I'm starting a new one, as this doesn't quite fit into the "intimate apparel" thread.

I needed some new bras. Partly because I've unintentionally lost 6 kilos in 6 months & sod's law, some of it's come off the boobs. Partly because I had a swine of a pup/dog "Santa" whose greatest pleasure in life was pulling my bras off the drying thingy & destroying them, no matter how high I put it! Actually, he's not a swine, but I'll never rehome him with a woman without putting out a "Public Bra Warning"!

Anyway, I digress. I went to Tesco today & they had a sale on bras. Against my better judgement I thought I'd try some - Thai makes!

I'm a UK size 36B - hardly huge on a 5'8" frame. They had some 36B's that looked OK ish & some that looked more like a 32. I sorted through, discarding the ones with an inch of padding (aren't they hot??), discarding the lovely one I found with no underwire - I'm 37 yo, no underwire & they still head south, no matter how small! So, I ended up with 3 bras. Quite pretty, minimal padding. Let's try them. Privacy of my bedroom (no changing rooms in Tesco - must be a marketing ploy to let you buy wrongly sized cr@p!) All shoulder straps had to be let out to their maximum length for a start. Well, they sort-of-fit. One on the biggest setting, 2 on the next one. The one on the biggest setting, I have to manouevre the girls into the cups, otherwise they settle under my arms, making me look both flat-chested & podgy. Quite an achievement, I'm sure you ladies will agree.

So, my question is: is there any correlation, whatsoever, between Thai & British/European sizes? Can we farang ladies ever comfortably wear a Thai bra? Do Thai ladies even wear these bras comfortably? Am I just ranting aimlessly?

Answers in the form of a post, please....

I know I probably shouldn't be posting here but seeing November's name and Bras just got the better of my curiosity. But to be on topic I found an article that shows you are not alone in this dilemma IOL: Busty Bangkok Women.

and another one > The Bras of Asia

NR did you go to the big Tesco towards Hang Dong way? If so, last time i was there they had changing rooms next to the ladies clothings section. I generally find taking a big handful of various styles, trying them on to see which shape feels most comfortable then trying a few different sizes in that style is best. An absolute pain really, but worth it in the end. Central in Kad San has some good bras, international brands too, but Tescos is much better priced.

I think set some time aside (a lot of time!) for finding the best ones in Tescos is prob the best idea. Taking some home that you hope will fit is too much of a gamble!

Good article about Busts in Bangkok! - Very apt to the thread!

I usually stock up at Marks & Spencers in the UK or occasionally in Singapore or Hong Kong. All other brands here I have not had much luck with...especially Sports Bras! Yet funnily enough when I have told my Thai friends about the current Lingerie Sale at Marks & Spencers in Central, the reaction was "Oh their bras don't fit", "I can't find the right size with them, they are too big etc". So maybe there is something in the differences between Thai & British/European Bra sizes...... Perhaps the difference in build is also a factor?

It does seem quite ironic, because probably a lot of Bra Companies manufacture their bras here!

Ah well, off to search for a decent fitted Sports Bra for the Gym and for running that provides good support and does not cost the earth!

Best of luck November Rain in your quest!

I agree with the sports bras being hard to find! If you run or like impact sports its so hard to find the proper bra. Most seem to be for light impact or smaller busts. Thankfully I brought two along with me.

Also sounds right about the bras in M&S. They have quite a lot of international brands, maybe thats why the sizes are more western.

Oh and they often have an underwear sales section in M&S so worth taking a look.

Tywais, that link to Busty Bangkok Women was brilliant. It's exactly what I was saying. Unfortunately it doesn't tell me what size (if any) to go for.

Eek, I'm not in BKK. I'm in Hua Hin. Tesco does do their Florence & Fred range here (or some of it) but I was being a cheapskate. Lesson learned - you get what you pay for!

Oh NR i thought you were in Chiang Mai. (im in CM btw). Must have been thinking of another TV member. Shame you cant try things on in Tescos there.

No, no. you are not ranting, You are just saying it like it is. It's like listening to myself...exact size, exact age, exact situation, exact fitting, even in the discarding bit that you mentioned! I still feel like a fat cow even after losing 13 kilos since living here.

All I can do is to keep wearing these hitchy things that nearly reach my neck and that many here consider granma's bras, until l go back to Europe to get nice and comfy ones in cotton to keep the girls cool...

I'm starting a new one, as this doesn't quite fit into the "intimate apparel" thread.

I needed some new bras. Partly because I've unintentionally lost 6 kilos in 6 months & sod's law, some of it's come off the boobs. Partly because I had a swine of a pup/dog "Santa" whose greatest pleasure in life was pulling my bras off the drying thingy & destroying them, no matter how high I put it! Actually, he's not a swine, but I'll never rehome him with a woman without putting out a "Public Bra Warning"!

Anyway, I digress. I went to Tesco today & they had a sale on bras. Against my better judgement I thought I'd try some - Thai makes!

I'm a UK size 36B - hardly huge on a 5'8" frame. They had some 36B's that looked OK ish & some that looked more like a 32. I sorted through, discarding the ones with an inch of padding (aren't they hot??), discarding the lovely one I found with no underwire - I'm 37 yo, no underwire & they still head south, no matter how small! So, I ended up with 3 bras. Quite pretty, minimal padding. Let's try them. Privacy of my bedroom (no changing rooms in Tesco - must be a marketing ploy to let you buy wrongly sized cr@p!) All shoulder straps had to be let out to their maximum length for a start. Well, they sort-of-fit. One on the biggest setting, 2 on the next one. The one on the biggest setting, I have to manouevre the girls into the cups, otherwise they settle under my arms, making me look both flat-chested & podgy. Quite an achievement, I'm sure you ladies will agree.

So, my question is: is there any correlation, whatsoever, between Thai & British/European sizes? Can we farang ladies ever comfortably wear a Thai bra? Do Thai ladies even wear these bras comfortably? Am I just ranting aimlessly?

Answers in the form of a post, please....

NR, I feel your pain as you know. I have given up trying to buy underwear here, I just send it to my Mum's in England and she forwards them to me. The couple of times I have managed to find my size (a whopping 38dd) I have been very disappointed. I am generally in to much of a hurry to try them on and just hand over my 400 baht or whatever. When I get home and try them on I think that Thai womens baps must be closer together or something. I end up looking like I've stuffed a couple of sofa cushions underneath my t.shirt, all lumpy and bumpy. I loathe that four breast look where your own spill over the top of the bra giving the impression that you have a row of breasts (like a dog really )

I buy all my underwear in the US now too. I am a good size, not overly large (36C) but still had difficulty finding anything locally. I did manage to get some comfy bras at the Tokyu dept store in Bangkok once tho. Anyway, you are right, you get what you pay for and the girls are worth paying for.

I buy all my underwear in the US now too. I am a good size, not overly large (36C) but still had difficulty finding anything locally. I did manage to get some comfy bras at the Tokyu dept store in Bangkok once tho. Anyway, you are right, you get what you pay for and the girls are worth paying for.

I just love it how we all call them "the girls!!!"

Definitely the sizes don't correspond, especially the cup sizes. A Thai "B" cup is a western "AA". A "C" is about an "A", a D a "B" and an E, if you can find it, more or less a western C. In the west, I'm about a 36C or D (depending on the bra). The only Thai bras I've ever found that fit were 90 (cm) E! And, of course, it is hard to find cups larger than a (Thai) B. Plus, the rare bra that is that large is usually very ugly old-lady style....

I have found the best bras in Italy. by the way 'andiamo' means 'let's go'. r u

Italiana by any chance?

I've had some luck with the "Elle" bras, they have them at Robinsons and at Emporium, if that helps anyone. But man, I feel like an awkward teenager again when the sales girls come up and ask me what size I am

I buy all my underwear in the US now too. I am a good size, not overly large (36C) but still had difficulty finding anything locally. I did manage to get some comfy bras at the Tokyu dept store in Bangkok once tho. Anyway, you are right, you get what you pay for and the girls are worth paying for.

I just love it how we all call them "the girls!!!"

Better than giving them names like alot of guys do with their own parts

Anyway, Victorias Secret does have pretty good bras and if you can get someone to mail them to you (not in the VS box!) you may be able to get them past customs for less than double their value . Alternatively, get a friend to bring you some bras when they come (assuming you have friends that do visit from time to time )

So, my question is: is there any correlation, whatsoever, between Thai & British/European sizes?

Im ny opinion, Thai bras' size (cup) is bigger than farang's (It may make thai girls feel good with the number?? )

Well , for TH brands I wear 34D , D75

But for farang brands I wear 34C cup

If you want to know your TH size ,you may check here

http://www.wacoal.co.th/sahagroup/saha_links.asp

At the menu "Your Measurement"

Wow I was thinking about the brand name and Bambina you said it.

WAcol... although I have never owned one (let alone tried one on), they are from Japan ( I think ) and are very expensive and sought after bras in the US (had no idea).

Now you can get bras that can fit you nicely in Robinson if you look at brands that are also exported.

Quite frankly I am begining to like these padded bras. I have gone from plain jane to double dang over night (no insult to nick plain jane is intended). But back in the day when the "Wonder Bra" was introduced and (was the rave) it was a padded bra that cost like $40 a pop!

However, if you can catch a made in thailand fair at the convention centers then you can buy bras that are made for export and find all kinds of sizes that are being sold at reduced prices as they are overstock.

Wow I was thinking about the brand name and Bambina you said it.

WAcol... although I have never owned one (let alone tried one on), they are from Japan ( I think ) and are very expensive and sought after bras in the US (had no idea).

Now you can get bras that can fit you nicely in Robinson if you look at brands that are also exported.

Quite frankly I am begining to like these padded bras. I have gone from plain jane to double dang over night (no insult to nick plain jane is intended). But back in the day when the "Wonder Bra" was introduced and (was the rave) it was a padded bra that cost like $40 a pop!

However, if you can catch a made in thailand fair at the convention centers then you can buy bras that are made for export and find all kinds of sizes that are being sold at reduced prices as they are overstock.

ooh - Wonderbras! Used to wear those on nights out. Usually the balconette style - gave me boobs so high they were almost under my chin! But even they weren't padded as much as some of the Thai styles I've seen. They weren't comfortable, though - it was the sort of discomfort that you only felt when you took the bra off & felt the pure relief of being unfettered again. Worth their weight in gold for cleavage value, though...

some of the thai padded bras, have pads which can be removed...

i like that a lot of the bras here have a double lining factor, stops the "nipple effect"!

Remember being out for a family meal in the UK wearing a new bra that was lovely. The resturant had the air con up a little too high and when i went to the loo I noticed in the mirror how sheer bras can not be the best best choice under light clothing. Had to stuff my bra at the front with folded up tissue and hope nobody noticed the strange outlines!

So yeh, i think the double lined bras are great and even though some are padded too, as LaReina says, with many the padding can be removed.

I have found the best bras in Italy. by the way 'andiamo' means 'let's go'. r u

Italiana by any chance?

I agree with you the Italians DO make bellissima bras! However, I'm not Italian, just hang out with a lot of Italians and love da language so have picked up quite a bit of lingo! Actually I am Welsh! (Iechyd da!) Plus, I don't like to stand still for too long, hence "andiamo" "Let's go!"

Ciao for now

I had to shop for a new bra yesterday (landlord's dog ate the strap off my beige number). My gawd! Rows and rows of these stalwart boob soldiers on racks. Almost everything here is padded and pre-formed to create a "cleaner line". FO, Lady, give me a comfy cotton bra that fits. No luck. Ended up spending $43 for this piece of body molding. OK, it looks good under tees but it just feels so phony. I have cloned you, it screams. I could have got a cotton sports bra, but they are just miniature t-shirts. No hold and I'd have to paste plasters over my nipples if I wore it out anywhere.

Identically same story for me... and not only with bras but also with tops, t-shirts and shirts. a bit of a disaster really..I'm reluctant to modify my body but I'm more and more contemplating the idea of going for a breast reduction, it would make it easier also for jogging purposes..

I guess that with the increasing number of farang women moving to Thailand there will be more variety of affordable bras in the future.

I had to shop for a new bra yesterday (landlord's dog ate the strap off my beige number). My gawd! Rows and rows of these stalwart boob soldiers on racks. Almost everything here is padded and pre-formed to create a "cleaner line". FO, Lady, give me a comfy cotton bra that fits. No luck. Ended up spending $43 for this piece of body molding. OK, it looks good under tees but it just feels so phony. I have cloned you, it screams. I could have got a cotton sports bra, but they are just miniature t-shirts. No hold and I'd have to paste plasters over my nipples if I wore it out anywhere.

I had a breast reduction in the UK several years ago and went down to a comfortable 38D. (I used to be a 38H!!!) My new life in LOS has made me wish I'd gone down to a B cup! My fantastic Mum goes bra shopping for me in Glasgow and sends them over to me. She keeps the receipts and I send them back to her if they don't fit.

I've yet to find anything in Tesco that's really suitable for farang boobs. Thai women are just not built the same way we are, even the fatter ones. I have found a good selection of international branded bras in Central that are bigger sizes and sexier styles. My favourites are Vanity Fair bras but they are pricey - from 600 baht up. You do have to keep trying though as the stock changes regularly. Sometimes I can't find anything and a few days later I'm spoilt for choice. They do offer a service where they can transfer stock from one branch to another but I've never tried this so don't know how successful it is.

Good luck in your quest.

MCL

I've just come back from our local Tesco where I happened to walk past the lingerie & noticed that all of their Florence & Fred lingerie (British brand) is significantly cut down in price; a typical markdown is from 450bt to 135bt. Considering my moan in the OP of this thread, what could I do, but stock up?

I bought 6 bras (differing styles & colours - from plain underwired t-shirt to lacy balconette), a 3 pack of cotton briefs (would have bought more but they only had 1 pack in my size! ) and a lacy pair of briefs to match one of the bras. Total cost? 960 bt.

If you have a branch of Tesco near you, it might be worth a visit in the next couple of days to see if this sale is Thailand wide. They even had their bras for the fuller ladies (E's & F's) cut down & quite a lot of DD's in their ordinary ranges. And all of those are UK sizes, so no pinching.

Edited August 14, 200718 yr by November Rain

What's the deal with the FOAMS or PADDINGS in the bras sold here? A sexy bra to me is something lacy, maybe even wired, but without the foam/paddings.

Edited August 19, 200718 yr by DaggerEyes

As suggested, take the foam/padding out.

does anyone know what a 34C equates to in thai sizes? i can't seem to get it right. i saw bambina's link but it says i would be a size A and <65, but that is way too small.

Edited August 19, 200718 yr by girlx

Girlx. The local stores are gen a smaller fit (stalls etc. plus cannot try on). Gen find its better off going to places such as Central or poss Tescos. The size will be C75. However, it is worth getting measured. One of ladies in Central ksk will be happy to do this and help you find the correct fitting. You will pay more there, but at least they fit well with a variety of choices. (Also they often have some decent sale section stuff)