Shopping for bras

em you could be my long lost twin.

Twobabes - the odd thing is that I am not particularly good at putting everything away. For several years, while the kids were small and we were living on one salary, I made do, as most of us did and we had to look carefully at how our income was spent. There wasn't cash to spare for fripperies like pretty matching underwear. Post-divorce, independent and earning a reasonable salary I decided to treat myself and since then it has become a harmless habit. In contrast to the Rigby and Peller customers, I don't necessarily spend a fortune. As long as a bra fits well I don't mind where I buy it - favourite one at the moment is from Sainsbury's! Cheaper ones don't last indefinitely but don't think that matters too much.

Buying bras on-line gives you the opportunity to try them on at home, in "your own space", I have used www.figleaves.com/uk for many years and have only had to send something back on one occasion. Go on, give them a try.

OTHill, do figleaves cater for larger sizes. Am size 12/14 but am 34ff in bra size, and I can get them, I wear Fantasie, but I want something pretty sometimes.

GoldenGran. Have you tried Bravissimo?

I'm another convert to Rigby and Peller. I went in wearing a 36C and came out a little while later size 32E! They are expensive but, to my mind, well worth it. The difference a properly fitting bra makes not only to the way you feel, but also to the way clothes fit, is immeasurable (in R&P's case, literally!). I shall go back 6 monthly for a check and buy from them when I can afford it. They also had a scheme whereby you get a discount of £10 on each bra you buy if you donate your old bras - and they in their turn donate to breast cancer research which seemed a good scheme to me.
I have tried the M&S bra fitting service in the past but found it to be nowhere near as good as R&P. I understand from friends that Bravissimo is also extremely good.

I would love to find a front-fastening bra because I am again having trouble fastening it round the back and it's quite a job to wrestle it round when I've fastened it at the front. Any suggestions?

annobel have you tried Bravissimo you may find one there.They have a shop at the bottom of Bold Street in Liverpool and have lovely helpful staff.

Thanks, glamma, I see that they also have a shop in Manchester, so, when I go to look at the German Christmas market, I will pop in there and see if they can oblige.

One of my DS1s friends does the German market at Christmas,he live's permentely in Spain in the summer months and does the CHristmas Markets with his family during the winter,he used to love the Hollands pie's I used to get from the English supplier and English bacon,I could not compete on the sausage's though !!! He was the only German who came into our restaurant who understood English humour.

Reading all these posts I must be a real cheap skate! I get my bras from Bonmarche, costing between £6 and £8, and they fit just fine. For years I bought from catalogues, and always got the size I thought I was, 38D, then one day I measured myself according to the instructions at the back of my daughter`s catalogue, and found that I was a 42C. So that`s why I bulged over the top, I`d often wondered!

numberplease Isn't it bliss to wear a bra that fits...

Nothing like it! But isn't it nice, whatever the make, to take the ** things off?

As long as nobody`s there to notice! My grandma never wore one in her life, as she proudly told me several times, conveniently ignoring the fact that her boobs were below her waistline!

I don't recall seeing a bra on the washing line in either of my grannies' gardens. But when my paternal granny came to stay, my mother was very embarrassed to have Granny's combinations on the line in case any of the neighbours thought they belonged to her!

Ariadne and numberplease ...Oh, the bliss of removing the bra and the wearing of a pretty, comfy, flannel nightie at the end of the day...Magic!

I recently bought an Ambra bra (like the ahh bra), just to try them as I hate wearing bras. It was too small so I returned it and went up a size. They are really comfortable and I can wear them for hours but I found they are not supportive enough to run in. When recently visiting my daughter in hospital my grandson would ask me to run up the ramp with him. I find it an effort to run but one time I beat my fast, nimble, nearly four year old grandson and when I said 'I won,' the look on his face, he never thought I could beat him.

Since I achieved 'maturity' I have spent ££££s on bras but they were never comfortable. Went to R&P in Kensington and have been very satisfied with the results. I also had been buying the wrong size. They have lasted for years (not handwashed but done in the machine) and as I have sloping shoulders they can provide a separate piece to help keep the straps up. Have tried others inbetween but have had to hand them over to friends! Looking forward to going back some time when my ship comes in (again!)

Bravissimo for me. M&S Per Una bras are better for me than their other ranges but only last 6 months so I try to get to Bravissiomo for an annual visit who also fit by look not tape measure. I have always had a positive experience there. (Covent Garden branch)

M&S bras used to be great, but their 'firm support' ones aren't any more - too stretchy and/or see-through for me.

Agree anagram

Yes - Bravissimo are still the best for us ladies with big boobs. Big boobs and M and S just don't work. My DiL similarly proportioned agrees and says you have to spend money on good scaffolding. Even though I have to be careful with my money I so agree.

A problem for me - lopsided from the breast op and cannot find the right size!

AlieOxon - I, too, am very lopsided after breast cancer surgery and Rigby & Peller were incredibly helpful. I am now much more confident in wearing tighter tops. I went to their Knightsbridge shop and now make a regular pilgrimage! Although they may seem much more expensive to buy a bra from them, they do last really well, fit perfectly and the service you get is superb. I wish I had done it earlier

I am most comfortable in underwired bras and it is difficult to find them with strong enough straps since I have put on weight, now wearing a 40c. I have found the ideal bra at 'Our Secrets Beneath' it is Clara by Anita, available underwired or non-wired. Their customer service has been superb so I shall use them again.
www.oursecretsbeneath.com/index.php?route=common/home