droopy boobs and bras - problems buying

Didn't have a problem at all with bras until I got measured at M&S recently :p

Or wear it inside out. The band and seams dig in less from that side (since my lumpectomy my skin is sensitive to ridges)

This is probably the least sexy look known to woman, but try putting your bra on over a camisole or vest.
It may look a bit odd, but it's much more comfortable and stops the band and underwires digging in.

Kind of off topic, but looking through various sizes in various shops, I ' ve often wondered why someone who is a DD cup or larger would want a padded bra.

I had a reduction mammaplasty after I finished feeding my second DD. Planned for it from age 17. Health insurance paid as they agreed it was disabling being so gigantic. Best thing I ever did. Now aged 65 and not so slim! R&P are brilliant but I cant afford them but found their factory shop years ago in Northants - I bought a swimsuit of theirs for £15 reduced from £75 (20 yrs ago!) and I am still using it!! I swim a minimum of twice a week - I cant believe I'm still wearing it. I dont know if the shop still exists but this topic has made me think about looking for it - I hate underwired bras and go for sports bras for daily use - but I do get under tit itch.

As such a lot of you are recommending Bravissimo I've had a look, they are very pretty and I'd like to try, so can anyone recommend a non wired, centre straps, non padded cup in Bravissimo please. If not do the side straps give enough support? I do also prefer a bit of a band underneath the cups for extra support, but it seems only sports bras do this.

I'm the same as you goldengirl, three or four days unless it's been hot weather or I've been very energetic. Rigby and Peller tell you to hand wash them every day. Can't be bothered with this and anyway I reckon that the washing machine is more gentle than my hand washing

Rigby and Peller are the best, not much on the high street for 38dd that is actually comfortable although Next has the odd good one

I have practically no boobs - the opposite of most of those who have posted already. When I was a teenager, my mother used to tell me that I would never find a husband because of this and because I refused to wear bras with masses of padding.

Because clothes don't drape well over a flat chest, I now use post-mastectomy bras with AA cups and pockets which I stuff with a little padding. I'm quite slim so I go for a "natural" look.

These bras are very expensive but I consider myself lucky to have found an acceptable compromise.

Depends on the weather- during a heatwave, daily.

And when you've got one that fits, how often should you wash it - apart from 'not often'. I wear a bra for 3-4 days before bunging it in a little bag in the washing machine with the delicates

Legs55 I tried lavender oil for "sweat rash" and it cleared up. Smell like a lavender bag but then I suppose that's a traditional granny aroma

Oh, and Nanna58 check out bravissimo tankinis! I have two that have lasted me years, just about to get a new one for 2017 and bravissimo website will be my first place to look

I haven't been back to M&S for a bra since the assistant laughed and said they didn't go up to my cup size! Debenhams has always been great with the widest range of cup sizes apart from Bravissimo (online). It's great to have the option to drop a back size and go up a cup size.
I always buy Freya but they're mostly underwired in my size. Doreen was the one I had to get as a teenager and fitted well but was never pretty like the Freyas can be.

Another vote for Rigby & Peller in Knightsbridge!
It's a true investment.
(Can't remember if they sell vests ..... groan)

A pp mentioned a sweat rash/ fungal rash under the boobs. I used to get this. Problem solved when I used Lanacane medicated powder. Recently I've been unable to find the Lanacane and have used other medicated powders with great success. No rash in over two years.

I have a broader back bigger boobs than I d like and take a 42C and used to always be 36c although I m not badly overweight weighing 10 .7 about a stone heavier than when I was younger , they re not droopy ........but I HATE bras with a vengenence I can never ever find anything comfortable a lot of shops don't stock 42 s and the ones that do look like blooming hammocks I can't wear underwire they are so uncomfortable and no one seems to make anything pretty in non wired at the moment I m wearing sloggi ones but they have gone a bit off colour now and I dread looking for new ones
I d really love a pretty larger non wire bra they don't have to have these huge deep cups I like showing a bit of cleavage still and can only do that with wiry things ....bah humbug

Another vote for Rigby and Peller from me, Expensive outlay but they outlast other makes by years
None of the faffing around looking through racks of different sizes either. I won't go anywhere else now

Bra straps now all seem to be to the outer side of the cup rather than coming up from the middle of the cup which makes them more likely to slip off -bra straps slipping off shoulders drives me mad. In all my shirts and jumpers I have sewn a strip of hem binding in a neutral or matching colour, one end is stitched to the shoulder seam where it meets the sleeve seam, on the other end is half a press stud, the other half of the press stud is where the shoulder seam meets the neck. So, the piece of tape runs along from the shoulder seam, goes under my bra strap/camisole/vest strap and press studs to the neck seam. Does that make sense? It does the trick.

Thank you grandmaz for the optifitbra link. They certainly seem to have got it cracked so will try them.

Yes Nanna58 - I'm on the hunt with you. If I find one I'll let you know. Please let me know if you find one first.

Am big busted and like other posters struggle to find good under wired bras, usually end up with Playtex .BUT far worse than this is trying to find a decent under wired swimsuit that isn't north of £100, They really are a holy grail!

I've only ever found bras that fit in M&S. I do find though that I only feel comfortable with a bigger size than they say, otherwise it is uncomfortably tight across the back.

Ive never been able to go into a high street store to buy a bra, Ive tried all makes well apart from the obscenely expensive brands ie rigby and peller!! way out of my price league!
I found a Glamorise bra a few months back that fits and is so comfy you can forget your wearing it! its a Glamorise soft minimiser with wide shoulder straps.

www.jdwilliams.co.uk/shop/soft-shoulders-minimizer/ms001/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=3601#colour:White,size:

Finding a bra that I'm completely happy with is like the search for El Dorado. I have found a few diamonds on the way - but they do sometimes get discontinued. The fit of a bra is such a personal thing. I too go the sports bra way - not those crop top style things that give me a monoboob- ones that look like normal bras but go to the ultimate in support features. My personal favourites lately come from Berlei.
I hate being measured for a bra - it still comes back to different makes fitting in different ways.
I'd love to find a range of minimier/good support bras in lovely colours with matching pants that come to the waist. Anyone know of such?