vest and thin polo neck under a top jumper!

valdali Thu 28-May-26 21:08:35

eilash, I think that's a great idea, for me anyway. As long as I'm not at a formal occassion, I'd be quite happy with the halter of a bikini top showing.

eilash Thu 28-May-26 12:01:25

I just wear a bikini top under strappy tops and dresses. Either halter neck or regular straps. More comfortable in this hot weather too. …

Isabelle2019 Wed 27-May-26 21:58:12

Try WACOAL strapless bras. Have been wearing for years. They never move and are comfortable. I first bought at Macy’s in USA . Then Harrods Now available in M&S , Also often found on Vinted

missdeke Wed 27-May-26 18:57:27

M0nica

Scribbles

In this heat, why would you wear a bra? All that elastic and/or wires is so wretchedly uncomfortable and the heat just makes it worse.

Why do you wear uncomfortable bras. I wear all kinds of bras but an uncomfortable one would only be worn once. Admittedly I am modestly endowed \9b cup), but I have no ida whether the one I am wearing has wires or not, unless I have a dig around to find out - no, it isn't.

Every single bra I buy is uncomfortable/painful. If I get one fitted they always say I need to go a size smaller, but I can hardly breathe they are so tight. My ribs hurt with any bra that actually does the job. I have a seroma after breast cancer surgery, so one side is bigger than the other, so always one cup is either too big or too small. So that's why I wear uncomfortable bras and take them off the minute I get back home.

DaisyLa Wed 27-May-26 17:50:15

I do my bras up in the front and then swivel them round as I have an artificial shoulder and can't do them round the back.

poppysmum Wed 27-May-26 17:49:02

its underwires that sent me to having sports bras. jabbing me in the armpits and so embarrasing when it appears in my cleavage while i am out.

AuntieE Wed 27-May-26 17:42:12

Triumph used to make bras that fasten at the front, I do not know if they still do, but all of you with stiff fingers might want to look into that. The did have straps though.

Perhaps you should drop Marks and Sparks and find a shop that only sells ladies' underwear - the saleswoman will know exactly which strapless bras stay up, and probably how easy or difficult they are to fasten.

I used to wear strapless bras under concert dresses, and it was possible to keep them up, even although my cup size is and was 38B.

Juicylucy Wed 27-May-26 17:20:15

I was in similar situation with an occasions dress so I took the dress to MS asked the girls on that section for advice she gave me 3 different size, style bras to try and it worked.

4allweknow Wed 27-May-26 17:12:20

John Lewis do fitting. I usually end up with something from the Fantasy range. More expensive than M & S but not extortionate. Try booking an appointment for fitting, just as you do for M & S.

Mauduit24 Wed 27-May-26 16:51:33

I having been going to them for almost twenty years now. Wouldn’t go anywhere else now

Mauduit24 Wed 27-May-26 16:50:29

Tooyoungytobeagrandma

Hi I'm a late 60s lady who loves strapoy dresses and now we have the weather to wear them. I am looking for recommendations for a strapless supportive (38DD) bra that is easy to get on with arthritic fingers. I've seen lots of online adds for bras but don't know anyone to ask if they are as good as they make out. I currently wear an M&S multiway but have just purchased same one in same size and cannot even do it up!! Any help folks 😊

Try bravissimo for strapless bras . They are really good there

DeeAitch56 Wed 27-May-26 15:33:04

I’ve had the same issue with M&S back straps, but have to still buy them as there are literally no other shops in my town that do my cup size, and because cup sizes are so variable online I get frustrated trying to guess what size I should order and having to return them. I got round it by buying back strap extensions (Amazon), problem solved.

PattyFingers Wed 27-May-26 15:15:37

My latest bras, bought from M&S, (38E) were shockingly poor and didn't survive their first (before wearing) wash and had to be returned! Underwires were breaking through and lace was torn!

Bea65 Wed 27-May-26 15:05:37

Try a sports bralet…very comfortable…cannot bear wearing a structured bra in hot weather..

jmo Wed 27-May-26 15:05:28

Try a bra strap extender which attaches to the back by the hooks and eyes. They come in two, three or four hooks and eyes plus in black, white and flesh colours. It will do until your new bra stretches.

Greciangirl Wed 27-May-26 15:02:51

I only wear a bra in the summer when I have to.

Then it’s only a sports type bra which you pull over your head.
They have removable pads for washing.

A. Pack of three from Primark in white, black and grey.
Very good value

jmo Wed 27-May-26 14:57:55

Try a bra strap extender. You can get them for two or three or four hooks and eyes plus it is in black, white or fresh colours. It will do until your new bra stretches.