How To Get The Perfect Bra Fit
How your bra fits matters.
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You wear it all day. You want to feel comfortable and confident in it!
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Here are my Top 5 Tips To Get The Perfect Fit....
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First of all you need to know your current size to use as a starting point.
1. Size
Then we will look at how the bra fits using the points below to check which is the best style for you. Every body is different. The shape of our breasts and how high or low, close or wide apart they are, make a huge difference to how a bra fits.
2. Band
3. Cups
4. Underwires
5. Straps
If you have gaping in the cup it might be that you need a smaller cup or it might be that particular style of bra doesn't suit your shape.
Bra's come in balconette shapes, full cup shapes, plunge shapes and the apex which is where the strap starts on the cup will move depending on the design and style. This can affect how the bra fits your shape.
Some people can wear any style of bra and some people find certain styles fit them better.
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Also it is good to get fitted regularly, as our bodies are always changing from weight gain or weight loss, to natural ageing, maybe pregnancy, breast feeding or cancer treatment, you will not necessarily be the size you were 6 months ago, never mind 10 years ago.
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Let's get started.
To measure yourself with a tape measure you need to take two measurements in inches.
Your band size and your cup size.
Band Size
Remove your bra and put the tape measure around your ribcage just under your bust where the band of the bra would go. It should be parallel to the floor and fit close but not too tight so it hurts. Measure in inches, if the number is even this is your band size. If the number is odd, round it up to the next even number and this is your band size.
For example if you measured 29 inches then round up to 30 inches.
Band size is 30
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Cup Size
To get your cup size, pop on your most comfortable non-padded bra so that your bust is sitting where it would naturally sit in a bra and the volume is as natural as possible with no padding. Measure in inches, around the fullest part of your chest and round it up or down to the nearest whole number, not even but whole number.
For example 36.8 would be 37 inches.Cup measurement is 37
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Now take the band size away from your cup measurement.
i.e 37 - 30 = 7
The difference is your Cup size.
| 0 | = AA |
| 1 | = A |
| 2 | = B |
| 3 | = C |
| 4 | = D |
| 5 | = DD |
| 6 | = E |
| 7 | = F |
| 8 | = FF |
| 9 | = G |
The number and letter equals your Bra Size which in this example would be 30F.
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Now you might be a little surprised. Sometimes we are a completely different size to what we thought we were.
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I recently did a bra fitting with Sam and this is what she said.
"I came for a bra fitting with Claire thinking I was a 32/34 DD/E and was measured at a 30F. I was quite shocked. But when I tried a 30F bra on it fitted perfectly - so stay open-minded!"
Sam, Manchester UK
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The reason for this is that when bra's are graded in production, which goes for any retailer on the high street, they follow a diagonal.
So a 32E cup is actually the same volume as a 30F.
It's just the band that is a different length.
It's probably best explained in a table.
So if you are wearing a 36D and don't feel like the fit is great, try a 38C or a 34DD and you might find the fit is much better.
Sometimes we just need to adjust our size over time as our bodies change.
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Bra sizes will fit differently across brands and styles just as clothing does, so use the measurements as a guide and follow the following steps to know how a bra should fit.
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The difference to how you feel in a bra is in the subtleties of the fit, which I explain below and which can make all the difference.
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Pop on a bra in your newly measured size and look in the mirror.
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2. Your Band
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The band of the bra should be doing all the work. This is where your support comes from.
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It should fit snug but it shouldn't feel so tight it's uncomfortable. You should be able to fit a finger between the band and your skin.
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It is important that it is not loose and baggy as that obviously isn't going to give you any support.
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The most common thing I used to see in my high street bra fitting days was a band that was really high up on someones back. This means the cup size of the bra is usually too small and the band size is too big.
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Sometimes all that was needed was to go down a band size and up a cup size and it made a huge difference.
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Your band should fit parallel to the floor.
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Also when you buy a bra you should always fit in on the loosest hook.
Then as you wear and wash it, over time as the band stretches a little, you can tighten it. This is why the 3 hooks exist.
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3. Your Cups
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Once you have your band sorted, it's time to focus on the cups. Obviously there are different styles here depending on how you want the bra to look.
You might want a balconette shape, a plunge shape or a full cup.
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But they should all follow the same rules.
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Your bust shouldn't be spilling out of the cup or it is too small for you. You should fit comfortably in the cup.
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4. Your Underwires
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If your bra has wires and you like the look and shape wires give, it's really important to get this right.
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Wires should never feel like they are digging in to your breast tissue. This is very bad for your health.
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If the cup is a good fit, the wires should shape your bust and feel comfortable. Have a look to check that the wires are sitting flat on your ribcage and not digging in to your breast tissue.
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5. Your Straps
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Really you should be able to knock the straps off your shoulders and nothing changes. All the support should be coming from the band. Your straps should never be doing the work and never digging painfully into your shoulders.
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This is also a common thing to see and why people often think bras are really uncomfortable.
Overall to get the perfect bra fit it is a combination of the right style and the right size for your shape.
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I hope that was helpful 😊
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When you know how to fit yourself. You will feel much more confident that you are wearing the right size for you.
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If you have any questions at all just drop me an email at hello@irresistiblegiftboutique.com
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or Book a Free Bra Fitting chat with me here!
