8 Signs Your Bra Doesn't Fit You
- Posted on
- By The BraBar & Panterie
Is taking your bra off one of the first things you do when you get home from work? Does your bra seem to become less and less comfortable throughout the day? Do you suffer from unexplained headaches, back pain, or breast pain? If you answered yes to any of these questions, there's a high likelihood you're among the up to 80% of women who wear incorrectly sized bras.
While almost everyone looks forward to letting loose and changing into something comfortable at the end of a long day, your bra shouldn't be a source of discomfort. On the contrary, a properly fitted bra should offer improved lift and support while helping you maintain good posture and alignment from morning until night.
Wondering whether or not your current bras are fitting correctly? Here are eight signs that they might not be! To learn more and explore The BraBar & Panterie's extensive bra collection, visit us at our Provencher or Kenaston location. We look forward to fitting you!
1. The Back Band Is Riding Up
The back band, sometimes also referred to as the bra band or underband, is the part of any bra that encircles the rib cage and provides the majority of support for the breasts. Ideally, it should be parallel to the ground and shouldn't ride upward throughout the day.
The Problem - A loosely-fitting bra band may be pulled upward as the weight of your breasts weighs the front of your bra down.
The Solution - A snug-fitting bra band will properly lift and distribute the weight of your breasts.
Tips - You should be able to pull the band away from the body 1.5 - 2 inches on each side, but no more.
2. Wrinkled Or Excess Fabric
If you are noticing unsightly gaping or wrinkling on the cups of your bras, the cup is not fitting properly or the bra style may be the wrong shape for your breasts. Wrinkling is more common with unpadded bras, whereas gaping is more common with padded bra styles. These issues can often be corrected with the proper fit but at times a better style for your unique shape may be the better solution.
Problem - The cup size or style of the bra is too large for the size/shape of your breasts.
Solution - Try sizing down and exploring various bra styles until you find the right fit for your unique body.
Tips - The cups of your bra should encompass all your breast tissue without visible wrinkling or gaping.
3. You Experience Chafing
When friction occurs between your skin and the fabric of your bra, chafing may take place. This issue is most common with, but not limited to, sports bras.
Problem - Chafing usually occurs when the bra you wear while being active is a poor fit or style for your needs, most often the band is too loose.
Solution - Sometimes going down a band size for a snugger fit can help reduce friction and chafing as can finding a bra style that is better suited to the shape of your body.
Tips - Look for a wider underband and ensure a snug fit in the band to minimize friction in the areas where chafing has occurred.
4. The Cups Overflow On Top Or At The Sides
If your breasts are spilling out the top/sides of your bra, the cup size is too small and/or the style is not well suited to your breast type.
Problem - The cup size is too small or the wrong shape for your breasts.
Solution - Go up one or more cup sizes to ensure that your entire breast is encased within the bra cup.
Tips - Consider trying fuller coverage styles and avoid plunge cuts.
5. The Gore Isn't Sitting Flush
The gore is the centre section of a bra that connects the cups. Ideally, it should sit flush against the sternum to separate the breasts and offer additional shape and support.
Problem - The bra is improperly sized for your breasts and they are not being well supported as a result.
Solution - Ensure that the bra band is snug enough and that the bra cups are large enough.
Tips - If the gore won't sit flush even with a properly sized bra, consider styles with deep cups and sturdy underwires.
6. The Underwires Are Digging Into Your Skin
Underwires contribute to the structure and supportiveness of your bra, and with a proper fit, you shouldn't even feel them. If pinching, poking, or digging in are regular occurrences, it's time to re-evaluate.
Problem - Uncomfortable underwires are nearly always caused by the wrong bra size. If accompanied by overflowing breast tissue, you'll need to size up. If accompanied by gaping or wrinkling, you'll need to size down.
Solution - Invest in a well-fitting bra with the right band size, cup size, and shape for your body type.
Tips - Tell your professional fitter exactly where underwire discomfort is occurring so that they can help you troubleshoot accordingly.
7. The Shoulder Straps Start Digging In
The straps of your bra should not cause redness or leave deep marks on the flesh of your shoulders. There are better ways to achieve needed support than continually tightening your bra straps and the team of professional fitters at The BraBar & Panterie is here to help.
Problem - A poorly fitting bra is usually to blame for straps that are forced to bear a heavier load than they are meant to.
Solution - Ensure that your bra band is fitted snugly to provide optimal support and relieve tension on the bra straps.
Tips - Tighten the bra band, not the straps, for extra support and consider a wired bra and/or more structured bra to provide more support.
8. The Shoulder Straps Start Sliding Off
This is another frustrating issue that can be caused by a poorly fitting bra band and exacerbated by narrow or sloping shoulders.
Problem - Slipping straps may be caused by a too-loose bra band or a bra style with widely set shoulder straps.
Solution - Invest in properly fitting bras with straps that sit comfortably over the centre of the shoulders. Women with narrow or sloping shoulders may experience straps slipping even with a proper fit, but there is a solution. We recommend using Strap Doctor; to keep your straps comfortably in place.
Tips - You should be able to stack two fingers between your shoulder and bra strap, but no more.
Ensuring Your Next Bra Fits Properly
At The BraBar & Panterie in Winnipeg, our experienced professional fitters specialize in helping women of all shapes and sizes fall in love with their bodies as they enjoy the comfort and benefits of the right bra. Whether you're seeking a new sports bra, a nursing and maternity bra, a mastectomy bra, or a bra for everyday wear, we're here to help you ensure a perfect fit and a stunning silhouette.
For professional bra fitting in Winnipeg, visit The BraBar & Panterie today!