BRA FITTING 101
Not sure if your bra is fitting correctly? Just bought a new bra and want to check the fit?
Rachael is here to walk you through how to make sure you're getting the perfect fit, by yourself, at home.
FIT CHECKLIST
ADJUSTMENTS
- Make sure your underwires are sitting nice and high under your breasts.
- "Scoop and swoosh" your breast tissue to ensure you're filling out the sides of the cup as well as the front.
- Adjust your straps to be snug enough to just fit two fingers underneath.
BAND FIT
- Secure your bra on the loosest set of hooks.
- Your band should fit firmly- you should be able to just fit two fingers between your band and your body.
- Your band should sit straight across your back, parallel to the floor.
CUP FIT
- Your cups should sit flush against your breasts.
- There shouldn't be any empty space between your breast and the cup.
- There shouldn't be any breast tissue bumping or spilling over the tops or sides of the cups.
- Your underwires should run along the bottoms of your breasts, and not be sitting on any breast tissue or poking you anywhere.
- If your underwires aren't sitting flat against your sternum, but the bra otherwise feels good, this isn't the end of the world!
COMMON FIT ISSUES
BAND RIDES UP
If your band rides up your back on the tightest setting, your band is too big.
SOLUTION:
Go down a band size. To keep the same cup volume, choose a sister size. Learn how here.
SPILLING IN CUPS
After doing the "scoop and swoosh," if you still have breast tissue bumping or spilling over your cups, the cups are probably too small.
SOLUTION:
Go up a cup size.
WRINKLING IN CUPS
If the fabric is wrinkling at the tops of your cups and there's empty space between the top edges of your cups and your breasts, your cups are probably too big.
SOLUTION:
Go down a cup size.
Note: A very small amount of space at the very tops of your cups could just be the result of getting a good lift! If the top edges of your cups are laying nice and flush against your breasts, no need to size down.
SPACE AT THE TOP, SPILL AT THE BOTTOM
If you have a lot of empty space at the tops of your cups, but tissue spilling out of the centre front, this might not be a size issue!
It could mean you'd be better suited to a different cup shape. If you're getting this issue in a plunge style, try swapping it for a balconette style.
SOLUTION:
Try a balconette style like our Luna bra, Emelie bikini, or Dolly bikini.
"BACK FAT"
When your band is hugging your ribs firmly enough to do its job of supporting your bust, your flesh is going to respond by creating bulges above your band on your back, by your armpits.
This is normal!
Your body is soft and your band is firm. It makes sense!
The amount of skin indentation you get in the right band size depends on a million factors, including tissue texture, body composition, skin tension, etc.
Every single person, every size, every age, who is wearing the right band size has some level of "back fat."
SOLUTION:
Embrace your body's lovely softness, and let your band do its job!
Of course, if your band is so tight that it's difficult to fasten, restricts your breathing, or feels painful, you should try the next size up.
