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.
STEP ONE
Essential Adjustments
Take an extra second every time you put your bra on to make some crucial adjustments and achieve the best possible fit.
STEP BY STEP
1. Fasten the band around your back, and put your arms through the straps.
2. Shimmy your underwires up and underneath your breast tissue as far as they can comfortably go.
3. Adjust your straps so you can just fit two fingers between your shoulder and your strap. They should feel firm, but not digging in.
4. "Scoop and swoosh":
First, pull all of your side breast tissue from under your arm into the cup, in front of the wire.
Then, tuck your tissue back toward your armpit, without pushing it past the wire again.
STEP TWO
Band Fit
The #1 most common fit issue: wearing a band that's too big.
The band provides the foundation of support for your entire bra, so it's really important to be in the right size!
Ideally, you should only be able to fit a couple of fingers between your body and your band.
On a brand new bra, you should be able to achieve this firmness on the loosest set of hooks.
SIGNS YOUR BAND IS TOO BIG
Any one of these signs could be an indication that your band is too big:
- You can feel your band riding up your back throughout the day.
- Tightening your straps pulls your band up your back.
- You can easily fit a fist between your body and your band.
- When you lift your arms over your head, your underwires lift off your ribs.
- You can comfortably wear the bra on the tightest set of hooks.
SIGNS YOUR BAND IS TOO SMALL
- It's difficult to make the ends of your band meet when you're putting your bra on.
- The band is so tight that it restricts you from being able to take a deep breath.
- The band feels restrictive to your movement, or painful.
STEP THREE
Cup Fit
Your bra's cups should fully encase your breast tissue, sitting flush against your chest.
SIGNS THEY'RE TOO SMALL
A too-small cup size might look a little different on everyone. Here are some indicators to look out for:
- Breast tissue bumping up over the cups, even after doing the "scoop and swoosh".
- Underwires sitting on top of breast tissue, especially on your side breast.
- Breast tissue escaping out of the bottom of the cups - this could also be a sign your band is too large.
SIGNS THEY'RE TOO BIG
- Standing straight with your shoulders back, there's empty space between your breasts and the cups.
- Tightening your straps doesn't eliminate the gaping in the cups.
- Your underwire is coming further back under your arm than your actual breast tissue.
Note: Getting a little bit of a gap at the very tops of your cups (where the straps connect to the cups) is very common, and doesn't always mean your cup size is too big.
Individual breast shape might mean this is just a result of you getting a good lift!
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.
