It is the most basic foundation garment, the one that can perk up those luscious curves making you feel confident and beautiful, from within. Bra – if worn rightly, can make you look younger and slimmer but if worn wrong, it might end up making you look dowdy. With the burgeoning of numerous international and domestic brands, the confusion is at its peak to select the right kind of bra which is not only good in quality, but is also affordable.  To add to the selection woes, there are multiple styles of bra available, leaving us wondering on how to choose the right kind of bra.

Over the years, different styles of bra were introduced in the market. There came in the range of nursing bra, teen bra, sports bra, sleepwear bra, bridal lingerie, party wear bra and so on.

So, how to select a Bra?

It’s a pertinent question that everyone seems to fret about. You know all of it, but when you actually go for the purchase, you get overwhelmed with the shapes, sizes, colours, fits and the nonstop persuasion of the counter girl to buy the most expensive one. Eventually, you end up buying the wrong kind. And bless the online shopping; it has taken wrong fittings to a different level. We get lured by ‘Buy 4 bras at just 499’ ad campaigns and buy all of it. Only to realise later that either the quality of the fabric was mediocre or the fittings were weird.

Look for the signs below to know if you are wearing an ill-fitted bra 

1. Do your bra straps cause red marks on your shoulder?
2. Do your bra straps slide down or are you constantly adjusting them?
3. Do your breasts bulge over the top of the cup in a double bump?
4. Do your breasts droop or look generally out of shape?
5. Does your bra band ride up in the back?
6. Does the centre of your bra fail to touch your breastbone?

Any of the above signs may be affirmative that your bra isn’t right for you. These problems indicate that the band is too big or small, or that the cups are too large or small, depending on fit-related issues.

How should a Bra fit?

 

 

The band of the bra provides 80% of the support. Ensure that the bra has good quality fabric & elasticity. The bra should be snug fit allowing your two fingers to pass through it. If the band rides up your back, it means it is large for you.

– The straps provide remaining 20% of the support. They basically level the breasts centrally. They should not keep falling off your shoulder or dig in your skin.

– Whether you are wearing a full cup or a semi cup bra, your breasts should fit in the cups. No spilling out of the cup, under the cup or around under arm. If it happens, it means you are wearing a small cup size. If there are wrinkles on your cup, it means you are wearing a bigger cup size.

– When you buy the bra, it should fit on the first hook, thus giving space for you to tighten later.

– The mid part of the bra, gore, should fall flat on your breast bone. If it is lifted up, it means your cup size of the bra is small.

How to measure your right bra?

Band size is expressed in even numbers – It is the measurement of your chest just below your breasts. E.g. 32, 34, 36

Cup size is the difference of measurement expressed in letter between your band size and the actual breast size at its fullest. It is expressed in letters like A, B, C, D etc. With increase in one inch, there is an increase in cup size from A to B to C and so on.

Step 1: To determine your band measurement, measure your ribcage directly below your breasts. If the tape measure shows an even number, this is your band size. If the tape measure shows an odd number, round up to the next even number to get your band size.

Step 2: Measure the fullest part of your breasts holding your arms at your sides. Keep the tape measure level around your body and measure the fullest part of your breasts (over your nipples).

Step 3: Subtract your band measurement from the measurement of the fullest part of your breasts to determine the difference. The cup size is the difference between the measurements.

As a general rule, the difference between each cup size is 1 inch.

So A is 1 inch difference, B is 2 inch difference, C is 3 inch difference and D is 4 inch difference.

E.g.: If your band size is odd number, 35, you round it to 36. Now if your fullest part of breasts measure as 39, then your bra size is 36C. (39 -36 =3. A difference of 3 inch is C cup size)

* Breast sizes are growing. From 1990 – 2000, the average size had gone from a 34B to a 36C.

Side Effects of wearing wrong sized bra

While all the lingerie brands of the world might lure you to buy fancy bras that have lace and underwire, in the long run they may tend to create discomfort. Wearing a bra that is too tight or too loose may cause several health issues. Wearing the wrong sized bra can lead to many health problems. Majority of the women have the habit of wearing loose-fitting bras. This can be bad for the breast as loose fitting bras can damage the breasts size and shape. So, if you do not want sagging breasts, you need to wear the right bra size.

1)      Breast Pain – If the bra is too tight or the cup size is very small, it may lead to constricting of the breast tissues. Prolonged usage of such bra might lead to breast pain, a typical pain felt after removing the bra.

2)      Back Pain – If the straps are too tight and the cup size is small, it might lead to cases of back pain. It usually occurs in women with large bust size. The trapezius muscle connects the neck to the shoulder. It is recognised that a badly fitting bra providing insufficient support, causes this muscle to tighten just to take up the weight of the large breasts. This can lead to shoulder, neck and back pain because this muscle is constantly being strained.

3)      Skin Problems – The new age underwired bras are known to cause skin rashes. Several studies have found that bras which are too tight can cause lesions or lumps on the skin – also called lympomas. They are caused by hooks on the back of bras digging into the skin. Choose a bra with a thick back strap with at least two sets of hooks and padding on the inside of the hooks.

4)      Blockage of Lymph Nodes – Lymphatic vessels are very thin and extremely sensitive to pressure. Chronic minimal pressure on the breasts can cause lymph valves and vessels to get blocked. Wearing a bra with a cup size smaller than it should be causes the failure of the lymph nodes functioning in the long run. Though the studies have been disputed, there are myths which link occurrence of breast cancer with long hours of wearing a bra or a black colored bra or an under wired bra. Long hours of lymph node constriction cause accumulation of toxins in the arm pit thus fostering cancerous growth. The studies however have been refuted by doctors.

Prevention is better than cure. Since the side effects of wearing wrong sized bra weigh a lot more, it becomes imperative for one to identify what kind of bra should one select for different sizes and different occasions.

Bra Style for your Body Type

1. Small Bust ( A to B ) –

a. Balconette style bra with padding to enhance the curves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 b. Half Cup Bra with Push up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Average & Large Bust ( C  onwards ) –

a. Bra with wide straps for support

 

b. Full cup bra

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

c. Under wired

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

d. Minimiser

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Different Styles of Bra for different occasions

1. T- Shirt Bra for seamless look and daily use

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Nursing Bra for post pregnancy feeding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Strapless Bra & Plunging bra for party wear attire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Sports Bra

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The biggest selling bra colour is nude and skin tones now. 10 years ago, the biggest selling bra colour was white, while ivory and cream were a close to second. Tea rose was the favourite from the 1920s through the 1950s.

Washing the Bra Right

1. When you try on a bra for the first time, try it on the loosest set of hooks before you examine for fit. Over the time, as the elastic naturally stretches, you can switch to the middle set of hooks, and then the inside set of hooks.
2. Buy several bras and rotate them through your wardrobe regularly. By giving a few bras equal wear, you extend the life of all of your bras.
3. Hand washing in cold water with a gentle lingerie detergent and lay flat to dry. Try to avoid washing machines, especially without a lingerie bag, and NEVER put a bra in the dryer! The heat from the dryer will break down elastics and damage the underwires.

 Follow the three step routine to determine your right size

• Select the apt style for your bust size
• Select the right pattern for the occasion ( NO lacy bra for daily wear, their intricate work create detailing on your outfit)
• Select the right colour (NO white bra for white outfits. Embrace nude coloured bra – they are your best friends )

Happy Right Bra Shopping! 🙂

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