"You can survive this. Talk to others that have"

Dark Inertia posted 5/14/2014 22:40 PM

I am so fed up with bras... I have about 5 pairs and ALL of them except ONE has a piece of metal sticking out. Usually I chuck them, but that is getting to be a very expensive game to play; so now I am looking up the best method of repair as well as preventative measures. I have no idea what else I can do to keep this from happening. I baby the bras, don't put them in the dryer, all that good stuff. Am I going wrong with brand? All of my bras are from VS, should I be looking elsewhere? Thanks in advance for the advice! :)

GabyBaby posted 5/14/2014 22:46 PM

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/492649932700263/

dameia posted 5/14/2014 22:56 PM

http://www.buzzfeed.com/nataliemorin/ingenious-clothing-hacks-everyone-should-know?s=mobile

Another link that may help. Its #25.

purplejacket4 posted 5/14/2014 23:59 PM

Just say no. I refuse to wear them anymore. And as a doctor I see them harming people. Companies like Title Nine make excellent bras for bigger chested women that do not use wires.

Eranda posted 5/15/2014 04:46 AM

Victoria's Secret are actually very cheaply made bras. They are not particularly well engineered, they're for "looks" only really.

When I've had underwires poke through, I usually push them back and then sew a small piece of felt over the hole. That works indefinitely. Also, if an underwire breaks, there are lingerie sewing supply places online where you can buy replacements. No need to chuck a good bra just because the wire is unruly LOL.

fireproof posted 5/15/2014 06:32 AM

VS bras a not well made.

Wash them in cold and hang dry. I find that Olga is the best when it comes to underwire.

VS is nice but doesn't hold up for actual wear in the long term.

JanaGreen posted 5/15/2014 07:42 AM

I don't know what size bra you wear. I'm small, 34B, and I have found that the cheap ($12.99) Gillian & O'Malley bras at Target hold up great. I alternately sometimes buy the Maidenform and other brand of tee-shirt bras at Dillard's - I bought those pre-baby when I was a 32C, which is harder to find in cheaper brands, but post-birth I'm in a much easier (cheaper) size to find. I never had much luck with VS bras.

tushnurse posted 5/15/2014 08:09 AM

OK first problem is you are getting bras for decoration not support, even though you may not realize it. VS bras suck.

Now if you have larger boobs, and are bigger than a 36 then you need to go to the intimate apparel department at Kohls, Penny's or Macy's. They won't be as pretty, but they will hold up, and they will give support. Go and try on every single style. Find the one you like. Get one, and if it works well for you, the straps don't slide of your shoulders, it gives good support, it doesn't bind or itch, then wait until the store has a buy one get one sale and stock up.

I am larger chested, and have found 2 brands that I love, and yes they are more expensive, about $30.00 a piece, if not on sale. So I baby them, I don't wash them more than once a week, and rotate so they can air out a day inbetween airing. When I do wash them I wash them by hand and let them drip dry.

The last thing I do when I get them is sew a reinforcing stich at the ends of the underwire, where it's like to eventually poke out. I Simply sew an X with quilting thread (it's thicker).

It's funny you mention this, because I noticed in the past two weeks two of mine have developed holes even with all this, but they are a couple years old so it's time. Going bra shopping this weekend!

Lucky2HaveMe posted 5/15/2014 08:10 AM

Ok... I went to the site... Ummmmmm... My neck is way smaller than my waist!

23. See if jeans fit without trying them on by placing the waistline of the jeans around your neck.

simplydevastated posted 5/15/2014 08:11 AM

All of mine are from VS and I've had good luck with all of them. I had one bra that the under wire poked out and that bra was five yrs old when it happened. I have worn bras from Target ($10 each) and those would fall apart so fast that I was spending about as much as one bra from VS would cost eery few months. It was crazy, so I switched. If you still like VS they do have wireless styles that are very pretty. Just an suggestion.

cayc posted 5/15/2014 08:17 AM

VS bras, the entire brand, are very poorly made and you are wasting money buying that brand.

If you are going to put them in a washing machine, use a lingerie bag, that including the no dryer will greatly lengthen their life.

Another reason for bras to give out too soon is you aren't wearing the right size. As in, your band size is probably smaller than you think, and your cup size is probably larger than you think.

I buy my bras from Ross, TJ Maxx and Marshall's. Why overpay? Occasionally I'll pay full price for something deliciously delicate, but usually I have about 3 in daily rotation and I wear them out, then replace.

GabyBaby posted 5/15/2014 08:45 AM

Even though I don't wear plus sizes, I'm top heavy. I've had VERY good luck finding very supportive bras at Lane Bryant since they have the larger cup sizes.
I usually hold off until they have a bogo sale, then I go nuts.

I will definitely be checking out Title Nine though. I have yet to find a sports bra that works for me. I typically have to wear a regular bra, then a sports bra over that in order to hold the girls down during workouts.

ETA: I'm a very full 38DD. I should probably go up another up size, but ugh...

[This message edited by GabyBaby at 2:07 PM, May 18th (Sunday)]

Kalleigh posted 5/15/2014 09:30 AM

I SPENT 70 dollars on a bra for my daughter at VS and it didnt last a month before the wire came out, I WAS MAD. I have never spent that much on a bra for myself. she ended up just taking the wires out. NEVER again. but we did go back and buy some and they were 50 for 2. I hate bra shopping, why so expensive, we need them. same goes for glasses and other stuff we HAVE to have. of vent over

inconnu posted 5/15/2014 09:31 AM

I have not had any problems with VS bras. I machine wash, in lingerie bags, and hang dry. I also have more than just a couple. Okay, I have like 7-8 that I rotate through. Maybe more, I just got 2 more last week.

Any item of clothing that gets almost daily use is going to wear out. Any item of clothing that gets washed a lot is going to wear out. Fabric and thread are not indestructible.

Getting the right size is really important too. VS is not the place to get properly fitted.

Aubrie posted 5/15/2014 09:40 AM

Mini t/j

Just say no. I refuse to wear them anymore. And as a doctor I see them harming people.

Dr. PJ, can you explain this for me? Mother went on this uber health nut kick, and about a year ago she was all, "Underwire bras are the devil. Don't wear them, blah, blah." but she never said why.

cayc posted 5/15/2014 09:42 AM

I will definitely be checking out Title Nine though.

I'm 34DD so um I *need* a sports bra to work. The Lululemon Ta Ta Tamer (fuck that name, fuck that brand) are so awesome. I had to overcome my aversion to that brand once I tried one. I bought a second one over two years ago and both are still perfect. They had a sale once and I bought two more that are still unworn b/c I didn't want to start using them until the first two wore out. Finding a decent sports bra for Crossfit, horseback riding, you know, sports where you don't want your bust moving at all, was critical.

I remember with VS first came to the U.S. They used to sell other brands, except they'd rip out the tags and have their store employees sew in their own label. (A friend of mine in college worked there). So sure, back then I shopped there. But not now, way too expensive for what you're getting imho.

inconnu posted 5/15/2014 11:53 AM

cayc, I'm a 32DD and I will not buy Lulemon. I found an excellent sports bra by Moving Comfort that works great. I think it's the Maia. Not what you'd call overly attractive, but the girls stay put. They have other styles that I want to get, just as soon as I find my size for a price I'm willing to pay.

nolight posted 5/15/2014 12:18 PM

Agree with everyone else VS bras are so cheaply made, they are not worth the money you spend. I keep getting sucked in by their prettiness and have clasps break, cups lose shape and wire stick out within months. My only advice is buy elsewhere! It's hard if you're big chested and small to medium framed, I find it really hard to find bras to fit, which is why I go back to VS, I've started wearing Under Armour sports bras they're awesome! (I'm a 34 DD to E and find they still support me)

Out of curiosity why do people hate lulu lemon?

[This message edited by nolight at 12:24 PM, May 15th (Thursday)]

soverybetrayed posted 5/15/2014 14:09 PM

My favorite bra is a tshirt bra by Natori. It was $60 but it lasted 5 years before the underwire broke last month. I think that is a really good deal since I wore it almost everyday. You can also find them on sale at Nordstroms Rack or online by searching for "Natori tshirt bras". Investing in a really good bra is very important so you do not continue to waste money buying cheap ones. I used to love Vanity Fair but they do not make them in my size (32F) so I began buying better made bras. Sometime you just have to spend the money for good support.

I also hand wash all my bras so that they do not get messed up on a washer or dryer. They last longer and I wash them in Woolite. It does seem to work well.

EvenKeel posted 5/15/2014 14:18 PM

Underwire bras are the devil. Don't wear them, blah, blah

This was ME the other week....I think I might of even channeled the devil's voice while saying it.

I bought a really cute, expensive bra (think date hoopla). I really liked it AT HOME. Standing straight and not bending. Halfway to my date, those underwires were killing me. I literally pulled off into a McD's parking lot and was trying to cut the underwires out (while the bra was still on it). What? Am I really the only one with scissors in my center console?

I succeeded. I am sure I looked like a raving lunatic if anyone was watching but I did not care.

Instant relief.....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

So, I have two slightly used underwires up for sale. LOL