Is Your Bra Not Fitting Properly? Here’s How To Fix It
When it comes to bra fitting, the fit of the bra is the most challenging part. You can fall in love with a beautiful lace style, but if it doesn’t flatter and support your bust as it should, you might as well throw it away.
We all struggle with different bra fit issues. These can range from the straps falling off our shoulders to the center gore (or center panel) not tacking against our chests to the bra band riding up our backs. Bras are undoubtedly more difficult to shop for than jeans, shoes, and dresses combined. These tricky little undergarments can feature anywhere from twenty to fifty components, which only makes it harder to get a great fit.
If your bra isn’t fitting you properly, we’re here to help. In this guide, we’re discussing some of the most common bra fit issues and to fix them.
Your band is either too tight or too big
You’ve probably heard that your bra band is responsible for providing 80-85% of your bra’s support. If your band is too tight, you either need a bigger band, a bigger cup size, or both. If your bra band is too big, you likely need a smaller band size, a fresh bra in the same size, or a different bra style or fabrication.
In a perfectly fitting bra, the bra band is snug, but not uncomfortable and remains fitted and parallel to the floor throughout the day. When you raise your arms, it should stay in place. Ideally, it should be so comfortable and supportive that you forget that you’re even wearing a bra.
Related: How Tight Should Your Bra Band Be?
Your breast tissue is either spilling over your cups or your cups are gapping
These are two very different problems. On one hand, your bra cups may be too small, which is causing your breast tissue to spill over the top and out the sides. On the other hand, your bra cups may be too big (or it could be a style that doesn’t work for your breast shape), which explains why the bra cups have space or gap in certain places.
Ideally, your breast tissue should be contained within the underwire and completely fill the cups. If your bra cups aren’t fitting you perfectly, it’s time to go shopping for new bras.
Related: Why Bra Cups Gap (And How To Avoid It)
Your bra straps dig into your skin or fall off your shoulders
Two of the most common bra fit complaints we hear are bra straps digging into the skin and leaving marks and bra straps falling off shoulders. Of course, these are two more very different issues. You might be fighting with an ill-fitting bra and over tightening the straps to compensate for the lack of support. Very little support comes from the straps, so tightening them will only cause the bra band to move up your back and your neck and shoulders to hurt. To fix this, choose a bra with a supportive band in a sturdy fabric, like power mesh, with multiple hooks in the back. Don’t be afraid to go down in the band size and up in the cup size (also known as your bra sister size) to get the perfect fit. Once you’re wearing a bra in the right band size, you’ll find that you don’t need to over tighten your straps. Instead, being able to fit a finger or two between your skin and the straps will be more than sufficient and won’t cause the band to move up too.
If your bra straps are falling off your shoulders, we recommend the same solution – try a band size smaller first and see if that fixes the problem. Often a bra band in the wrong size is to blame for poorly fitting straps.
If bra fitting was easy, every woman would be wearing the right bra and we’d never have to worry about these common bra fit issues. Unfortunately, most women wear the wrong bra size and suffer as a result. We truly believe that every woman deserves beautiful lingerie that fits well and feels amazing, so we hope this guide helps you find the perfect fit!
Related: Bra Shopping Guide: Tips For Buying New Bras
We Highly Recommend
Whether you’re shopping for new everyday bras or lingerie for a special occasion, it’s always a good idea to seek out a second opinion. We know how hard it is to find bras that fit well and feel good, especially when you’re doing it on your own. If you’ve ever felt unsure about your bra size or you just don’t know where to go to find good bras, it’s time to let a bra fitter help.
Many specialty lingerie boutiques offer bra fittings. Their expert bra fitters will take the pain and frustration out of bra shopping and do all the work for you. Even better, their product knowledge can save you time and money. Plus, they know where all of the best bras are hiding.
If you’ve struggled with finding bras in the right size, it’s time to make a change. Visit our specialty store locator to find a store near you and schedule an appointment.
Happy bra shopping!
