How to wear a bra correctly
Wearing a bra correctly is not as simple as you may think - wearing a bra in the correct manner, and using the adjustments to get the right fit for your body, will result in minimal discomfort, proper support and improved shape. To increase the longevity of your bra and get the best fit possible, follow the steps below.
As an experienced bra fitter, I have lost count of the number of times I have seen women wearing their bra with the hook and eyes at the back done up incorrectly. Reaching around the back blindly and doing up your bra closure can cause discomfort, and more often than not, can result in you incorrectly clasping your bra. If you have been doing this for years and have the traditional method down pat, by all means skip on to step 2. If, however, like many women you find doing up the closure on your bra difficult, read on for the easy method.
Clasp at Front, Swivel Round, Arms Through.
Place your bra around your body so the hook and eye closure are underneath your breasts. Clasp your bra at the front on the loosest closure and ensure that the band feels comfortable around your underbust. Swivel your bra around so the bras closure is fastened at the back and the cups are in line with your breasts. Gently place your arms through the straps.
Step 2. Scoop and Pull.
Under boob and side boob - we have all experienced this phenomenon at some point, and that is why you should never skip this simple step. It is important to ensure that your breasts are sitting nicely inside the cups and not spilling out the side or slipping under the band. Use your hands to scoop and lift your breasts towards the centre of the bra so they are at a comfortable height and position. This little trick will dramatically improve the support of the bra, the look of your breasts and your overall shape when wearing clothing.
Step 3. Adjust the straps.
The bra band should be doing most of the support work and the straps should be sitting comfortably on your shoulders. You want to make sure that the straps are not digging in and causing indentations on your shoulders, and that they are not so loose that they are falling off. A good indication of whether or not you have the correct adjustment is to lift the bra straps approximately 1 inch off your shoulder - if you can easily do this then it’s too loose, if you can’t manage then it’s too tight.
Tip: When trying on a new bra for the first time, loosen the straps all the way before wearing the bra to avoid straining the fabric. Then slowly tighten the straps until the bra feels comfortable to wear. Over time you will need to decrease the length of your straps to make them firmer as the bra starts to lose its elasticity. Ensuring that the fabric is not strained and overtightened the first time will make sure you extend the life of your bra.
Step 4. Check the back closure setting.
Always purchase your bras on the loosest back adjustment, so that when they lose elasticity over time you have the option of tightening the band to maintain support. The bra band should be firm enough to provide the majority of the support, so if you are finding the band loose on first purchase, you should try a size smaller. Similarly to adjusting bra straps, you want to avoid unnecessary strain on the bra when it is new, by tightening the closure more than necessary.
Extra Tips
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If your straps are slipping off your shoulders you either need to tighten the straps or switch to a different style. Generally wirefree and seamless bras that have flexibility and stretch, along with the adjustable straps, will give you the best solution to this problem. Often rigid traditional cut and sew bras won’t be able to conform to your body shape to give you a comfortable fit.
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If the band is riding up at the back, you either have your shoulder straps too tight, or your band size is too large. Try adjusting the straps, then tightening the back closure or sizing down.
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If you have cup spillage (overflow of your breast out of the cup) you may need to either loosen the bra straps, size up or try a more full coverage style.
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If after following all these tips you find your bra is still digging into you and feeling uncomfortable, you are probably wearing the wrong type of bras. Make the switch to wire free and seamless bras that stretch to fit and flatter your body without any discomfort.
Removing creases from your pads and cups
Do you often have creasing ruining the smooth silhouette of your bras and cups? Easily remove creases and dents that occur in your bra pads with our simple tutorial here
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Posted on January 23 2020
