Bra shopping!

consultant31

AJayneC wrote: »

I've never tried them to be honest, I've just gone with M&S, La Senza and Debenhams- that kind of thing. Would you rate them? I saw some in TK Maxx but didn't really know much about the brand so left it!

I love Panache bras - for me the fit is perfect. I've never been able to wear a plunge type bra because I always ended up with 'overspill' when I bent down, but the Panache Tango plunge is fab. I've got 4 in different colours now.

They are one of the makes sold at Bravissimo too.

Skyllo

AJayneC wrote: »

Have you any tips on where to actually buy them from when you've been fitted?

I've bought mine from Bravissimo as they're one of the few places that actually sell them. I've also bought one from John Lewis (I asked the fitter for advice but she just confirmed I was wearing the right size.) What I love so much about Bravissimo is their knowledge of the stock - in some styles, you need to go up or down a size due to the fit and they know this so just bring you a different size!

I've yet to buy any online as I like to try them on - even Freya bras can vary a bit within styles. Like consultant31, I find I can get overspill in certain plunge styles. However, I'm very tempted by some of the Curvy Kate bras available on BraStop - I love bright coloured, girly bras. Panache ones are comfy but they're not really my style. The new Cleo range is pretty though!

blue_monkey, I hadn't heard of your site before but I'll definitely be keeping a look out for some bargains on it!

One more place I forgot to mention, if you fancy splurging on something really fancy, ASOS sells a few Mimi Holliday bras in 28s and they're so amazingly gorgeous (not necessarily practical but gorgeous none the less!)

My ultimate dream is to be able to afford bespoke bras from the likes of Rigby and Pellar but they're £300+. :eek:

scotsgirl_3

Panache bras are fine quality wise. Personally I don't get on with the shapes terribly well and prefer Freya, but this is something that is personal to the shape of my bust rather than any issues with the bras themselves, as I find the wires are a little too deep for me. I am tempted to try some of the Cleo ones though as they are very pretty and seem to be different shapes. I would probably try to find somewhere which stocks a good variety of these brands, like Bravissimo, or debenhams, and find out which works for you. Then order online where it is generally cheaper if you hunt.

blue_monkey_2

AJayneC wrote: »

Blue Monkey! What is your shop called? Could you send me the URL?

Just sent it over by PM AJ, lots more 28 backs being released for sale by Freya now so there will be lots and lots more choice for you 28 backed girls!!

blue_monkey_2

Just to add, I sold Cleo George, I tried them on myself and they were 2 cup sizes short of what they should have been, awful. I returned them because I will not sell something that is out on the cup or band size.

I do find that people can usually only wear one brand such as Freya, Panache or Fantasie - I've always worn Panache and recently started wearing Freya and I find they uplift everything further towards the front (so up and out as if they need to be bigger, LOL) whereas my Tango II fit just nice and are comfortable. I find they add all of these trims around the bottom of the Freya bras and it does irritate me by the end of the day - but hey, it's fushia pink and goes with my pink top.... need I say more?? I have to buy lots of bras for 'research' - at least that is what I tell my husband anyway. Ha ha, it is how I can advise of the fit!!

juno

blue_monkey wrote: »

I hope you was pleased with whatever you bought.

I do not have a shop on eBay any longer, I have my website now and just sell from there - I can offer better prices as I am not paying their eBay fees. I used to pay around £500 a month on fees before adding Paypal fees on (obviously lots of sizes and styles) but since they put their prices up I'd have had to pay £2000 in listing fees at 20p an item. Just ridicuous. So now I just have the website.

I bought a white spotty Freya bra and loved it!

Do you have any advice on moulded cup bras? I'm a 34FF in anything with soft cups. But I've never ever ever managed to get a moulded cup bra that fits well (even when I was a different size). I went to Bravissimo recently, and they fitted me in a 32G, which is fine when I stand still, but if I move around I fall out of the front, or end up with the attractive "four boob" look. But like I say, this only happens with moulded cups.

I don't particularly like Panache bras, as I find they tend to rub under my arms. My current favourite brand is Curvy Kate or Kalyani. And for sports bras I wear Shock Absorber - they can be expensive, but I'm running a half marathon soon.

blue_monkey_2

That is good, that is what I like to hear!! That was a while ago.

To be honest Juno, some people can wear moulded, some cannot. I am one of the ones who cannot, I do have one but I do not really wear it that often.

Have you tried the Fantasie moulded bras with the soft cup (style 4500 or 4520), there is a full cup option (choose one size smaller than your usual size on this one else it puckers) or the balcony option which most people prefer. if you have to wear it under a white t-shirt or shirt then choose the Nude and then you cannot see it like you can a white bra. The nude does seem a bit icky colour wise but I have more nude bras as you can wear them with anything.

The moulded bras with the firm cup is style 4510 - G is the largest cup size so you will not get any bigger than that and I find the Panache Porcelain pretty much has the same fit, it is the same as any bra really - some people can wear anything, some can't.

Did you know Freya have an underwired and non-wired sports bra now? I can highly recommend them for fit and support - good for days when you just feel 'too heavy' as well IFYWIM. That comes in Red or the basic colours.

I do not do Curvy Kate or Kalyani, I've not taken on any new brands for a while. DS was diagnosed with ADHD and Autism 2 years back so I stuck with the brands I had, my website works is around him and so it was easier just to keep with the brands I had and those 2 were fairly new 2 years back, they never even appeared at the Lingerie shows I used to attend - but there is so much to choose from anyway in the brands I sell anyway it has not been a huge impact. Maybe one day when he is bigger - but believe it or not, I do it for me time as I could not imagine sitting still for more than 5 minutes and I have a real passion for bras and seeing people in the right bra!! Can you tell, LOL.

continualdiamond

Just learn't more info about bras, but wish id know it 2 weeks ago. Was previously wearing a 40H bra after putting on some weight, lost the weight and then went back to the size i was 2 years ago 40G, so my mum sent me some bras over from Australia, thought they weren't as tight in the back as i remembered but wore them anyway.

Went shopping 2 weeks ago, every shop fitted me as a 40G even though i said the bra i was wearing was 40G and i felt it wasn't as tight in the back as it should be and that at the end of the day had back ache.

But thinking they knew more, bought 2 40G bras at a cost of £45.

Then went to bravissimo website and it mentions that if you have to have your bra on the tightest hook to begin with they recommend you going down a back size.

Website also said you should have it on the loosest hook at the back to begin with and then move to the middle/tightest as the bra stretches through wear and washing it.

So decided to order the same make/style bra off simply yours but in a 38GG and :eek: what a difference, a lot tighter in the back and a much better fit in the cup size.

Wish i knew this 2 weeks ago as wasted £45 on 2 bras, however have now just bought the same make/style bra in a 38GG off ebay for only £9.50.

elfen

So, you don't need the add 4 inches thing? That thing made me out to be a 38C/D when in reality I'm a 34E, and it's really REALLY comfy! La Senza bras come up way too small for me, by their reckoning I'd still be about a D/DD/E but need a 38, and that's just hideously big (I'd probably need an F though, as their cup sizes look ridiculously small!)

I know, I'm going to advocate the supermarkets now, especially Asda and Tesco, as you can get the bigger cup sizes in the funky bras. I'm not too sure about small backs, as the smallest I've seen them do in some is a 32, and that's not much help for you.

scotsgirl_3

It is amazing how different a bra feels when it is "right" isn't it? Mine had got slightly out recently due to weight loss, and the difference when I went down to the right size was quite shocking (same as you, down a back, up a cup.) And that wasn't even that big a change really - when I was in Bravissimo the other day trying on half the shop, I could hear the fitting in the next cubicle - from a 38b to a 32 f! I bet she felt different afterwards.