Help Me Find Bras!

CupOfChai

So I find myself in dire need of new bras. Can anyone recommend anywhere on the high street where I can get a decently fitting, not too expensive, plain t-shirt type bra? I don't want to order online because there's the delivery charges and when they almost inevitably aren't right it's hassle to send things back.

I used to get a great one from La Senza but they have stopped doing it. Since they have changed I also find that their bras don't fit me properly anymore (in any size, they're all the wrong "shape" if that makes sense).

Boux Avenue don't fit me in any size. Primark don't either, they don't even do my perfectly normal size. I tend to be about a 32C.

The last one I got was from Debenhams and has lasted about 5 minutes because I can't shorten the straps any further now that they've given a bit. I'm short so need to be able to adjust further than a fair number of them allow.

M&S maybe? But last time I was in there I couldn't find anything suitable either.

Should I just become a hippy and not wear a bra?

aridjis

The best bra fitters in my experience are Bravissimo. Their bras start at a D-cup, but it's possible they may estimate you as a 30D rather than a 32C. I do agree about buying bras online, - it's never worked for me! They almost inevitably do not fit and I have to send them back or give them away.

heartbreak_star

I find Asda pretty good, and their tshirt bras are only £4

HBS x

torbrex

Of the shops where I do the stockchecks, Peacocks, Tesco and M&S have the widest selections.

moromir

As a brand I like Lepel in the Fiore padded plunge style, I have it in almost every colour, I think house of fraser sell them and I know new look carries a few styles, otherwise independent shops.

CupOfChai

There isn't a Bravissimo near me, but having them fitted isn't so much of a problem as I can do this for myself. Wondering if it's harder to find any because I can fit it, as I know it isn't right and won't do!

I will check Asda properly and see if I can have a look at Peacocks, although must admit I'm not optimistic there as I've found their clothes aren't very well fitting. The M&S isn't very big near me and I haven't found much choice there before but no harm trying again. Even if it's the wrong colour, I could always try another colour to get the size then order as I know it will fit then.

I swear, if I find a good one I am going to buy about ten of them so I don't have to do this again for ages!

trolleyrun

I suppose you could order from M&S online and have it delivered to your local store free of charge? Then when you go to pick them up, you could try them on there and then and return them straight away. Worth a try? I find M&S bras fit me well, and they do 2-packs of padded t-shirt bras (they're only lightly padded - to avoid the peanut smuggling factor )

CupOfChai

How had I not even thought of ordering to try on when I go there? I've done it before as well! Thanks, will look online tonight, and see if anyone else does the same, I know Debenhams do.

Fire_Fox

Have a proper fitting in M&S or elsewhere, you may not be the size you think you are. If you are a standard size yet struggling to find a good fit my money is on the wrong size bra which is very common in British women. Worst case scenario you waste fifteen minutes only to confirm what you already knew.

I rate the M&S two packs of t-shirt bras too, they are the only thing that fits me (AA to A size but like a lot of coverage). As Trolleyrun says they are only padded to the extent they smooth out nipps, not to make you a size larger. These t-shirt bras crop up on eBay even cheaper once you know your size.

Admittedly I am average height, but I have an unusually small bone structure and zero booby sag so my bras sit much higher than the average lady and I always need to shorten straps a lot. The only time I have ever had to hitch my straps up to a crazy degree is when a bra fitter tried to put my then AA cups into an A bra. Basically the wrong size!

CupOfChai

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Have a proper fitting in M&S or elsewhere, you may not be the size you think you are. If you are a standard size yet struggling to find a good fit my money is on the wrong size bra which is very common in British women. Worst case scenario you waste fifteen minutes only to confirm what you already knew.

I know they do, it drives me mad seeing women in the wrong size bra! I can fit myself but also generally do have a fitting each time I go to somewhere I haven't tried (if they do fittings), just to see roughly what size I am for that shop. The problem really is the fit not the size, I try multiple sizes each time I'm trying a bra yet in certain shops there's always something not right no matter the size. It isn't the style either, I've tried that as well, it's just the way they make theirs.

I have to adjust the straps quite a bit because I'm a fair bit shorter than average, my short friends have the same problem with being able to shorten them enough. It's got better than it used to be for this though.

I'll try M&S, I must admit I haven't properly tried them before because I didn't like pretty much everything they did.

A.Penny.Saved

CupOfChai wrote: »

Should I just become a hippy and not wear a bra?

That gets my vote :T:D Many men now reading this will begin to imagine women walking around in tight T shirts and no Bras.........

Sorry that I cannot be more helpful on such a topic.