Correct Bra Fitting

It has been said that sexy is a state of mind and many full-figured women know this to be true. Sexy is an attitude, a sense of confidence and what could inspire a woman to feel confident more than the proper foundation garments? The foxiest dress in your closet may end up looking like an ill-fitting sack if what is underneath doesn’t fit correctly. So where does your search for the ever illusive ‘perfect fit’ begin? In your

sewing basket. That’s right. It’s time to get out the tape measure and finally size yourself properly. There are lots of web sites to help you calculate, like www.85b.org/bra_calc.php. Wear the best fitting bra you have while taking measurements. Most important in the fit of your new bra is not the cup but the band. This is where 80-90% of support comes from. A common mistake made is going up a cup size when what you really need is a better fitting circumference. It should be snug enough to allow 2 fingers underneath and around while on the loosest hooks. When your bra invariably stretches over time you just move to the next position. The very common problem of ‘back fat’ will also be much relieved with a properly sized underband.

There are as many bra problems as there are bras. Straps that dig, straps that fall, underwires that turn mean or refuse to rest anywhere but 6 inches below where they are needed. When you find one that fits it can be cause for celebration. Ideally, your straps are for minor adjustment. If you’ve shortened them as far as you can, it is probably a bad fit. Your underwire should fit from the side of your breast all the way to your breast bone for full support and lie flush against your skin. If it doesn’t lie flush the cups are most likely too small. If the underwire wants to hug the lower part of your ribcage, go up a band size. Does the band stay put (below your shoulder blades, level all the way around) or climb up? This means your band (the number part of the formula) is too large. And sometimes a bad fit just means that this may not be the bra for you.

Now that you have your numbers and letters ready, take an inventory of your closet. There are as many style bras as there are clothes and you need to know what you’ll need for what you actually wear.  Note the colors of your wardrobe as well. Think about the problems you have encountered besides size. Do you find yourself wearing the wrong color bra or using safety pins to make an instant racer back bra? Is there a neckline you wear more often than others? It is vital to know your own personal wardrobe requirements. Don’t just write a mental note, either. Show up at the shop armed with all the information you need. This will save you time, frustration and, as the next paragraph will illuminate, money.

If you spend $19.99 at a department store you will get your money’s worth. There is no getting around that truth. Another truth about department store merchandise is erratic and unreliable sizing. Whether it is a pair of jeans, a blouse or a bra, 3 different items from the same rack might fit 3 different ways. This isn’t to say that a specialty undergarment boutique will be any more standardized but the shop matron will be more well versed in the subtleties of her inventory than the average mall clerk. It may seem exorbitant to pay upwards of $50 to $100 for something to wear under your clothes. But if you take into consideration just how much you’ve spent on your wardrobe and just how much it can make or break the final outcome, not excluding all the back, neck and shoulder pain that goes along with an ill-fitting bra…Well, it makes a lot more sense now, doesn’t it? Besides, you may find better deals online or at an outlet store once you know more about yourself and what’s out there. Many stores offer frequent shopper incentives, as well. (If you insist on being truly DIY and want to go it alone the best advise you can take with you is this: Get physical! Lift your arms, do the twist, and touch your toes. Real life isn’t lived in a dressing room.) For now let’s let a professional take some of the stress out of the situation. >>>> Continue to Page 2 of "Correct Bra Fitting"