Bras that actually fit

Hi there Choice community,
I would lik to ask the community if they ha e ever face the same problem that I have had for the last 6 or so years, and especially now with COVID19, not being able to try on underwear.

For the last 6 or so years, I have had a lot of problems trying to find a bra that actually fits. In the real world, there is little choice to find a comfortable bra that fits. Most of the bras that I have bought are made in China, and for some reason the cups will fit, but when it comes to being able to fit the bra around my body, it is far too short!!

As I am an older aussie, I am flabbergastered at the lack of comfort available. Bras either have underwire (which is not very good for the health of the breasts) or only last a month or so.

If I go to the “specialist” stores, there is no good fitting bras that doesn’t need an “extender” to fit. Even if I do get help from a bra fitter, she often can only offer me 1 or 2 choices.

I measured a couple of bras I recently bought (adn subsequently returned) and there was a massive 2.5 - 3.5cm difference in the width of the bra. The straps are too short to and there is sometimes little difference in the width of the bras (as in the width around the chest) from one size to another.

Am I the only shopper in Australia eho is experiencing difficulty in finding anything that actually fits now?

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A friend of mine has given up shopping for bras, and has been making her own for sometime now. She’s always raving about them! You might need to do an internet search for patterns, and I know there is a group that you can join online where the participants help each other. Good luck!

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Bra shopping is THE WORST.
I am an odd size (the kind you can never find on sale) - small band large cups. I have always had to shop at specialist boutiques until recently when I found Bras N Things make my size (although they usually don’t stock it they can order it in).

At the specialists I’d be confined to a couple of boring options, but they would be supportive and comfortable enough. BnT have very pretty options, even if they are less comfortable. I went a bit nuts with buying matching sets at first after not being able to buy them for years!

OP, I would recommend visiting a very specialist boutique, such as one that deals with post-surgery bras, or a full figure specialist. Some of the online retailers do provide excellent service and great return policies, such as Brava lingerie in Melbourne. You are not going to have a lot of choice, and you will need to pay quite a lot, but they should have some options.

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I have a daughter who used to be in the business who tells me that ill fitting bras are a common and chronic problem for women brought about by a combination of factors:

  • untrained shop assistants (or none) who do not advise correctly about fit, or who will not spend the time needed,
  • cheap brands with bad structure and/or not enough sizes , including insufficient adjustment to allow for inevitable stretching as the garment ages,
  • women rushing or not trying them on at all,
  • vanity - women going for fashion and looks rather than the best style for their size.

She says unless you are quite petite the solution is most likely going to be to take more time and spend more money.

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Welcome to the Community @Lyndeloo!

An ill fitting bra seems to be a very common problem nowadays.

You have certainly done your best by
shopping around as much as you have.

I have also found a wide difference in sizes depending on the make, and think it is essential to try the garment on before deciding.

FWIW Re: short straps, you could try a racer-back style which gives
good support especially for larger sizes.

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I LOVE sports bras with a “j clip” to convert between racer back and standard strap. You put them on like any old bra and then clip the straps together. I’ve had bras from Freya and Panache that have that feature and it’s brilliant!
I’ve tried the little clips you can buy which will apparently turn any bra into a racer back (you slide the straps through either side) but I just couldn’t get them to work behind my back, nor could my husband :joy:

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I also have trouble finding a comfortable bra that fits well. I am a size 8B or 8C and find the smallest size a lot of bra manufacturers make is a size 10.
Sometimes I might find one that I like and then will buy 2 or 3 in the same style because I know that the next time I go shopping the style will no longer exist.
As for the assistants that try and help you by bringing various styles to the change room when you know the shape and style will not suit you. Many times I have tried on maybe 10 or so bras and still walked out of the shop with nothing.
Very frustrating!!

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In this age of mass production it isn’t easy to find a good fit especially in undergarments and it doesn’t help that sizes vary from one manufacturer to the other.
I remember that my grandmother, who was a rather big lady, would have her bras and foundation garments made to measure. I’m not sure if that type of service is still available and/or we would need a bank loan to finance our purchase :wink:

You probably already know this @baxter57 but one way to manage if one size doesn’t fit well is to go up a band size and down a cup size (Or vice versa)
In your case you could try a size 10 using the tightest hooks on the band and go down a cup size to a B, which would be very similar to the 8C cup. A size 10 could be easier to find? Anyway, good luck.:slightly_smiling_face:

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Yes i have tried that but most of the band size 10 are too big and putting them on the tightest closing doesn’t allow for any stretching that might occur

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I too have found bra shopping in the past very frustrating. I have a narrow back (size 10) combined with large breasts, which isn’t a common size.
Most manufacturers in Australia seem to think if you’re ”blessed” with large breasts, you also have a wide back.
I also see a lot of women with badly fitting bras (back strap up near the armpit, instead of across the back, level with the front of the bra etc.
Often the “fitting advice” says to take your underbust measurements then add several inches, which makes no sense at all!
I once went to a “specialist” bra/swimwear shop in Perth WA who put me in a size 14 band bra. When I raised my arms, the whole bra lifted up as well! If you can’t get properly fitted for a bra in a specialist shop, what hope is there?
Bras are supposed to support and lift your breasts - which also makes you look thinner - not just to cover them!

I now buy my bras from overseas.

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Welcome to the community @Hazi!

Sizes are just crazy between manufacturers: I have lacy bras size 20C and TShirt bras size 16-18C and they both are a good fit. I’ve given up trying to work it out, I just take a few different sizes in to try and also take the top I’m planning to use over the bra because that can make a big difference on how it looks.

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