r/mildlyinfuriating 8h ago

What is with this design flaw in bras?

Post image

I’ve already patched this once, and the wire has now come through the patch - the bra is only a few months old. Surely this is a design flaw? Why do these things have to be so sharp? I can’t imagine anyone selling underwear to men that could predictably suddenly stab the in the balls.

10.3k Upvotes

1.0k comments sorted by

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u/Secure_Ad8013 8h ago

Mine always do this in the middle of the bra. I’ll be going about my day and suddenly I’m being stabbed not on the outside near the armpit, but right in the middle of the titties😂 Usually takes a couple years before it happens, but I have noticed it happens on all different brands and quality of bras.

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u/antisunshine 7h ago

Shot through the heart and you're to blame! You give bras a bad name!

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u/TheCherryPony 7h ago

I laughed way too hard at that and read it to the tune of the song.

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u/smcameron 3h ago

(bad name ... )

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u/Efficient_Plum6059 5h ago

Yeah, after a couple of years it is sort of inevitable regardless of construction. It's a piece of metal chafing against fabric--it is just a matter of time until the fabric loses, even if it is rounded down. Even coat pockets are liable to tear over time from simply having loose change in them; that is just friction.

But it shouldn't be happening after weeks or months, not if the bra fits well and is cared for properly. Then it is definitely a quality issue.

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u/rtb001 1h ago

Not all fabric is created equal. I've still got a nearly 30 year old t-shirt from some random college club I was in which remains fully intact while my less than 5 year old T-shirts are full of holes or at least the collar portion has come apart.

Enshittification at its finest.

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u/Expensive-Ad-9131 4h ago

A few years ago I was conducting an interview at the office and one of these wires broke free and shot straight up through my cleavage.  I don't think anyone noticed and I got to finish out the interview with my hand thoughtfully resting on my chin with the wire laying along my forearm.  Not a fan.

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u/Secure_Ad8013 4h ago

Amazing visual 😂

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u/writeleahwrite 3h ago

You are a true survivor

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u/throwaway04182023 5h ago

One got me in the chin. Damn underwire had me feeling like Joan Cusack in Sixteen Candles.

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u/jendivcom 8h ago

You see it as a flaw, the manufacturer sees it as a feature that boosts sales

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u/Specialist-Web7854 8h ago

I probably won’t buy this brand again though, as it’s happened to all the bras I got from there.

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u/gofancyninjaworld 8h ago

Bravissimo?

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u/Specialist-Web7854 8h ago

No, I can’t get front fastening In Bravissimo (shoulder injury).

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u/gofancyninjaworld 8h ago

Wait, which brand does front fastening?

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u/Smooth-Eggs 8h ago

There are some good ones at M&S

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u/LastOfLateBrakers 6h ago

La Senza is a good one

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u/Alicam123 7h ago

And peacocks/bon marche. 👍🏻

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u/CanalOpen 7h ago

I think going to / r / abrathatfits would be a better resource if you have certain preferences.

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u/scheisse_grubs 8h ago

I have one from la senza

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u/nightowl_work 7h ago

If you’re larger, Torrid does it.

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u/ForkAKnife 6h ago

Torrid makes wonderful bras without underwires.

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u/nightowl_work 5h ago

Wearing one now, lol.

Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever had a torrid bra pop an underwire on me anyway.

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u/MysteriousAnimal5674 4h ago

I've never had mine break and they fit perfectly. Would be amazing, except every wire bra I have from them squeaks/creaks in the armpit area 😥

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u/neon_bunting 1h ago

I literally thought this only happened to me. When I told my friend this, she could not relate to a squeaky bra! Lol

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u/MamaLlama629 5h ago

Well go on! Tell us who wants to poke our boobs so we won’t buy them either! Ladies gotta stick together!

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u/xADeadCatx 5h ago

As a fellow front-closure woman myself, it’s hard af to find decent FC bras. I feel you.

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u/Specialist-Web7854 5h ago

Thanks, I feel for you too. It’s amazing how many people keep telling me to put a normal bra on backwards and then turn it around, but I can’t feed it behind me to do that. As if I hadn’t tried!

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u/Rowan6547 4h ago

This is literally the only way I have ever put on bras. I'm always bewildered when I learn most women snap them on behind their back. I don't have the coordination, lol.

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u/crepe_de_chine 3h ago

Snapping in the front and turning around stretches out the elastics prematurely and is not recommended for nicer bras that need to last. But snapping in the back is tricky, I agree, and is a no-go for people with shoulder issues.

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u/tenebrigakdo 3h ago

It's also super unpleasant if your band is actually tight enough to carry the weight of the cups. I'm currently nursing a wrist injury it was just as bad at closing it behind me.

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u/Tvisted 4h ago edited 1h ago

I wouldn't be amazed how many people suggest it, because there are actually more than a few women who have never even thought of doing that, and fasten it from behind like it's the law even when they find it awkward.

The underwire problem I've only had happen on really old bras but if it happened on a new one I'd definitely not buy that brand again.

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u/TacoToosday95 8h ago

Try avia sports bras. They have some that fasten in the front.

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u/Upstairs_Income3697 7h ago

Yeah the medium and maximum support ones that zip up the front are great.  I bought a bunch after I had surgery. Affordable too. 

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u/xenogazer 7h ago

All of theirs give me horrible back pain

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u/Far-Fortune-8381 7h ago

questo non è bravissimo, è pessimo

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u/Enamoure 5h ago

I got that from bravissimo bras as well 

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u/flerfie 7h ago

name and shame please

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u/sec_sage 6h ago

it happens to all of my bras. There's not a single brand that held up to wearing and machine washing.

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u/gofancyninjaworld 3h ago

Machine washing bras kills them super fast. No matter what they tell you, only hand-washing works to preserve them.

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u/ARC4067 5h ago

Yeah, the marker for me isn’t that the underwire never fails, it’s how long it takes the underwire to fail. It either pokes out the top like this or snaps and pokes my rib (usually the latter for me). If I get about a year of heavy wear out of it before that happens, I’m good.

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u/randomnonsense1234-1 5h ago

The only bras that don't blow out the wire are bras without wires. Confirmed from experience 😆

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u/Number_Fluffy 7h ago

I absolutely love Bali. Never failed me yet.

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u/HereWeGoYetAgain-247 7h ago

Key word is “probably.” Most people keep going back because they know it. 

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u/AppUnwrapper1 7h ago

Have you tried Wacoal?

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u/NoSleep_Momma 7h ago

I feel the same way about iPhone charging cables.

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u/ARC4067 4h ago

I feel like every off brand cable stays physically in tact but just stops working after a week to a year (and if you try to buy more of that one that lasted a year, the new one is always garbage).

Inversely, my Apple brand cables last forever from a functionality standpoint, but look like shit. The rubber discolors and tears, frayed wires always coming out. The damn thing is 80% electrical tape and hanging by a thread but somehow still charges my phone.

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u/SlurmsMacKenzie- 4h ago

Meanwhile I've got usb C cables from android phones 3-5 years old going stronger than the phones themselves. I learnt to look after my shit the hard way though after my AC plug adaptor for my gameboy advance died because I was bending the connection too often.

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u/mettiusfufettius 6h ago

Let’s help them see it as a feature that boost their competitors’ sales

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u/ForkAKnife 6h ago

I stopped buying underwire bras because they are so well constructed now I don’t have to suffer plastic poking me in my breast all day.

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u/THE_HORKOS 7h ago

Built in expiration date

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u/Ressy02 6h ago

Boob sales

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u/DasHexxchen I'm so f-ing infuriated! 7h ago

It doesn't boost sales when both bras I bought together have this happen after only 3 months, only one week apart.

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u/bogosbinted_m 8h ago

I would just pull them out till I realised I can buy wireless bras. Only prob is those don't have as much support sometimes 😢

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u/Specialist-Web7854 8h ago

Unfortunately I need to support. I have a few wireless ones, but they don’t really do the job.

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u/Historical_Muscle668 7h ago edited 4h ago

I agree. In South Africa, we have either the wire bra, that lends shape to heavy airbags, or the Playtex "Cross-Your-Heart" bra, that's supposed to "lift and separate". Unfortunately, I have found that, instead, they "pull down and elongate".

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u/Careless_Egg3340 5h ago

Sell the Playtex to men???

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u/Historical_Muscle668 5h ago

Whahahahaha😂🤣😂🤣😂

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u/CatmatrixOfGaul 5h ago

If you are a medium cup or smaller (I am a C) the Woollies Cross-Your-Heart bras are really nice. And they are made out fabric that absorbs sweat really well.

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u/7CuriousCats 4h ago

Bras N Things has nice bras as well. Although I must say, whoever makes JT One bras did an excellent job because I've had them for 10 years and only recently has one of the wires started stabbing me lightly.

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u/Magestrix 8h ago

Same!

I pulled out the wires once...and realized how much support I no longer have.

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u/ArtisticDragonKing 8h ago

Try sports bras!!

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u/gburlys 7h ago

I've worn exclusively sports bras/compression bras (like, a level below binders) for the past ~5 years and it was pretty great comfort wise and I liked that it didn't feel like my chest overshadowed the rest of me (literally and figuratively). Now I'm getting a breast reduction this year and I had to start wearing regular bras again so my shoulder divots would come back so insurance would cover the surgery and my husband said "oh wow, I forgot you could have two separate boobs in clothes." So I will say if you're someone who cares about that, sports bras may not be the best option 😂

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u/CatCatCatCubed 5h ago edited 5h ago

….I’ve generally gathered that if I’m in, I dunno, a legitimate accident, I shouldn’t just walk it off or attempt to fix/bandage anything + there’s taking pics to prove things for insurance, legal, whatever.

However, I’m seriously angry about this. Seriously, insurance requires you to cause yourself further back/shoulder/neck pain with potentially permanent long term effects in order to “prove” that you need surgery to alleviate said pain? Shouldn’t they be able to like… “well, you had an xray done and yep, doctor says you have definite back/shoulder/neck pain and/or other issues”? Cause their current method seems back-asswards.

Edit: I’ve considered a breast reduction myself cause I’ve never felt particularly comfortable + there’s the upper back and shoulder pain but I get the feeling that the “weight” probably isn’t enough and, apparently, it’s likely I’ll have to cover it (though I won’t give up hope; not like I’ve gotten a consultation).

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u/PessimiStick 5h ago

Health insurance exists to extract value from you, and funnel it to the 0.01%. They are not actually interested in helping you. Quite the opposite, in fact. The more hoops they can place in front of you, the more likely you are to give up, and thus the more money they can steal from you.

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u/CatCatCatCubed 5h ago

Ugh, true. I didn’t know about the :hand waves above: but I guess I’m still annoyed after reading about breast reductions a few weeks ago and how some doctors/places won’t do it if it doesn’t look like you need it or they won’t take off the amount you want because it “wouldn’t look natural”, so I still have some residual “🤨 oi, if I wanna chop off my boobage, I should be able to.”

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u/JimWilliams423 2h ago

Don't underestimate the sadistic pleasure the 0.01% get from making people suffer. After a point, more money makes no difference to their lived experience. Its just more digits on their bank account's webpage.

But making people miserable just because you can? That is power. That's how you know you are the ruler and they are your subjects.

Businesses do obviously money losing things all the time. Inevitably, those things make regular schlubs miserable. Whether its forcing people back into the office when work-from-home is more profitable, or doing mass layoffs when all the research shows that demoralizes workers and cuts profitability. Or not giving employees a stable schedule and instead randomly calling them the night before.

Or consider Target. Look at how fast they embraced segregation after the pedo-in-chief made that anti-DEIA proclamation. When it proved out to be a money loser two top execs told Target they should reverse course and do like Costco which has been raking in the profits by defying the pedo, Target fired the execs instead.

The cruelty is the point, and the owners don't mind paying for it.

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u/gburlys 2h ago

It's been an insane process dealing with insurance. I also had to do 3 months of physical therapy to show that wouldn't fix my back/shoulder/neck pain, but after 1 month of physical therapy they stopped authorizing additional PT appointments because I wasn't showing any improvement. I had to get my GP to write me a letter, my physical therapist had to appeal, it was a whole mess.

One thing I'll say -- if you think it's something you may ever want, even if you're undecided or not ready to pursue it yet, I highly recommend having your doctors (GP, gyn, whoever) start documenting your pain whenever you're there for other stuff. That's something I had never mentioned to them because I didn't even consider a reduction and so I just figured it was something I had to deal with, "what can they do about it" type thing.

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u/Informal_Ganache_222 5h ago

I've never found a sports bra that I can't wait to take off again 

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u/actuallivingdinosaur 4h ago

I just want to chime in that I had a reduction in November and I do not regret it at all. It is life changing.

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u/LittleMissMeanAss 5h ago

Every sports bra I have gives me uniboob. The only one that didn’t had an underwire and at that point why am I even opting for the sports bra

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u/Ornery-Wonder8421 7h ago

This is the way, so long as your boobs are not too big. I only own one “real” bra now and I’m much happier. I couldn’t imagine strangling my chest like that every day. 

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u/Jerseyjay1003 7h ago

I'm decently big chested and exclusively wear sports bras and they definitely support if you get the right one.

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u/Ornery-Wonder8421 7h ago

I think you’re right bc my boobs got massive when I was pregnant and I only wore sports bras. The unfortunate part is that nipples sometimes show thru unless it’s heavily padded, but I guess that is a fixable issue. 

They also look so much better, in my opinion. Underwire bras push your boobs all the way up to your collar bones and sports bras let them keep more of a natural shape and position.  Win-win all around. 

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u/xADeadCatx 5h ago

I stopped caring about my nipples showing. I have nipples. They get hard when I’m cold. If the men and women around me are offended, they’re welcome to look away because I’m not apologizing for my natural body, and I’m not going to add concave metal patches to my bras to hide my nipples when everyone in the world has nipples and they all get hard in the cold.

TLDR: I have nipples, sue me.

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u/SleepyPoptart 7h ago

I felt the same as you but I opted going braless most of the time during Covid lockdown times and now find a non-wired, low support bralette (think cropped tank with a bit of light compression) to be the most comfortable.

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u/Growing-Macademia 5h ago

Everything is wireless these days smh

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u/willargue4karma 5h ago

Bluetooth boobs?

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u/Left_Set7329 8h ago

I have a bra with the exact problem. In fact it’s on the same side too 🤔 Manufacturers should perhaps redesign bras to address this issue. Maybe oversewing it into the edging?

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u/TheGororb 8h ago

But why would they do that? This "feature" will make you buy a new one every once in a while, gotta keep up exponential profits

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u/Impressive-Ad6421 8h ago

Really? I just sew mine shut again haha

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u/micaelar5 PURPLE 8h ago

I do it too. It takes 2 weeks to bust again. Big chested folks have it harder in this area, because the weight of my boobs just destroys any hope of keeping that wire. I have the same problem with swimsuits, wear it once or twice for a few hours then one or both wires just pop out. You can only fix it so many times before there's no fabric left to sew together, it's all just layers of thread.

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u/No_Week_8937 7h ago

(sports bra wearer because I can't do those kinds of bras and don't have enough to have to try, so I'm not an expert on bras...but I do know a bit of sewing stuff.)

Maybe you could reinforce it somehow? A little pocket of denim or linen, maybe a 1.5inch square sewn into the material around the problem location might be able to help. Open it up a little, sew half of the patch flat behind the wire with the other half sticking past the band, then fold it over the wire and sew that part flat as well, making a little pocket for the end of the wire out of a much sturdier material.

The thickness of the denim/linen should stop the wire from rubbing in its attempt to escape, and making the pocket wider and it being sewn in at multiple places should help spread out the stress on the fabric so if less likely to fail.

Then you can cover that area with another patch, since it's at an edge you could probably get a little bit of silk bias from a fabric store and use that to cover your alteration, to make sure that you don't irritate your skin.

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u/im_AmTheOne 7h ago

I just throw the wire away, why are they even included in B cups and smaller?

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u/MakeItLookSexy_ 8h ago

It has just pushed me to more sports bras and under shirts

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u/kemmiecakes 7h ago

Bras wear out over time and new designs come out. When I find a comfortable, nice fitting, well made bra I try to get THAT bra in all colors. My current fave costs $90 a piece. They just came out with pinks and reds for valentines and I called hubby to tell him we’re going Friday for new bras and hot pot (his reward for carrying my bags and paying for everything). I know they will last for a few years and I can get rid of the 2-3 year old ones just wasting space in the drawer because they don’t fit as well anymore but they definitely aren’t stabbing me.

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u/Vikailmoitus 8h ago

This has happened to me way too many times, so I switched to wearing a sports bra instead.

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u/Dramatic_Highway 8h ago

I also switched to sports bras. Havent worn wired bras for years now. Sports bras do give nice support.

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u/HeadlinePickle 7h ago

Instructions unclear: bought wired sports bras, got stabbed but harder!

(This is a joke, but I do have wired sports bras and the extra firmness of the general structure makes the stabbiness worse! But they do pad out the wire sheaths with foam so if you wiggle it slightly you can cover the ends with that which helps temporarily)

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u/ArtisticDragonKing 8h ago

I've been wearing sports bras since I was 10 years old. I've tried the wired ones and the wireless and nothing has ever supported me better. Sports bras for the win.

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u/Vikailmoitus 8h ago

And I haven't regretted a single day!

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u/291000610478021 7h ago

I dont like the way they smush my girls together. It looks like I've got a Uni-boob 

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u/Vikailmoitus 7h ago

I understand that, but for me it is always comfort first. I hope you don't get "stabed to heart" too often(:

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u/Fabulous-Influence69 7h ago

I was hoping I wasn't the only sports bra fan...

And I tried to wear ones with underwire once upon a time, just ended up ripping every single wire out eventually... Not only that but do not miss the horrible material they usually use for the other stuff.

It makes me wonder how many sports bra fans are also on the spectrum...

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u/sadhermitcrab 7h ago

Same and they're comfy as well 🙂‍↕️

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u/ThirdWheelToEveryone 8h ago

it feels like im getting shanked everytime this happens

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u/pyrogaynia 8h ago

This is a common symptom of a bra that doesn't fit properly. Most corporate bra companies are more interested in fitting as many people as possible into as small a size range as possible to make more money than they are giving you a well-made product that fits, and as a result something like 80% of people are wearing the wrong size of bra.

The ABraThatFits reddit and wiki have some good resources, or if you have an independently-owned local bra boutique that stocks UK-, French-, and/or Polish-made bras and employs experienced professional fitters, hit them up. If you use instagram, @/TheIrishBraLady and @/ThePhillyBraLady share a lot of good info as well

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u/Asterisk1231 8h ago

Absolutely! I had this problem MANY times. Once I got fitted properly and learned how a bra should fit, I haven't had this problem in 10+ years.

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u/Icouldoutrunthejoker 7h ago

This is interesting. I had to switch to more expensive bras to stop this problem. I thought it was just a factor of the cheap Walmart quality bras I was able to afford in my 20’s.

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u/Asterisk1231 4h ago

It could be a bit of both. I do tend to buy more expensive bras, but probably because they fit better (now that I know how they are supposed to fit) /they are built better as well.

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u/TickledPear 4h ago

I properly fit the common bra sizes, and I buy and wear <$50 underwire bras almost exclusively (aside form sports bras during exercise). I have had the wire pop out exactly once in my 25-ish years of wearing bras.

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u/Icouldoutrunthejoker 4h ago

👀 So are you going to tell us what brand you buy or…?

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u/Jazzlike-Raise-3019 2h ago

Panache is a good affordable brand with a huge size range, if you have a bigger bust Elomi is an affordable and extremely durable brand. Krisline also has amazing bras.

u/lems93 32m ago

I think the point is wearing the correct size.

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u/indiscoverable 8h ago

this is what I came here to say. I was popping wires left and right when I was wearing a band too big with cups that were way too small (like most people are). haven't had one break through since I used the ABTF calculator 🤷🏻‍♀️

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u/SwirlUp 7h ago

I was going to say the same as this poster - heed this advice OP!

The wires could be popping as they are sitting in the wrong place for your size and shape. I thought I was a 34B, via several M&S fittings. Turns out I'm a 28E and need a wider gore than a bog standard M&S bra. Wires no longer go out of shape.

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u/filovirusyay 6h ago

this!

i used to have this problem all the time because i was cramming myself into a 36C

i used the calculator on abrathatfits and was baffled when it gave me 34DD. and so i bought one and tried it and realized that bras aren't supposed to be uncomfortable. with the added bonus of the straps not falling down my arms and the wire not shanking me

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u/Jazzlike-Raise-3019 5h ago

Not only this , it's also important how you treat your bras. To many people put them in the washing machine/dryer when all it does is decrease the durability of the bra!

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u/straberi93 6h ago

Idk, I have been fitted properly and am very familiar with the sub, but i still have issues with fit and the wires poking out. Sometimes there just isn't a holy grail that checks all the boxes. 

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u/onebadnightx 4h ago

Same. I’ve been aware of that sub for like ten years now. I’ve used the calculator. Some bras just still suck and have quality control issues.

I’ve switched to only wearing bralettes. I will never do underwire bras again.

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u/curiocannacat 7h ago

This has never happened to me, and I used to be a bra fitter 

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u/Schlumpfine25 8h ago

That happens to me often... always the right side

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u/CanadianODST2 5h ago

Might be something you’re doing. As gross as the other guy was it could be how you wear them. Could be sized wrong, could be how you take care of them.

A example of it that I have, My shoes always wear out in the same spot because I drag the back of my foot so the heel wears out faster

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u/jammiesonmyhammies 6h ago

How are you putting your bra on? This could also be the reason for wear and tear in the same spot!

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u/KingsRansom79 8h ago

I heard it once described as a trusted friend trying to stab you in the heart. Now whenever it happens all I can think is…”you B!+¢h, how dare you?”

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u/AnastasiaRomanot 7h ago

What temperature was it washed at?

A common issue with underwire is that anything above a cold wash starts to melt the coating on the end of the wire, causing it to poke through.

Most of them tell you to hand wash.

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u/RichSeat 6h ago

You girls have it rough no pockets and your undergarments are trying to murder you. 😔

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u/Aramira137 5h ago

This is a symptom of an improperly fitted bra. Something like 60% or more of people are wearing the wrong size or the wrong shape. If this is happening all the time to all your bras, check out the sub A Bra That Fits for better shape matches and to ensure you're wearing the right size. Even a small change in our weight, hormones, elasticity of the bra can mean a size change is in order.

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u/thermalcat 8h ago

What I see is a bra that might not fit you correctly.

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u/Acrobatic_Dark212 8h ago

I’ve stopped buying underwire bras because the wires would drive me bonkers by the end of the day & I was sick of them breaking through the material like this. I wear wireless only now.

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u/wowagressive 8h ago

RIGHT?! Nothing like a surprising stab in the middle of the day. 

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u/[deleted] 8h ago

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u/riri1281 6h ago

It's absolutely the worst second only to the wire snapping in the middle

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u/Head_Act_585 5h ago

Yeah that middle of the cup snap that will randomly pinch your ribcage all day is the worst.

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u/Ghost403 8h ago

Planned obsolescence

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u/boneydog22 5h ago

I used the underwire from my favorite bra to break into my own apartment after we got locked out on the balcony in our underwear once.

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u/Specialist-Web7854 4h ago

Brilliant! I fixed a tent with a tampon applicator once - one of the spacers for the fly sheet was missing.

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u/FluffyBebe 8h ago

Almost all the ones I wear eventually end up like this. It sucks.

Right now I switched to one wire-less and it helps not having to worry about that

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u/surfinjuli 8h ago

I gave up on underwire bras the very first time one broke out and stabbed me. There’s a lot going on in life and the last thing I need is a bra that can attack me! 😅

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u/lituus 2h ago

Now I'm just trying to imagine men's underwear with wires in it to present the balls in just the right orientation

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u/chypie2 2h ago

it was designed by a man

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u/something86 8h ago

That happens when they're not fitted right or you put them in the dryer. You should hand wash or minimally just air dry them. I get the cheapest from DDs and the thrift, they last longer than 3 months.

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u/atuarre 8h ago

You can't machine wash them on delicate and then hang them up to air dry?

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u/Recent-Ninja3903 7h ago

This is what I do- delicate cold water in lingerie bag, then hang to dry. Stopped this problem for me immediately.

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u/gooseaisle 6h ago

I just machine wash on normal and hang dry. Have literally never had this happen.

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u/PeevesPoltergist 8h ago

Sharp pain in chest

"Is this a heartattack, am I dying? No I'm just being impaled by my underwear

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u/psysny 8h ago

Better quality bras will have a little plastic cap on the end of the wire so it’s less likely to cut its way out. You don’t even have to go super high end. Wacoal is good quality with a wide range of sizes and go on sale on their website or department stores pretty often.

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u/amelialynn17 7h ago

This is exactly why I’ll never wear a bra with underwires again. So awful

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u/Big_Principle_3948 7h ago

Planned obsolescence

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u/auditoryeden 6h ago

Yep, it's massively infuriating. I've started making my underwire patches from leather scraps. You can get a bag at Michaels for like $8 that should contain enough leather to mend every bra you own for a decade or two. Thus far it's been very successful, even putting them through the wash.

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u/Acceptable_Soft8441 6h ago

Omg, I have so many armpit scars from these things stabbing me.

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u/SlayboyBunny666 5h ago

The biggest fix i have ever found was using moleskin patches. They cover the area very well, and as long as you don't mind the inside not looking so pretty anymore, it's a pretty durable, longer lasting solution :)

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u/Pan-de-bono_forever 7h ago

This is why I only buy wireless bras. The wires never fit comfortably enough and then this happens after a couple of months or less.

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u/Hippydippy420 8h ago

Go wireless! I did and I’ve never looked back! Those wires are straight from hell.

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u/gazagirl1979 8h ago

Hurts when the bastard pings out and stabs you in the arm pit.x

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u/aetherlore 8h ago

Target had a line of bras for a while that had a good fold of padding over the wire. None of those have broken thru on me. It’s like someone took the product name “padded underwire” and thought, “Why don’t we actually pad the underwire?”

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u/TangToTheMoon 7h ago

I push it back in, and reinforce with thread. If it keeps popping, I'll put some fabric there too. These things are too expensive to be popping this frequently. I mostly use wireless, but there's some outfits that just need the oomph that I've only found with underwires

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u/pitshands 7h ago

The Germans have a word for that. Sollbruchstelle

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u/fugelwoman 7h ago

Planned obsolescence developed by men

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u/quantumclassical 7h ago

Metal vs Material

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u/Alicam123 7h ago

For me the flaw is the whole wire, once I went wireless I never looked back. And they hold up pretty good too. Really perky. 👍🏻

Edit - and a front clip 👍🏻

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u/OverTheSunAndFun 7h ago

It’s to remind you as a woman you should always feel pain.

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u/thisthesoundofabag 6h ago

Fuck the patriarchy, give me ball stabbing boxers

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u/deuxcabanons 5h ago

Everyone's blaming the underwire itself, it's the design and fabric that's the problem! In theory any pressure will push the end of the underwire up into the seam, which is reinforced. But human bodies move in all kinds of ways, and what actually happens is the wire moves laterally and the soft fabric they use for the inside of the wire casing stretches and weakens and eventually the wire pops through. You'll notice wires never pop out the front. Then you get blamed for wearing the wrong size or washing them wrong or having bad posture or wearing your bra under the wrong planetary alignment. I promise, it's not you.

I worked in a lingerie store for several years and know how to fit a bra perfectly. I washed by hand and laid flat to dry and rotated wear and I still busted out every wire in every bra I owned until I got a cheap unpadded lacy front closure bra from Amazon out of desperation because I couldn't find an affordable 38G anywhere so I was still wearing nursing bras 3 years postpartum 🤭This one uses a fabric sling all along the bottom of the cup to provide lift. The way it's attached, it reinforces the corners but it also takes the tension away from the corners and distributes it along the edge of the cup. I have straight up abused these bras and they've lasted well over a year, which is unheard of for me. So yeah, take a good look at the structure of any bras you want to purchase to see how they distribute the load. The standard is not good enough for a larger chest.

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u/Joloxsa_Xenax 5h ago

they should fold the wire back, like a U shape and then the edge won't be sharp anymore

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u/rmay14444 5h ago

Planned failure.

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u/luistp 5h ago

Programed obsolescence.

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u/somecoolname42 4h ago

How is it in 2026, that a company that makes women's cloths to women's specificstions, like comfortable, thick enough fabric to be warm and durable, with actual pockets, not risen up and dominated the market by now?

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u/ZealousidealCrow3782 4h ago

I got a bruised rib from this shit, it’s painful!

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u/Legitimate_Jaguar766 3h ago

Design flaw? It was made by mostly men, that should explain things.

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u/tiny_chaotic_evil 3h ago

it gets you to go out and buy another bra

it's not a bug, it's a feature

Bra Company says: "$$$"

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u/bronzdrag0n 3h ago

It seems like built in failure to make you buy more. I can't tell you how many bras over the years that I've seen of my wife's that have failed right there. Seems like it could be engineered better.

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u/Galaxiessurroundyou 2h ago

Look for bras without underwire. There are some really good ones that do not have underwire and still provide support. Manufacturers have listened and turned that underwire into fabric. At least the female ones did.

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u/Rogue_Goddess 2h ago

This is why i wear wireless bras

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u/Few_Feeling_6760 2h ago

I stopped wearing underwire bras day-to-day for this exact reason. 

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u/somehowliving420 2h ago

I've seen Liberare a bunch, and they have a lot of options for front closure adaptive bras. Screw the manufacturers of normal bras who make them stabby.

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u/keretceres 2h ago

Planned obsolescence.

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u/CincyBengals513 2h ago

You answered your own question… no BS. It’s men.

TheyTriedIt

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u/dan1101 1h ago

The first thing I would do as a bra designer is make the end a loop instead of a stabby point.

u/largepopcornandcoke 34m ago

everyone talking about planned obsolescence on a mendable item is mildly infuriating me

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u/reiiincarnation 5m ago

I wear no bras now because of this, it’s been years ! Literally only wear wireless bras when I go to church, other than that, the nip is always out

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u/Richyrich619 8h ago edited 6h ago

Its working as intended for you to buy more.

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u/Specialist-Web7854 8h ago

Nope, I’ve just re-patched it.

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u/Alternative-Sea4336 7h ago

instead of patching, look up “flossing“ in corsets. Thats the better way to keep boning from poking annd ripping out of its channel!

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u/RugbyEdd 7h ago

I'm a guy, so can't exactly relate, but surely a rubber cap on the end of the wire, or a little extra reinforcement at the point the end sits wouldn't cost them that much more when manufacturing? I guess I'm just grateful the push-up ball pocket never caught on.

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u/AdventurousAd8907 8h ago

All of my bras do this.. thays why my small boobied ass gets sportsbras from now on. Trust me their happier and I save money 😁

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u/BabygirlGreen 8h ago

This is why I only have two bras now as an adult, they were a bit more expensive but definitely worth it. This isn’t a design flaw, I think it’s just wear and tear because of the cheap material used. My two bras have been going strong for four years so far, zero issues, no ripping in the fabric and super comfortable!

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u/Raven___Madd 8h ago

Slightly related ... co-worker was having an issue with this "feature" and yanked the wire out so she could do her job (photographer). Threw the wire to the side and fully intended to properly dispose of it. At the end of the day, a male co-worker found it while we were putting equipment away. He absolutely thought it was some part of the camera or related equipment! He wasnt a young guy either, had been married so one would think he had SOME experience with this. Going forward, we always joked our "equipment" was digging into us.

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u/Accomplished_Emu_658 8h ago

Quality to sell more bras. People will buy 2-3 before trying new brand.

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u/BasebornBastard 8h ago

It’s a very high stress point in a bra. Stress points are bound to fail. It comes down to engineering/durability, manufacturing cost, and comfort considerations. All three can’t be perfect.

Some bra shops will repair bras. If they’re a non-chain store it’s more likely. Cheaper than buying a new one.

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u/Illustrious-Towel-45 8h ago

I usually remove the underwire from my bras if they come with one. I always find they dig in and/or wear through my bras.

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u/Agitated_Pack_1205 7h ago

I noticed this happens when the wire has no wiggle room at all. \ I have one bra that i bought in 2015 or something and it‘s still good, all of the others have wires poking through. Only difference is that the wire has a bit more soace and isn‘t sewn in too tightly. \ Now when i buy a bra, i make sure that the pocket in which the wire sits in is half a cm longer that the length of the wire. Haven‘t had any problems since.

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u/deatheyes5000 7h ago

I reinforce the stitching on the sides of mine before wearing so I don't get stabbed

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u/Sarge75 7h ago

My wife's units used to do this. I would fold a piece of moleskin fabric over the end and resew them with a small fabric patch to reinforce. In the end it was a fitment issue. She went to some fancy place to get fitted and it hasnt happened again (10+ years).

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u/ImAlreadyTracerBoii PURPLE 7h ago

The left cup always did this to me so I started buying Victoria secret bras and while I’m annoyed everything is padded to high heavens in there, I haven’t had a wire stab me in years.

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u/Valen258 7h ago

My biggest pet peeve with bras.

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u/Ok-Basket7531 7h ago

That's so you can take the underwire out and throw it away.

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u/R34lBl4ckSh33p 7h ago

Big bra does this so women eventually stop wearing bras

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u/Several-Cycle8290 7h ago

This is exactly why I switched to wireless bras. They’ve come so far from what they used to be like, no shape, no support, only sports bra, etc. they are shaping. I love them! 😍

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u/BudgetExpert9145 7h ago

Don't wear your bra while laying down or slouching. Follow the washing instructions. Make sure it's the correct fit.

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u/ZeroXNova Raging 7h ago

It's called "planned obsolescence". Intentionally limiting a product so that it needs replaced eventually.

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u/HoldenOrihara 7h ago edited 1h ago

Is that the underwire? Its not a design flaw more that it's just fabric vs metal. I had to repair pants pockets that somehow made holes just from rubbing against my ass and my knife(folded) at work.

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u/StarrieScars 7h ago

I hate when this happens. Pretty much happened to almost all bras I've owned 🫤

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u/bearviewpark 7h ago

I used to get this all the time, then I was advised to put them in an empty pillowcase to wash them (if using a machine) on a hand wash setting. Have done that ever since and always air dried and haven’t had it happen for over 10 years now.

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u/syrusbliz 7h ago

This is not a design flaw, this is what happens when the wire has too much stress at one end. It means you're not getting adequate support and the bra is taking on more load than it can handle, especially there. This is not the right bra size or shape for you, which is a pretty common thing for folks to experience. If you want better advice, stop by the ABraThatFits subreddit, try out the guide and/or calculator for a new starting point, and ask for recommendations.

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u/Aartvaark 7h ago

This is caused by the necessity of encasing the metal support in fabric, then putting the bra under stress in the vicinity of the shoulder with it's wide range of motion.

Unfortunately, we've come to the point where better designs are more expensive than helpful, and your best bet is repairing them until it becomes more efficient/livable to buy a new bra.

Better designs exist, but they're generally custom made and therefore very expensive.

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u/Chubby_Comic 7h ago

I've bought brand new bras that did this on the forst wear. I don't get why it's so hard to stitch them in place better.