Wearing The Right Bra For You

By Damilola Olaoye

Are you wondering why your breast is bulging at the sides or lying fallow like your grandma’s? Then you’re probably wearing the wrong size of bra or the wrong type! It is estimated that 80 per cent of women wear the wrong bra size, it is not healthy especially if the bra is too tight; neither does it look good if the bra is to loose. What you need is the right fit.

Before thinking of the type of bra to wear, you need to get the right size. Note that no matter the size, the fitting is what matters.

How do you get the right fit?

The cup size and the band size are most important in choosing the right fit. The cup size is matched with letters while the band size with numbers. For example, 36B, 38C, 40D etc. The first thing to do is to get you measured up. You can only get the right band size if measurement is done by someone else. The correct band size is the smallest you can wear comfortably. To test if you’ve got the right band size, lift up your arms and check that the bra does not ride up your back. Also, you must not be able to run more than your fingers through the insides of your bra.

Once this is done, you proceed to the cup size. There are different cups depending on the shape of your breast. Your starting point to getting the accurate cup size is by using your current bra. The cups are sized relative to the band, so if you try a smaller band size and maintain your current cup, the cups would be too small. To know if you’ve got the right cup, there must be no bulging, not just at the front but at the sides. Also make sure that the underwire encloses your whole breast and lies flat against your rib cage.

For every band size you have dropped, you will need to increase the cups by one size. For example, if you are currently wearing a 34C bra and your under bust measures 31 inches, then you will most likely need a 32D. In U.K sizing, cup sizes are as follows: AA, A, B, C, D, DD, E, F, FF, G, GG, H, HH, J, JJ, K, and KK.

Note that you need to try on different bras until you get the right fit. Don’t rush trying on bras, pay attention to how they fit and feel which means you go for bra shopping when you have enough time for it. If your bra fits correctly, it should not be painful or uncomfortable to wear. You might however find out that sizes may vary depending on the brands and type of bra.

Finding the right type

Now that you’ve figured out the right size for you, let’s explore just the type of bra that will enhance the shape of your breast giving it the look and feel you want. Here’s how to choose the bra that you need.

Push-up bras have a wonderful effect on your breast. It provides cleavage that isn’t really there; it gives a sexy look but can be painful if your breasts are spaced very wide apart and heavy.

Full coverage, seamless bras are what you need for your everyday wear. It offers you full support to get through the paces of everyday life. If the bra is seamless, you can wear it under any type of shirt, including fitted T-shirts.

Convertible bras offer several strap possibilities. They easily move from the traditional over-the-shoulder to criss-crossed at the back and can be removed completely as strapless.

Demi bra has half cups which ends just over the nipples; it could be strapless or wide-set strapped. It is great for open necklines.

Wide-set strapped bras allow you to wear open-necked tops without those embarrassing bra straps showing. Women with very square shoulders will find it comfortable.

Sports bra is used for exercising; it holds your breasts in place no matter what you do, whether jumping or running, you are good to go with a sport bra.

Minimizers make larger breasts appear smaller. They must be fitted correctly as it flattens out the original shape of the breasts. An ill-fitting minimizer will however give a very unflattering ‘unsexy’ look.

Strapless bras have no straps; you can show off your shoulders now and look good with you halter neck tops and gowns.

Water bras have silicone-gel fixed inside the cups designed to make your breast look bigger than normal.

Padded bras are an alternative to stuffing your breast with tissue, socks and the likes. The bra is padded in the lining providing a fuller shape for small breasts.

Maternity bras are made for pregnant women as their breast expands during the course of their pregnancy. It is comfortable and better than going ‘braless.’

Nursing bras have made breastfeeding easier; the cups are covered with flaps of fabric to prevent the cloth from milk stains. They can be unclasped at the top and pulled down to expose the breast.

Adhesive bras are silicon cups which come in only cup sizes A, B AND C. They directly support your breasts from underneath. It will go great on strapless or low-backed dresses. Also, if one breast is larger than the other, you can buy one set of each size and wear the right size for each breast. Wearer, beware! You can’t do lot of activity that involves bouncing and sweating while wearing adhesives, they can fall off!

Now, you’ve got the right size and chosen the right type, you can top up your look by matching the colour of your bras with your panties. You can go for bright colours of your choice like red, blue, pink; they give you a sexy look. For your everyday wear, black, brown, white will do.