The Secrets to Finding a Great-Fitting Bra
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THE SECRETS TO FINDING A GREAT-FITTING BRA You count on them for support, but odds are your bras are not your bosom buddies. If you’re like most women, you think the pinching and slipping are normal and unavoidable. And you’d probably never dream that a bra could make your clothes look amazing. But the truth is, a good bra is the foundation for everything else you put on. Pick the right one, and you won’t even know it’s there—except for the fact that your sweaters and dresses will sit better, and your T-shirts will look neater. So what’s the secret to finding the perfect bra? Fit is key, obviously, and it turns out that 47 percent of us have trouble finding our size in the bra we want. But style, color, and shape count too. Read on to find out how to get a perfect fit, 22% pick the right shape for your body, and adjust the straps of women in our and bands so they’re supportive and comfy. We’ll also tell exclusive survey say you how to keep your bras in good shape. Plus, check out they always or often the latest in bra technology and whether or not an WENDELL WEBBER; BRA CONSTRUCTION: JEFFSTYLES.COM WENDELL WEBBER; BRA CONSTRUCTION: regret bra purchases. expensive bra is really worth the splurge. 22 CONSUMER REPORTS SHOPSMART www.ShopSmartmag.org APRIL/MAY 2008 23 Getting the perfect fit WHEN TRYING ON BRAS, LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING: 3 quick bra fixes If you can’t get an expert bra fitting, here’s how Don’t assume the straps are a fuller cut in the same size before you PROBLEM Slipping straps positioned where they should be. Make jump to the next cup size. TIP Not all QUICK FIX Try the next size down to do it yourself and find a bra that works them as loose as possible when you cups are the same; a 34C, for example, or a different style. Keep in mind first try on a bra and adjust them until has a smaller cup than a 38C. Also, cup that straps on a demi bra may slip BEFORE YOU HIT THE STORE, TAKE YOUR MEASUREMENTS: they feel right. Straps should sit flat, sizes vary by manufacturer, especially without sinking into your skin. But don’t European ones. So even if you think you more because they’re set wider. To find your band size (32, 34, 36, etc.) … BUST rely on the straps to lift your breasts. If have the right size, try on a few sizes 1 minus BAND CUP PROBLEM In-between cup sizes you do, you’ll make the straps too tight from different manufacturers. Wrap a measuring tape around your back, under your 0 to K inch AA QUICK FIX Try brands that carry K and they’ll wind up digging into your arms, and around your rib cage (just below your boobs). to 1 inch A half-cup sizes, like the Playtex 2 inches B shoulders. If they’re too loose, they’ll Make sure the front of the band If the number is even, add 4 inches; if it’s odd, add 5. Thank Goodness It Fits line. 2 3 inches C constantly slip down. is parallel to the back. It should be fitted 4 inches D but loose enough to slide your finger PROBLEM Snug band To find your cup size (A, B, C, etc.) … 5 inches E/DD 2 Your breasts should fill the cups underneath. If it’s riding up in back, the QUICK FIX If everything else feels 1 6 inches F/DDD Loosely measure around the fullest part of your bust. 7 inches G enough so they don’t look baggy, but not band is probably too big. Be sure that the right, invest in a bra extender. Then subtract your band measurement from that number. (Note: Some brands, such as Victoria’s so much that there’s spillage. This cup- band is comfortable on the middle It’s just a few dollars and it Secret and Wacoal, have different Find this number in the chart at right to get your correct sizing, and skip E and F, calling them runneth-over effect can also happen if setting because over time your band can attaches right onto a bra’s hooks. DD and DDD, respectively.) cup size. Every inch represents a cup size. AIMEE HERRING MAKEOVERS: WALKER; NERYL ILLUSTRATION: you don’t choose the right style, so try on stretch up to 2 inches. REAL WOMEN, REAL SOLUTIONS See what a major difference the right bra can make! With the help of bra- fitter extraordinaire Linda Ruby, owner of Dorothy Stein in Scarsdale and Mount Kisco, N.Y., a 100- year-old bra store, these women got the bra interventions they needed. In some cases, the sizes were wrong. But Problem: spillage Problem: support Problem: back bulge Problem: gaping cups Problem: asymmetry even when the size was right, the style This staffer says she never seemed to have She thought regular bras were too flimsy to In addition to overhang, her problems After breast-feeding, this woman’s chest Almost every woman has one breast that was often wrong, making the bra feel enough coverage in her bra. “I feel like I’m hold her breasts. Out of desperation, she included straps that left indentations, shrank, making bra shopping a real is smaller than the other, but this staffer’s uncomfortable and creating a shape pouring out,” she complained. often wore a sports bra. Her breasts were cups that rode up, and discomfort. challenge. “I’m thinking I might have to problem was very pronounced. It caused that wasn’t as flattering as it could Solution: A size 40D, a size larger than she sagging and migrating under her arms. Solution: A Wacoal (style 85567, $58) cross over to the teen section,” she said. one cup to “dimple” from not being filled be. Check out our brave staffers’ was wearing, with a different cut. This Le Solution: A Chantelle (style 2981, $88) 44DDD that’s one cup size bigger than Solution: A molded-cup bra. Since the cups out enough; it also caused falling straps. transformations, at right. For more Mystère Dream Tisha bra ($68) has extra that reveals some skin but gives her more she was wearing. Also, the band was are lightly padded and shaped, they fill her Solution: A new bra type. A shallow cup in troubleshooting tips, see “3 quick bra coverage with molded cups that keep her coverage. Also, it’s a size 40DD—three sizes increased 2 inches with a bra extender. out and give her a boost. This Chantelle the Simone Perele (style 165342, $78) gave in place but are soft, so the look is natural. bigger than she was wearing! The straps are The cut of this bra is more generous (style 2575, $68) also has an underwire, both breasts enough coverage, but didn’t fixes,” on the next page. TIP When trying on a molded bra, push in also wider, but the scalloped edge makes all around, helping to banish all that which helps lift and fill the cups and gives her give the smaller one a hollowed-out look. the nipple area; it bounces back if the bra fits. the bra look feminine and sexy. “back fat.” a more rounded look. The molded cups also create shape. 24 CONSUMER REPORTS SHOPSMART www.ShopSmartmag.org APRIL/MAY 2008 25 73% Is a bra splurge worth it? of women spend less than Not necessarily. Here’s what we found when we took apart three bras $30 on each of their bras. and put them through several washes, based on the care instruction labels. On average, women buy When to give it the heave-ho We also had an expert who’s been in the bra business for more than 50 years four bras every year. Experts say you can expect to get only six months to two years out of any bra, (seriously!) have a look and tell us what she thought. no matter what you spend. Here are four signs it’s time for a replacement. THE COLOR CHANGES. adjusted. Or the fabric show-through increase. around the underwire may White bras will start to look IT’S TOO TIGHT OR TOO a dingy shade of gray; nude, get twisted around in the LOOSE. Your bra may be in black, and other colors will wash. That may seem like a $127 perfectly good shape, but start to fade. small detail, but the bra maybe your figure has won’t sit the same way and La Perla Vintage For the high price tag you get top-quality THE FABRIC STRETCHES changed. Perhaps you’ve may give you less support. materials, nicely contoured cups, and a flexible, well-padded OUT. The band may not gained or lost weight, had a underwire that won’t cut into your skin. But this bra didn’t hold feel as tight as it used to, THE FABRIC LOOKS child, or had breast surgery. up well to even gentle hand washing. After three washes, the and it may ride up in the WORN. You risk getting There are bras specifically 75% elastic material in the back of the bra twisted and curled up, and back, and the straps may jabbed by the underwire, and designed for implants, such of women say the stitching on the straps puckered. slip off your shoulders once the fabric starts getting as the Le Mystère No.