The secret to getting a great fitting bra

When researching this series about great fitting bra's we realised how little we really know about the pretty things that are supposed to uplift and support us.  When fitting a bra, there are so many things to consider, and we learnt that if the bra fits well, it is slimming, gives unbelieveable support, relieves pressure from the back and shoulders and creates the most amazing shape ever!

In our eyes, thats a very good reason to invest in a proper bra fitting service at a leading Lingerie supplier.

There are 4 key areas to a great fit and amazing support, and it is important that all 4 of these are correctly adjusted. 

These are:

1. The bra straps
2. The wings or back panel
3. The bridge or centre gore
4. The bra cups
   

*Image courtesy of www.nowthatslingerie.com

The bra straps -  Are actually not there to create lift which most of us believe.  They work with the band or wings to evenly distribute the weight of the breasts.  They should be tight but comfortable and you should get one finger width of space beneath the strap.

The wings or back panel - The back panel should always be snug fitting, but never constrict your breathing or be uncomfortably tight.  It should also not ride up your back and always sit level with the bridge or centre gore at the front of the bra.  Too tight means you need a bigger band size, riding up means you need a smaller one.  You should be able to put one finger inside the back band comfortably.  Remember when purchasing a new bra that it should hook on the loosest hook.  This increases the life of your bra, as the elastic relaxes you can still tighten it using the other hooks.

The Bridge or Centre Gore - This is where the wire of the cups meet at the front of the bra between your breasts.  This part should lie flush with your ribcage but not dig in or gape.  If it pushes in and squashes the breast tissue, your cup is too small, and if it gapes the cup is too big or the band size is too large.

The Cups - There should be a seamless transition between the cup and the breast, no bulging or puckering.  This should be comfortable and your breasts should naturally fill the cups.  If you are bulging out at the front and by your underarms, then the cup is too small, and if the cup has a gape in the front you need a smaller size.

After writing this, we went and checked all of our bras .... guess what, half of them didnt fit correctly and were donated to ladies who dont have money to buy their own.

This info was sourced from www.nowthatslingerie.com, http://makeupandbeauty.com/choose-bra/, and http://www.bitsoflace.com/bra-fit-and-tips