Who knows the secret to buying a comfy bra online?

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

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

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.

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 ??

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, 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!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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!

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.?

Have you thought about sewing your own?

Er, no, never!

?????

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!!

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.

I bought a bra once from J D Williams-it rubbed underneath the cups and took the skin off, for goodness sake!
I usually get fitted at local M&S but will try Bravissimo now. I haven’t worn under wired for a long time now

I youtubed how to measure yourself for bra.

Went upstairs tape measure in had (made sure the heating was on, closed the curtains)

Spent about 15 mins measuring adding up and re measuring.

Wrote them down and set of to Asda George, bought a few in the size I was meant to be(completely diff from what I had been wearing for years.

Came home tried them on and not one of them fit! talk about my cup runneth over!
I had a gap at the front, I was spilling out at the side

I took them back and have given up for the time being, back to my old comfies.

If underwires "stick in" they are almost certainly the wrong size.

Ample Bosom has super knowledgable and friendly ladies on the phone but I think you will pay to return.

Figleaves is free returns I think. They have bras that work for me better than Bravissimo or M&S.
I have never found a M&S bra to fit properly. Obviously an unusual shape!!

Figleaves usually has an introductory offer on BTW.

I'm afraid I buy "expensive" bras but having found a make and shape I like and always fit correctly in "my" size. I just buy the new version of it if I can't find the old version in a sale somewhere. I usually have 4 that fit and I wear them all day happily and wash them by hand after one or two wearings. They are comfortable and last for years. I only buy wired bras.

My daughter just bought 8 bras and returned 7 the next day as she didn't know quite what size/shape to get after breastfeeding. She used figleaves and says she was quickly refunded.
If you can afford the initial outlay, after measuring correctly, I might try this method... OR I'd get some telephone advice from Ample Bosom. - I bought a swimsuit from then and it was excellent and fit first time.

Another vote for Bravissimo. I’ve just taken delivery of 2 wireless bras which should be more comfy than under wired. (Wonder if they get Radio 2)?

The M & S range of non underwired bras seems to have shrunk and you cannot try them on so have to lay out a lot of money and then have all the faff of returning them for a refund. I now order a selection from the Grattan catalogue and return the unwanted ones for free and then pay for the one I choose. You can drop the parcel off at a local shop or they will send a courier to collect.

It’s so tricky bra buying, how I would love to go bra less but am too big n floppy for that. I don’t like underwires because they stick in but I need support, so always go for the same Berlei bra mail order. They’re good but I’d like to try some soft sports bras but can’t be bothered with the faff of trying things and sending back if unsuitable.