Big is Beautiful (Bravissimo Bras)

Member Name: mancsoulsister

Product:	Bravissimo Bras
Date:	18/07/02 (12600 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Big, Big, Big

Disadvantages: None

If you believe the rubbish that the fashion magazines force down people’s throats these days, then I am blessed with nature’s greatest gift – yes I have large breasts. I am lucky enough not to be able to see my feet when I am standing up. I have the kind of décolleté that causes the Sid Jameses of this world to start dribbling and making very strange noises. According to the fashionistas I have exactly what every woman wants. Beauty companies make creams which are supposed to transform little breasts so that they look like mine. Plastic Surgeons make a fortune out of transplants every year so that other women can have breasts like mine. Fashion designers have even made tops with build in bits that make little breasts look bigger like mine. Oh yes I am truly blessed!!! With big bosoms my life is perfect and I could not want for anything!!!

WRONG!!! All I can say to the fashion editors who write these magazines is ‘you try and buy a bra for large breasts and see how wonderful that experience is’.

Picture this: I am out shopping for lingerie with my best ‘less blessed’ friend in the local underwear boutique. We both ask the sneering shop assistant for a pretty ‘come and eat me’ bra and knickers set in our respective sizes. She gets offered the most beautiful and sexy sets in all kinds of wonderful colours. She is drowned in a feast of lace and fine fabrics while I get shoved off into the ‘block and tackle’ section – A small selection of reinforced wired tan coloured synthetics that my gran wouldn’t be seen dead in. The best friend leaves the shop happy with a bag full of wonderful body packages, designed to make her look busty and well endowed. I go home empty handed, cursing my large bust and wondering why in the present climate of breast obsession I am still unable to buy a nice bra that fits me. The irony of the situation is not lost on me.

This happens to me eve
ry time I go out and try and buy a new bra. It is no wonder that I had almost given up hope of ever finding a bra that I like in my size anywhere on this earth. Face facts, sister, bra manufacturers are just not aware that girls like you exist in real life. Or that is what I thought until fairly recently.

A few months back, I was reading through my latest copy of Cosmo Bride (in case I haven’t mentioned this recently I am getting married soon!) looking for wedding and bridal ideas. I had finished reading all the interesting articles about honeymoons and wedding venues when I happened upon the classified section. And what do I find there if not the answer to my prayers. An advert for a lingerie mail order company, specialised in underwear for larger breasted ladies – Yippee!!

http:/www.bravissimo.com sees itself as a celebration of my curves. Bravissimo started up in 1995 having seen a glaring hole in the market for bras with larger cup sizes. They have consistently campaigned with manufacturers for more styles and colours in for the bigger breast. The result of this campaigning is a wide range of colours and styles, from balconette to plunge, in cup sizes upto a JJ. All bras have matching knickers. They also offer a range of swimwear, bridal corsetry and strappy tops for all sizes.

That was the idea, so I decided to give them a try:

THE BRAVISSIMO COLLECTIONS
Well all I can say to that is WOW!!! There is so much choice and so many different styles to choose from that it is very easy for the bra thursty like me to get a little carried away. However Bravissimo does warn that demand is high (ARE YOU LISTENING MANUFACTURERS - DEMAND IS HIGH?) so not all sizes and colours are available indefinitely. However the collection is updated regularly on the website and new designs are available so you are not likely to leave empty handed. The prizes are reasonable and range from about 20 –60 pounds. To make selection eas
ier Bravissimo splits its collection into 6 different sections:

Bravissimo Sets
These are very pretty 2 pieces (bra and knickers) which are good for both special occasions and every day use. Most of these sets come in a number of different colours and are available in most sizes up to a JJ. These are the sets for turning your lover’s head!! An average set prize for bra and knickers is 35 pounds

Everyday Favourites
This is a selection of the comfy bras that you want to wear everyday under T-Shirts or to work. The fabrics are soft and styles seamless so that the bras disappear under clothing leaving you with perfect shape! An average favourite costs 25 pounds

Strappy Tops
My favourite! Bravissimo have a range of skimpy tops with a hidden bra so that you can look sexy without bra straps showing everywhere. The tops come in just about every imaginable colour and are absolutely fabulous! All tops cost 30 quid.

Special Occassions
That is bridal corsetry to you. This is a small range of corsets and bras to wear under the gown on your big day (or under ball gowns, evening wear in fact anything you need a bit of extra support for without the straps!). Bridal corsetry is not cheap and a set costs a reasonable 50 pounds.

Sports and Soft Cups
This collection encompasses extremely supportive sports bras and nursing bras. The sports bras also double up as a top you can wear without a T-Shirt. The nursing bras cost around 20 pounds and the sport bras are about 25 pounds

Swimwear
A beautiful collection of bikinis and swimsuits with extra support for the larger breasted woman. This collection is apparently only available in spring and summer. A swimsuit costs about 50 pounds while a bikini is around 40 pounds.

In both the catalogue and the internet page, Bravissimo have set aside a section expecially for bra fittings to make sure that you get the right size. It explains exactly how to meas
ure yourself and how to convert these measurements into the right size. It also gives useful tips on how to look after your bust. There are also fitting instructions for knickers and suspenders.

Bravissimo offers several ways of buying their products.

THE WEBSITE
The Bravissimo Website is very well designed and easy to follow from the homepage. The site has two main functions, a collection browse and a bra search.

The bra collections are split up into the different selections ( Sports, Special Occassions, sets, everyday favourites etc) which allows you to click through the collection of your choice. Each bra appears as a thumbnail at the bottom of the page which you can scroll through until you find a bra you think you might like. You can then click on that thumbnail for further details of colours and available sizes. The shopping cart facility allows you to put the bra into your cart and continue shopping if necessary.

The search function allows you to search all collections for the colour, style and size you require. The results come up in the form of thumbnails which can be clicked on for more details. Again the shopping cart facility allows you to easily put your choice into the bag and continue shopping.

When you have finished your shopping and your cart is rammed full of goodies you can go to the check out. Bravissimo allows payment with a large number of credit cards, the details of which are entered via a secure site so that noone can nab your details. After entering your payment details and your delivery address, click click and your goods are on their way. The goods arrived the following day (to a UK address). Bravissimo also deliver to other countries, delivery then takes about 5-7 days.

All the products have a guarantee. So if for whatever reason you are not happy with your order, you can return the lot unworn within 14 days and Bravissimo will glady exchange or refund your order. Within the U
K there is no charge for returning goods, from overseas you will have to pay the return postage. Simple.

BY TELEPHONE
From the website I ordered a catalogue, not because I wasn’t happy with the webpage (I love internet shopping) but because I wanted my lovely husband-to-be to have a look! The catalogue is filled with the same photos and information as the website. The only advantage of the catalogue over the website is that you can spend a little more time browsing at home. The catalogue works in conjunction with the telephone hotline. The hotline is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am – 8:30 pm and Saturday from 9:00am to 5pm (Sundays is closed). The ladies on the end of the phone are really friendly and helpful. They take your order, answer any questions you may have, take your payment details and delivery address and away you go. So simple.

Bravissimo has also opened 3 shops (which I have not tried yet) in Manchester, Solihull and London.

THE MANCSOULSISTER VERDICT
Well what can I say – after years of living in the bra desert, Bravissimo is a fertile oasis and I admit it I went a little mad. I bought 2 bravissimo sets which fit perfectly and are really comfortable and the would be husband thinks they are fabulous. I also bought an everday bra which first time round was the wrong size (my fault not theirs) but the return process was simple, so I swapped for a new size which I am very happy with. All the bras give my breasts a wonderful shape and great support without making me feel like I am being strapped in! But it is also the attention to little details that really made the difference. The products are all delivered in light tissue paper to give them an exclusive feel and they all come complete with product care information and a guarantee for 6 months..

I am so impressed with the service and the range that Bravissimo offers. The bras are reasonably priced and excellent quality and as an added bonu
s they all fit!! The delivery in both the UK and Europe was quick and efficient and I had no problems with returning goods. I love the website and I could never tire of browsing through the catalogue. The hotline was helpful and very friendly and I didn’t feel like I was boring or bugging anyone with my questions.

For me Bravissimo is a god send. It has taken me so long to find a company who has realised my needs and done something about it. I would recommend Bravissimo to any woman who has problems finding bras to fit them in conventional lingerie shops. You are sure to find the back and cup size you are looking for at Bravissimo.

My reluctant traipse around the shops is now over – thanks Bravissimo!

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