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Rachael Gavin
Few things are more satisfying than finding the right bra. Sure, it sounds silly, but too many of us are putting up with discomfort that can be avoided.
“There is a lot to a bra, and many of us don’t understand all these nuances,” says Philippa Mitchell, bra fitter and owner of The Fitting Studio.
“The right bra is life-changing because then you just put the bra on, it looks good under a garment and you go off for the day. You’re not worried about the straps falling off your shoulders or the underwire digging in or it riding up at the back.”
Start with a professional
It’s easy to order online and pick up a few bras in the size we assume we are, but to find a bra that actually fits and feels comfortable getting fitted by an expert is key.
“We often ignore our unique bust shape when choosing a great fitting bra,” says Kate Rees, head of marketing and digital at Simone Pérèle. “Having a professional help make suggestions, makes all the difference.”
“More often than not, you’ll walk away with a completely different size and style to what you may have originally envisioned,” she says.
Melissa Gillam, Triumph store manager and professional bra fitter adds, “Asking for help is definitely important because all bras are different, and they’re made for different breasts because every body is a different shape so not all bras in a certain size will fit every body.”
Getting professionally fitted for a bra once a year is recommended given the changes our bodies go through with ageing, weight fluctuations and hormones – all factors that can influence bra fit and size.
Size isn’t everything
Once we’ve found out we’re a particular bra size it’s common to stick to it as if it’s a measurement set in stone. But not all bras fit the same, so even if you are a 10C in one type of bra, you might not be in another.
“Every bra is going to be a little bit different because [of factors like] the fabric,” says Gillam. “If something is made of lace, it’s going to be quite stretchy, whereas sports bras are made to be quite firm and aren’t going to give.”
Taking note of your bra size, as well as cup size is crucial.
Ill-fitting bras are often due to the wrong band size. For example, going up from 12C to 14C, instead of going up a cup size.
Don’t ignore shape
Another factor influencing bra fit and comfort is breast shape.
There are at least nine different breast shapes and you can be more than one, especially as breasts change as we age.
“When you’re young your breasts are quite perky [because] there’s fibrous tissue and over time, very slowly, that fibrous tissue breaks down and it’s replaced by fat, so breasts tend to get heavier [as we age],” Mitchell explains. “Softer breast tissue means that you get shallower at the top of the breast and heavier underneath the breast.”
Rees says common shapes include round/full (“even fullness top and bottom”), teardrop (“fuller at the bottom, gently sloped at the top”) and asymmetrical (“one breast larger than the other”).
“It’s incredibly common for one breast to be slightly fuller or positioned differently than the other,” she says. “A person could have a smaller bust but could also be full busted with breast tissue volume sitting high.”
It’s another reason why getting professionally fitted for a bra is helpful because they will know what styles will suit your body and which ones won’t.
“I will fit people, and say, ‘Is that comfortable, how does that feel?’, and I’ll only tell them the size when I need to,” says Gillam.
Top bra picks
For support with enhanced lift and shape. The two-pack includes black and grey styles. It is wire-free for all day comfort and ranges in size from 10B to 16D.
The best-selling bra smooths out curves and ensures comfort with silky-soft fabric, and non-padded wire cups. It has wide bra straps and comes in a range of colours.
A T-shirt bra with embroidered detailing on the strap and band. It features 3D spacer fabric for a comfortable feel against skin. It creates a rounded shape under clothing while providing plenty of support.
