A ‘simple’ garment like a bra should be easy to understand, right? But with over 120 sizes to choose from (yes, 120-plus!), where do you even begin? Let’s demystify some sizing myths, shall we…
Women have been wearing bras since 1914, so one would think we’d have them all figured out by now. Truth is, most of us know very little about the bras we wear, with over 80% of ladies wearing the incorrect size (which explains why so many of us feel frustrated and disheartened when it’s time to go lingerie shopping).
The best place to start is with your back strap. Once you have the bra on, you shouldn’t be able to pull the back strap away from your body more than 5cm. If you can pull it more than that, the back strap is most likely too big. You should also be able to run two fingers around your body. It is important that the back strap fits snuggly around your body, as 80% of the bra’s support comes from the back strap and not the shoulder straps. You should be able to put a bra on and then slid the shoulder straps off your shoulders with very nominal movement coming from within the cup. If your breasts sag when you do this, it’s likely that the back strap is too big and therefore not offering enough support.
In terms of finding your correct cup size, it’s important to note that the 32, 34, 36, 38 and so forth is the measurement around your body, while the A, B, C is the cup, meaning your breast size. So a small back and breast could be a 32B, or a small back and larger breast could be a 32G. If your breast is spilling out at the top of the cups or on the sides, this is an indication that the cup may be too small. If the cup is puckering, then you might have to go down a cup.
The cup and back go hand in hand – so if one or both are out, the bra will not fit you the way it should. Also, if you have the correct cup size but feel you need to adjust the back size, then in actual fact, you’ll need to adjust the cup too. The back and cups work in opposite ‘value’ to one another, so if you go up in the back, then you’ll go down in the cup. For instance, a 32E would be cross-sized as a 34DD, or a 30F. If you change the back, then you need to change the cup. We often get caught up in our cup size and so keep changing the back size without adjusting the cup size accordingly.
At Bravacious we pride ourselves not only in the discreet and professional way we serve our clients, but also in empowering them with what to look for in a good fitting bra and then finding styles that will best suit their body and breast shape. Considering that most women will spend over 12 hours a day in their bras, it’s worth investing the time and effort in getting professionally fitted, as wearing the correct bra size is crucial to feeling supported, confident and, above all, comfortable.
