Your bra fits perfectly when... The band lies straight, around the front and back of the body. The center of the bra lies flat against the breastbone, separating the breasts. The underwires do not cut or poke into the breast tissue. The sides lie smoothly without binding or cutting.
The breasts should not spill out of the bra at the sides or in the middle. Double breasts must not form between the cups, nor should the breasts be pushed out towards the armpit. If they are, you have chosen a bra with a cup size that is too small: try a bigger size. The cup must not be too loose either.
An obvious sign that the cups are too small is if the underwire presses in at the sides of the breasts or if you have red marks on your breasts when you take your bra off in the evening. The underwire should enclose and cradle the breasts; it shouldn't pinch anywhere. If it does, you need to go up a cup size.
As a guideline, you should be able to comfortably run two fingers under both sides of the bra at the same time. If the bra pulls away from your body easily, it is too loose. If you have trouble getting your fingers under the band and it feels uncomfortable, it is too tight. The band should be level front and back.
No matter the type of bra, the band should fit comfortably around your body, snug but not tight. Remember to always start a new bra on the loosest hook and hook tighter as the band stretches over time.
If your band and underwire are the right size, then the center gore should lay flat against your sternum. You should not be able to move it easily, but it also shouldn't press too hard on your chest. If the center gore of your underwire bra does not lay correctly, then the cups are too small or the band is too loose.
Band feels a little snug or tight
This is normal. You want the band to feel snug and not move on the loosest set of hooks and your bra will stretch out with time and wear.
If there are gaps between the cup and your breast, you're wearing a cup size too big. If you find your breast spilling over the top, side, or bottom of the cup, you most likely need to go up in size. You also need to consider a larger cup size if the underwire or bottom of the bra is resting on your breasts.
Bra Band – the band should be secure and level all the way round, not riding up at the back. The band should sit snug underneath the breast tissue. Straps – the straps should run parallel at the back and take the weight from the shoulders. Straps should not dig into the shoulders.
Bras can stretch up to 3 inches during their lifetime, hence the rows of hook and eye closures, made to offset this necessary adjustment. The band can also start riding up your back, which causes gaping in the front between your body and the bra cups.
Why does my underwire hurt? A bad fit – So the most common reason for your underwire to hurt is that it's a bad fit. You may simply be wearing the wrong size. Your bra should have a snug fit but not be uncomfortably tight and the underwire should encase the entirety of the breast tissue.
Gaps in your bra cups can be caused by one or more of the following reasons: You've recently lost weight and you've lost volume in your breasts. Your bra's cup size is too big. You're wearing the wrong style cup for your breast type.
If the bra does not sit flat on the chest then it means the bra could be too small in the cups. If your bra cup size is too small, then it is impossible for the underwire to lie flat against your chest. Instead, the wire sits on top of your breast tissue and the centre panel will not lie flat against your chest wall.
The number one rule in bra sizing is that the center gore — the small strip of fabric between the cups — of the bra should always lay flat against your chest.
There's a gap at the top of the cups.
When you look down at your bra do you notice space between your breasts and the cup? If so, it's too big. If you aren't able to see any gaps while standing up, try leaning over while looking into a mirror. If there is extra space in your cups it's time for a new size.
BRA PROBLEM - WHY DO bras BULGE AT THE SIDES? If you have unwanted bra bulge at the sides it could be the bra band is too narrow. Alternatively the bra band size could be too small or the bra cup size is too small.
How often you need to wash your bras isn't an exact science. But dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, says that as a general rule, you should wash them after every two to three wears.
In the correct fit, your bra band will be snug and create a straight line across your back. If your bra band is too loose, the back of the bra will rise and the front will droop and sag - not a good look! Going down a band size will probably fix your bra problem.
The most common cause of discomfort from an underwired bra is wearing the wrong size. If it presses into the breast, for example on the side, you are wearing a cup that is too small. If the underwire leaves red marks on the skin, you are probably wearing a bra with a circumference that is too tight.
Normal breast tissue often feels nodular (lumpy) and varies in consistency from woman to woman. Even within each individual woman, the texture of breast tissue varies at different times in her menstrual cycle, and from time to time during her life.
Get used to how your breasts feel at different times of the month. This can change during your menstrual cycle. For example, some women have tender and lumpy breasts, especially near the armpit, around the time of their period. After the menopause, normal breasts feel softer, less firm and not as lumpy.
For every band size you go down, you have to go up a cup size to compensate the difference. Let's say you wear a 34B, the cup fits but the band is too big. You measure a 30 band size. A 30 band is two band sizes smaller than the 34 band.
Red marks from your bra are quite normal when you have just bought a new bra. If your bra fits properly it should be quite snug and supportive so of course your body needs time to adjust. For the first few wears you may notice some markings from the band or under the cup but it's nothing to worry about.
If you find a breast lump that feels round, smooth and firm, it could be a cyst — a dilated milk duct filled with fluid. A breast cyst can be large or small, and the surrounding breast tissue may be tender. A breast cyst may appear before your menstrual period and get smaller or disappear afterward.
It's generally recommended that a bra should last anywhere between 6-9 months, although we think that with good care your bras should last a lot longer. We encourage you to look after them as much as they look after you - extending the life of your clothes by even a small amount has a significant environmental benefit.