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Bras and my body over 66

(118 Posts)
gentleshores Thu 16-May-24 16:35:43

So I just turned 66 and almost to the day my skin is sagging! I've found my bra is suddenly too small. I have gradually gained weight over the last year due to some medication I'm on, but am not overweight and my clothes still fit - except my bra. So I am having great difficulty finding a bra that fits and is comfortable. I have never really had breasts much and been an 36A cup most of my life, and sometimes a 36B if I'm a bit heavier, as now. I am bursting out of my 36B and it's too tight!

I've been sending for various sizes and styles and trying them on and can't find anything just right. Unbelievably even a 36C seems only just big enough - I have never been a 36C. So how can your boobs get bigger just because you're older? I thought it would be the other way. I don't like it, it's uncomfortable.

And even the one that seems to fit the best (but isn't comfortable) I have this fatty loose skin hanging out of the sides (sorry!). Which seems to have come from nowhere - wasn't like this a few months ago.

Is this what ageing is like?! I really long to have small breasts again.

Primrose53 Sun 19-May-24 11:16:36

I used to buy Bravissimo bras which were lovely but nearly £40 each. Recently bought a couple of soft bras at Asda in natural colour with underwires and they are so comfy. Two for about £15 I think they were.

4allweknow Sun 19-May-24 11:15:49

I had a really good fitting from John Lewis.M & S is a bit hit or miss

henetha Sun 19-May-24 11:15:25

I wear what I call "Bralettes", they look like a crop top. I've got several different designs. They are so much more comfortable than bras.
But I want to dress up a bit for an event I still have a couple of uplifting wired ones.

Baggs Sun 19-May-24 11:08:06

Wyllow3

Aveline

Try a crop top bra. So comfortable. No hard wires or hooks and eyes. Easily accommodate and support bigger busts. Seriously, try one. I bet you wouldn't go back.

For that, try this one: M and S

"Flexifit™ Non Wired Crop Top"

Been needing to replace my current M&S non-wired Flexifits. Thanks for the reminder, Wyllow 🙂 I have printed ones at the moment from a few years ago.

I also have a couple of "Boody" bras, also non-wired and very comfortable.

Step in and pull up to get on and then yank over your head to get off is my preference 🙆‍♀️ 😁

Parsley3 Sun 19-May-24 10:34:27

After much trial and error, I think that balcony bras give me a reasonable shape. However, I do want to find a good bra with no underwires. The search is on.

DanniRae Sun 19-May-24 07:02:50

gentleshores...... smile

gentleshores Sat 18-May-24 15:39:17

DanniRae

Black bra extender found and so far I am feeling comfortable! smile
(See previous post above)

I just bought a couple! A two hook and three hook. I didn't need them in the end once I got the bra size right, but could be useful in future if size fluctuates!

gentleshores Sat 18-May-24 14:25:12

Bonnybanko

I was in Aberdeen recently and went shopping in Next and I found the most comfortable bra, one I can even sleep in and I’m 74 so there’s hope for you yet gentlestores keep trying you’re bound to get a bra that fits from Next there’s all kinds of pretty bras there - good luck

Thank you :-) I've found two now. Once I got the sizing right things fell into place a bit. It made sense that as I was just slightly larger all over, the band size needed to go up with the same proportion cup size. So instead of a 36B (which I've been for years), the perfect fit was a 38B. Apparently the cup size in a 38B is the same size as a 36C. But the 36C was uncomfortably tight underneath. It was actually M&S that suggested trying a 38B when I returned a 36B.

So I actually have one M&S bra in a 38B which is comfortable and fits well (one of the Rosie ones), but not as comfortable as the other one I found on John Lewis which is And/Or (their own brand) called "Wren". It's actually a "Multiway" bra but I'm wearing it with conventional straps. It's a perfect fit and very comfortable. Both are perhaps not the best quality and both are underwired so I'd like to find a non-underwired one as well :-) Can't tell you what a relief it is!

I will look on Next as well.

DanniRae Sat 18-May-24 11:48:26

Black bra extender found and so far I am feeling comfortable! smile
(See previous post above)

Athrawes Sat 18-May-24 11:30:06

I love Miss Mary of Sweden UK bras. They fit me perfectly and they stay useable for years. I buy them on line and no problems so far - and very nice knickers too .

DanniRae Sat 18-May-24 07:39:43

I have one M&S bra that is comfortable ....42C.... I bought it in black too but that is NOT comfortable! Someone on here has mentioned bra extenders. I've had a lightbulb moment...Somewhere in this house I have a black bra extender. I will seek it out and try it. I will report back!! Fingers crossed smile

Bonnybanko Sat 18-May-24 07:31:53

I was in Aberdeen recently and went shopping in Next and I found the most comfortable bra, one I can even sleep in and I’m 74 so there’s hope for you yet gentlestores keep trying you’re bound to get a bra that fits from Next there’s all kinds of pretty bras there - good luck

Georgesgran Sat 18-May-24 07:15:48

Odd question arthur
Read the thread.

arthur1960 Sat 18-May-24 04:54:45

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

gentleshores Sat 18-May-24 01:00:13

Wyllow3

gentleshores

Parsley3

Thank you for the suggestion of trying a crop top. I am off to Marks this morning to have a look.

I wouldn't bother :-) I ordered some yesterday for next day delivery and they're awful! Almost impossibly tight to get over your head and shoulders (and I ordered two sizes - one bigger than I usually wear). Once I managed that, with the bigger size - the padded inserts were all misshapen - looked terrible. There was no way of getting at them to straighten them out either. Also very lycra type so probably sweaty. I do like the idea though - I did try a sloggy one but that wasn't the right shape and the other one I liked seems to be out of stock everywhere. With something like that I'd want it to be mainly cotton based.

However I've had some success now the 38B's are here as that is a better fit than a 36C - more comfortable but same cup size. One I really like and will keep (a Wren Bra from John Lewis). It's actually a strapless bra with detachable straps. I'll keep the straps on though. And although it's underwired, it's not too hard. So I think I just needed a bigger band size due to my extra flab ha ha.

I had 3 other 38B's to try on. All fitted fine but the cheaper ones were uncomfortable because the underwiring was so hard and rigid. So yes they are all different. I'd already sent for two Marie Jo bras (with trepidation at the cost) so I'll see how I find those in this size.

Re the M n S ones: I love them, but

yes I agree you need a size larger

the padded cups are removable and adjustable from a slit at the side, on the inside, but it is a bit fiddly.

They are clearly very popular, but will never suit everyone. I'm not very well endowed and am not sure how they would suit big cups.

Apologies - it was very kind of you to suggest them and maybe they do suit some people more than others. I like the idea and might try one in a bigger size.

gentleshores Sat 18-May-24 00:58:02

kircubbin2000

Miss Molly of Sweden are very comfortable. Well worth the expense.

Thank you so much. I might try one of those now I've got the size that I need right (although I realise that can vary with different styles and manufacturers).

gentleshores Fri 17-May-24 18:47:43

Aveline

I'm sitting here very comfortably In my M&S crop top bra. I don't understand the other poster's negative comments about them. I have six. Some white, some black and one scarlet one (for when I'm feeling wild!!)

I love the idea of them :-) I just couldn't get the blooming thing on without a wrestle! How many sizes up did you go? I normally wear a 10 to 12 at the top and couldn't even get the 14 on easily. It just felt hard work. I also wasn't so sure about the material for hotter weather. They do look very nice though.

Spanisheyes Fri 17-May-24 18:11:10

Why have M&S have stopped doing Bras in AA sizes, I understand that a lot of women now have larger busts, but some of us are slightly built and need AA bras. I’ve tried online and it’s almost impossible to find them anywhere now. M&S also don’t do the half sleeve Tee Shirts that they used to do every summer, I used to buy a few every summer, they were wonderful, lightly shaped and made of really good cotton, now they seem to do just shapeless short sleeve Tee Shirts, made of thin cotton. So disappointed.

Siope Fri 17-May-24 17:34:06

Good bra fitters don’t use tape measures -Bravissimo never have, and in fact, I don’t think any do these days.

Bravissimo will do you an online fitting, send bras, and check they fit www.bravissimo.com/virtual-fitting/

They will also give you advice on correctly fitting and sizing over the phone, or you can have an online chat with them.

Aveline Fri 17-May-24 17:33:38

My 42 DD are somehow just fine in a crop top

NotSpaghetti Fri 17-May-24 16:52:15

Parsley3 - have you looked on the website ample bosom?
grin

www.amplebosom.com/

I have swimsuits from them.

Parsley3 Fri 17-May-24 16:26:39

I tried the crop top and it was hopeless for me. It squeezed my boobs into a shelf and I couldn't be bothered struggling into it over my head. I tried a bigger size but no better. Still looking for a good fit for my ample bosoms.

Aveline Fri 17-May-24 16:22:20

I'm sitting here very comfortably In my M&S crop top bra. I don't understand the other poster's negative comments about them. I have six. Some white, some black and one scarlet one (for when I'm feeling wild!!)

kircubbin2000 Fri 17-May-24 16:00:47

Miss Molly of Sweden are very comfortable. Well worth the expense.

gentleshores Fri 17-May-24 14:30:21

I might try this type from Next, but they don't have a cup in them so I may look a bit saggy .....

www.next.co.uk/style/st371680/617221