Finding a Bra That Fits

<p><strong>The Fitting Room</strong></p>

Putting your bra on correctly?

This is such an important step before even starting to check the fit. Once you perform the Swoop & Scoop, you may find the bra you thought was a good fit, becomes an obviously bad fit. It's like an unveiling of the true fit of your bra! We promise, with some size or style adjustments, you'll be able to wear a bra with comfort and confidence.

Swoop & Scoop

Before we show you how to find your correct bra size, you first need to put your bra on correctly. Putting your bra on incorrectly is like putting your shoes on the wrong feet! Once you're wearing your bra properly, we can assess the fit with confidence.

Lean forward so your breasts fall naturally into the cup
Place the straps over your shoulders
Fasten the back on the loosest hook to begin with
Lean forward and jiggle your bust (trust us!), while holding the underwires
Adjust your shoulder straps so they are taut, but not too tight! You shouldn't feel like your shoulders are being pulled down
If needed, separate your bust so the middle wires sit flush against your sternum
Gently smooth over the cups, band, and straps
Have a look in the mirror! You should feel comfortable and supported

If not, don't worry — we're here to help!

The Band

The band is often seen as an afterthought, yet it's what needs to be corrected before the cup.

The back band should fit snugly, parallel to the ground, without riding up. Fit your new bra on the loosest hook — as the fabric naturally stretches over time, you'll have room to tighten the band.

If your band is too big, try a band size down as a start. For every band size that you decrease, you'll need to increase the cup size to maintain the cup depth. Cup sizes aren't static — they are indicative of a ratio between breast volume and band size (e.g. 14D sizes down to 12DD, 18F sizes down to 16FF).

The Perfect Band Fit

The cup should fully encase your breast tissue and stay put when you raise your arms. It should feel like the band is giving you a hug, firm but not so tight that it's causing pain.

Incorrect Band Fit

If the band rides up failing to stay parallel to the ground. It's too big. If the band lifts up or away from the body when your arms are raised, breast tissue escapes. It's too big.

The Cup

Your breasts should be fully encased by the bra — no spillage, cutting in, or gaping.

If your breast tissue bulges over the top of the cups, under your arms, or out of the bottom of the bra, you need a larger cup size. If the wires are sitting on top of your breast tissue, you likely need a larger cup size.

If your cups are otherwise fitting well, you may just need to try a different brand or style that features wider underwires.

The Perfect Cup Fit

The cup should fully encase your breast tissue and stay put when you raise your arms. It should feel like the band is giving you a hug, firm but not so tight that it's causing pain.

Incorrect Cup Fit

The cups should not cut into the breast nor should there be empty space in the cup. The wires must not sit on the breast tissue and the centre gore should not pull away from the body.

...And there's more

Centre Gore

The centre gore (where the wires meet between the breasts) should sit flat against your sternum.

If the gore is pulling away from your chest, or digging into your breast tissue, you likely need a larger cup size.

Bra Straps

Your shoulder straps should be snug, but not so tight that they leave red marks on your shoulders.

The weight of your bust should be supported almost entirely by the back band and the cups. The shoulder straps shouldn’t be doing all the work! If your back band is firm enough, your straps should sit comfortably on your shoulders.

The straps shouldn't dig into your armpits, or sit so far out they slip off.

Wires

The underwires should sit flat against your ribcage, following the natural crease where your breast meets your body.

They should fully encase your breast tissue without poking it. If the wires sit on top of breast tissue at the sides, the cup is likely too small.

Painful or marked wires are a sign the bra isn't right — never persevere.

The Ultimate Bra-Fitting Checklist:

Move around (go ahead, get your groove on!) to determine comfort
Pop a t-shirt on to see what shape the bra gives you under clothes
Take a minute to really consider how the bra feels on your body
If it's uncomfortable, try a different size or style
Don't buy it if you are unsure! You deserve a bra that doesn't make you think twice, and we promise the perfect one for you is out there.

Other Bra-Fitting Factors

Puberty, menopause, pregnancy, weight loss, weight gain, ill-health, and more can all cause changes in your ideal bra size or style. Fluctuations continue throughout our lifetimes. We understand the changes that bodies experience, and are here to offer our support and expertise in finding you the best bra for your unique circumstance.

Just as we all come in delightfully different shapes and sizes, many bra manufacturers differ dramatically in their size gradings. It’s normal to wear a particular size in one bra and a different size in another. To guarantee the very best fit for you, feel free to enlist the help of our bra-fitting experts online, or visit one of our five stores.