” A good bra is very much like a good friend – lifts you up, makes you look better, never leaves you hanging and is close to your heart.”
Investing in a good bra is probably one of the best investments you will make. An ill-fitted bra can firstly, dig into your skin, cause back and neck pain. Secondly, it can create awkward spillage and ruin your body posture. Thirdly, it can itch you and suffocate you, to the point you are waiting all day to just go home and rip it off your body. Hence, to own a suitable, comfortable, and stylish bra is necessary.
To understand the various factors that constitute a good bra and steps on how to find the perfect bra size, read ahead.
A. Finding Your Bra Size
For this, all you need is a measuring tape, a pen and a paper. Ensure you are dressed in a simple tee shirt or any loose clothing, with a comfortable, non padded bra.
1.Find Your Band Size
Take the measuring tape and wrap it around the band of your bra. The band is the stretchy material below your cups. Do ascertain that the tape is well around your torso, and is not too tight or too loose. Write the measure in your notebook in even numbers. If the number is 35, the measurement is to be taken as 36. This number is called the “Underbust” or “Bandsize”
2.Measure Your Cup Size
Now, take the tape over your cups and wrap it over your chest. Again, we will not take odd numbers here, but only consider even numbers for correct measurement. So if you are size is 37.4 , take 38 as the measurement. This number is called “OverBust” or “Bust” size.
3. Subtract The Band Size From the Cup Size
Lastly, the final step towards discovering your bra size is subtracting your Band size or Underbust from your Bust Size or OverBust. The difference will tell you about the cup size.
Accordingly, 1 inch = A cup, 2 inches = B cup, 3 inches = C cup, etc.
The video attached below explains the process lividly.
B. Points to Look For
4. Don’t be Embarrassed of Your Size
32 A size is sometimes considered too flat and anything beyond D is perceived as huge. But, wearing a bra that is too loose or so tightly bounded that it makes you choke, is not a good idea. Wear what fits you and lets you breathe.
5. The Band Should be Snug, Not too Tight or too Loose
Looser is not more comfortable when it comes to bras, unlike hoodies or say sweatpants. If the band is too loose, it is not doing its primary task, that is holding the breasts properly. And if it is too tight, it will get sticky when you sweat and dig in your breast tissues, which is not ideal. Moreover, the suffocation can prevent movement and cause soreness.
6.Straps Falling
If you are straps are falling, it is because cups have a gap because the breasts are not filling the attire as the should. In this case, you must go down a size. A racerback bra or bra with straps that are more inward facing might also do the trick.
7. Straps Digging Into Shoulders
Indentation marks on your shoulders mean that the bra is not comfortable. Instead of the band, the straps are doing most of the work of maintaining the chest upright. The band should actually carry the heavy weight instead of straps doing all the work. Going down a band size or opting for a sister size, is the solution to this common problem.
8.Sister Size is Not Limited to Jeans
Just like jeans, an apparel that is vexatious to shop for; bras are no piece of cake either. Sometimes someone with a 32B, could end up with a 34A or a 30C. The sister size is especially important for people with smaller band and larger bust and vice versa. This is because different brands have different measurement standards.
c. Different Styles Available
Different occasions call for different types of bra. One must fill up their wardrobe with all the essential bras so that their outfit and mood is not ruined at the last moment, because of procrastination of one simple task. To make your task easier, we have listed all the Must Have Bras below 🙂
Tee Shirt Bra – Normal Bras have a horizontal line around the cup which might seem tacky and draw too much attention when paired with a tee shirt. A tee- shirt bra is seamless and smooth which gives a presentable look.
Backless/ Stick Up Bra – These bras might not work for heavy busted women. But, for backless blouses and deep-cut tops, this bra is a must have! Heavy busted women can go for bras that have a thin transparent back support at the end. A transparent back strip is better than a colored strip.
Sports Bra- To the women who love to hit the gym, or emerge in some relaxing Yoga, a fitted bra is necessary to ensure your breasts stay composed and don’t jiggle while working out. Not only it is uncomfortable, it also gives an unpolished impression of yourself. The way you dress, does matter, because first impressions are sadly based on looks.
Transparent Strapped Bra- Off-shouldered tops or tops with very thin straps demand strapless bra. These are regular bra with hooks that can help you change the normal straps to the transparent one.
Push-up Bra- Push-up bras will shape and accentuate your figure. This popular choice of bra, comes in both, wired and non wired options . The give a fuller look, especially for women with smaller breasts who want to appear more curvy than they are.
Deep Plunge Bra- For deep V-cut tops or sweetheart necklines, we don’t want the side of the bra to show. After all, we spent a ridiculously high amount for that perfect dress, did not we? The deep plunge bra has angled cups and the center gore sits lower.
Here is a video that further shows different kinds of bra wore under variety of dresses. It is a perfect bra guide for noobs and newbies.
