At the risk of oversharing, I must report that I am wearing a gorgeous new bra today! It’s a size I never would have tried on—and frankly, didn’t know existed. But a professional fitting by a bra expert confirmed what I’d suspected: I was wearing the wrong size bra. That’s why my straps were always falling down and I just wasn’t comfortable; my band was too big around and my cups—yes, they runneth over. Turns out, most women have the same fit issue. The day the bra fitter came to our offices, we held an open call for staffers to come and get measured. Forty-five women showed up and not one was wearing the correct size! Bet your bra is the wrong size too!
We chose six lucky volunteers to participate in a bra makeover. They let us photograph them “before,” in their old bra, and “after,” in a new bra our expert chose for them in their actual correct size. We chose these women because we knew our readers would be able to relate to at least one of them, whether you’re big busted or small, two different sizes, or maybe losing weight and changing sizes. Check out our makeovers in the April issue, where you’ll also learn how to measure yourself, how to determine if a bra fits properly, where to buy new bras, and even how to put on your bra (chances are, you’re doing it wrong!).
This story was more eye-opening for me than maybe any other I’ve worked on at ShopSmart. It’s incredible that something we rely on every day is really not working for us! When our makeover volunteers put on their new bras, every one of them told us that they felt transformed. They only looked better (thinner!), they stood up straighter, and one woman even said that she stopped having shoulder pain once she was properly fitted!
So why are we getting so wrong? I think there are a few main reasons: Women just keep buying the same size they’ve always bought. They may not bother to try on new bras. But the biggest problem, in my opinion, is that most mainstream stores carry a very limited size range. If you’re very small or very big, you’re probably out of luck. So women do the best they can with what they can find. And most stores that sell bras don’t offer measuring, so we’re really on our own.
No more! Read “The perfect bra for you” in the April issue of ShopSmart. Get yourself measured, either by yourself or by a professional. Then buy yourself some new bras. And let us know the results!
You’re wearing the wrong bra!
By Jody Rohlena on March 12, 2012 06:02:00 pm
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Scarlett De Bease
10:44:20 PM on Sun Apr 8 2012
As a wardrobe stylist and personal shopper, I bring up getting a bra fitting and a few new bras at every appointment.
So many women overlook the importance of a great fitting bra. With the right bra, a woman looks thinner and clothes fit better.
TIP: Never wear the same bra two days in a row, so as to avoid over stretching the straps and band.
Kelly
12:01:24 AM on Fri Apr 13 2012
The instructions on how to measure yourself for a bra (in the April 2012 issue) are outdated. According to the fitting experts I have used at the Intimacy stores in the Chicago area, the band size is simply the measurement around the rib cage -- without adding the 4 or 5 inches for an even or odd measurement indicated by the magazine article. The sort of measuring system in the article is the reason so many women are wearing the wrong size bra - for example, that would put me in a 38B rather than the 34D that I was fitted for at Intimacy. Please consider publishing an update/correction on this in the magazine.
Thank you.
Thelma Cousins
01:15:28 PM on Wed Apr 18 2012
April issue, bra article. I read conflicting advice.....
On page 31, Where to get fitted..."You should try on bras, you shouldn't choose one by size alone," And then on page 36 you advise, "For a better selection of sizes and styles, shop online."
Confusing to readers. Can you explain, please?
Robin Melen
06:37:38 PM on Wed Apr 18 2012
Hi Thelma!
The advice means that once you settle on the size that fits you best, you're going to find a better selection online! Thanks for reading!
janice
02:47:29 PM on Sun Jun 24 2012
i no longer have the april issue... can you provide the online outlets that were listed in this article? that would be great! thanks!
Robin Melen
02:42:57 PM on Mon Jun 25 2012
Hi Janice~
Some of the sites we listed: brasmyth.com, freshpair.com, lindasonline.com, and townshop.com. Happy shopping!
Amphigorey
12:09:00 PM on Sun Apr 21 2013
Kelly is exactly right about the instructions. If you add 4 or 5 to the band measurement, then your size will be wildly inaccurate. The article itself points out that you need the band to be snug for support, so adding that many inches will just result in a band that's too big and a cup that's too small.
Please correct the article to instruct people to use their actual underbust measurement for the band! It will lead to a much better fitting bra.