Finding the right fit when buying bras can be very difficult. The process can also be very expensive if you buy the wrong size and then have to buy again and again until you find something that fits. The following list of 7 things to look for when buying a bra should help you avoid such a nightmare.
The first thing to look for has nothing to do with the bra. It has to do with you and how you are trying the bra on. Simply put, every bra should be at the same height on your back as it is on your chest. Many women were the back of the bra higher up on their back. This is incorrect and you'll never be able to get the right fit since you are starting off wrong.
Once you have the correct bra height front and back, take a look at where the bra meets your sternum. You sternum is the spot between your breast at the bottom of your cleavage. The bra should sit flat against the sternum. If not, you need to go with a bigger cup size.
The third step to take when evaluating cup size is simple, but you have to be honest with yourself. If your breasts bulge out of the cups, you are wearing to small of a cup. If there are gaps between your breasts and the cup material, you have the opposite problem. Getting the cup size correct will go a long way to getting a good fit.
Now for the finger test. The average bra is ultimately a support system. It is not meant to hold things from the top like a hanging plant. Instead, it is meant to provide support from the bottom. That being said, it does not mean you have to squeeze yourself to the point of asphyxiation. You should be able to run your finger under the bottom of the bra. If not, then you are wearing a bra that is too tight.
Part and parcel to this, we have our next test. The straps on your shoulder should provide 10 to 20 percent of the support. Pull the straps off to the side. If you see red marks, you've got the straps providing too much support. Loosen them and see if the bra feels the same.
The underwire bra is a popular choice, but everyone hates getting poked. To get the right fit, the underwire around the outer edge of each breast should run smoothly under your armpit towards the back. If it pokes the inside of your arm, the bra is too small. If it pokes up into your arm pit, it is too big. Adjust the size accordingly.
Finally, we have our sitting test. When you sit, the body posture is significantly different. This makes the average bra fit a bit differently, sometimes much differently. Try sitting for a minute and recreating actions you might typically do such as type at a keyboard. If the bra feels uncomfortable, look around for another one.
By Tiffany Hart