Random Questions

[athersgeo]

• Why do bra designers insist that women with larger chests MUST wear garments that are either black, or white, and ugly?


• Why can I not go into Tesco without coming out with a DVD?


• What on earth were Def Leppard smoking in the early part of their music career that made them think the videos for "Foolin'" and "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" (to name two) were a good idea?


• Why is it now I have plenty of time to write, I have no inspiration whatsoever?


• Why is it the current crop of pop music isn't a patch on the pop music of twenty years ago?


• No, really, what do bra designers have against those of use with larger assets?

Comments

[angelofthenorth.livejournal.com]

http://www.bravissimo.com

Is your friend...

good value, good fit and teh pretteh!

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

Next time I'm looking, I'll give that a try - thanks :)

[antigone-ks.livejournal.com]

For one thing, we do need a little more support than your standard B or C, and lace isn't all that sturdy. That being said, maybe you're shopping at the wrong stores? I don't know if you have JC Penneys over there, but they have great bras in larger sizes. Not much on the lace, except as decoration, but applique and pretty colors, anyway.

[megaleena.livejournal.com]

And JC Penneys is Primark, over here, if that helps! :)

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

Is it?! Are you sure?

It doesn't actually help me all that much: Bristol's Primark is tiny (and that's assuming it's still open).

[megaleena.livejournal.com]

Yup, I'm sure. JC Penneys trades as that in Ireland and Primark here. Don't know why, like...

Are you going anywhere soonish that you could go to their store for?

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

Nope - the soonest I'm likely to be in the US is Christmas.

[megaleena.livejournal.com]

I meant a UK city, Birmingham and Manchester have both got pretty big stores?

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

No again - and, apparently, it's not worth the while; Primark don't do anything over a D cup.

[megaleena.livejournal.com]

Bugger.

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

True enough - but it's possible to provide support without looking like either an athletics bra or something that wouldn't have been out of place on an Easternbloc shot-putter...which seems to be all most bra designers manage over here.

Sadly, we don't have JC Penneys here. *Makes note to go next time she's on the right side of the Atlantic*

[antigone-ks.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure M&S has some decent undies, as well. Last summer some of the girls went shopping and found some suitably trashy stuff ;)

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

*grins* Ah yes, the world famous M&S undies - you know, there's a girl coming here from China (one of the first package tourists from there to come - hence she got interviewed) who says she's going to buy knickers at M&S.

I've bought bras from M&S - out of the three, one snapped within four weeks, one was so uncomfortable I couldn't wear it [that got taken back] and the only one that was any good, I out grew [I was 13 - it was a lovely comfy thing...].

[antigone-ks.livejournal.com]

Of course, damn near anything with an underwire is going to be uncomfortable. *sigh*

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

Actually - and this is the REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEALLY annoying part of the whole sorry mess - not everything. I had this one underwire bra that I bought about two years ago. It's a beautiful shape, it's got just the right level of practicality to the design mixed with some really nice touches of femininity, it has nice, thin straps (as opposed to inch wide monstrosities!) and best of all, it is easily the most comfortable bra I have ever owned. Was, I should say. Yesterday, it became an over-wire-poke-me-on-the-breastbone bra - and though I think I can fix it, it's clearly not much longer for this life :(

[honorh.livejournal.com]

Don't bother with Penney's. Try Nordstrom. The bras are more expensive there, but the designers actually put a little thought into style as well as function.

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

The mall I'd be going to has both - so I can try both :)

*note to self: Visit PA next time you require underwear*

[ladyguinevere83.livejournal.com]

Why do bra designers insist that women with larger chests MUST wear garments that are either black, or white, and ugly?

Angel and I were discussing this the other day!

Try Debenhams. I got a lovely pretty green bra there for only £18! (I'm a 34F, so I thought that an achievement. If you have bigger boobs than an F you might have even more trouble though :-(

Wh ydo they think we don't want pretty bras? And what's their obsession with that horrible beige colour?

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

Trouble is, I'm big in both directions - I'm a 38 E. So not only do I have difficulty in finding the cup size, I have difficulty finding the chest size. Plus, Bristol's Debenhams has a piddling little lingerie department. I didn't try today (I had a voucher for House of Fraser, which has a bigger [and more helpful] department), but I've looked in the past with no success.

[ladyguinevere83.livejournal.com]

38 isn't that big!

And I happen to know that a lot of Debenhams extra sized ones go up to either 38F or 40F, so you should be okay!

Of course, that doesn't solve the problem of Bristol's small department. Leicester's is reasonably sized, though they moved it and I wandered around for ages!

I think this icon is rather apt, lol :)

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

I do like that Icon :) And I know that 38 isn't all that big in real terms. The trouble is, anything remotely fashionable only tends to go up to 38C (and that's if you're lucky) - which is a rule of thumb from House of Fraser, Matalan, M&S and La Senza.

If only Debenhams was bigger here.

[francesn.livejournal.com]

rejoicing with large assets myself (34H if you wanted to know) I recommend Bravissimo, Rigby and Peller (Expensive but oh so so so worth it) and makes such as Freya, Fantasie and Charnos (available from Figleaves.com). I know Debenhams stocks Freya, and so does a fantastic shop called Feathers in Henley if you ever have any call to be up that way!

but I agree about the black, white and beige obsession - handy as they are why can't we have PRETTY bras?

AND why are bras so expensive? My sister and her 32Bs manage to get bras for under a tenner, whereas I spend 3 times as much on a nasty piece of scaffolding in a nondescript colour or twice that again on a pretty and functional bra. grrrrrr *rants*

Also ignore Primark - they disregard you if you're bigger than a D cup (grrrrrr)

[ladyguinevere83.livejournal.com]

I was rather impressed on Saturday - I got three bras for £55. And they were nice!

Though saying that, if I had smaller boobs it would only be £30 :-(

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

House of Fraser had all three makes you mention - which would have been great...except they were ALL white, or black, and absolutely pig ugly to boot. All I wanted was a simple garment with straps that didn't have the same thickness as my wrist!

Bristol's Primark certainly would - their lingerie department is (was?) one set of pegs and three bra styles (!) - but it doesn't surprise me. La Senza, which is supposedly a lingerie shop doesn't sell anything bigger than a C cup.

[francesn.livejournal.com]

I am shocked! My Freya bras are the prettiest ones I have - in the most gorgeous candy colours! And although the Charnos ones do tend to be boring colours they are pretty and feminine with nice straps.

I once wrote to La Senza (and Knickerbox) to complain about their limited and prejudiced approach to bra sizes. Neither bothered to write back.

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

Without exception, all the Freya bras had straps that were an inch wide and they were covered with something that looked as if it was trying to be lace but was failing dismally - and they really, really did look like absolute boulder holsters! House of Fraser only had a couple of Fantasie bras and they were suffering much the same problem. The Charnos ones were better (I ended up with a Charnos one), but they'd obviously been taking lessons from Henry Ford (I could have any colour as long as it was black!). To be fair, though, House of Fraser probably doesn't have the range that a website would carry.

Somehow, I'm not surprised neither bothered to respond. After all, everyone knows that anyone 'large' is automatically ugly and no designer would want their brand sullied by someone ugly wearing it... /sarcasm. I had a 'friend' who couldn't understand why the heck I loathed being dragged into La Senza - and couldn't believe that their sizes didn't go anywhere near fitting me (until I point blank showed her the label on one of my bras)...at which point her reaction was "well I don't know why you're complaining; at least you're not flat chested!"

[weird-bird.livejournal.com]

Would definitely back up the Rigby and Pellar or www.figleaves.com options
prior to Megan (sob) I was a lot bigger 30/32 D/E and struggled to buy a bra anywhere that wasn't as you said black/white and ugly.

I usually waited till the sales and made a special day of it in London at R&P and hey if they are good enough for the queen....

They were really nice in there and I didnt think any more expensive than a lot of the department stores.

They really do have *choice* in styles and colour in every size....

Once my bosoms have recoverd (yep I am living in the cloud cuckoo land of hope here)

I am going to treat myself again ...

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

London's a bit of a trek just to buy a bra (particularly an expensive one!), but I'll have to have a look at figleaves.com :)

[honorh.livejournal.com]

Bra designers assume that if you have larger boobs, you must be large all over, and therefore, you don't ever get laid (well, true in my case) or want to look pretty and feminine.

A less-insulting theory would be that they think that larger assets need no further embellishment. Whatever the case is, I wish they'd get over it.

Try Wacoal. They make some pretty bras that are actually wearable, and this is coming from a G-cup.

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

Where are Wacoal? They sound interesting.

I think, there's an overall assumption that anyone who isn't rail thin and flat as a board doesn't deserve to look pretty or feminine - and though bras show it best, I've had tremedous trouble finding skirts, pants and tops to fit me that don't look like I've mugged a 50 year old for them.

Gah.

[honorh.livejournal.com]

Ask and ye shall receive. (http://www.wacoal.com/)

[aspartaimee.livejournal.com]

No, really, what do bra designers have against those of use with larger assets?

i have an odd size, odd in the way that i can't walk into a department store and expect to see my size hanging on a rack. an F cup will do that to you.

anyway, i have discovered a little store here in NYC that next time you come visit here i will be dragging you to, after i meet you in person of course. they specialize in all sizes and shapes, and when i say to the person behind the counter, i want something unusual/sexxxy/pretty and generally not boring and ugly, she gets it for me. and many bras are half off the tagged price. and they size you correctly, mostly by sight, and they have 100% been right. i have brought many people there and converted them to the glory of orchard corset. it's a weird way to shop, but i never want to go back to department store hunting. i recently went to get a strapless long line for a wedding i am in and the thing is indestructible.

brands i recommend: wacoal (out of New Jersey), goddess, bali. www.barenecessities.com had some good choices. make sure you are wearing the correct size before making internet purchases, though. i tend to be wary when ordering bras and shoes online because they can be so different from brand to brand.

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

Your store in NYC sounds great. I have definitely got to go there next time I'm in your part of the world.

You're the second person to suggest Wacoal - don't know that I'm able to get them here, though. I'll have to have a hunt.

The size differences thing is the thing that makes me leary of buying online for bras (at least in a real store you can go try 'em on there and then). On the other hand, after today's efforts, I shall definitely be trying online!

[germankitty]

I hear you on the bras. *sigh* I'm actually DOWN to a 40DD now (from 42/44E), love underwires and am willing to pay extra for a really good fit. My problem is, my shoulders are sloping just a tad, so even if I manage to find something nice, the straps are maybe a quarter- to half-inch too far on the outside. Result? Constantly slipping straps. Argh!

But try Evans; I bought some really nice lingerie there, at prices that weren't TOO bad. (Considering that I routinely calculate at least €50 for a good bra, anything below that seems downright cheap!) In Leeds I bought a lovely lilac lace bra with narrow straps two years ago; last year in Gloucester I stocked up on champagne-colored satin with variable straps -- one set could even be worn under halter tops, the other was clear plastic -- perfect for spaghetti-strap tops!

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if there's a branch of Evans in Bristol (it's not a storename I remember) - if there is, I'll give them a try. Can't do the plastic straps though - I'm allergic :(

[germankitty]

Pity about the allergy. :-) Evans is a store chain that specializes in plus sizes, which is why it may have escaped you -- but they also have an online catalogue. Try evans.co.uk under "intimates".

[katarzyna-m.livejournal.com]

I am with you on the Evans front - though being a larger (hell large) all over person I am used to shopping there. They do have some good, and fun coloured bras - I have several, with lace and frilly bits too!

Other places I have bought bras from (that fit and aren't either white, black of ugly) are Asda (yes really) and Matalan.

Louise - who whilst narrower round the back has a larger cup size (large enough to keep telling her doctor that she wants a reduction to help her back ache) recommends Debenhams (though she doesn't know that I have just told you all about her bust size :) )

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

Debehams is out here - I've tried it before and the lingerie department is sorely lacking - as is Bristol's branch of Matalan (my mother's bought bras from them and she's had to go up a cup size!) Asda may be worth a try (I've bought some very nice tops from there in the past), though, as would Evans (assuming that there's a branch in Bristol - I'm not sure if there is or not).

[eternalmusings.livejournal.com]

Better question: what do bra designers have against women, period?