2021 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

CAFCGirl

Loving the home edders contingent, former and current!

On the jeans debate. I find them SUCH hard work! Short legs, wide hips, squat thighs and calves, smaller waist and sensory 'quirks' and then there's the comfort aspect, the style aspect... its like fashion based psychological warfare!

Cherryfudge

Laura_Elsewhere said:

If you talk to anyone female who's done much re-enactment in authentic, properly-made kit, they will tell you that stays and corsets are actually extremely supportive and far more comfortable for most women than a modern bra.

Does anyone know how many coupons for stays?  

Liverpool_Anne

@CAFGirl, "fashion based psychological warfare" so true and the same for bras

PipneyJane

Laura_Elsewhere said:

.....
If you talk to anyone female who's done much re-enactment in authentic, properly-made kit, they will tell you that stays and corsets are actually extremely supportive and far more comfortable for most women than a modern bra. It comes down to the design - with a bra, the weight is all hanging down off the shoulders, but with stays or corsets, the bust is supported from beneath, so it's far FAR more comfortable. 
Don't start me on the myths Suffice to say, a proper set of stays enables you to spend a five-day weekend camping, eat five-course banquets and dance wild ceilidhs after eating said banquet... I only ever found one thing I couldn't do and that was bending forward from the waist, which any physio will tell you is incredibly bad for your spine anyway... 

@Laura_Elsewhere, I don’t doubt that you are correct re stays, however I need to point out that the statement in bold is a fallacy.  In a proper fitting bra, the weight is taken by the band around the chest, not the shoulder straps.  The shoulder straps are only there to hold up the fabric, to provide a smooth line under clothing.   If a bra has ridden up at the back, that is indicative that the woman has a smaller under-bust measurement than that bra was made to fit - the “36” in 36B is the under-bust measurement.  It also means that the shoulder straps will be taking the weight of their bust.  

It is possible to get properly fitted bras, in larger cup sizes, but generations of women were taught by a certain high street shop that, if a DD cup didn’t fit/wasn’t available, they had to go up to the next under-bust size in order to get a cup that fit.  I cannot speak more highly of Bravissimo, who stock the larger cup sizes and will fit you properly.  Yes, they aren’t cheap to purchase, but I am currently wearing bras that I bought about 5 years ago, which still fit beautifully and are in good condition.  On a cost-per-wear, they cost a fraction of a penny.  I have 6 in the same “t-shirt bra” design, which I cycle through, wearing for 2 or 3 days before putting them in the washing pile. 

(I write this as someone who wears a 34F bra.)

Cherryfudge said:

Laura_Elsewhere said:

If you talk to anyone female who's done much re-enactment in authentic, properly-made kit, they will tell you that stays and corsets are actually extremely supportive and far more comfortable for most women than a modern bra.

Does anyone know how many coupons for stays?  

@Cherryfudge, stays = corset, so 3 coupons.

- Pip

PollyWollyDoodle

I’m a big fan of Bravissimo too. I struggled for years with what I know now was the wrong size. I’m a GG and it’s hard to find bras that size outside specialist lingerie shops, but Bravissimo is worth every penny. 

Liverpool_Anne

I am a DD, measured by bravissimo and I used them for years but my problem with them is they no longer make a bra without underwires and I cannot abide them so I have returned to the high street shop until I can find an alternative. Ideally I would like a sports bra type but it continually amazes me that they are not available in larger sizes, obviously only smaller women do any exercise

Baileys_Babe

@Liverpool_Anne I too would like to be able to find sports bras in larger sizes. I would like to do more exercise but without a properly fitting bra this is not possible. 

joedenise

I hate bras!  I'm not large by any means so I only wear one if I'm going out as can't stand my nipples sticking out which they always do!  I'm another like @Liverpool_Anne who hates underwires but I also don't like padding and the combination of the no wire and and no padding is almost impossible to find - unless any of you know different!  I absolutely hate sports bras where they have to go over your head but they seem to be the only unwired and with removable padding that I can find which is basically why I've virtually given up wearing them apart from a couple of days a week when I do out!

dreamyd

Hi, adding to the bra debate. I'm a 38E (was F at one point) and I've been living in Primark's crop tops since April (even on the days when I leave  the house). I wish I'd discovered them sooner.
 My most recent set were £10 for 3, and they wash brilliantly. The have removeable triangular pads which add support and nipple coverage. I now have 9 in total in black or neutral tones  and whilst they don't have the domestic body armour support of sports bras, they are incredibly comfortable and whilst they don't entirely eliminate  boob jiggle, they do keep the undulation  effect under control.

CAFCGirl

Liverpool_Anne said:

@CAFGirl, "fashion based psychological warfare" so true and the same for bras

Binned those off a few years back, they won the battle for my younger years but not the war!