How often does a plus size woman despair about finding the right bra for everyday wear? The one that makes her clothes fit right, feels good, and -- dare we expect it -- looks pretty? October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so it's been on my mind lately.
It's estimated that as many as 85% of women are wearing the wrong size bra! It seems a bigger challenge for plus size women, who may shy away from the triple mirror and feel too exposed in the lingerie dressing room, not to mention intimidated by the intimate nature of proper bra fitting by an expert.
But...finding the right bra with the right fit isn't as hard as it seems, if you follow just a few simple rules:
- Measure correctly! Just to refresh your memory:
- Wear a non-padded bra. Keeping the measuring tape parallel with the ground, measure around your bra directly under your bust after expelling all air from your lungs. Round all fractional measurements to the nearest whole number. If the measurement is even, add 4"; if the measurement is odd, add 5". Look in a mirror to ensure the tape is parallel to the floor. The position of your tape measure is critical. If you have the tape too high, your measurement will be too large; too low and it's too small.
- Standing straight, with your arms at your side, measure at the fullest part of your bust making sure the measuring tape is parallel with the floor and not binding. Round all fractional measurements to the nearest whole number. If one of your breasts is significantly larger, put some type of padding in the cup of the smaller breast to make it even with the larger breast before taking your measurement.
- Subtract your band measurement (step 1) from your cup measurement (step 2). Generally, for each inch in difference, the cup goes up by one size. Example:
Step 1: 37" under bust measurement + 5" = 42" band
Step 2: 45" over bust measurement
Step 3: 45" - 42" = 3" or "C" cup
Your correct size would be 42C
- Take some time to try on different styles and choose one that supports with smooth lines, does not cut into your back or breasts, and avoids "squashing".
- Lift, support and comfort are all key. Many women find underwire bras to be uncomfortable, so they make the mistake of wearing a soft, non-underwire cup. There's not enough support, especially for full-figured women. A properly fitted underwire bra should rest comfortably against your rib cage with a soft cotton casing. If the wire lifts away from your chest, move up one cup size. It's OK to alternate between soft cup and underwire bras.
- The back band of your bra provides 90 percent of the support, so the ideal fit should be firm yet comfortable; and stretch across the middle of your back, not up around your shoulder blades.
- A word on minimizers...th
ey compress rather than support. A bra with seams, shape and cup depth will prevent jiggling without mashing. Stick with bras that lift and center the bust line for the best look.
There's another important reason to wear a bra that fits correctly - there may be a link between breast cancer and tight bras that restrict lymphatic drainage in the breast. There are many lymph nodes and passages in the breast and underarm area that can be restricted (and thereby unable to do their job) by tight fitting lingerie, allowing an accumulation of body waste and toxins in breast tissue.
Did you know that your bra size can change as many as six times throughout your life? Weight gain and loss, pregnancy, nursing, and hormonal changes contribute to these changes. Experts recommend getting fitted yearly to ensure optimum fit and health.
As a result of thinking about how bras complement or destroy how we look in our clothes and writing this article, I measured myself again and found that I need a bigger band size and a smaller cup size. I guess I'm off to a department store to check out styles in my new size!
Don't sacrifice service, style and comfort because you're embarrassed to ask for help when buying a bra. Go ahead, ask as many questions as you need to! You'll be much happier (and more comfortable) in the long run.
Remember to check your breasts and to schedule your annual mammogram!
xoxo-Robyn
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