Q: What's the single most important tip for a proper bra fit? What are some other common fit problems?
A: Vital to the perfect fit is a firm back-band to lift and support your boobs, and cups that encase each breast properly without the wires digging in or any bulging.
Top tips for the perfect fit:
- The wires at the front of the bra, in the middle of your chest sit flat against your body.
- They should sit flat against your rib-cage, with absolutely no lifting away.
- Breast tissue should be encased completely by the wire. The wire should sit behind the breast tissue and in the crease of your breasts, not below. Cups should fit with no bulging over, or gaping at the top.
- The back-band should sit horizontally across your body in line with the wires at the front of your bra. Your back-band should be nice and snug. You should not be able to pull it more than about 2” from your back.
- Straps should be adjusted in length to give support to the cup but should also be comfortable.
Common problems include:
Back Band
- Back band riding up: Your back band is too big and is not supporting you properly. Try a smaller back size for better support. You will need to increase your cup size by as many band sizes as you go down.
- Shoulder straps digging in: Your shoulder straps may be a little tight, try making them looser. Alternatively, your back band may be too loose, meaning that your shoulders are taking the weight of your boobs instead of the back band of your bra. Try a smaller back size to help with this (but remember to increase your cup size).
- Back band too tight: Your back band needs to be firm to lift your boobs, but if it hurts to wear it then it is too tight. Increase your back band size if this is the case, and don't forget to reduce your cup size.
Cup Size Problems
- Wires lifting away from your body: Your cup size is too small. Go up as many cups sizes as it takes for the wires to sit flat and firm on your body (in the middle of your chest, and around your rib cage).
- Wires digging in at your sides/under your arms: Your cup size is too small. The wires in your bra should always sit behind you breast tissue at the side of your body. When your wires hurt you, it means they are sitting on your breast tissue. Again go up as many cup sizes as it takes to have the wires sat just behind the breast tissue and sitting flat on your body with no bulging.
- Bulging over the top of the cup (double busting/4 boob look): The cups are too small. The top of the bra should sit flat and smooth on your boobs, with no bulging. Try as many cup sizes as it takes to achieve this.
- Different sized boobs: Everyone has one side bigger than the other. When your bra fits you properly the difference will be hard to tell. If you feel self-conscious about it, try different styles of bra to see what suits you best or alternatively try a little padding in the smaller side.
Remember: if you are going up a cup size you may need to go down a back size, and vice versa.
