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Style & beauty

Bra woes

(115 Posts)
JessM Wed 08-Aug-12 17:13:02

Just dashed myself on the rocks of Debenhams and M and S bra depts.
Here's the issue:
A 36 A fitting needed (not that common)
A partial mastectomy a long time ago means one side about 2/3 of the other.
The only kind of bras that even out the lopsided look are the ones with little pockets inside so that I can whip out the insert on one side and put it in the other side. Wonderbra used to be a reliable source, but technology has moved on... I have a load of BHS bras that just fit but are not really comfortable, and are wearing out and getting less and less comfortable.
Debenhams have a reasonable bra dept. But only one line that suited my needs (Level 2 enhancement apparently !!). Once i had got over the "I don't actually want a mastectomy bra" hurdle. But they didn't fit. Forgot to say, they are wide apart as well.
M and S truly abysmal. Thousands of bras. Eventually located a member of staff (very young) who again suggested a mastectomy bra. Don't want a mastectomy bra thank you.
Seems bras with removable inserts are out of favour and M and S do not a one.
I'm wearing a comfortable 11 year old bra i bought in the States. Wish I had bought a carrier bag full at the time.
Does nobody cater for those with partial mastectomies?
Any ideas GNers?

Judthepud2 Fri 10-Jan-14 18:02:35

JessM I have the same problem and am the same size as you. I have solved it although not satisfactorily by wearing M&S T shirt bras that are slightly padded. This gives an illusion of similarity in boob size. I find them quite comfortable.

However, my 'missing bit' is high up close to the breastbone on the left breast and shows clearly no matter what I wear. I've just decided to put up with it, regard it as a badge of honour for being a survivor. Needless to say I don't usually wear low cut tops. Wired bras were dumped after my surgery. Far too painful! And they would just enhance the gap grin

Have you tried going to the BreastCancerCare web site. You may get some suggestions of suppliers there. It has a good forum.

JessM Sat 11-Jan-14 15:38:52

Bra woes revitalised!
It is still the case that my most comfy bra is an ancient blue one I bought in a mall Houston in 2001 and that is the one I am wearing now. It will be a sad day when it falls apart. The name of the brand long since washed away.
I did however find some not-wired ones in Debenhams that are fine - except they were sewed with that spiky fishing line stuff, so required a little trimming off with a nail scissors. This sort of thing:

www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_152010874263_-1

Aka Sat 11-Jan-14 15:53:37

Just discovered Per Una bras at M&S very comfortable.

Nelliemoser Sat 11-Jan-14 16:39:49

My bras are very functional and usually M&S.

I cannot imagine thongs being at all comfortable! I would think the strap between the buttocks would play merry hell with ones piles!

Aka Sat 11-Jan-14 17:09:31

A bit like floss Nellie? hmm

Ana Sat 11-Jan-14 17:12:54

I'd rather wear nothing!

Nelliemoser Sat 11-Jan-14 17:42:14

Ana Well it might have that sort of action, but I am not in the habit of flossing my piles. grin

Nonu Sat 11-Jan-14 17:47:49

ANA you saucy minx , bet mr Anna is thrilled though !
wink

Nelliemoser Sat 11-Jan-14 17:50:30

Thinking about it, a tight thong might just work to cut of the blood supply so they just drop off. Don't they use a treatment a bit like that?

Its time I stopped getting silly and went back to my cooking.

Ana Sat 11-Jan-14 17:55:31

I meant I'd rather go knickerless than wear a thong, Nonu! blush

You're the saucy minx! grin

Nonu Sat 11-Jan-14 17:57:48

Yeah , and don"t I know it !!

Long may it continue !!

wink

Lona Sat 11-Jan-14 18:34:20

I only wear thongs and if you get the right size (very large) and stretchy, you can't tell you're wearing anything!

You don't know what you're missing wink

Nonu Sat 11-Jan-14 18:37:22

Oh lona I just think I could fancy them .
{wink]

Nonu Sat 11-Jan-14 18:38:23

Where do you buy yours from?

Lona Sat 11-Jan-14 18:44:20

Not M&S! Anywhere as long as they are big and stretchy enough. I won't buy sets (bra/bottoms) as not many have thongs anymore.

Ana Sat 11-Jan-14 18:47:05

But if they're that big and stretchy, Lona, don't they look a bit....er....droopy? confused

Nonu Sat 11-Jan-14 18:48:10

Be more specific
Purleese
smile

Ana Sat 11-Jan-14 18:49:38

I think you know very well what I mean, Nonu! wink

Nonu Sat 11-Jan-14 18:59:29

Just want to know where LONA gets her thongs from , no harm in that!!!!!!

Ana Sat 11-Jan-14 19:01:37

Oh I see, you were talking to Lona - sorry! grin

Lona Sat 11-Jan-14 19:07:12

Oh you two! grin Matelan, Sainsbury, Tesco or John Lewis if they're really nice.

No they aren't 'droopy' because they stretch! smile

Ana Sat 11-Jan-14 19:21:20

Hmm...I'm not convinced a droopy stretchy, large thong really appeals to me - but each to her own! smile

Lona Sat 11-Jan-14 19:25:38

smile

Tegan Sat 11-Jan-14 19:27:43

I bought a 'genie' bra from Boots to wear at the gym [and a similar black one from Asda] and find myself wearing them all the time. They're really warm as well [in fact I feel the cold when I don't wear them]. You can insert your own padding inside as well [I'm thinking of the 'chicken fillets' that my daughter used to have]. They cost about £10 [and I've spent a fortune on Marie Jo and Lejaby bras over the years.

Nelliemoser Sat 11-Jan-14 19:42:24

What ever size I bet it would still irritate the piles! grin