Who knows the secret to buying a comfy bra online?

I buy very soft, no wire, bras from M and S. They are for people who have had mastectomies, which I haven’t but still find they suit me well. I also buy a size bigger than they say i.e. instead of a 36 ins I buy a 38 ins.

Have you thought about sewing your own? I've done this for years and it's so satisfying, comfortable and costs much less.

It's not difficult but is a little time consuming until you get the size/style/shape/etc sorted out, but once that's done I usually make 5 or 6 at a time.

I highly recommend using a bra that fits and is comfortable to use as your pattern, just unpick one cup and side, to trace a pattern and leave the other side intact so you can follow exactly how to assemble the new bra.

Getting all the bits 'n pieces together (findings/fabric/elastic/lace/etc) can be slow as generally I find these are not all available at the one store, but, kits are another consideration although they usually cost a lot extra. Anyway for the first bra or three, use whatever you have on hand or can buy inexpensively until you have the fit down pat.

Sewing bras can be addictive, specially if you love colours and/or beautiful lace as I do...you only have to buy a small piece so even expensive bridal laces are still cost effective.

Just another option!!

Have you thought about sewing your own?

Er, no, never!

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The last two I bought were from Debenhams, I could never go bra less, I would certainly have less lines on my face and neck, but I would look like a sack of potatoes.?

I find putting in a detailed search on Ebay brings up several suitable ones but not thousands! For instance my search would be: underwired full cup bra side support + size. If I find one that is really comfortable I will buy several more.
Good luck!

I absolutely hate bras, but I don’t feel comfortable not wearing one as I ve got older and bigger I stopped wearing underwire a good while ago I m not huge a C cup but nevertheless whatever size I get seems totally uncomfortable after a few hours
I have only one shop in my area (M and S) and after buying (what I was very carefully measured as) I felt as if I was in a blooming straight jacket
I have five different sort of bras in my wardrobe and every one goes flying with relief by about 5 o’clock I don’t understand why in this day and age no one has found a bra that is comfortable to wear but still pretty (some look like barrage balloons) I don’t think I ve EVER found a comfy one

I tend to stick to the name brand that I know fits me, and order the same size, even if it is a different style. I know we change a bit as we age or change weight, but your rib cage measurement under your bust determines your band size, and shouldn't change too much.

It was a revelation for me going into (don’t laugh) an Anne Summers shop with my daughter and her friend when they were bra shopping.
The assistant looked at them to guess and make first assessment she was spot on with size. But after that she gave changed with trial cup styles for each and amazed me with her perfect accuracy. One girl was to be balconette and one full cup. It was an education for me.

EilaRose - making bras is obviously always going to be something of a niche activity but for mrsba the issue is finding one that fiits.

As the bra issue has come up again and again on Gransnet (as so many find them uncomfortable), actually making one from the pattern of another seems a long way off... sadly.

Beautiful bras are something special. How lovely to make your own.

I find that stores/makes differ in the way they measure you so be careful of that. I was once measured for a bra at John Lewis and I found I’d been wearing the wrong size for years. The bra they recommended gave me a very good shape, but, boy, was it tight! A few years after that I was measured at M&S and they used a very method of calculating the bra size and I was a completely different size. My bust hadn’t altered that much in between.

I was measured in M&S and the assistant said I should wear 38C. I had been wearing 40B. I find the 38C too tight but agree it looks a good fit.

My mother was told by a consultant at hospital never to wear wired bras, she misheard the wires bit, so stopped wearing bras altogether. It wasn’t long before ...they were very long.

Liz isn’t a 38c the same cup size as 40b. The difference between 38 and 40 is round the body. You could get bra extenders which do give extra breathing space.

I, too, and am fairly well endowed. I did get measured up in Rigby and Peller and ended up with the most uncomfortable bra that I possess - it was not cheap either!! Bravissimo meant a trip into Leeds which wasn't always convenient. Once I found a bra that suited (fantasie), I ordered it from Figleaves with no problems. I have tried other places, too buty not many sell my size (it's only recently M&S has started selling + sizes) Recently I managed to get to Debenhams, found a couple my size, bought them and they are OK. Not much help mrsba trial and error is the key!!

Thank you all, for your suggestions. My best fitting bras came from BHS,( alas no longer here) where I spent hours one day trying on, then i'd buy loads the same.
I think with the lock down and being vulnerable it's putting me off thinking I have to get to town on a public bus to go to the post office to return ones that don't fit.
EilaRose your bras sound lovely, sadly I have no sewing skills or patience or know where I'd find the materials. Maybe you could start up a business and once we've found 'the right one' you could make us all some. Think I'm going to have to be brave and order a selection.

I got some front fastening bras from Damart as I struggle to do my bra up in the winter when my joints are stiff, they are so comfortable, I wouldn’t want to do a run in one mind you, they are not very supportive ??

www.missmary.co.uk/

I treated myself to two of these. I get overheated very easily so try to get 95% cotton which can be limiting. The ones I chose have wide shoulder straps and a good support under the bra cups. Not very sexy I'm afraid but more comfortable than most. I followed their instructions for measuring and they fitted well. Must admit they've hardly been out of the drawer during lockdown.

Its winter. Big woolly jumper time. I'm enjoying the feeling of liberation and saving my bra's for wearing under summer vest tops.

Well it’s 4.30 ladies and ITS off whooppeee freedom and comfort