Is your bra causing unnecessary damage to your body?
With the average woman's bra size changing up to six times during her life due to multiple factors such as age, weight loss or gain, pregnancy and hormonal changes, it’s no wonder that nearly 80% of women are walking around wearing the incorrect bra size, oblivious to the fact that in doing so we are causing unnecessary damage to our bodies.
“Wearing the incorrect bra size, especially if you are big-breasted, not only makes you look shapeless and sizes bigger than you actually are, it can also cause severe health problems,” says co-owners of lingerie company, Treasure Chest, Shelley Smyth and Karley Parish.
Wearing the incorrect bra size not only damages the breast size and shape but if worn too tight can block the blood flow.
“It is always advisable to have yourself correctly measured before purchasing a new bra,” says Karley. “However, should one not be able to arrange a fitting, one can do so in the comfort of their home.”
Measure around the body directly under the bust while wearing a bra- this needs to be a fairly fit tight (this determines your back size).
• Measure around the fullest part of the bust, while wearing a bra (This gives you the cup size).
To ensure that you are choosing the correct bra fit, Treasure Chest shares some of their top tips to consider when bra shopping:
• If you’re slightly more blessed on top, underwire bras work best and give your breasts the support they need. When fitting an underwire bra, make sure that the wire lies comfortably on your chest wall - If you can lift your arms in the air with your bra staying put, then it’s a good fit.
• If your breasts spill over and push out above the cups, resulting in a “double-boob” effect and if the underwire tends to stick out in front, digs under your arms or lifts up in the front just below the breasts, then chances are you’re wearing too small a cup size.
• Most of your bra's support should come from the band, not the straps. The back band of
a bra is just as important as the front part as it provides 90% of the support.
When the band is too big it can cause the bra to ride up your back causing the breasts to sag and emphasising any “back fat”. The back band should fit firmly yet comfortably—and be completely straight—around the smallest part of your back, when it's on the loosest hook.
• If the cups are so loose that the fabric is folding, you're wearing the wrong cup size.
• Slip on a top over the bra to see how your body shape will appear once dressed.