We all think we know our bra size don’t we? But do you ever
find that sometimes you buy a new bra in that size and it’s not quite right? Or
even that the same bra can feel fine most of the time but occasionally feel too
tight (or too loose)?
You’re not alone and there are a few reasons for this. The
main 3 are as follows:
1. There can be
differences in sizing from
different bra brands. Just as clothing can vary from shop to shop, so can bras
so while the size you normally buy from one brand is fine, it may not be the
case that the same size will fit from another
2. There can be
differences across bra styles, even
from the same brand. Some styles will be more suited to your body so you may
find that while a balcony bra in your size is great for you, a full cup one may
not fit quite the same, and so on. Even the fabric will have an influence as a
soft jersey will be more flexible than something more structured
3. Your body changes all the time. Things like
weight gain or loss will certainly affect your bra size but shorter term,
temporary fluctuations will also have an impact, such as your menstrual cycle.
The ageing process will also change things over time; your breasts may not get
any bigger but you will usually require more support in your bra as you get
older and almost certainly after you’ve had children
So what can you do?
The fact that you’re not the same size all of the time can
make bra shopping more difficult but rather than squeezing yourself into ill-fitting
bras because you refuse to deviate from that one prescribed size doesn’t make
much sense either. Research suggests that around a third of women regularly
wear the wrong size bra.
Certainly get a professional bra fitting; that is a good
place to start, but accept that it will only give you an accurate snapshot of
your size on that day. You then really need to get to know your body. Why not
make a note of how your bra feels each day over the space of a month. Many women find that their breasts are sore
and bigger when they’re menstruating or ovulating. You should also try a range
of styles and of sizes. This may even require you to order a number of bras to
see how they fit, with the expectation of returning quite a few.
This might seem like a bit of a laborious process but you will
fairly quickly get a much better understanding of your body and what you should
eventually aim to end up with is a range of bras in different sizes/styles that
you know will all fit you, albeit some only at certain times of the month.
Why bother doing
this?
Back pain, sore shoulders, aching boobs and posture problems
can all be brought about by something as simple as your bra not fitting
properly. That’s why it’s worth investing in ones that are just right for you.
A well-fitting bra will also give you great shape and avoid double boob and
back fat bulge!
Why not start by ordering the same bra in a number of sizes
or a range of styles in the same size? You will see exactly what we mean when
you try them and you may actually be quite shocked by the difference. And don’t
be embarrassed to go up a cup size. Many women stick to a D or DD cup because
they don’t want to face up to that ‘big bra’ territory and yet, their shape
would be much more flattering, and their bobs would actually look smaller, if
they bought the size that fit them best.
We have a wide range of styles and of sizes on the site so
have a good browse. You may also find it useful to check our bra fitting guide.