Does the highlight of your day occur when you finally get home and are able to remove your bra? Does your bra leave red marks on your skin and cause you pain and discomfort throughout the day? Is your bra always riding up in the back and down in the front? Are you constantly tugging at and readjusting your bra during the day? If this sounds like you, then you, along with millions of other women, are probably wearing the wrong size bra.
Bras were designed to provide support for the back and breasts. They weren’t designed to become the instruments of torture that they seem to have evolved into. Search the internet for “do your bras fit right?” and “the importance of having a bra that fits properly.” You may be surprised at the results. Many women are resigned to a lifetime of ill-fitting bras and don’t realize that the problem is easily remedied. Research has proven that the majority of women are wearing a bra that:
- Has a band size that’s too big or too small
- Has cups that are too big or too small
- Lacks sufficient support
- Leaves disfiguring marks on their body
and this is all because they’re probably wearing the wrong size bra.
What’s The Function Of A Bra That Fits Correctly?
When your bra fits properly, it should alleviate strain on your neck and back. It should support the weight of your breasts so that you can breathe better. It should also provide support when you climb stairs or take a walk during the day. The band should fit snugly in the first row of hooks when it’s new, although you may need to tighten it over the course of several months. The straps shouldn’t slip, and there shouldn’t be any bulges over the tops or sides of the cups.
Why Does The Right Bra Size Matter?
When your bra is the wrong size, it can be more than just uncomfortable. It can be hazardous to your health.
- A bra that’s too small can inhibit the function of your lymph nodes, which are responsible for removing metabolic waste from your body.
- Bras that don’t fit properly can chafe your skin and cause abrasions, blisters, or callouses.
- The wrong size bra can cause neck, back, or shoulder pain due to lack of support.
- When the cups are too small, they can chafe the skin or compress the breast tissue, similar to the effects of a mammogram. They can also cause breast pain.
- When the band is too tight, it can inhibit the blood flow to the breast tissue. This can contribute to the onset of cancer.
- When the cups are too large, they can cause the bras to sag.
- When your bra fits properly, you’re more inclined to exercise and live a healthy life.
How Do You Know If Your Bra Doesn’t Fit Correctly?
There are several signs that your bra may not fit you properly, such as:
- Breast tissue that bulges over the tops or sides of the cups
- Irritation at the site of the underwires
- Red indentations on your shoulders
- Red lines under your breasts
- Your posture is deteriorating
- Your bra rides up in back throughout the day
How Can You Get A Bra That Fits Properly?
Many women contemplate breast reduction surgery as a solution to having a bra that fits correctly. However, this is a drastic action that’s not necessary. The easiest and best method for getting a bra that fits properly is to get a custom-fit bra.
Although many women think a custom-fit bra will be very expensive, that’s not the case. The lingerie industry carries beautiful, generic-sized bras that are designed to fit the generic individual, but bodies aren’t generic. Many women will have one breast that’s larger than the other. One shoulder may be higher than the other. The center of your bra should lay flat against your sternum. If it doesn’t, then your bra doesn’t fit correctly, and you may benefit from a custom-fit bra.
A custom-fit bra is made to fit your chest and to solve the problems that are caused by bras that fit poorly.
Where Do I Find Custom-Fit Bras?
Most department stores provide free bra fittings or sizing, but many are less than accurate, so you may still have a bra that doesn’t fit well, particularly if you wear a large cup size. The best resource for a custom-fit bra is a company that specializes in custom-made bras, which, given the health benefits they provide, may prove to be less expensive than you might think. The following are some of the best companies for custom-fit bras.
Cuup
Cupp bras provide a fit quiz tool to help you select your size based on the bra size and brand you currently wear and a couple of measurements. Their bras are designed to lift and support most sizes. Currently, they have more than 35 sizes and at least four style selections per size. They’re working on expanding their cup size range. However, at present, they carry cup sizes A through H.
ThirdLove
ThirdLove has a fairly accurate size finder that addresses issues such as slipping straps, mismatched breast size, and other bra issues. Band sizes are available from 30 to 48, and cup sizes, including half sizes, are offered from AA to I. ThirdLove bras are made with memory foam and come with a 60-day trial period. If you’re unhappy with your bra, return it for a refund or exchange it for up to 60 days from the date of purchase.
True&Co
True&Co offers a bra sizing chart that uses a method similar to the department store sizing. It requires two measurements – the underbust measurement and the fullest-part-of-the-bust measurement – and the difference between the two determines the cup size. However, their cup size selection is from A through DDD, and their band sizes range from 30 to 40, so there’s a more limited selection.
If you don’t find your size at one of the above online retailers, searching the internet will provide many more. Although the cash outlay may seem high initially, wearing a bra that fits you properly will make you less tired at the end of the day, and it may make you healthier.
