Saturday 29 January 2011

The most important thing you will ever read

OK, I am probably exaggerating but please, stick with this...!

Raise your hand if you love beautiful underwear?!  But are you splashing your cash on the right size?


I wrote this post when my blog was just a baby but I feel it needs another outing.  This was primarily inspired after seeing some girls tweet Laura (lollipop26) about what happened when she went to get measured recently.  It just shocked me that so many women are still scared of getting measured.  Let me reassure you:
You do NOT need to take your bra off!!!


During my gap year before University, I trained in a House of Fraser lingerie department and gained so much knowledge about underwear that I think really needs to be passed on.  We all love reading fashion blogs but no outfit can look fantastic without a proper foundation.  

However, even in today's day and age, a worrying proportion of women still wear the wrong bra size without even realising.  The scary reality is though - if your bra doesn't fit right & doesn't support you properly, you're breasts will probably sag.  Scary thought??

Don't worry...help is at hand!


The art of a perfectly fitted bra all centres around 3 basic factors: 

1) THE BACK BAND


This is the band that runs horizontally around your rip cage and is truly the most important part of the bra.  It is where you get all your support from and therefore prevents the dreaded sagging.
This band should be TIGHT.  And by that I mean - you should only be able to pull it out 1 inch or so, when on the LOOSEST hook.  Any more and it is TOO BIG.

Obviously, as you wear the bra, it will loosen over time and that is when you move to the next hook. When you are on the tightest hook and can pull it out more than an inch or two ... you need a new bra. If you wear a bra day in; day out - expect it to have a 6 month life span.

It may seem strange at first with it so tight but you will get used to it; I promise!

2) THE CUPS

Your breasts should be fully encased in the cups with the centre piece flat against your breast bone. This is common sense but how many times have you seen a woman walking down the street with the 'four boob effect'?! If your breasts spill over or the centre piece is coming away from your body?  Go up a cup size.



(Horrible bra but the best example I could find)

Also, check the bra wire is not cutting into your breast tissue at the side - this is another sign that the cup size is too small and usually the main cause of discomfort. 

3) THE STRAPS


Many women believe that this is where you get your support from.  This is however not the case, with the band providing the support - hence why a correctly fitted strapless bra can be as supportive as one with straps.
Primarily, on the loosest setting of the straps, you should only be able to stretch them up 1 inch or so - as with the back band.  Then tighten them as you wear the bra in.

If your straps always fall down or you always need to tighten them, it means the weight of your breasts are not getting support from elsewhere.  You therefore probably need to go down a back size, up a cup size or both.


In general, the most common mistake women make is believing to be bigger in the back and smaller in the cup.  I for one, before my training, believed I was a 36DD.  I now know, that for my frame (size 12) a 36 back is far too big.  I was actually a 32F.  Did it feel weird and tight at first? Very.  But now I have got used to it I realise how baggy my bras were before.  Now my tops fit better, I stand straighter and my back does not hurt anymore.  All because I am getting the correct support from that trusty firm back band - it really is your best friend!

Just try now - reach around and pull the band of your bra out.... How far can you stretch it?? More than an inch or so??!  Go get yourself measured girl!!

The general rule of thumb is, if you need to go down a back size, go up a cup size and vice versa.

For example...


36DD = 34E
34E = 32F
 

The assistance of a trained lingerie fitter is invaluable though.  Please don't just rely on this tip - get measured by a professional.  Even if you are sure of your size, it won't harm to check...and it will always be free!  




EXTRA HINTS
  • Steer clear of M&S and La Senza - I have never been fitted right in these stores.  In M&S, the women just looked at the bra (36D) and said it was OK.  As a company that many woman put faith in, that is just not good enough.
  • Don't rely on the tape measure - I never once used one when working.  All bras are sized and manufactured differently and for this reason you cannot purely go on a measurement.  Trying bras on and looking how they fit is the most effective method.
  • NEVER put a bra in a washing machine or a tumble dryer.  The force and heat will probably cause the wire to pop out and not only cause you discomfort but reduce the life span of your bras.  Always hand wash and air dry!
  • Don't assume once you get fitted, that will be your size for life.  Hormonal fluctuations can cause us to change size and just the sheer difference in bra manufacturing can mean varying sizes.  As a general rule, always take advantage of the changing rooms and qualified staff to ensure you leave with a great fitting new bra.
Now what are you waiting for?!  Go and get fitted...then treat yourself to some beautiful new lingerie!



xxx

24 comments:

  1. I was just on the lookout for a new bra, thanks for this you've explained it so well! :) The feeling of going up a cup would be nice.. lol!

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  2. I quite like this post! And yes I´m almost addicted to beautiful bras :D
    check out my giveaway ;)

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is such a good post! I'm terrified of getting measured again because last time the (crazy) lady in Victoria's Secret whipped a tape measure out and shouted my size for the whole store to hear... Awkward! House of Fraser or Debenhams it is! x

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  4. This is a brilliant post! Added it to my bookmarks :) xx

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  5. @Yu - Going up a cup really is a great confidence boost! xx

    @annierama - Glad I'm not the only one addicted! xx

    @Sarah - haha that doesn't not sound good! I definitely recommend department stores or a specialist shop xx

    @Sriya - Wow thank you! Such a nice thing to say! xx

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  6. What a fab post! I've been measured twice at M&S (different stores) but would never go again as they tell me to just whip my knockers out in front of them lol. I was measured with my bra on with one lady but then had her undo it herself without telling me, pulled it straight off me (!) and then watched me try all the bras on in front of her and then on another occasion the woman told me I would have to take my bra off to be measured correctly as there was no other way to do it and then looked annoyed when I asked for privacy (pointless really when she'd already seeing me topless anyway!) whilst trying on the bras she'd picked out for me! Arghhh!

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  7. @Lisa - I honestly cannot believe they made you do that?! That is really awful - I never once was in the changing room if the lady had her bra off...I would simply just pass her through bras to try on then see what they looked like on.
    I would honestly complain if I were you - nobody should be put through that! xx

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  8. Wow, what an amazing post! Thank you so much! I have never been measured and I really should as I have tons of bras of different sizes...

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  9. nice one georgina,extremely informative!xxx

    http://stilettos-and-cigarettes.blogspot.com/

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  10. That's what I expected them to do so I was quite shocked really! Whether it's "nothing they haven't seen before" or not, it's whether the customer feels comfortable that's most important - at least that's what I thought anyway. I wish I'd had someone like you instead! xx

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  11. reading this, it really makes me want to go get measured. i've never had it done before, and i'm always curious about my bra size cause it fluctuates so much from store to store, and i wanna know what i really am, haha. might have to hit up a house of fraser & see! lol xx

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  12. Hi Georgina! I've just found your great Blog and I'm now following it ^_^

    Kisses, Melanie
    of
    http://beautymeetskawaii.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Very Helpful, I once got measured at three different stores in one day and they all told me differen sizes ranging form a 32A to 32DD.It's very hard when even those who are supossed to know what they are doing tell me different things, so at least I have a bit of a better idea about what should be what now, Thanks Helen

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  14. This is such a brilliant post and so true, I wear my bra quite loose because I don't like it tight even though I know I should, you have inspired me to go and get measured again!
    I have been measured in both Marks and Spencers and La Senza and they both said completely different things so now I know I need to try somewhere else, this makes me sad though as I have so many gorgeous 34C/D bras that I know are not really my size:( xxx

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  15. @Lisa - Yeah that's really unacceptable! Aw bless you for saying that! xx

    @Gaby, Hannah & Melanie - Thank you girls - I'm really glad you found it interesting xx

    @ClareMarie - Definitely do it! I bet you'll be so shocked at what your real size is! xx

    @Helen - It is a bit of a minefield as sizes do vary from company to company but I'm glad I could give you a good idea of what you should be looking for :) xx

    @rubyredslipper30 - Ah I'm glad I have inspired you..! It is a shame to see pretty bras go to waste - I always keep my favourites even if it is just to wear around the house for a few hours..I can't bring myself to throw them out! xx

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  16. This is exactly what I needed to read. I've been having all of these problems. My straps fall off, the back of my bra rides up rather high (the band), I get the four boob effect and the centre piece doesn't lay flat.

    Oh my gosh. I'm all sorts of screwed up.

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  17. Fab post hun! think i need to go up a size :) yay! i dont trust M&S either...myself and my mum have both had terrible experiences in there!
    please check out my Beauty blog..http://www.pixielashes.com xxx

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  18. Fab post hun! think i need to go up a size :) yay! i dont trust M&S either...myself and my mum have both had terrible experiences in there!
    please check out my Beauty blog..http://www.pixielashes.com xxx

    ReplyDelete
  19. Very Helpful, I once got measured at three different stores in one day and they all told me differen sizes ranging form a 32A to 32DD.It's very hard when even those who are supossed to know what they are doing tell me different things, so at least I have a bit of a better idea about what should be what now, Thanks Helen

    ReplyDelete
  20. reading this, it really makes me want to go get measured. i've never had it done before, and i'm always curious about my bra size cause it fluctuates so much from store to store, and i wanna know what i really am, haha. might have to hit up a house of fraser & see! lol xx

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  21. nice one georgina,extremely informative!xxx

    http://stilettos-and-cigarettes.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  22. This is such a good post! I'm terrified of getting measured again because last time the (crazy) lady in Victoria's Secret whipped a tape measure out and shouted my size for the whole store to hear... Awkward! House of Fraser or Debenhams it is! x

    ReplyDelete
  23. I quite like this post! And yes I´m almost addicted to beautiful bras :D
    check out my giveaway ;)

    ReplyDelete