Bra Fitting Check
A perfectly well-fitting bra will not only make you feel supported and beautiful, it will also correct your posture, completes your outfit, and will not give you shoulder or back pain. On the other hand, ill-fitting bras with inadequate support can restrict your day-to-day and bring unnecessary discomfort, and well, we don't want that for you!
So what are you waiting for? Grab a pen and a notebook, and let's see if this bra fits you well:
A couple pointers before we start:
1. A bra band provides 80% of support in a bra. It's very important that your band feels secure, without constricting.
2. When wearing a new bra, it's advised to start at the loosest "hook and eye" clasps. That way, as the band stretches overtime, you can use the other hooks to secure your bra. If your new bra fits at the tightest hooks right away, it's advised to go down a band size so you can maximize the bra's lifetime.
3. The best way to put on a bra is to put your arm through the straps and secure the hooks behind you. However, if you have mobility issue, you can put the hooks on first below your chest, turn it around gently, and put your arms through the straps.
4. Ensure to "scoop and swoop" your breasts once you've put on the bra.
Now that your bra is on, let's see if it fits you well:
1. Overall Fit
When trying on a bra, it's important to note that your breasts should be contained fully inside the cups and the band should feel secure but not too tight. If your breasts are spilling out from the sides or the top, and if the band feels too tight, you will need to size up in the cups or in the band, or both.
2. Secure Straps
When a bra fits correctly, the straps of the bra shouldn't slip down your shoulder easily. If this happens repeatedly, it's likely that you need a smaller band. The placement of bra straps depends on the size of the band, so a smaller band means closer straps, which means it will be harder for them to slip down. Alternatively, you can wear a racerback bra or use a J-Hook to secure your straps.
3. Band Check
In the correct size, your bra band should be parallel to the ground and feels secure around your ribcage. If it's riding up like the image above, try securing it at tigthter hooks and adjust your straps. However, if it still rides up in the tightest hook and eye clasps, it is likely that either the band is too loose or the cups are too small.
If the cups are too small then the weight of the breasts could be pulling on the bra and making the bra band go up at the back.
If this doesn't happen with any other bras, but one specific bra, it's likely that the elastane has worn out and you'll need a new bra.
4. Check if the gore (the middle part between the 2 cups) touches your sternum
Does your band feels good and secure? Good! Now let's check the cups. In the correct size, the middle part of an underwire bra that connects the 2 cups (also called the gore) should not be floating. It should be flushed against your skin (your sternum).
If you are still unsure, wear the bra and look down at your breasts. If the gore floats like the third image above, then it's likely that you'll need to go up in cup size.
5. No Quad Boobs
In general, if your breasts are spilling out from the top of the bra, it's likely that you'll need a bigger cup. But if you are wearing your correct size and your breasts are still spilling out, it's possible that you have full volume and the style of the bra doesn't fit you well. Opt for a full coverage bra, rather than a demi-style bra.
6. No Gaping Cups
If there are gaps between the cups and your breasts, it's likely that you need to size down in the cups. Wearing a bra with cups that are too big will not provide enough support that you need.
If you have other questions about bra fitting, feel free to reach out to your stylist! If you don't have a stylist yet, start by telling us your preferences, pick your box, then we'll go from there!