The perfect fit - how to know when your bra fits correctly

THE CUP

The cup should enclose the whole breast. The breasts should not spill out of the bra at the sides or in the middle. Double breasts must not form between the cups, nor should the breasts be pushed out towards the armpit. If they are, you have chosen a bra with a cup size that is too small: try a bigger size.

The cup must not be too loose either. Bend forward and look in at your bust and check if the cup gapes. If you can see into the cup then the cup is too big for you.

“A well-fitting cup is the key to a good fit.”

Most women have different size and shape breasts. This can be quite obvious on some women and less on others. If you feel that the right and left cups fit very differently on your bust, always start from the bigger breast and make sure it fills the cup properly. You can always put in a small bra insert to fill out the other cup if you are bothered by the asymmetry, but remember that it is completely natural to have breasts of different shape and size.

“The cup should enclose the whole breast and it should not spill out at the side.”

If you wear an underwired bra, the wire should support the whole of the underside of the breast and not squeeze the breast tissue anywhere. The wire should also lie completely flat against the body and between the breasts so that the breasts are separated.

Wires also come at different heights, so choose a bra with a lower cut if you think the end of the wire presses uncomfortably between the breasts or by the armpit. You can try different models. The wire should never feel uncomfortable. If it does, you are wearing the wrong type of bra or size.

THE BAND

If you look at your profile in the mirror when wearing a bra, the band around the body should form a straight line, i.e. it should not be pulled up at the back. If it is, you have shortened your shoulder straps too much. It is not unusual to do so to give the breasts a little extra lift or boost, but this will lead to discomfort in the long run as the straps will start to rub, leaving sore spots on the shoulder.

“The back of the bra should form a straight line at the bottom and not be pulled up.”

It is the band that should provide most of the bra’s support and not the r straps. If the back of the bra is pulled up, loosen the adjustment of the shoulder straps a little. Almost all bra styles have adjustable straps that can be shortened and lengthened.

If you feel that your bust is not getting enough support when you lengthen the straps, you can tighten the hook and eye fastening one or two positions at the back. If this doesn’t help, it is better to choose a bra with a smaller band size

However, make sure that if the cup itself fits well and you only need to go down in band size, you go up the same number of sizes of cup as you go down in band size. For example, 80C and 75D have the same cup volumes. In a previous article, we wrote about sister sizes and the relationship between the cup and the band size and how to change between sizes.

The back must fit properly but not be so tight that you have difficulty breathing. A bra should never feel uncomfortable. If you feel that it is too tight around the back or pinches, go up a size. You can also try using a bra extender at the back. If your breasts are close together, a bra extender can be a good investment, as it only widens the back and does not affect the cups.

SHOULDER STRAPS

So, how do you know if the straps are tight or loose enough? They should not dig in and you should be able to place a finger between the strap and the shoulder without problems when you are wearing your bra.

The shoulder straps are available in many different widths and designs, from padded comfort shoulder straps to narrower stretch straps.

The role of the straps is to ensure that the cup fits snugly against the breast. Their function is not to lift the whole bust. Imagine that the straps are like shoelaces. If your shoes are a size or two too big, it doesn’t matter how tightly you do up the shoelaces, the shoes will still never fit perfectly. It is the same thing with the straps on a bra.

“The role of the shoulder straps is like that of the shoelaces on your shoes”

If the band on the back is pulled up, you have shortened the shoulder straps too much. Loosen the shoulder straps and tighten the bra around the body instead. Most bras have adjustable straps that can easily be adjusted at the back or front. They should preferably be adjusted every morning when you put on the bra.

And finally, never underestimate the effect that the right size and fit of your bra can have on your self-confidence and comfort. Beauty starts from within.