This one is for the ladies. It’s time to talk about the brassiere. If you’re not a lady but have at least one in your life, you should also read this. Believe me, it’s not that awkward.
According to a study by Sports Medicine Australia and the Breast Research Australia cited in a January 2014 Health Me Up article titled “How an ill-fitting bra can harm you,” 80 percent of women are wearing the wrong size bra.
Being in an uncomfortable piece of clothing all day has a way of putting you in an ill mood. And an ill-fitting bra can leave you with more than a bad mood — it can leave you with scars.
For the “one in four who require a D cup or above,” according to a BBC article titled “Ill-Fitting Bras — A Medical Perspective,” an ill-fitting bra can be especially problematic.
It can not only be unsightly but also lead to issues such as back pain, headaches, restricted breathing, indigestion, abrasions and even breast cancer according to Health Me Up.
I worked at Victoria’s Secret for a year, and through the bra knowledge I developed, not to mention the women who I helped rescue from bad-bra hell while working there, I developed a bra passion. I’m here to share my knowledge and hopefully help fellow lady Waves.
Let’s start with the anatomy of the bra.
The band is the part of the bra that goes around your back and typically has the hook closures (unless it hooks in the front). This part of the bra should not ride too high on the back nor should it be too tight. Contrary to popular belief, a new bra should not be fit to hook on the last set of hooks but the first so that as the bra loosens through age it can be hooked to retain the proper fit.
Then come the cups, the parts of the bra which should hold your breasts in a firm, yet gentle embrace for the life of the bra.
Now to the center gore, the little part of the bra which sits between the cups and should sit comfortably against the body. Under the cups sit underwires, unless the bra is wireless.
To finish off this exploration of bra anatomy are the straps. These do not exist on every bra (hello, strapless) but do exist on most bras. These typically attach from the cups to band and may or may not be adjustable.
Next, I will examine three of the most common bra-fit styles.
First comes my personal favorite, the demi. This little baby can come in lined (often referred to as padded), unlined or wireless styles. The cups on a demi bra are designed to sit lower on the upper part of the breast to allow more visible cleavage. The wires are shorter, perfect for the lady who deals with the discomfort of wires, and wireless styles exist as well.
The push-up bra does just what it sounds like it does. It pushes the breasts to new heights to make them appear fuller and enhance the appearance of cleavage. The balconet is a subtype of the push-up which pushes the breasts straight up instead of up and in as the traditional push-up does.
The full-coverage bra, like the demi, comes in lined, unlined and wireless styles. This style is all about comfort and support. Unlike the demi, the cups on this style cover the entire breast and the underwires, if there, are longer.
The all-important, but far too neglected factor is the bra fitting. Ladies, you must get fitted if you don’t want to walk around in an ill-fitting bra. You simply must. A bra fitting is free and non-invasive. You don’t even have to take your shirt off.
Breasts change throughout life due to many factors such as pregnancy, weight loss/gain and age. A new fitting should occur around any of these events and regularly about every six months.
Once measurements are in hand, try on bras. Simply trying on bras until an acceptable one is found is not only a waste of time, but a great bra may never be found, so don’t neglect getting measured.
Other factors come into play when finding the perfect bra, such as breast shape. Yes, this anatomical feature of the body is shaped differently on different women, and it does effect what style bra will work for a great fit.
Along with measured size, there are sister sizes. For example, if a woman measures at a size 34D, her sister sizes would be a 32DD or a 36C. To determine a sister size from the measured size, go down one band size and up one cup size, or go up one band size and down one cup size. Sometimes the sister size works better than the measured size.
For too long, women have been neglecting the comfort of their breasts. The time is now to change that. Get out there, go get a proper bra fitting, and wear your everyday attire fabulously.
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Follow Breanna Grigsby on Twitter: @Bre_Louise
