My name is Miriam and I have rather large breasts, they can make my back ache, my shoulders can hurt from the straps and they cost a small fortune in bras. However, I know that this doesn’t have to be the case all the time and properly fitting bras and undies can make the world of difference to posture, mood and attitude. Added to these reasons is the fact that after 43 years I have learned to love my breasts. I no longer view them negatively, as the cause of great uncomfortableness due excessive male attention and cat calling, non stop bouncing when moving in excess of a fast walk, the need to buy tops 3 sizes larger than my bottom half, they are not horrid appendages that I cover up but are part of me, and right now I really like me. So in celebration I recently cleared out all of my old underwear and repurchased nice new properly fitting bras and knickers, lots of them. Out went the bras that sort of fit but I kept having to heave them up to avoid the 4 boob situation and out went the knickers with holes in as well. My boob size has whizzed up after being on such a large amount of meds, bloating, steroid weight gain etc, but despite having lost some of the gained weight my boobs firmly remain a 36G (see feature pic where my cup size would fit me as a hat). It wasnt cheap by any stretch of the imagination. But I am lucky enough to have a boyfriend who was so fed up of listening to me complain about my uncomfy bras that he gifted it all to me. I shopped online at both Bravissimo and Figleaves, sticking with the brand Freya for sets and some Panache knickers.
Same as above but in Sand
If you are bra buying then I would highly recommend Rigby and Peller, the Regents Street branch, the staff are a delight to encounter and the bras spectacular. You don’t get physically measured they look at your boobs and make their prediction, and they are always right, but I can no longer afford £80 plus for a bra though they are wonderful.
John Lewis are my general go to for measuring and fitting, good array of D+ bras, excellent service and very informative. But when I was pregnant the lady flatly refused to let me have an underwired bra……she clearly did not know the agony of carrying around these puppies and a huge tummy, I am only 5ft 2 (and a half). I ended up with a big mono boob, sweaty and vile, for the whole pregnancy. I should have just bought what I wanted but it was my first (and only that lasted more than 12 weeks) pregnancy. What did I know!!
Bravissimo are also rather good. In fact they were, and remain, the company who are dedicated to larger busted ladies, their clothes range is wonderful too, though a little out of my price range. I particularly like the fact that in each dress size they also specify Curvy, Really Curvy or Super Curvy in order to accommodate boob size. Their motto is “Clothing designed with your boobs in mind.” The fit is excellent, I have a three of their dresses that I bought a few years ago for weddings.
I have had terrible experiences at Marks and Spencer’s when it come to bra fittings, at multiple stores, such a shame. I have also found that their plain cotton knickers just don’t seem to be as well wearing as they used to, the material also seems a little thiner.
As I now live in the sticks and have no desire to schlep into London on the weekend since I do it for work all week, I have taken to measuring myself, and quite sucessfully, though be warned, the same bra size in different brands can come up significantly different. I found this out a few years ago when I was first measured at Rigby and Peller. This is mainly why I stick to Freya, they are true to size, exceptionally comfortable, pretty, not those huge matronly looking things that used to be the only options, and they are reasonably priced. I orderd some Panache bras in the same size and they were simply huge, so back they went.
I also sleep in a bra, yes, an underwired one. It is so uncomfortable for me not too. But I also have a couple of lycra bra tops I sleep in though admittedly the support isn’t as good.
Having spent a small fortune I decided to look after the bras properly, this involves hand washing them every 2 or 3 wears with a liquid for delicates. I’m going to get as much use of these comfy perfect garments as possible.
I must add that it is a mystery to me that, when I already have such a large chest, so many bras in my size are essentially padded. I have no desire to minimise my chest size but neither do I wish to enhance it with an additional bulky layer. But each to their own.
Duvet Days 