Bra Basics: Get the Right Fit

  

Beauty & Life on a Budget, by Rachel Harris

I recently went bra shopping and found the experience to be anything but uplifting. In fact, if support was what I was looking for, I didn’t find it when it came to sorting through the sea of bras that covered the racks. I found myself confused when it came to selecting the right bra that would work best for my bust, my clothing and my budget.

So, I did some research to try to streamline this business of bra browsing, fitting and shopping. I visited my favorite Phoenix fashion designer to get a quick education on bras and the many accessories that are available for lifting, squeezing, supporting… you name it, there is a product for each busty goal! Next, I scheduled a fitting session with Nordstrom and learned a lot. 

Educate Yourself
I also pulled out my favorite undergarment book, The Lingerie Handbook by Rebecca Aspen. Her book explains how the right bra can transform a women’s wardrobe and overall look, not only boosting one’s bust, but self confidence as well!So read on for a helpful discussion on all types of bras from conservative undergarments to the unique bras that work well under sexy styled blouses and dresses. Plus I have included the experts’ top picks of the bras that offer the best support and won’t let you down.
Getting started with the three S’s: Size, Support & Style I had no idea that learning about bras would be such an education, so I will start by simplifying what I call the three S’s of shopping for bras: size, support and style. Let me ask you a question. Are you wearing the right size? The majority of American women are not and it shows! Just look around and you’ll see drooping, pulling and the dreaded back fat protruding from behind. Believe it or not the right bra can fix these fashion problems and leave the gal and the girls (if you know what I mean) feeling comfortable and looking good. Here is how to tell if your bra is a bad match for you: Red and sore shoulders because bra is too small or too tight.  Marks on skin around shoulder and back area after bra comes off. Sliding straps – once when I was on camera, I was horrified as I reviewed the segment to see my white bra strap hanging off my shoulder! I had no idea and that strap was so distracting that I’m sure the viewers concentrated on my ill-fitting bra rather than my segment topic!  Excessive sweat in cleavage, which can be a problem here in Phoenix. Lumps and bumps under clothing. My personal bra brigade began when a good friend of mine gave me two birthday bras! She could tell that I was wearing the wrong lingerie and since I was doing on-camera work, she decided to do me a favor with an honest gift! I was amazed what a difference the right size bra really made, both underneath my clothing and on the outside appearance. To solve these size issues, I will start with the first bra shopping S, which is size. Do not measure yourself. You won’t get an accurate measurement because as you pull the measuring tape around your chest, your back will bend in and the sizing will be inaccurate. Instead, get measured by a pro once a year.  Victoria’s Secret store employees will measure you for free and give you a personal measurement card to keep in your wallet. I also found the saleswomen at Nordstrom to be very informative. I had never before asked for a bra-fitting consultation and what a difference it made. I highly recommend it. The three components of bra sizing are the band, the cups and the straps.  Band size is your ribcage size. Cup size is your breast size and it is relative to the band size. As the band gets bigger, the “U” of the cup size increases in width. If you go up in band size, then you may need to go down in cup size. Straps are meant to support the band, not the entire bra.  For example, if you were once a 36 B, but today’s shopping trip finds the B cup fitting, but the bra is riding up in the back, then the 36 band size is probably too big allowing room for the bra to ride up. So, now you try on a 34 B, but that B cup may be too small for the decreased band size, so to your surprise, you leave with a perfect fitting 34 C. Kind of confusing, I know, but knowing this makes all of a difference.  When it comes to size, I think it is worth it to pay a little extra and go to a boutique or department store that has bra experts on hand ready to measure you and take the guess work out of band vs. cup size. Be sure to wear a non-padded bra and a form fitting t-shirt so that you get an accurate measurement.  If you always wear padded bras and a padded bra is what you intend to purchase, then it makes sense to get measured in your usual padded bra. The t-shirt will enable you to see the outline and true curves of each different bras you try on. And how about those hooks? Do you know which one is the right one to clasp? Start with the outside hook because as bras stretch through time, you will want to hook the next one in to accommodate the stretch.  Something else that I learned the hard way is to avoid the generic dressing room bra boxes. These boxes house bras for trying on, but these are also the same bras everyone else has put on. I did that at one well-known chain lingerie store and bought the same size and style of the one I tried on. However, it didn’t fit properly once I got home. The bra I tried on was stretched from the women putting it on before me and every piece of garment is made differently.  Save yourself a return trip to the store. Try on the bra that you are considering buying, not a replica. Give yourself the support you deserve Support is the second “S” of successful bra shopping and by support I mean fit.  To test band size, make sure that the band is snug, but that you can fit one finger underneath it.  Next check the cups. If the cups pucker, the bra is too big. If your breasts spill out of the bra, then you need a bigger cup. The under wire should fit perfectly around the breasts instead of poking into your bust. If this happens, then you need a larger cup.  Don’t ignore the straps even though they are not part of the sizing equation. If your straps are picking up too much of the support duty, then the band is not the right size. Straps are sort of the band’s personal assistants meant to assist in support. The band has the job of holding the bra up. To test your straps, slide the straps off your shoulders so that they rest on your arms. Your bra should remain in place and stay up. The cups may flap down, which is fine, just be sure that the band keeps the bra in place.  Now for my favorite part of this report, let’s go shopping. Read on for the experts’ picks of what bra works best for the three “S”’s – your size, your support needs and your style – both bra style and your current life style. Let’s talk style- your bras and your lifestyle Ask yourself three questions before you strike out and shop: 1. What is your right size (remember to get measured by a pro). 2. What kind of support are you looking for and what does your lifestyle demand? Are you nursing? Are you looking for a first bra for your teenager?  Since you are sticking to your New Year’s resolution, are you in the market for a good fitness bra?  3. What kind of bras does your current wardrobe warrant? Take an inventory of your closet. Check for sexy styles, form fitting tees, etc.  Different bras are made for different styles. With your answers in mind, now you can take a look at my top picks for bras that fit into different categories.

 

First Bras: Wacoal Bralette

This bralette has no underwire and very little padding unless she is an early riser and needs the wire for support. This bra allows her breasts to grow comfortably without restrictive padding. However, there are bralettes available with more padding than this one shown and your tween may require a bit more to adequately cover her new growth.Something I hadn’t thought of that the Nordstrom experts shared with me – showing up to school in a bra with extra padding appears that she grew overnight allowing for unwelcome comments.

Nordstrom recommends this $22.00 Wacoal Bralette.

 

Petite: Wacoal Petite & Victoria’s Secret Sexy Little Things Add-A-Cup Bra
Bralettes also work well for petite women, but many smaller-breasted women want the extra fill that padding gives and the lift from an underwire.Another Nordstrom recommendation is this Wacoal Petite line which sells in the $40 to $50 dollar range. I also like Victoria’s Secret’s Sexy Little Things Bra that is padded for lift and cleavage. This bra claims to even add a cup. Prices range by size from $29.50 to $32.00.
Wacoal Petite	Victoria’s Secret Sexy Little Things

 

Full Figured: Natori Chrysanthemum Bra

This Natori bra works well for fuller figured women because the extra seam that appears in the front provides extra support. Better shaping and additional support are provided by the under wire.Notice the wider straps that help lift the larger breasts and alleviate some of the pain that bigger breasted women experience in their neck and shoulders. Many full size bras aren’t as attractive, but this brown, flowered design is effective and attractive.Unfortunately, larger bras carry a larger price tag and this Natori is no exception with a $64.00 price tag. However, all of the experts that I interviewed insist that budget bras are not the best engineered bras. You can’t put a price on looking good and feeling good with the proper support and material. Justify it that way!

 

Full Figured: Victoria’s Secret Angels Infinity Edge Bra
Although wireless, this bra still supports with contoured shaping. I tried on a lot of bras for this column and this is one of the styles that I had to have. It is truly my most comfortable bra and it is sold in a wide variety of bright colors.Sold at Victoria’s Secret with prices ranging from $39.50 to $45.50.

 

Convertible Bras: Victoria’s Secret Very Sexy 100-Way Strapless Convertible Bra

Wow, my research told me that most convertible bras can be worn 3 to 4 different ways, so I was pretty impressed to discover a bra that can be converted into 100 unique styles.For your favorite backless dress, strapless summer top or the currently popular one-shoulder gown, this bra will do the trick. It can also be worn as a plunge bra for deep low cut clothing and as a racer back, which is a life-saving bra for summer styles like tank tops and sleeveless garment. The versatility of this bra makes it worth the $50 to $60 price range.

 

Fitness Bras: Champion Power Back under wire Sports Bra & Champion Double Dry Action Tech Sports Bra
For women who wear cup sizes between C and DD, the Champion Power Back fitness bra is recommended because it provides the under wire for support and wide straps to keep pressure off of the shoulders. My petite personal trainer also favors the Champion line when it comes to workout bras because all of the different sizes and styles are made of moisture-wicking material that absorbs sweat keeping you dry and comfortable.
Powerback ($38.00)	Double Dry Action ($31.00)

 

Maternity & Nursing Bras: Motherhood Nude Padded Bra with Lace Trim Nursing Bra Sleep Racer Back Support
The rules change when it comes to maternity and nursing bras. First of all, you can find bras on a budget in this category that are good quality thanks to the Motherhood line. Ranging in price from $12 to $18, these bras give you a much-needed financial break, which is good timing with a baby on the way! This is also the only bra that I will tell you to set to the smallest hook so that you can expand the bra as you, your breasts and your ribcage grow with pregnancy.I wore these bras faithfully through both of my pregnancies, and for the year after, as my breasts adjusted to nursing and transforming to a post-baby body. These bras are some of the most comfortable undergarments that you will ever experience!The Nursing Bra Sleep and the fitness Racer Back Support are great options offered by Motherhood. Another money saver is that you can wear the same bra for pregnancy and for nursing. Buy your pregnancy/nursing bras during the 4th month of pregnancy. Doing so will give you the support and flexibility needed and can help prevent stretch marks as well.

A Few Last Breast Bullet Points:
There is more to cover. Who knew the bra was such an education?! I will leave you with several bullet points to quickly cover a few more important points. If I haven’t covered your bra question, perhaps the answer is below.

• Bra Accessories like enhancers, nipple covers, and even a strapless adhesive bra called Gather-the-Girls are sold at most lingerie shops and online.  Enhancers or gel inserts can help women with one breast that is significantly larger than the other. Other types of bra extras like dress and lingerie tape support sexy attire and is what Hollywood buys to show, but at the same time hide, their assets. 
• For post-surgical breast needs like mastectomy bras and breast forms, visit sites such as  www.nearlyyou.com or www.siliconeworks.com.
• Don’t forget to care for that delicate skin around your neck and chest. As you treat your face with your favorite anti-aging cream, rub a little on your neck and chest, too. Dermatologists say that creams work hand-in-hand with the wonderful growth hormone that comes out at night while you sleep to rebuild cells and tissues. To fade age and brown spots, try DDF’s Discoloration Reversal-Pod sold at www.sephora.com.
• Wash your bras in a mesh wash bag (available at Nordstrom for $11.50) to retain the garment’s shape and avoid washing machine damage. Wash in cool to lukewarm water and always hang or lay out to dry. Hot water breaks down the elastic. Never use bleach because it destroys spandex and is too harsh for your delicate lingerie. Doing this will extend the life your beloved bra.

Wow did I learn a lot about the good ol’ bra! I hope this information leads you to a successful shopping trip that has you wearing the right size bra for the right outfit.