Finding the right bra can be confusing, there are letters and numbers to contend with, and no two are ever the same. We decided to help you change your life (and trust us, having a proper fitting bra really is THAT important), and asked the help of an expert.
Leanne Booth is the founder of Blest Bras and when we asked her about how her company views bra fitting she said,
“We are really passionate about educating women as to how a good fitting bra should look and feel. With the shocking statistics being reported year after year that over 70% of women are wearing the wrong bra size, there must be a lot of uncomfortable women out there!
Our wish is that women learn the basics, and pass it onto the women in their lives, sisters, friends, daughters, and mothers. What better thing to give someone you care about than letting them know how to feel comfortable and look great.”
According to Leanne the biggest bra crimes are:
1. Wearing a bra that hurts:
A bra should not hurt or feel uncomfortable; if it does it is the wrong size. The most common mistake here is wearing a bra that is too small in the cup. Wearing a bra that is too small in the cup results in wires resting on the bust tissue and digging, in causing discomfort.
2. A saggy bust:
Let’s face it no-one wants the look of a saggy bust, but many women out there are walking around with a bust resting on their belly. The most common mistake here is wearing a bra with the back that is too big. The back of your bra should run right around your body in a straight line. It should not ride up at the back.
If the back goes up, the front comes down! If you make sure the fullest part of your bust is in line with the mid point between your shoulder and your elbow, then you may discover you have a waist and look a lot slimmer!
3. The ‘four boob’ effect:
You can see this clearly if you try your bra on with a t-shirt and look in the mirror. If you have a bulge over the top of your cup of your bra, even if it is only a ‘mini four boob effect’, then the cup is too small for you. If they bulge a little, you may need only one cup size larger. If they bulge a lot you may need to go up at least 2 or 3 cup sizes.
4. Wires that poke out from your body:
If the wires sit out from the centre of your chest, then this also indicates that the cup is too small. We often hear this complaint from women along with that of the wire snapping or breaking, again this is often because the cup is too small. The wires should sit flat against your skin in the middle of your chest and should completely encompass your breast tissue.
So what’s in a bra size?
This is generally one of the most confusing parts of choosing a bra, but Leanne says:
“If you think an E cup is an E cup … it’s not! So many women are unaware that the actual size of the cup of a bra changes when the back size changes. For example the cup size of a 14E is bigger than the cup size of a 12E. If you find the cup size of a 14E bra is OK, but you need a smaller back size, then you will need a 12F, as this will be the SAME size in the cups.”
For more information on how cup sizes change with back sizes, you must read this: Bra Sizes and Back Sizes
She continues to say, “Don’t be scared of a letter! So many women say to us ‘oh no I could not possibly be an F cup’. It is just letter! If you wear a bra that fits then you will actually look smaller, so don’t get scared of a letter!”
Leanne’s top tips for choosing a good fitting bra:
1. Always look in the mirror when trying on your bra
2. Fasten the back strap on either of the two loosest fitting hooks as it will stretch with wash and wear
3. A new bra that fits comfortably on the loosest fitting hook is able to be tightened over time as it stretches, ensuring ongoing support.
4. Adjust the shoulder straps so as they are not too loose or too tight. As the bra stretches you can tighten the straps.
5. For correct fit bend forward and lift and place your breasts into the cups.
6. It is common to have one breast larger than the other – always fit to the larger side. This should not be noticeable, but if it is, try selecting a bra with stretch lace.
7. Try on every bra to ensure it fits before you decide to keep it. The fit of each bra may differ even though it may be the same size. You would not buy shoes without trying them on so don’t do it with your bras!
Ladies, its time to get fitted, get comfortable and enjoy bra shopping!
You can visit www.blestbras.com.au for shopping, fitting advice, trouble shooting, wardrobe basics and general bra information.
Beauty and Lace is an online magazine for women. We hope you enjoyed this article!