Articles

The Right Bra For You. It's All About Size and Style.

Adapted from a special report in Spring 2004 edition of Teeze Magazine.

When you walk into a lingerie store or boutique and ask about buying a bra, are you asked what color you like, or are the salespeople taking the time to help you to select the correct size and style of bra? There are health, comfort and appearance-related issues involved with selecting the proper bra. If the salespeople take the extra time to ask the right questions, you will be happier with the bra you purchase.

Breasts are possibly a woman's most distinctive feminine feature, adding to her beauty and sex appeal. Despite this, many women do not properly look after their breasts and wear bras which do not fit well, offer little support, and displace the breast tissue, pushing it under the arm or flattening it around the breast wall.

You must think of buying a good, well-fitting bra as an investment with both present and future benefits, not only will it prevent your breasts from drooping in the future, but you will also immediately look slimmer and more in proportion. A bra that bulges and doesn't fit properly will spoil the most expensive dress. 

Signs that your bra is not right for you include:

1.       Red marks on your shoulders caused by your bra straps.

2.       Breasts forced over the top of the cup in a double bump.

3.       The center of your bra does not touch the breastbone.

4.       Your breasts are drooping or looking generally out of shape.

5.       Any or all of these signs could indicate that you are wearing the wrong bra size. that's not only uncomfortable, it can also over time, distort the shape of your breasts and cause a variety of health problems, from headaches to backaches and even migraines.

The Correct Size - Do you find that:

1.       Your bra rises up at the back, thus not supporting the weight of your bust.

2.       Your shoulders are being pulled forward.

3.       Your bust is not properly supported and falls forward, instead of being in its central position.

4.       As you move, your bust bounces up and down and the straps keep falling off unless you tighten them, in which case they dig into your flesh, causing red marks.

If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, you are probably wearing a bra with too large an underband and too small a cup, and you may well be experiencing both shoulder and neck pains.

In addition, because your breast is bigger than the cup, it pushes against the sides of the bra. for an underwired style, this can be harmful, as well as extremely uncomfortable. Remember, your bras should always fit accurately. cups should be just right; not too big, but deep enough to contain the whole of the breast.

The Correct Style
Small Bust: To make the most of a small bust, try a balcony style bra, with or without padding. this can give you an enhanced neckline, excellent uplift, and a lovely, curvy shape. Half-cup bras also flatter a smaller bust; padding at the sides and under the bust give maximum lift. Avoid bras that have square-cut bust lines; they'll flatten you even more.

Large Bust: for women with larger busts, wider shoulder and back straps give firm support. Full cups contain the breast better and give a better appearance. Underwired bras provide better support under the bust. Smooth, plain bra styles, without too much lace, help to make your bust appear smaller.

Just as you don't have one pair of shoes to match all of your clothes, you will need at least a couple of different bra styles for your clothes to look good. Tailored suits and shirts look best with a bit of uplift and firmer control, but when you're wearing jeans and a T-shirt, you may just want a soft, seamless bra to shape you and to go with clingy tops. Wear flesh-colored bras to avoid showing through, and backless bras with a low-cut party dress or sun top. Wear dark-colored bras under dark tops; there's nothing worse than showing a glimpse of white bra under a black top.

Also, if you're losing weight or if your weight varies over the course of the month, a bra with a little lycra or stretch is more accommodating and won't crease under clothing. Remember, your breasts will change with diet, pregnancy, exercise, age, and taking the Pill. Women whose breasts inflate before their period should have a special bra for these days, as their size can go up premenstrually. During pregnancy, hormonal changes can make a woman rise one full size in a week. Avoid underwire during pregnancy, as breast may become to fragile and sensitive.

Health Matters
Wearing the wrong size bra or a badly fitting bra can result in back problems, headaches, neck strain, rashes, and pulled ligaments. This happens when the bust is not well supported by the bra, because your breasts may begin to droop and fall to the bottom of the cup. The breast tissue will role off the chest wall and under the arm, thus pulling on the neck. This can result in headaches, since the muscles being pulled in the shoulders go all the way to the head. Reduced blood flow to the head can cause headaches and backaches, as the extra weight of the bust places more pressure on the back.

These problems can be remedied by wearing the right bra. In this case, an underwire bra will take the strain and open up the chest so that you can breathe properly. It allows the proper blood flow to rebuild.

Sports Bras
Research in Great Britain has found that of the total number of women who exercise, 77 percent don't' wear a sports bra, and of this figure, 19 percent don't wear a bra at all. the remainder wear a regular bra or crop top. This is bad news, considering that any excessive breast movement puts a huge strain on the ligaments that hold the breasts in place, causing them to stretch, and resulting in long-term sagging.

To stay in shape, a well-designed sports bra is as essential as a good pair of trainers; an everyday bra doesn't give enough support during exercise. Sports bras are specially designed to allow complete freedom of movement while holding you firmly in place, and are made from specialized fabrics that channel moisture away from the skin to the outside of the fabric. They come in different shapes and levels of activity, and include seamless cups for a natural outline, racer backs, and cotton-rich materials that allow the skin to breathe.

Lingerie Care
Ideally, your bra should be washed every day, by hand. This will remove body oils, preserve the color of your bra, and lengthen its life. If you have two bras and wear them in turn, washing each one after a day's wear, they should last for three months. Never put bras in a clothes dryer. Air dry only.

Some Facts

1.       Breast sizes are growing. The average size has gone from a 34B to a 36C over the past 10 years.

2.       Twenty years ago a DD cup was unusual; now G cups are not uncommon. Changing diet and the Pill are the culprits.

3.       Bra-wearers are getting younger. Twenty years ago, 12 and 13 year old bought teen bras, now eight and nine year olds are taking the plunge.

4.       Today, the biggest selling color is white, while ivory and cream are a close second. In 1971, skin tones were bestsellers, and were second favorite until about five years ago. Tea rose was the favorite from the 1920s through the 1950s.

5.       Higher numbers of separations, divorces, and remarriages have boosted the demand for attractive lingerie.

To make sure you have the right size, check that:

1.       The back of your bra does not ride up, otherwise the underband may be too big, and you could need a smaller size.

2.       Your bra straps are not falling down or digging into your shoulders. If they are, you may need to adjust them or use wider straps or use shoulder savers.

3.       Your flesh does not squeeze over the top of your bra. If it does but feels fine everywhere else, the cup size is too small.

4.       Your finger can pass under the band in front. Your bra should be comfortable but not tight, otherwise you need a larger band size or you must fasten your bra at the next looser hook.

5.       The middle of your bra lies as flat as possible against your breastbone for a comfortable fit.