For women, a bra is an essential garment. However, many people still lack knowledge about this type of clothing, so they often wear the wrong size or choose the wrong type of bra for their body shape. The following 11 tips will help you choose the right bra and learn how to care for it properly.
1. Identify the issues you have with your bra
After a long, tiring day, when you come home and take off your bra, pay attention to the condition of the back clasp. Is it still fastened or has it come undone? Are any straps loose? Are the straps slipping off your shoulders? All of these issues are caused by wearing a bra that doesn’t fit you properly.
2. Check if your bra is suitable for wearing with a tight-fitting T-shirt
Put on a tight-fitting white T-shirt and see if your bra is visible. If your bra is clearly visible, with the cup surface bulging or the straps twisted, it means you are wearing the wrong size bra.
3. Find the right bra size
Before buying a bra, a salesperson will measure your bust size by measuring the underbust and bust with a measuring tape. This will help you determine your bust measurement and cup size. However, just measuring is not enough.
You need to consider the shape of your bust, the distance between your two breasts, and the size of the bra you usually wear.
4. Know your breast type
Women’s breasts are typically categorized into 7 types as shown in the image below:
5. Identify the issues with your breasts
People often focus on the size of their breasts and overlook the shape. If you have asymmetrical breasts or a wide gap between your breasts, it can be uncomfortable to wear a bra with a full cup surrounding both breasts. For those with such breasts, it is advisable to find bras with shorter straps, in a soft and demi-cup style, with underwires supporting the lower part of the breasts instead of going all around the breasts.
6. Find the right bra size for your breasts
If you measure your breasts and the size is 34B, but you find that size to be too loose for your breasts, do not choose a smaller size like 32B. In fact, a 34B is similar to a 32B or 32C, just with shorter straps. Also, the difference between two bras of the same size, such as 36A and 36B, is mainly in the length of the straps.
7. Deal with straps that always slip off your shoulders
If your bra straps always slip off your shoulders, it may be because your shoulders are narrow or sloping. In that case, you should choose bras with a deep V cup design or with a racerback (or T-back/sportback) design, which is a type of bra with a back structure in the shape of a slim “T”. Also, when buying a bra, adjust the straps to fit your shoulders properly.
8. A dozen bras are enough for you
You should have a few T-shirt bras, which are bras with smooth cups made from soft, lightweight materials and thin padding that provide comfort. Choose 2-3 of these bras in neutral tones close to your skin color for everyday wear. Next, you should have 2 bras with plunge designs, wire-free and in nude or black colors. Finally, you should have 1-2 bralettes for going to the beach or in casual situations. That means you need about 7 bras to cater to different occasions.
9. Avoid wearing the same bra every day of the week
Don’t wear the same bra continuously. When you wear a bra, it stretches, and it takes 24-48 hours for it to regain its original shape. If you keep wearing the same bra, after a month, it will be stretched out and no longer fit you well.
10. Wash your bras at least once a week
How often you should wash your bras depends on how frequently you wear them. If you wear bras multiple times a week, wash them at least once a week. If you rarely wear bras, you can wash them less frequently. However, the number of washes also depends on how much you sweat. If you sweat a lot, you’ll need to wash your bras more often than someone who sweats less.
11. Hand-wash your bras
It’s best to hand-wash your bras. If you need to put them in a washing machine, remember to put them in a lingerie bag to prevent them from getting misshapen and to avoid the bra straps getting tangled with other clothing. But remember not to put bra in the dryer as the heat can distort the shape of the bra.