Gawd bless yer guv, I knew as how you had a kindly face ..... now all I need is a few more coppers to buy meself some underwear ....



- - -
I am very interested in the Universe. I am specialising in the Universe and everything surrounding it. - E. L. Wisty

For years I wore my bras too small, because every department store I went to measured me and said I was a DD. This was true even at Lane Bryant (which is a store *for* fat people).

Turns out when I actually checked an online size chart (after having lost some weight), I was a 38G. No wonder nothing in any of the stores fit! Most of them only carry up to DD (aka E), so that's what they'd been recommending to me for years, and I'd been having to go up in band size to get them to fit, so they kept riding up in back. Grrrrr.......

When I told my mother I was actually a 38G and was ordering a bra in that size, she laughed at me, and said it would never fit. Oddly enough, it fit perfectly.
Now I measure myself, and buy them mail order.

And yes, an underwire on a too small bra is AMAZINGLY uncomfortable. To the extent that even though I'm now wearing the correct size I've been afraid to try a bra that has one.

BTW, I know a girl who is not particularly fat, but is a bit on the big boned side (and also tall). She went into a Victoria's Secret shop at the Mall, and when she asked if they had something in her size she was told "We only have clothes for normal people."

Charming....

(BTW, I could try to tie things together by making a coment about large bosums and handcarts, but I'm going to refrain).



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"I've often said that the difference between British and American SF TV series is that the British ones have three-dimensional characters and cardboard spaceships, while the Americans do it the other way around."
--Ross Smith

well, sometimes I feel like I need a handcart....especially after going braless for a while :)

my biggest problem is that I have a broad ribcage and have a dickens of a time trying to find the correct band size. (Then add the big cup size too!) So even soft cup bras can be uncomfortable. And if I wear the band extenders, it puts the straps too far to the outside and they slide off my shoulders, which kind of defeats the "over the shoulder boulder holder" aspect of the bra in the first place! (beginning to think the 'ace bandage' approach is looking more attractive all the time!)

A question to Dave Rainbow and Sarah...why do they attach straps so far to the outside in the back? It doesn't make sense architecturally, as you get more support if you have a slight "crossover" effect. If they attached the straps closer to the center...even by an inch or two, it would make all the difference for me! I know I'm not the ONLY woman who has this issue. Maybe we should form a coalition to end the tyranny of ill-fitting bras! (I hope Eve was flat chested is all I can say, since fig leaves don't give much support!)

(oh and PS, I've been "professionally" fitted twice and those were two of the most UNCOMFORTABLE bras I've ever owned!)

(oh and PPS, sorry if this is more information than you EVER needed/wanted about me! LOL)

Dave Rainbow

The other two underwires I bought off you aren't as bad. I've adjusted to them. After a couple of hours, the purple one felt like it was gripping me to death.

AAC.

I have narrow shoulders, so I have bra straps sliding off all the time. Actually, since I've gone up a cup size and been properly fitted, my new bras have wider straps, which seem to stay in place better. Perhaps the fact they are supporting more weight is holding them down better ?

I have sloped shoulders myself, and have a horrible time with straps falling off constantly. Even the wide padded ones. And yes, I've tried the strap extenders myself and had the same problem - they put the straps so far apart in back that they fall of as soon as I move.

I suspect they put them so far apart to allow for clothes with lowish necklines in back, but I wish they wouldn't do it on virtually ALL bras. I have seen the odd bra with a T-back, but not generally in my size (and it's usually sports bras).



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"I've often said that the difference between British and American SF TV series is that the British ones have three-dimensional characters and cardboard spaceships, while the Americans do it the other way around."
--Ross Smith

To quote a former US President...

"I feel your pain..." LOL

Magda,

Don't diss sports bras. If you can find one your size, and Dave Rainbow should be able to help, get a good strength one and you will be amazed at how comfortable they are. No underwires but supportive enough for playing tennis. What more could a girl want for everyday comfort ?

My last gf used to tie a ribbon between her bras straps at the back to keep them out of sight when she wore tops with no sleeves. She also cliamed it was more comfy, so you might like to try that.

I know a bloke who needed stiches after his gfs underwiring stabbed him. Sad but true.



PSD

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This is the work of an Italian narco-anarchic collective. Don't bother insulting them, they can't read English anyway.

I can do back sizes up to a 56 in NICE, and cup sizes to J in GLAMOROUS (JJ in boring) as well as AAA in TOLERABLE.

Straps slipping? Get a crossover bra or multiway, or a strapless can be made to do the same. Multiway bras can be had to an 'F' cup, strapless to 'FF' (= G in some countries). Racer back sports bras are slip proof. Also some bras have padded straps with a textured bit to stop them slipping.

Braless? Watch for the southward rush. Breasts are held up by ligaments. Unsupported they will stretch, and it's the National Geographic look before you know it.

The ribbon mentioned above by PSD has a commercial equivalent, a strap that joins the existing bra straps at the back so that they can't slip. Looks very fiddly to me, but it's inexpensive and will probably work well for some and not for others, like most lingerie products do.

Magda, a UK company called Panache do a fantastic variety of bras in 38G in all sorts of colours and styles.

In all honesty the website can give you most of the information that would be useful quicker than I can, but Sarah and I are always happy to help out if advice is required. Address is DoubleRainbow.Co.Uk, but as the site is being heavily updated at present I will advise when it's up to date on this thread. US Dollars no problemo by card payment.

Now what about a forum for bra problems? What would ladies want?

AAC and other non UK ladies, do tell us about bra sizing and products in your countries, we're keen to expand our knowledge. Anecdotes welcome as well, there's no fascism like the type found in ladies clothes shops. Karen Carpenter's fatal anorexia began when a Beverley Hills shop 'assistant' described her as too fat to wear one of the shops products.

Lingerie laughs in the Nextarillion, more coming after I move house.

Sloping shoulders - yes, I have that problem too, and generally just put up with sliding straps, though it's a nuisance. If memory serves me correctly, both Panache and Berlei do sports bras up to a 38G; I haven't yet been able to try the Panache, but I can definitely recommend the Berlei B507. It's soft cup, it looks pretty tolerable, and it isn't going to go anywhere. If that one doesn't go to a G, the Berlei B517 will; that is similar, but even more supportive. Though I must admit that I couldn't live without underwires - I'm a vain creature and I like the shape and definition they give. ;-)

I quite agree that crossover straps would be better, but sadly the industry still considers them the exception rather than the rule. I don't yet know of a multiway bra in a G cup, though the Silhouette Sirena multiway goes to a FF and they are always trying to extend their size range to cope with demand; they have just produced their first JJ cup bra this year (wow!). Silhouette actually make some of the best lingerie (in any size) in the business.

Skiffle - the purple one - if I recall correctly that is a discontinued Lepel line. Ah, yes, Lepel. I had two of their bras in the same style but different colours; the purple fitted perfectly in the 34DD, whereas the claret didn't fit in that size at all, but was fine in the 36D. Nice bras, dodgy sizing. One of their ranges was a whole back size wrong a few years ago. Anyway, sorry about that... and your sports bra is in the wash.

PSD - er, what on earth was your friend doing at the time he was impaled by his girlfriend's underwires? (On second thoughts, do I really want to know?)



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That which does not kill us makes us stranger.
(Llewelyn the dragon, Ozy and Millie)

Sarah

I've had underwires escape, generally by poking out upwards from the middle of the bra. Tented my shirt most oddly, and it's impossible to discretely work it back into place whilst in public.

Worst, though, was one that broke at the bottom of the cup, and the sharp ends dug into my flesh in a rather sensitive spot. First time a bra actually made me bleed.

I will say, though, that bras at least serve a useful function. Those folks in the '60s should have been burning girdles instead.

-Magda-



Post Edited (03-21-03 07:08)

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"I've often said that the difference between British and American SF TV series is that the British ones have three-dimensional characters and cardboard spaceships, while the Americans do it the other way around."
--Ross Smith

Another problem just discovered with underwires. The things are ruddy uncomfortable when you want to lie on your side and have a nap. The wire digs in between my boob and upper arm.

Who needs bras anyway? If you adjust your work chair low enough, you can simply rest the girls on the desk. (Sadly, I can keep my chair at full height and still be suported by the desk! -and I'm 5'9" tall! lol)

"Sag, sag, sag....Sag, sag, sag....Saggy boobies! Saggy boobies!"

~KC and the Underwire Band

(whoever put the suggestion to listen to "Air" needs to be shot cuz now all I hear in my head is Disco!)

Saggy tits always give you somewhere to keep your pencils...



PSD

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This is the work of an Italian narco-anarchic collective. Don't bother insulting them, they can't read English anyway.

Not terribly convenient though. And imagine if the boss asked for for a pencil in a meeting...

Nasty for anyone who chews their pencils too. Would you want splinters there ?

Hi there

I can identify with many of the probs people have written about, being a size 20 D (Aust measurements) and having experienced foul underwires, fouler sales-women and the annoyance at "having" to always wear a bra so as not to terrify (though sometimes I dont and it hasnt killed me or anyone else!).

I also have the pain of rheumatoid arthritis which I suffer from, this gives me pretty constant joint pain, usually in the wrists, ankles and knees but sometimes in the shoulders also. So, on "bad days" I can't do up my bra (due to wrist action behind the back business) and have to ask my husband to do so. As I am sort-of young still (36) this is frustrating to me and my self-esteem as I am otherwise trying to still live a normal life without the constraints of RA holding me back. I have tried to find a front-opening bra to almost zero avail. I have been told "we dont do this in giant sizes" etc but even the couple I have come across via internet are still not comfortable and require as much fiddling around (hence the wrist problem) as the "normal ones". Why couldnt there be a velcro opening? AT the moment I use a "normal bra" which I have deliberately stretched and stretched so that it is very easy to do up; it doesnt do much good as what a bra should (support) but most days I can do it up myself and feel like a normal person and thats good enough for me! Perky breasts are not the be-all and end-all of life!

Here is a site I have found quite good for bras though still not exactly what I need - www.bodywise.com.au and they have nice descriptors like "goddess" style instead of "extra large"!

Karen

Karen wrote:

> Perky breasts are not the be-all and end-all of life!

Depends on whether you're looking or owning... ;D

-->

Joke, btw, frankly the only thing that really interests me is red hair (otherwise it's a mind I find attractive). Don't ask why - I don't understand it either. Hopefully I'm going climbing with a really nice red-head I met on the train last night (one of the perks of commuting!). No reason to mention that here, I just had to tell someone...



PSD

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This is the work of an Italian narco-anarchic collective. Don't bother insulting them, they can't read English anyway.

Well, so long as you don't insult her in Old English while hanging precariously off a rock ......



- - -
I am very interested in the Universe. I am specialising in the Universe and everything surrounding it. - E. L. Wisty

for some reason I read your post as 'I'm going climbing *on* a really nice red-head....'

I need more sleep/coffee. Delete as applicable.

Current music: Tangerine Dream - Ambient Monkeys.