“Les gros bonnets” is the French for “the big cups”, as in big cups bras. It also means “fat cats”, important people… I’m a lingerie enthusiast based in Paris and I happen to wear big cups bras. I’ve noticed a lot of positive change in the industry in the past few years, with manufacturers expanding their range to meet their clients’demands. This is what I want to talk about here, focusing on the H+ cup segment.
Drop me a line at
astimel-bonnets@yahoo.fr
Les gros bonnets 
Hi- I just saw you live in Paris? I’m so glad- a lingerie blogger in france!
and I haven’t found anything in paris yet…
I was wondering, I heard there are places where you can get curvy kate, freya, panache, ect, in Paris, and I was wondering if you know any shops? I can only find 85F’s-when I’m lucky, but I’m guessing I’m more of a 75G- not something you find in etam or even darjeeling. My parents refuse to order online
Thanks!
Hello Blue,
There are various places where you can find a 75G in Paris, although you can get much better deals online. To get addresses of retailers near your place, your best bet is to check the brand website
http://www.panache-lingerie.com/retailers/ (click in store and not online) http://www.freyalingerie.fr/trouver-un-magasin.aspx
http://www.curvykate.com/buy-curvykate.php
Make sure to call the store and check if they have your size as some sell the brand but not in the entire size range.
Big department stores (Le Printemps, Galeries Lafayettes) store your size, but they don’t have the British brands mentioned anymore (Printemps used to sell Freya and Fantasie) and the brands they sell tend to be pricy. Still, you can find some good deals during the sales…
I used to get stuff from this shop: http://www.laure-sokol.fr/presentation.php
Finally, there is tiny store with decently priced Freya bras called Nina lingerie. The address is 85 rue du faubourg du Temple, métro Goncourt.
I’ll try and translate all of the above and to add some for a post in French about lingerie shopping in Paris. I hope this helped.
Thanks! 🙂
I just went to Galeries Lafayette (I was given 4 bras- 3 black 75F minimizers, and a 75G black and mustard yellow that I would probably buy if I were.. 60 years old?).
A salesperson at Printemps told me the only 75 back I would find was a 75AA before handing me a handful of 85F’s and 90E’s.
And at the BHV, the sales lady refused to believe me when I said 75, and had to check the size charts 3 times before she understood that I meant a french 75, not an EU 75.
And sports bras seem to be virtually unknown…
So that’s pretty much why I decided to ask here! I was hoping there would be some tiny/unknown stores I could try. Probably will stop by there next weekend, so thanks so much =D
Oops, I also though about a EU 75 (FR90), because I’ve just spend time on German forums. Sorry. The shops I mentioned don’t have stuff under an FR80 band. That being said, stores that sell Freya, Panache, etc… should be able to order a 75 for you if your parents don’t want to order online. You could try an 80FF or 85F in a model you like to check if the cups fit and then have them order a 75G. Plus, the more people ask for their true size, the more retailers will realize that there is a market for 75 bands and/or H+ cups.
Oh and I just thought about another option for you: Marks and Spencers. They don’t seem to carry 75Gs at the moment, but they must have had them at some point based on Bratabase. They do have bras up to GG in an 80 back, which are cute and affordable. Don’t bother with the shop on Champs Elysées, it’s tiny, but the one in Levallois-Perret (So ouest) is pretty good. You should check M&S website to figure out what they carry near your size and armed with that, if you see it in the shop and they don’t have the size you’re looking for there, ask a shop assistant if they can order it for you. They’re usually quite helpful. http://www.marksandspencer.fr/Bras-DD/1040661,en_FR,sc.html
Hi Astrid,
Unbelievable! It appears Elomi has blocked me from liking or commenting on their Facebook page and removed my comments after I commented on your question regarding washing the Energise. What is my crime? First, I asked a very simple question regarding the differences (if there are any) between Eva and Yolanda and when I didn’t receive a reply in over a week I dared to ask if anyone was actually answering questions on their page. Secondly, I commented on your inquiry and suggested that nobody really answers actual questions on behalf of Elomi most of the time. Check your posting and see that they removed my comment. WTF?. I wear almost exclusively Elomi bras and did not bad mouth their products in any way. Am I wrong to be furious?
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