How to Find the Right Bra for Yourself

Countless women go through life wearing the wrong sized bra. Are you one of them? Find out by measuring yourself.

The next time you are buying a bra, remember that the perfect bra is not just about the cute print or a flattering color. What matters the most is the right size. Keep in mind that your bra size does not remain constant and can change with weight loss, pregnancy, lifestyle changes etc. Some signs that you need to measure yourself again: Wrinkling in the cups, underwire poking you, band riding up, cup spillage and slipping straps.

Step 1: Figure out your band size

Stand straight and relax. Place the tape measure right beneath your breasts, and measure around your body. If you get an even number, add four to it. If you get an odd number, add five, and you get the size of your band.

Step 2: Get the cup size

Measure around the fullest part of your bust, without pulling too tightly, but keeping the tape measure snug. Now, subtract the number from your band size. For example, if your band size was 38’ and your cup size is 36, subtract 38 - 36 = 2. The result will indicate the appropriate cup size, based on the following guide.

0= AA

1= A

2= B

3= C

4= D

5= DD

6= DDD, F

7= G

And there, you have your bra size.

A mistake that a lot of us make, is we settle for ‘almost’. Something that’s not it, but is almost there, will never be comfortable. The straps might dig into your shoulders, the band might leave red marks around the bust, or you’ll be adjusting it all day because the underwire is digging into your chest. The way to check if the bra is the one, is by bending over and letting them fall naturally into the cups. The centre of the bra should always lie flat against the breastbone, the right bra will not have a gap. Also, check that the bra cups have no wrinkles, and then turn to the side to check whether the back of the bra is resting comfortably against the middle of your back.

The size and shape of your breasts impacts the bra size and determines what style will be the most flattering. In this respect, while buying a bra, considering the function of the bra is of paramount importance.

What type of bra should you be wearing?

Is there a bra you need to wear every day? You look for the “everyday T-shirt bra”; seamless, supportive and smooth-cup. Or the one that gives you a tag-free stretch band and won’t pinch you all the time.

But what about low-cut shirts? Well, the demi cut bra proves to be the best solution. Or even a bralette for that additional fun detail,

Considering how expensive a bra usually is, what if you need something that can serve multiple purposes? You buy a convertible bra. You can wear them under almost anything. They come with some form of detachable straps, these straps can turn your bra into criss-cross, halter, strap-less, or one shoulder.

For the women who pick up backless dresses, but never buy them because you can’t wear a bra underneath, there’s stay-put backless bra with adhesive lined form cups and a front closure. They can also be hand-washed between uses.

Sports bras are the best fit for women who play sports or exercise regularly. Specially designed to minimize breast movement, provides broad cup coverage, includes wider straps for the best support, and prevents damage to the breast tissue.

The maternity bra is the best fit for women who are pregnant and may have different breast sizes through the course of their pregnancy. These are devoid of an underwire, seamless and provide full coverage cups. Likewise, the nursing bra is especially made for women who are breast-feeding. The cups of these bras are covered with flaps of fabric that can be unclasped, and come with an underwire for additional support and to prevent sagging.

Front closure, heavy support and minimizer bras are designed to accommodate large breasts. The front closure bra have hooks at the front for optimum support and provide a seamless back, while the heavy support bra covers the entire breast. A minimizer bra is worn to minimize the bust size, crate an impression of a relatively smaller bust, and is suggested to women that are 34D and above.

Finding the right bra can sometimes feel like an expedition that’ll take you to the corners of the world, sift through the earth, and even then, you can come back empty handed. But when you do find one, a properly fitted bra will not only feel more comfortable, it will make the clothes you wear look better.