Bra Fitting Tips
Finding the perfectly-fitting bra can be a headache, time consuming, and costly! We know the struggle here at Hourglass Lingerie and want to help you avoid all of this! We have compiled our top bra fitting secrets from our fitting experts. Read along to find out more!
Looking for a solution to a more specific problem? Check our our Common Bra Problems page to get more in-depth answers and recommendations. We also give additional, detailed fitting information in our Size Guide!
*Images courtesy of Fantasie and Panache
Putting Your Bra On (The Right Way)
You may be used to hooking your bra in the front and spinning it around, but putting your bra on incorrectly can shorten your bra's lifespan and make the right size bra seem like it doesn't fit. Here's how you should be putting on your bra.
1. Lean Forward
Lean forward and make sure your breast tissue is fully in the cups before standing up and fastening the bra.
2. Fasten On The Loosest Hook
A bra can grow up to 4" due to wash and wear. Therefore, when you buy a new bra, make sure that it fits properly on the loosest hook; you might need to tighten it with wear.
3. Swoop and Scoop
With your opposite hand, swoop and scoop your breast tissue from your underarm towards the middle of your bra. This ensures the underwire isn't cutting into the side of your breasts.
Fill Your Cups... But Don't Let Them Overflow!
Too Big
Baggy cups are not a good look. Going down a cup size can help fill the cup.
If your cups are creasing around the nipple, however, that's a different matter. To help with this, try going down a back size to pull the fabric taut.
Too Small
Spilling out over the tops or sides of your cups won't make your breasts look bigger (there are Padded and Push-Up bras to do that). It just means that you're wearing too small a cup size and should try the next one up.
Just Right
In a perfectly fitted bra, the breasts should be fully encased within the wire and cups. The wire should not sit on the breast tissue, and there should be no wrinkling or spillage in the cups.
Bad Fit
Good Fit
Firm But Comfortable...
Too Big
A band that's too big will ride up your back and may cause you to tighten your straps too tight to compensate for the lack of band support.
Too Small
If your band feels uncomfortably tight and the hook and eye is straining, that means you need to go up a band size.
Just Right
Your bra band should feel tight and firm, but with enough space to insert two fingers under the back band and one under the center front.
Bad Fit
Good Fit
Take The Strain Off The Straps
Your straps should be just tight enough that they don't fall off your shoulders, but not so tight they dig in.
A bra's main support comes from the band, not the straps. Due to this, you have to make sure that you're wearing the correct band size. If it’s too big, your straps will end up taking the weight, causing them to dig in and be painful.
No Movement
When you lift your arms, your bra should stay in place. If the cups lift away from your chest, then a smaller band size and/or a larger cup size is needed.
Flat Underwire
The center front of your bra should lie flat against the breastbone. If it doesn't, it's telling you to go up a cup size and/or down a band size.
Personalized Bra Fitting
More information about sizing yourself for the perfect bra can be found at Hourglass Lingerie's Size Guide. If you're still struggling with finding the perfect fit, have no worries- we would love to help! Call to schedule a free, personalized bra fitting at Hourglass Lingerie so our bra fitting specialists can do the work for you!
