Optifit Bras ~ goodbye 38E

When another blogger who you've never met before asks if you want to take a drive up Saddleworth Moor at night and take your top off, how can you refuse? And I didn't....

Pippa from the RedRoseMummy blog needed a lift to a focus group organised by Optifit and, after 5 pregnancies and 8 years of breastfeeding my boobs are not quite so perky as they once were (I can practically tuck them into my socks). Bras are something that cost me a fortune and still rarely seem to look or feel right, so I was really intrigued.

Firstly we were given a full explanation by the 2 ladies who run Optifit, and who have come up with the sizing system and designed the bras themselves.

They explained that Optifit make an entirely different type of bra, which doesn't measure you in the conventional way at all. You can forget you 38D or 32C completely. They take the measurement around your diaphragm, the measurement of just how big your boobs are and the height from your shoulder to the bottom of your boobs, and then make you a bra to match.

In their own words -
Optifit is the result of 20 years experience working as a bra-fitting specialist at hospitals in and around Manchester, where major inconsistencies were uncovered between the conventional measuring formula and fitting guides, and the garment itself.
The problems become more obvious for the larger busted woman for whom the correct cup size simply does not exist within the current industry standards. Which is one of the reasons why 80% of women wear the wrong size bra.
This unacceptable situation led on to 2 years post- graduate research into the origins of bra design, exposing the flaws in the blueprint on which the conventional bra is based.
Optifit was designed to eliminate the original flaws and introduces a new PATENTED grading and fitting system, which is based on a woman’s body instead of fashion standards.

Until now Optifit could only supply if you went to their shop in UpperMill, but now they have developed a measuring tape for home use, so that ladies who live further away can measure themselves at home and order a bra to be delivered via the mail. The aim of the focus group was to explain about the differences between conventional bras and Optifit, and then let us try the measuring tapes to see how easy it was and if we could really get an accurate measurement ourselves.

I admit I was very nervous, and I got the measurement wrong, but the lovely Optifit ladies took one look at what written measurements I gave them and presented me with the bra that fit first time and is the same bra I'm still wearing today. It does have a specific fitting method, which was something that took a bit of getting used to, but is second nature now, and really does make the best of the bra.

The bra was very comfortable. There is no dragging pressure from the shoulder straps, in fact it is the cup that just holds you up in the right position really well. The back strap is a lot lower and supports you from around your ribcage, which encouraged me to stand up straighter and pull my tummy in. I felt like I had hands supporting my back, it was a really nice, comforting feeling to be honest, and not one I'd ever associated with a bra before!

It was explained to us that because Optifit is entirely different and encourages correct posture, your body takes time to adapt, so it can take a couple of weeks to get used to wearing. Your shoulders will even out, your  back straighten. Optifit can even help with digestive problems, breast pain and skin problems. Although it only took me a few days of neck ache to feel more comfortable, I decided to wait before writing this review, in order that I had time to really get used to the Optifit bra.

I can honestly say I'm delighted with it. I look slimmer, my boobs are standing nicely to attention, I have no backache and less neckache than I had previously. It has no wires and can be machine washed, and dries very quickly. It looks as good as new after 2 months and it's really cool when it's warm.  This is the first bra I've worn in 25 years that I don't want to take off as soon as possible every evening.

I'm hooked, and when I next buy a bra, I will be getting it from them. They are not cheap, but when I consider the fact even without the reduction in my aches and pains I'd have happily bought a couple of £30 bra's that aren't exactly comfortable and start to fray and lose their elasticity after a couple of months, it makes it seem very reasonable indeed.

The only things that make this bra just less than perfect are that the cut is very high so although v-necks are fine, some round necked t-shirts and tops can't be worn over this bra, and although the styles are pretty and look nice, they are perhaps a bit off-putting for younger people.

Optifit bras are available in a range of styles and colours and prices currently start at £49.99.

Optifit also specialise in feeding and maternity bras, and can convert any bra to a nursing bra, so they can fit you and then convert your bra for you, so that you don't need to buy another.

I was given a free bra for attending the focus group, I'm writing the blog post because I'm so impressed with the results.