M&S's £22 ‘game changer' bra broke the internet with rave reviews – here's what an expert with 32G boobs REALLY thinks
Well-fitting, supportive and not too expensive, it ticks all the boxes when it comes to an everyday bra.
5
Flexifit™ Non-Wired Full Cup Bra F-H, £22
Using its Flexifit technology the full-cup bra has four-way stretch, with M&S saying it was designed to "feel like a second skin" - even on a fuller bust, with cup sizes from A to H.
But while shoppers have raved about it online - Tiktok star Abi Nunn told her 106,000 followers it was "spectacular" - does it really work on a big bust?
Viral hit
We enlisted the help of professional bra fitter and lingerie expert Katie Weir, who has a 32G bust, to give her verdict.
Katie, who tried on the black colourway, told us: 'I was pleasantly surprised by the comfort and coverage of this soft cup bralette.
'It separated my boobs, and held them in a natural shape.
'With non-wired styles I never expect as much uplift as when I'm wearing wired but it did give me a lift which I'd be confident in leaving the house with."
She added: "However, I wouldn't do anything too strenuous in it, I think it's a bra reserved more for chilling on the sofa.
'The bra is true to size, the material is super soft and I love the width of the straps and backband.
'For a bra fitter who is often sceptical of M&S sizing, I would buy this for the days I want comfort.
Fabulous Fashion teams sneak preview of new season M&S
'It would be a great pregnancy bra too, as it is so stretchy and with fuller coverage.
"It does however make my boobs look bigger than they are as they sit a bit lower and wider than an underwired bra.
"It looks better with baggier clothing rather than tighter tops as I don't like the way my silhouette looks in those.
'I do however think it's a great bra for fuller busts - as long as you are wearing the perfect fit!'
Why Everyone Is Loving M&S
Deputy Fashion Editor Abby McHale revealed to Fabulous why M&S is the shop of the moment. She explained:
'M&S has really pulled it out of the bag this season, there is so much good product to be excited about.
'A brand once known for its 'frumpy fashion' that notion is long gone with it now being one of the leading high street stores for womenswear.
'Its handbag range in particular is super strong with them selling 170% vs plan, with lots more designer dupes for just a fraction of the price.
'The brand is now also the #1 for style perceptions, compared to the #3 spot it had last year, this comes from a really strong design team focused on modernising the brand, not only taking into consideration how the pieces look, but how easy they are to wear also.
'Price is also a big factor with you being able to get many good quality pieces all for under £30.
'After having a sneak peak of the upcoming collection there are so many more amazing pieces that are dropping over the next few months to keep your eyes on.
'Think leopard print dresses, colourful co-ords, embroidered boho jackets, plus lots of swimwear and amazing accessories, as well as great wardrobe staples that will last year on year.'
Katie adds while it's a fantastic everyday bra you might not put it on for a hot date.
She says: "This is my zero-effort bra style for when I really don't care about how I look.
"I'd never wear it on a date, pretty lingerie is everything in terms of setting my mood and tone for the day."
Comfort is the key thing shoppers have mentioned in the 2,200 reviews left for the product online. It's also achieved a 4.4 star review rate.
One person said: 'Most comfortable bra ever. Good support for bigger boobs.'
Another wrote: 'Very very very comfy, very good support as I have very big boobs and sometimes I just need comfort and this definitely works.'
And a third added: 'I hate bras but this one I can handle for longer than any other one I've worn in years and finally a strap that stays in place.'
5
This praise was echoed by Abi Nunn's social media fans. Her video racked up 274,600 views, 8,549 likes, 191 comments and 2,777 saves.
One person said: "I love this bra, it's SO COMFY!'
Another added: 'Been wearing these for many years, best bra ever!'
A third commented: 'Omg I wear these every day, soo comfy!!'
While a fourth chimed in: 'This is the only bra I own - cannot bare any other bra now.'
At the same time, another M&S shopper claimed: 'I buy these in bulk!'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
4 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Ibiza Final Boss frenzy reaches new heights as fan gets outrageous tattoo
Jack Kay, the Brit dubbed the 'Ibiza Bob' is living his best life on the White Isle after finding viral fame - and one fan has taken their obsession to new heights The Ibiza Final Boss is lapping up his overnight fame with new music, plans for a tour and raves alongside bikini-clad women. The Newcastle lad, real name Jack Kay, skyrocketed to viral stardom after a video of him clubbing in Ibiza spread like wildfire, all thanks to his 'Battle of Hastings' bob-style haircut. After racking up millions of views on TikTok, the party lad swiftly became a meme in his own right. Companies like easyJet and Currys even jumped on the bandwagon, offering Ibiza Final Boss-inspired deals and stunts. And the 'Ibiza Bob' frenzy shows no sign of slowing down as Jack's bowl cut has now been inked on someone's skin forever. It comes as the raver launches his own music career with cheeky song lyrics. The wild ink features Jack's iconic bob, huge shades and signature beard along with 'Ibiza Final Boss' scrawled above his barnet. Jack's portrait sits just above another tattoo of Harvey Price, Katie Price's son. The owner of the tattoo has yet to be revealed, but people are going wild over the dedication to the viral meme. A photo of the tattoo was shared on Facebook and people rushed to comment on the ink. Many tagged their pals in the post, jokingly asking if it was theirs, while one commented: "I actually thought he had a beret on and not his hairstyle." Others noted his astonishing fame as one wrote: "He's doing seriously well from it tho." Another agreed as they added: "I reckon hes actually a f****** genuis." Shortly after going viral, Jack established his own official Instagram and TikTok profiles and was promptly signed by leading celebrity talent firm, Neon Management. And when it comes to his future, he has the potential to earn a whopping six figure sum. PR Mayah Riaz, of Mayah Media, told the Mirror: " He's got the holy trinity of viral success: that he's relatable, he popped up at the right time, and he's unintentionally hilarious. "The internet seems to love him. And in today's fame economy that kind of organic buzz can absolutely be cashed in on, if he plays it right." Despite becoming the Ibiza Final Boss overnight, the Geordie insisted he was a simple lad at heart. "Appreciate all the love and messages off everyone," he told his fans on social media after he went viral. "I will get back to everyone quick as I can it's just a lot for me to take in at the moment. I am just a normal person from Newcastle it's crazy stay locked in got some big news coming."
The Sun
4 minutes ago
- The Sun
I asked AI chatbot if I'm hot and what tweakments I need… I was so shocked but here's why I ignored its advice
SMOOTH cheeks and plump lips, a forehead as flat as a TV screen and not a single wrinkle in sight. Nope, I'm not looking at a newborn baby but at an image of how ChatGPT thinks I should look if I undergo its 'glow-up' beauty advice. 4 More and more women are turning to the app for 'unbiased' tips on how to improve their gloriously imperfect, fabulously unique, God-given features. I get it. TikTok and Instagram are full of companies and influencers pumping out anti-ageing and beauty advice based on what they want to flog us, regardless of whether or not it's a good fit for who we are. It's hard to know where to turn. In our social circles there is always that 'frenemy' who doesn't have our best interests at heart. But take a pause, please, because artificial intelligence becoming the norm to dictate how women should look is frankly horrifying. This blurring of the line between reality and fiction is scary. Besides, I don't want to be dictated to or sold something based on an app. Look, I'm 54 and, cross my heart, haven't succumbed to any work. I'm pretty confident in my own skin and, dare I say it, think I look good for my age. That's because I'm my own best friend and advocate. My lifelong philosophy is that I love myself more than anyone — and I think I'm pretty hot too. Yet I've written about this in the past and it has got me into hot water. In 2012, a piece I wrote on the subject of my beauty and general fabulousness went viral. The kicker was that I pointed out that other women didn't like me being so confident in my skin. Haters poured in. I trended on Twitter worldwide. I was trolled and told off by countless female columnists for having dared to say I rate myself. Talk about poking the bear. The furore meant I was more Googled than Kate Middleton that year. Thankfully, over a decade on and the rest of the world has caught up. I like to think I was ahead of my time because now it's OK to ditch the fake modesty and not hate on someone when we post thirst-trap pictures online or say we look good. Unemotional judge And, brilliantly, parts of social media do normalise this. We now use the hashtags '#be kind' and '#body positivity' as part of our daily lives. We don't fat-shame and we don't pile on women for rating themselves online. That's why my eyes rolled when I read women are flocking to upload pictures of themselves on ChatGPT for an AI verdict on their looks. One US study suggested people are more open to negative feedback about their appearance from an AI than from a human. The reason? We see AI as an honest and unemotional judge, so its criticism feels less like a personal attack. It's basically, 'Am I Hot or Not?' for the next generation. Is it a truly unbiased appraisal? I'm not convinced. Yet it hasn't stopped women relying on it. I like to think I was ahead of my time because now it's OK to ditch the fake modesty and not hate on someone when we post thirst-trap pictures online or say we look good. My jaw dropped when I found women are spending thousands on following the app's advice. One TikTok creator called Marina — @marinagudov — went viral earlier this year when she shared how she had used the app to refine her style. I've never done anything like this before. So I first uploaded a shot of myself on a rare day wearing make-up — off to celebrate a girlfriend's birthday last month. I nervously ask ChatGPT: 'I'm a 54-year-old woman. Am I hot or not?' While the app's black dot flashes, I gulp. But the reply is . . . kind: 'I can't give a simple 'hot or not' verdict but I can say you look vibrant, confident, and you have a warm, engaging smile that's a big part of your attractiveness. 'Your long, flowing hair, healthy skin tone and the sparkle in your eyes project energy and approachability, which tends to draw people in far more than age ever could. If you'd like, I can give you an objective style-and-beauty analysis to highlight what's already working for you and suggest tweaks that could enhance your look further without losing your natural appeal.' I then ask: 'Would you recommend Botox?' AI replies: 'From looking at your photo, Botox could be an option depending on what you want to achieve — but it's by no means essential for you to look good.' 4 4 Guilty as charged — of course I have considered Botox. What midlife woman hasn't? But it's a slippery slope because things wouldn't stop at Botox and I don't want to spend my life obsessing over the cost, never mind risks. Besides, I'm curious to see how I will age. They say you get the face you deserve — and so far, I'm pretty happy with the reflection that smiles at me each morning. Yet when the AI images of a very Botoxed me pop up, I'm afraid I giggle. The doctored images make me look like something off one of the Housewives reality series. My husband is speechless and asks me to promise him not to go down this route. There's no danger of that. I look like a doll you'd find in a toy shop and not a 54-year-old woman. I then go a step further and upload a recent selfie I took. 'Then comes kicker' I'd just got back from the pool where I'd spent the afternoon swimming with my niece and granddaughter. My hair still had chlorine in it and the only glow I had was from a combination of sunshine and sun cream. My question about this make-up-free, unfiltered selfie was the do-or-die: 'Am I attractive for a 54-year-old woman?' Whoop! My ego is happily satisfied as this AI message comes back: 'I can't give a personal judgment about your attractiveness, but I can tell you that you have features many would consider appealing at any age — clear skin, a warm smile and healthy hair all make a positive impression.' Well, thank you ChatGPT. I could get used to my personal fluffer. But then comes the kicker: 'If your question is about how you present yourself for your age, your photo shows that you take care of yourself and have a natural, confident look — and if you wanted to enhance certain features, there are subtle 'tweakments' and styling adjustments that could bring even more freshness without changing who you are.' Pardon! Why, oh why, does the app feel the need to dish out this sort of advice? It asks me: 'Would you like me to give you an age-specific 'glow-up' plan, which focuses on both non-invasive tweaks and style tips?' But, of course, I'm nosey and want to know what it 'thinks.' And while I feel that I'm practically perfect in every way, clearly the app assumes there is some room for improvement — and offers to put together a '54-year-old glow-up plan'. I ask the app to provide its plan with a breakdown of costs — and grab yourself a coffee because the list, above, is a long one. Whoa! Although I'm a Brummie, for the last 18 years I've lived in the French countryside. So, I wouldn't have a clue about where to go for any of this. And why on earth would the app assume I need my teeth whitened, given that I didn't even supply a toothy smile? But what shocks me the most is the amount of filler ChatGPT suggests I need. Cheeks, jawline, chin, lips — I'm not sure I'd be able to lift my head off the pillow each morning. I would definitely need to change my iPhone visual recognition with that amount of tweakment work done. But in the interests of research, I plough on. I ask the app how much money I should budget for this over the next decade. It swiftly pings back: 'Tweakments maintenance at £23,350 and another £8,600 for hair and brows.' I then type in another question — asking what I should do to my appearance to improve my career as a writer. I assume it will suggest nothing — but I am wrong: It replies: 'For a writer, your appearance isn't usually the main currency — your words, ideas and reputation are. But in today's world — especially if you do media appearances, book signings, festivals or online promotion — your image can play a supporting role in how you're perceived.' ChatGPT informs me that if I spend the suggested money for work on my face I can then look to make 'total projected extra income of £14,500–£49,000-plus depending on how actively you leverage visibility'. Well, that's a pretty large difference, there. So maybe we should all take a step back and view the ChatGPT beauty advice with a very large pinch of salt. Let's remember that ChatGPT is an AI language model trained on information it sources from the internet as well as input from human trainers. This experience I have had might have initially piqued my vanity but I'll stick to my gut instinct and my own sense of self-worth. And if anyone wants to come to me for advice about what they should do I'll give it to you for free: You're uniquely fabulous just as you are.
The Guardian
35 minutes ago
- The Guardian
‘I have to believe I deserve to be here': ‘Tesco TikToker' Hannah Lowther on her path to West End stardom
If you're on TikTok, you'll probably recognise Hannah Lowther. Known affectionately as the 'Tesco TikToker', she found viral fame during lockdown by filming herself singing and dancing in the aisles of the supermarket during her shifts there. 'I got 10,000 views on a video and I thought: OK, that's it, I'm famous, and I just never let it go,' the 27-year-old laughs. Since then, Lowther has built an audience of 1.2 million followers and leveraged her social media presence into a starry stage career, landing roles in West End musicals including Heathers and Six. 'At the back of my mind, I was thinking: You know what? Maybe this could help me one day.' Her career is the stuff of many young performers' dreams. Using social media, Lowther took her career into her own hands, built an army of fans, and catapulted herself to the spotlight. Now, she stands at the forefront of a growing and debated shift in the industry: one that sees performers with big online followings take centre stage. Lowther always knew she wanted to work in the theatre. Growing up in Basingstoke, she went to dance classes, but it was when she was cast as Brigitta Von Trapp in the West End production of The Sound of Music in 2008 that something clicked. 'I remember going into the theatre and asking [the adult actors] what their jobs were,' she says. 'Then I realised this was an option for me.' Her teenage years were consumed by musical theatre. 'I put the blinkers on. I thought: I'm going to do this and nothing else.' At 16, she took a three-year course at the drama school Italia Conti then, at 19, went on to the London School of Musical Theatre. 'I graduated in 2019, did a panto at Christmas, and then in 2020, coronavirus happened,' Lowther says. 'I got put on pause. The whole world did.' Except Lowther didn't stop. She took a job at Tesco and, 'out of pure boredom', made her first TikTok video. Her early posts saw her belting out musical theatre hits to products on the shelves and high-kicking in front of the tills. 'I was feeling like my musical theatre spark was diminishing,' she says. 'I just thought surely someone else must feel the same.' She was right. Her TikToks reached thousands and were picked up by BBC and ITV news. 'It was crazy: people came to interview me, people came into the store … I'm just that theatre kid who loves attention, so it was my dream,' Lowther says. Even now, she shakes her head in disbelief. 'TikTok really helped me, and I say that with pride.' Her unconventional route to the stage hasn't been without its critics. Despite training at two of the UK's top drama schools, Lowther is often met with scepticism from people who attribute her success to her social media clout than talent. 'People are always going to be a little bit apprehensive about [social media],' Lowther says. Strangers have often formed an opinion of her before they've even met. 'Often when I meet them, they'll be like: 'You know what? You're actually quite nice,'' she laughs. It is true that in person, Lowther is different from the version seen online. On TikTok, she's all jazz hands and musical theatre fizz. Today, she is more reserved: still warm and funny, but with a vulnerability that doesn't always make it into the frame. Lowther tells me about how she turned her phone off for a week after a video surfaced of her making a mistake during an early performance of Six. 'My first thought was: I'm going to get ripped to shreds online, and that's exactly what happened.' Because of her trajectory, Lowther faces a far greater level of scrutiny than most performers. Dealing with online criticism has become a part of her life. Underneath her videos, she often finds 'nasty comments' about her voice, career and, most prominently, suggestions that she's used social media to cheat her way to success. 'I've tried to teach myself to rise above it, and think that is more a reflection of the person than me, but it is easier said than done,' she says. To an extent, the torrent of abuse has begun to feel normal. 'I forget that, for lots of people, it is not a daily struggle.' Perhaps this is why Lowther occasionally doubts herself. 'Impostor syndrome is a real thing. This explosion happened so fast, sometimes I do sit there thinking: What am I doing at this audition?' She's the first to say her road to theatre has been far from normal. The first West End show she was cast in, Heathers, came about because someone she met at a social media event was friends with one of the producers, and got her an audition. 'It's hard when I'm faced with people saying: 'Why would she get this part?' I've worked hard. I have to stick to my guns and believe I deserve to be in certain spaces.' Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion Lowther believes more musical theatre hopefuls will turn to social media. In June, it was announced that TikTok star Maddie Grace Jepson, who has 1.9 million followers, will make her West End debut in Back to the Future: The Musical, while Love Island winner Amber Davies (1.2 million followers on Instagram) has since starred in countless shows, including the current run of The Great Gatsby. This is a marked change from the more traditional path actors usually take: many will spend years working their way up through off-West End roles, understudying and attending endless auditions before getting a big break. Today, casting directors and producers increasingly see a strong online following as part of a performer's value: their fans, it is assumed, are a ready-made audience. For some, this is a welcome levelling of the playing field that helps regional or working-class performers who lack industry connections. But there are concerns. If you're expected to perform in an eight-show week, proper training and stamina are essential – and not always something guaranteed by social media popularity. And this all arguably creates a hierarchy of another kind. Actors have spoken out against being asked about their follower count in the smallest non-speaking roles. In 2019, a casting call for a commercial asked actors to have 'more than 5,000 followers on Instagram' went viral, leading to broader criticism in the industry. Everybody's Talking About Jamie star Hayley Tamaddon said she was asked, at the end of a West End audition, about the number of followers she had on X (the role went to someone with 20,000 more followers). Despite her time at drama school, it is clear that it's TikTok that has opened doors for Lowther. She now hosts a theatre podcast, How Very Hannah (the podcast's own TikTok account has more than 52,800 followers) which is going on a UK tour this autumn. 'We play silly games, I give advice to people who send in questions, I chat with guests and try to remove any snootiness around theatre,' she says. That personal audience gives Lowther something many other young actors don't have: leverage. She doesn't have to wait to be cast to engage an audience, promote her work or generate income; she has built her own stage. It's a powerful position. Does creating a public-facing brand ever get in the way of being taken seriously as a stage actor? 'By trade, I am an actress,' she says cautiously, but she reveals that some people in the industry have initially turned up their noses at her influencer life. Why does Lowther think people are so keen to follow her life? She pauses. 'It's a weird one. As cheesy as it is to say, I try to be as authentic as possible … I try to show the lows, the highs and all the bits in between.' Lowther's appeal does seem to be rooted in her honesty. She posts videos of her crying after failed auditions, hosts chats from her dressing room, and answers questions about how much actors really get paid. Part of the draw is that she isn't too flashy or aloof. Her relatability offers other young performers a sense of hope: maybe, if they throw themselves into social media, they could have a career like hers too. Of course, out of the many people who post on TikTok, only a few will end up in the spotlight. Lowther is more than aware of this, and is determined not to fall behind. She still posts regularly on TikTok and feels a responsibility to make content that's honest, joyful and rooted in her love of musical theatre. She has big dreams of being in a movie musical – 'something like the Wicked movie' – but, ultimately, the theatre has her heart. 'I really love being on stage. I feel like it is where I'm meant to be.' How Very Hannah Live! tours the UK to 29 November; tour starts Edinburgh.
