How to Buy a Bra
Its been around for ages,
survived all sorts of changes, even survived the feminist barbering revolution,
and come out on top! Sarah Raskino, lingerie designer for Marks and
Spencer tells you how to buy the perfect bra.
They come in all shapes and
sizes. And something women across all ages and cultures have realized that
it is essential to wear a bra – a good bra. We all know how a bad bra,
especially if you have a fuller bust, can cause your muscles to stretch
beyond repair a leave with a ‘saggy’ shape. Here are some tips that will
ensure you buy the right kind of bra.
Fabrics:
Watch out for rigid (non-stretch)
fabrics such as woven cloth in which it is very difficult to get a good
fit. Moreover, it can shrink in washing and does not suit most women whose
bust size fluctuates during the month. Stretch fabrics always give more
support as well as a better fit. Try Lycra blends as opposed to knitted
jersey (non Lycra) fabrics, which get baggy after a while and do not give
adequate support
Lace:
Watch out for rigid lace, which
can scratch and cut you, more so in our tropical Indian climate. Try stretch
laces with Lycra which are now available with cotton blends which are soft,
strong, cool and let your skin breathe easy
Smoothness:
If you wear close fitting clothes,
avoid bras with lots of frilly straps and bows or highly topstitched obvious
seam lines. Instead buy a ‘moulded’ (seamless) bra or one with a small
dart
Underwrites:
Only buy wired bras if they
are a perfect fit as a wire packing can lead to health problems. The wires
should sit flat against your ribcage and not on your actual bust with no
gap between the garment and your body. The wire bras should be made soft,
but strong casing. Wired bras tend to give more support to a fuller bust
and more definition to a smaller bust.
Soft Bra (Unwired):
These are generally more comfortable
and can give good support to a fuller bust if they are made in medium or
firm control fabrics
Straps:
They must be adjustable and
have good elasticity. If they are totally rigid they will cut your shoulders
and if they are loose and springy they will not give adequate support
Fastenings:
A single hook width looks very
neat, but it is not practical for fuller busts. A fastening with two or
three hooks is much more comfortable and supportive for everyday wear.
All straps should have adjustable levels for the hooks to be tightened
or loosened to accommodate fluctuation of weight or washing changes. A
Stretch bra, with Lycra, will get bigger over time and a firm cotton woven
bra will shrink.
People often wear bra, which
is too big in size and too small on the cup, which is shown by the elastic
riding up the back instead of sitting straight at a horizontal angle from
the front. And this is one of the biggest mistakes women do in maintaining
their bodies. Unless a bra fits just right, it could ruin the shape of
your bust if it is too big. Alternatively, if it is too small, in extreme
cases it could even leave you vulnerable to tumours. Never buy a bra without
trying it on and never get anyone else to buy it for you. Because nobody
knows your body like you do.
Things to check in the Fitting
room
-
Do you like the look of it?
-
Does it enhance your shape?
(Try a top over it)
-
Is it comfortable? Is it cutting
anywhere?
-
Does it give you the necessary
support?(Jump up and down!)
-
Is it durable?
How to Measure Yourself:
Measure your rib cage under
the bust in inches and add four five inches to bring it to an even number.
This measurement is the bra size; 32, 34, 36, etc. Measure across the top
of your bust without a bra on. Subtract the bra size measurement from this
new measurement. The balance you are left with is your cup size: AA, A,
B, C, D, DD etc. If the first measurement is 29-30 you are a size 34".
If the second measurement is 35" and you subtract this from the second
measurement you are left with 1" (B cup).
Your cup sizes less than
1" = AA;
No difference = A; 1" = B;
2" = C; 3" = D; 4" = DD
Back
|