I remember when I first moved here and being thrilled to find that there was a Marks & Spencer right next to the main El Corte Inglés. After more than a year in beautiful but eensy Salamanca this felt like the height of cosmopolitan sophistication. Ever since my Toronto days M&S was always THE place for underwear and also comfy clothing in general. Sadly the M&S closed here after a few years and then I used to actually plan trips to Gibraltar to stock up. Then came online shopping – bliss! – and I had a steady supply of knickers and bras at my fingertips. But I dunno… the past few years both quality and selection has suffered, to the point where this week I was actually forced to go out and shop for new bras locally (!!!).

El Corte Inglés of course. Simply because I can take stuff home to try on and return it no questions asked. It was pretty slim pickings there too as I was looking for non-underwired but eventually a helpful salesperson showed me this one and I was sold. Front closure is a bit of a faff but once it’s on… wow, talk about comfortable. Bought one black, one cream and now I’m set for the summer. Sorry to see M&S go, but it seems to have gone the cheap “fast fashion” route, not for me.