Unfortunately, far too many women are currently wearing bras that don’t properly fit them or offer the support they need. Ill-fitting bras can lead to a wide variety of issues, including both aesthetic issues and health problems. But how do you know if you’re wearing the wrong bra? Here are some of the major signs your bra isn’t right for your needs:
Reader's Roadmap
The straps and cups dig into your skin
The major sign of a bra that’s too tight is fabric digging into your skin and creating red lines and deep grooves. Your bra straps shouldn’t need to dig painfully into your shoulders in order to provide lift and support, and similarly, your bra cups shouldn’t dig into your breasts and create an uneven shape. The comfiest bras should create a smooth, seamless appearance and not leave red lines on your skin when you take them off at night.
Looks awkward underneath clothes
The right bra should always complement your outfits and never distract from the overall look. However, wearing the wrong bra size or style could disrupt your clothing and cause awkward lines and bumps, which could negatively affect your confidence when wearing certain clothing styles.
In addition to wearing the right bra size, you should consider which styles would appear seamless and invisible underneath certain outfits. Seamless undergarments and shapewear from fashionable stores are usually a safe choice, especially if you’re wearing tight or clingy clothes.
The straps slide off constantly
Conversely, if your bra is too small, you may find that the straps are constantly sliding off your shoulders and down your arms. Not only is this a sign of an ill-fitting bra, but it’s also really annoying to have to constantly pull the straps back into place. The solution may be to simply tighten the straps a bit more before you put the bra on, but if this still doesn’t work, you may have to find a smaller bra. To find the right bra size, you can either measure yourself at home or get yourself measured by a professional.
There are gaps in the band and cups
Another sign that your bra is not right for you is the appearance of gaps at the tops of the bra cups or at the front of the band. Ideally, the cups should be the exact right size for your breasts, which means they shouldn’t dig into your skin or leave any gaps. You should also check the front of the band at the base of the bra, as a gap in this area suggests that your bra doesn’t fit properly. If there’s a gap here, you may need a larger bra size, and if there are gaps in the cups, you may need to go down a cup size.
Irritated skin
Check your skin for irritation, redness, and chafing if you’re concerned about your bra. Usually, irritation and chafing will suggest that your bra is too small or tight, or it may indicate that the fabric is too rough for your skin, particularly if you’re wearing that type of bra every day. Generally, wireless cotton bras are suitable for everyday use as they’re soft, breathable, and lightweight.
If you’re ever concerned about your bras, get a professional bra fitting to make sure you’re wearing the correct size. You can also experiment with your preferred style and fabric to see if this makes a difference.