How to tell if your bra fits?
As bra fitters we are often asked this question, and to us it’s a totally valid enquiry! On average a bra is something you’re wearing for 10+ hours a day, so it’s vital that it fits right and feels comfortable. You wouldn’t want to wear a pair of shoes that were too big or too small, so why should your bra be any different?
One of the reasons we hear this question on a daily basis is due to the lack of information shared during typical high street bra fittings - it's often portrayed that we have magic eye balls or secret powers, as discussed in our blog post ‘Hey Ma I think I need a bra’ the majority of people that wear bras had underwhelming first bra fittings, with no coaching or explanation of sizing, just awkward changing room moments and uncomfortable experiences.
As ever, we're here to support and uplift, so Pant Patrol have put together a guide to tell whether the bra you are wearing or trying, fits as it should . Of course alongside this, it's important to remember that there will be certain shapes that may suit one wearer more than another. We also never allocate a single size to our Pant Pals, rather a bracket to work from. If know your bracket, follow the steps below when trying a bra and review our 'Fit me' advice next to every bra online before purchasing. If you're not sure of your bracket or want guidance on what styles might suit 'you' or work with specific clothes, book in with us - virtually or in person.
Fit Points
Back Strap (Band Size)
As fitters, before we do anything else, we check the fit of the back strap that goes around your rib cage. The reason for this is that 80% of the overall support of the bra comes from here. If the strap is too loose, it will rise up your back, which causes the front of the bra to slide down. This means your breast tissue isn't supported and it’s likely you won't get the desired lift. So if you find yourself constantly pulling the back of your bra down over the course of the day because it's moving around, it’s pretty likely you are wearing a band size too big. Of course this also causes the strap to catch on skin and tissue when slipping up - creating a bulge, so contrary to popular assumption your bra could be too big if you are experiencing this.
When you first purchase a bra, ideally, you want to be wearing it on the loosest hook first ( to get the longest life out of the bra ) and the back strap should be in line horizontally with the bottom of the cup. It may well feel lower than you're used to! Once the bra has loosened and starts to ride up your back, you need to bring it in to the next hook to sharpen, and then repeat after it has loosened again. It's hard work hugging a human body all day long.
Bridge & Side Wire
The next step in a fitting is checking the bridge and side wire. The bridge is where the 2 wires meet in the middle of the bra/chest, where the sternum is. On a well fitting bra we want the bridge to be sitting flat, if you find it sitting on the breast tissue in between your boobs go for the next cup size up. However, saying this, there are some styles out there, that may never sit completely flat against the sternum, even if it's the correct size. As long as it's not causing any discomfort and not sitting on the breast tissue, this is fine.
Next, and most importantly, you need to check the side wire. The easiest way to do this is to gently press the wire at the bridge with your thumbs and then follow it around the cup to where it sits near the armpit. When pressing down here you want to be able to feel the ribcage under the wire, if the wire is sitting on the breast tissue it’s too small on the cup and if the wire is all the way under your armpit it’s too big. This is one of the main reasons that the back strap needs to be "sharp" as it helps to pull the side wire back to keep it off the breast tissue at the side.
Shoulder Straps
The final fit point is the shoulder straps. If the back strap is nice and firm and the wire is cupping your breast tissue properly, you don’t need to over tighten the straps to get support and lift at the front. You should be able to slide a finger under the straps comfortably and be able to lift the strap about half an inch off the shoulder.
So if all of these fit points are being followed, you should have a comfy, well-fitting bra. If you have any questions please get in touch and we can answer them all, alternatively you can get yourself booked in for an in-store or virtual fitting with one of our “Boob Jedi’s” as described by The Rally magazine.
Follow our care guide to keep your bra fitting & lasting, as long as possible!
P.S. If you are wearing your fave bra everyday with little rotation, we would expect this to last 6-9 months. If you have a few in rotation, they should last more like 12 months. Depending on how you care for them ...
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