Has anyone ever found a comfortable bra?

swingaloo2

Oh, this thread will run and run! Such an unfair world it is when women have to suffer both childbirth and bra's while men get away with it all!

I'm in my 6th decade and have a generous frontage which, when I go braless (early evening) is not the best look. Last time I was measured was in M&S. I have a sister who has an even more generous frontage than me, in fact when at full hoist it resembles a shelf and many times Iv'e thought that if there was no free table in a pub she could happily place her half of lager and a packet of peanuts there and they would be safe. She swears by M&S so I took her lead and got a lovely bra which felt like bliss on day one  but soon let me down, literally!

I seem to spend my life adjusting straps, loosening/tightening and twisting. If I get the straps too tight I end up half in half out at the front, too slack and I spend an average of 2 hours a day with my hands inside my top trying to drag the straps back from my upper arms.

How can we send a man to the moon yet not create a proper bra. I long since discovered that Im not much of a La senza women, I'm much more on the lines of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Jude57

I'm also generously fronted and unfortunately for me it got worse as I entered peri-menopause. I went up 7 cup sizes, 1 back size. That is not, repeat not, a misprint. My mother was a corsetiere so I've always known how to correctly measure myself but I can now only find my size online, and then only at around £50 for the cheapest. Back when I was a more regular size, I found the staff at Bravissimo were excellent and would spend as long as you needed fetching and fitting different bras to try. Their own label bras are good too, although more expensive than M&S or supermarket ones.

Two things to bear in mind: First, your band size is probably smaller than you think. The band should be tight as it's meant to take the strain; your shoulder straps should really only be there to hold the cups up, not to take all the weight. Second, don't use fabric softener on your bras or tumble dry them as it destroys the elastication. 

sheramber

 I recently bought a Wingslove bra  on Amazon.

So far it is doing the job.

 

Shelldean

another marks fan here!

I get mine in the outlet shops either Ashford or Portsmouth.
I also can not wear wired bras I have never found that is comfortable at all.

Daughter on the other hand only wears wired ones. And she was given some vouchers for Marks and now she only wears Mark's too!

jackieblack

SevenOfNine said:

Sumptuously Soft full cup T-shirt bra. 
https://www.marksandspencer.com/sumptuously-soft-full-cup-t-shirt-bra-a-dd/p/clp60086594?color=WHITE

My heart leapt when I clicked on this and saw the bra - very very similar to one I used to be able to buy from Debenhams that were comfortable (as good as I’ve ever found), but they only go up to an E cup ☹️

barbiedoll

It's not just you generously-proportioned ladies who suffer, even those of us with chests like an ironing board hate wearing a bra.

I'm a 34B (or even 34A in some brands ☹️) and although I could possibly get away without wearing a bra at all, my nips are very badly behaved, and are VERY noticeable through a t-shirt, or tight-fitting jumper. Discovering padded t-shirt bras absolutely changed my life back when I was younger, I was finally able to wear a t-shirt in the summer without getting constant cat-calls from idiots on building sites, or even blokes just passing me in the street 😠😠.  In the past, I've even resorted to using sticking plasters to cover them up, but it's no fun when peeling those off at the end of the day! 

My problem now is straps constantly falling down, cup sizes being just slightly too big, and gaping when I bend down, or slightly too small, giving me the unlovely "double boob" look.

Like all of you I'm sure, the best part of my day is getting home from work and unhooking my bra with a huge sigh of relief. And despite being in my mid-fifties, I still can't fasten my bra at the back, I have to hook it up in front, then twist it round and hoist it up over my shoulders! 

Naomim

barbiedoll said:

It's not just you generously-proportioned ladies who suffer, even those of us with chests like an ironing board hate wearing a bra.

I'm a 34B (or even 34A in some brands ☹️) and although I could possibly get away without wearing a bra at all, my nips are very badly behaved, and are VERY noticeable through a t-shirt, or tight-fitting jumper. Discovering padded t-shirt bras absolutely changed my life back when I was younger, I was finally able to wear a t-shirt in the summer without getting constant cat-calls from idiots on building sites, or even blokes just passing me in the street 😠😠.  In the past, I've even resorted to using sticking plasters to cover them up, but it's no fun when peeling those off at the end of the day! 

My problem now is straps constantly falling down, cup sizes being just slightly too big, and gaping when I bend down, or slightly too small, giving me the unlovely "double boob" look.

Like all of you I'm sure, the best part of my day is getting home from work and unhooking my bra with a huge sigh of relief. And despite being in my mid-fifties, I still can't fasten my bra at the back, I have to hook it up in front, then twist it round and hoist it up over my shoulders! 

I too do up at the front and twist. I cant be bothered with trying to be a contortionist 🤣.

I'm also not huge busted but have a broad back. 40B. I know people say it should be tight but when they dig in and leave red marks,  I'm out.  My usual problem is, one boob bigger than the other so one cup sits lovely and the other a bit gappy and straps constantly falling down. 

Bluebell1000

I'd be interested in recommendations for bras that have wider straps! My bra strap sits right on a metal plate in my collarbone, and I can tolerate it for a while, but it gets uncomfortable during the course of a day. I am enjoying working from home when i can get away without a bra, but I do need something for office days. I'm thinking something with a wide strap will spread the pressure out.

MovingForwards

@barbiedoll have you tried the bra vest tops, it's a double layer top.
Boob tape / covers are a lot more comfortable to remove.
There's also a stick on bra.
Pull on sports bra would probably be your best bet.

I think most of us put bras on, twist them round and stick our arms in.

DiamondLil

pinkshoes said:

Have you tried checking your size properly with BOB? Lots of bras are uncomfortable due to sizes being wrong. I was wearing a 34C which wasn't particularly comfortable. BOB told me I was a 30E, which is a far better fit!!

https://www.booborbust.com/

I'm another fan of booborbust. After decades of wearing a 34/36c, I now wear a 32e and it's the most comfortable bra I've ever owned in over half a century of wearing a bra.

And best of all, my wonderful, comfortable, supportive bra is an M&S sports bra. Two for £30.

BOB have a facebook group too.