Raise your hand if you’ve been personally victimized by a poorly fitting bra. If it feels like you’re constantly waging a battle against your underwire or pulling up your falling bra straps all day long, you’re not alone. When your bra doesn’t fit, you’re itching to pull it off the second you get home.
But wearing an ill-fitting bra isn’t just annoying; it can impact your sense of wellbeing. Not only can it cause breast pain and red marks from chafing, but that nasty tension headache and poor posture could be coming from your bra fitting problems.
Despite the countless options lining store shelves, many are wearing the wrong bra size and compromising their comfort. Wearing the wrong size bra is the root of many of these problems. Once that’s fixed, the rest falls into place.
From band conundrums to cup calamities, let’s dive into why most women unknowingly wear bras that fail to provide the support and comfort they truly deserve.
Without further ado, let’s get into the most common bra fit problems.
1. The Underwire Digs
Underwire bras have a bad rap for digging and squeezing around the ribcage. Since these bras have thin metal wires sewn into the bra cups for added support, they can be extra painful when not fitting properly. If your band is too large and sits on your breast tissue, it can rub and chafe against the skin. If the band is too loose, it won’t support the breasts.
If the bra is too tight, it will dig into the ribcage, impacting breathing and even contributing to shoulder and neck tension. These issues affect the comfort of wearing a bra and can have long-term consequences for posture.
2. Gaping Cups
If there is extra room in your bra cup, you could be wearing a bra that’s too big. When your bra fits properly, your breasts should fill the cups comfortably and snugly. Some breast shapes, like shallow or bell-shaped breasts, are heavier at the bottom of the breast and may be better suited for different bra styles like balconette bras or triangle bras. Like Goldilocks, you may find that a size smaller will be too small, and the size you’re wearing is too big, so consider going up a half size instead.
3. Overflowing Cups
On the opposite end of the spectrum, when your breasts are spilling out of your bra, your cup size is likely too small. It may surprise you that sizing varies between styles and brands, so getting regularly fitted can prevent fit issues.
Bra style could play a role here as well. Folks with fuller breast shapes (like tear-drop or close-set breasts) may find that bras with less coverage, like demi-cup bras, might not provide enough support. Consider switching to a fuller coverage bra like the Revolution Adjustable Pullover Bra.
4. Only One Cup Fits
Most women have one breast that’s bigger than the other, also known as asymmetrical breasts, according to one study. When selecting a bra, many folks choose a size that accommodates the larger breast, inadvertently leaving the other cup gaping. Instead, to accommodate this breast shape, consider bras with removable padding that can be adjusted to balance the size difference, ensuring a more symmetrical fit. Or consider a molded bra, as the single piece of fabric can smooth and even the appearance, minimizing any differences between breasts.
5. The Bra Band Is Too Tight
Ten points if you knew that most of your bra’s support comes from your bra band, not your straps. But choosing the tightest band you can fit into won’t mean you’ll get more support. All you’ll end up with is painful red marks and the burning desire to rip your bra off.
Your bra band should sit snugly around your ribcage without digging, essentially allowing you to move while supporting you. Your bra may not sit properly under your clothes when the band is too tight. A snug band will evenly distribute the weight of your breasts and ensure that your bra stays in place. You should also feel comfortable and lifted.
6. Bra Straps Dig in
One of the worst offenders on this list is digging bra straps. These can cause a world of hurt, from back and shoulder pain to unsightly red marks. As we discussed above, the bra band does a lot of the heavy lifting, and when it’s too loose, it places extra strain on the shoulder straps, causing them to dig into the skin. The wrong size isn’t always to blame here; you may be wearing a bra that’s too old. Over time, the band loses elasticity, leading to a stretched-out bra. Rotate your bras to get the most wear out of them, and replace them regularly!
Another factor may be the size of the straps: narrow or non-adjustable straps can be more uncomfortable for larger busts. Choose a wider and adjustable strap to distribute the weight evenly.
7. Bra Straps Slipping
The constant battle between bra straps and bra wearers is a universal frustration, but it doesn’t have to be! Most often, the cause is stretched-out straps that need a quick tightening. Since straps stretch out quickly, you may need to check and adjust them regularly to ensure they stay in place.
If you have narrow shoulders, certain styles of bras slip off more easily than others. Racerback or convertible bras, while versatile, can sometimes lead to slipping if not adjusted correctly. Ensuring the straps are tightened appropriately and choosing a style that suits your breast shape can make a significant difference. One particular bra style, bras with wider straps, like Pullover Bras or Sports Bras, have more stability and are less prone to sliding off.
8. Bra Chafing
The main cause of bra-chafing is an ill-fitting bra. This can mean that the bra is the wrong size (too small or too big.) But it may also mean that your bra is just the wrong shape or style for you. You may experience chafing under the breasts, along the sides of your breasts, or even on your shoulder straps. Chafing worsens when you sweat, like on a hot summer day or during a workout.
Resources to Help Measure Your Bra Size
If you’re ready to say goodbye to slipping straps, squeezing bands, and all the other woes that accompany a bra that doesn’t fit, it’s time to talk about getting properly fitted. Getting regularly fitted is essential to helping you feel supported and confident in your bra, especially throughout the changes in your life.
At Knix, we really wanted to help more women avoid bra-fitting problems altogether. As an online retailer, we know bra shopping online can be daunting. That’s why we developed our virtual fit program to help measure your size. Learn more about it today and book your appointment!
What to Expect From a Knix Virtual Fitting
Book a virtual bra fitting and we’ll connect you with one of our expert Knix team members for a one-on-one fitting session over video chat.
For your bra fitting, we recommend you wear a bra with little or no padding and a fitted t-shirt to make sure we get an accurate measurement. You’ll also need either a) a soft measuring tape or b) a piece of string or cord and a tape measure or ruler.
With different styles and sizes for 30A to 42G in the world’s most comfortable and supportive wireless bras, our fit experts can help you get into something you will love to wear every day.
How to Measure Bra Size At Home
You can get a good idea of your bra size at home by using a tape measure and doing a little bit of math. But consider this a “jumping off point” rather than a conclusive answer about what bra size you should wear.
Wear an unpadded, well-fitting bra and grab a soft measuring tape. For the band size, measure around your ribcage beneath your bust, ensuring the tape is snug but not tight. Round up to the nearest even number. Next, measure the fullest part of your bust, ensuring the tape is parallel to the ground.
Subtract your band measurement from your bust measurement to determine your cup size. For each inch of difference, you correspond to a cup size (1 inch=A, 2 inches=B, and so on). Combining your band size and cup size reveals your accurate size.
Remember to retake your measurements often to ensure that you're wearing the correct size. This is especially important during big life changes like pregnancy.
Ditch Your Ill-Fitting Bra!
Life’s too short to be uncomfortable in your bra! Wearing an ill-fitting bra isn’t just annoying; the tension can cause headaches and even can cause bad posture.
Everyone should feel confident and comfortable in their bras. If you’re waging a never-ending war against your bra, it’s time to get fitted or retake your measurements. Getting fitted regularly is essential since your size may change throughout your life. Pregnancy, weight changes, aging, and surgery can all impact your size. It’s important to have bras that make you feel supported, no matter what the number on the size chart.