How many times is it written in the press, and mentioned on the
news that more than 80% of women are wearing the wrong sized
bra? Frequently? Well, are you? Do you know whether your bra
fits correctly?
Is it important? Do we really need to be that bothered? Well,
the answer really has to be yes. Younger women can get away
without wearing a bra, or wearing one that doesn’t support them
properly, as their young muscles and tendons keep things in
place. But this doesn’t go on forever, and as we age, we are all
too keenly aware of the dreaded droop! And anyway, an ill
fitting bra under a T-shirt or close fitting top is just so
ugly.
There are other, potentially more serious problems though,
especially if you have a curvy figure. Breasts that aren’t
properly supported can lead to all sorts of problems with your
back, shoulders, skin irritations and self-esteem. If you have
never been properly fitted, why not try it? You may well find
the bras you buy in the future will completely change how you
carry yourself, bringing your shoulders back and boosting your
self-esteem considerably.
Although too many women are wearing bras that do not fit them
correctly, there really is an over reliance on consistently
buying the same size. We go into a store, are measured and told
we are a 38G and off we go and buy only 38G bras.
It can often be just as well to throw away the tape measure and
keep trying on bras until you get one that fits properly. If you
rely too heavily on the tape measure, you stick in the comfort
zone and continue to buy the same size. But there are far too
many variables now in bra manufacture to be able to rely on that
‘size’ as a constant. Here are just a few:
1. The type of materials used 2. How the fabric is cut 3. The
level of support/elasticity offered by the fabric 4. The design
of the bra 5. The style of the bra (full cup, balconette,
demi-bra, strapless, bustier etc ) 6. Variations in sizing
between brands 7. Variations in sizing conventions in different
countries 8. Variables in the production process 9. Fashion
sizing (i.e. putting smaller sizes on the label than the garment
actually is …)
…and all this before you even start to consider how your own
body alters over the course of the day, the month, the year, or
events such as pregnancy, measurable weight loss or gain, or
surgery.
Therefore, the best way of ensuring you get a correct fitting
bra is to try it on yourself. There are many guides to buying
the correct size – some rely entirely on the tape measure, but
many more are now moving towards the advice of trying on until
the fit is right.
If the bra is right for you, it will:
1. Feel comfortable – there will be no red marks or wheals 2.
The back band will be parallel with the front band 3. If it is
underwired, the underwires will sit comfortably at the back of
the breast without digging in. The front of the underwires will
sit comfortably between your breasts and rest against your
breast bone. 4. The cups will be full – not overflowing, and not
sagging 5. The straps will not cut in, and they won’t slip down.
When you do find a bra that fits properly, why not buy another
one! There’s nothing wrong with having a range of different
‘sizes’. Bras from the same brands tend to be the same size,
there will be different cup sizes in European and American makes
and you may need different cup and back sizes to cope with
changes in your body shape each month.
So, when you have bought the right bra for you, follow the care
instructions to keep it doing its job as long as possible. Bras
usually only have an effective life of around 5/6 months and
will lose some elasticity each time they are washed. You will
probably need to alter the straps and the hook position over
that time to compensate for this.
Yes, there are too many women wearing the wrong sized bra. Yes,
it matters. Yes, it is important to ensure the right fit. No,
you don’t have to rely on the tape measure. No, you don’t have
to buy the same size every time because you have been told to.
There is so much to choose from, enjoy trying on! Good luck in
your search.