Getting the right bra for you

At Ansiti.com we are committed to helping women feel and look great and we therefore passionately believe that by wearing great lingerie that fits well you can achieve this. As it’s not that easy to know your own bra size and because we know that so many ladies are wearing the incorrect size we have put together this guide of how a bra should fit. All the ladies at Ansiti.com are trained in bra fitting and are here to help if you are finding difficulty in finding a bra that fits but don’t know what size to try next.

There are three main things to think about when assessing if a bra fits and that’s the cups, the bands and the straps.

We’ll take each at a time to tell you the signs to look for if a bra is not fitting correctly, how to rectify it and how it should fit.

The Cups

When talking about the cups we’ll also include the underwiring and the centre front (the bit at the front of the bra between the breasts).

The signs that you are wearing the wrong cup size are:

If the cups wrinkle or pucker over the breasts
If the wires dig in underneath the breasts or at the sides
If the breasts overspill over the top or sides of the bra.
If the centre front digs in or gapes at the front.

How the cups should fit:

At the front a bra should lie flat in the centre between the breasts.
The cups should contain the whole breast. There should be no overspill over the top of the cup or at the sides.
The underwires should not dig into the breasts at the side.
The cups of the bra should not wrinkle.

How to get the right cup size:

The cup size is the letter part of the bra size such as B or F. The size increases the further into the alphabet you get so a C cup is smaller than a D cup. For some sizes we use double letters. A double A (AA) is smaller than an A cup however after this if the letter is doubled then this means it is a bigger size eg. FF is larger than an F. This can be confusing however we have added size tables which can help explain this!
If the cups do wrinkle over the breasts then this is a sign that the cup size you are wearing is too big and you should try a cup size smaller.
If breasts spill over the top of the cups giving the appearance of a double bust then this is a sign that the cups are too small! This is not a good look. We should have 2 boobs not 4! Therefore if your bra is doing this then you really need a bigger cup size and if you do have 4 boobs then try going up more than one size.
It’s not only important to get the cup so you look better but if the cup size is too small and is digging into the breasts this can damage the breast tissue.
Wearing a cup size too small is one of the most common mistakes amongst women and their bras! So stop selling yourself short ladies and try a bigger cup size if you suffer from any of these symptoms!

The Band Size

The band size is also sometimes called the back size. This measurement of the bra is how the bra fits around the back but also effects how the cups fit.

Signs that you are wearing the wrong band size:

The band is loose and rides up and arches at the back.
The breasts are unsupported and droop.
The band digs in too much.

How the band should fit:

The under band should fit firmly underneath the bust and around the back.
The band should be level at the front and back.
You should not be able to pull the band away from the back too far.

How to get the right band size:

The band size is the number part of the bra size such as 32 and goes up in 2s. The larger the number the bigger the size. This part is the part of bra fitting that can be more easily measured however it is still very common for women to get the wrong size.
To measure the band size measure underneath the bust. Ensure the tape measure is level all the way around. You should pull the tape quite tight as it is important to remember that there is no elastic and stretch in a tape measure like there is in a bra.
If the band rides up or arches at the back this is a sure sign that the band size you are wearing is too big and you should go down a size or even two. Wearing at least a size too large is the most common mistake in band sizes.
Most ladies think that if they can feel the band on their back then the bra is too small. However it is very important to remember that the support in the bra comes from the band.
If the boobs droop then this is a sign that the band is too big. Therefore by reducing the band size you will get more lift and support.
If you can pull the strap a lot at the back it is too big but by pulling it you should see your boobs lift a little.
When wearing a new bra you should wear it on the loosest hook at first. The bra will give and loosen in time and then you can adjust it so you still get the support.
Wearing the correct band size will lift your bust which will improve your posture as you will not stoop forward and it will also make you look slimmer as you will be able to see more of your mid-drift and waist. Yes, you read it correctly, wearing the right bra size will make you look slimmer! No diets, exercise or pills needed!
If you do think you need a smaller band size then you will also need to alter the cup size. The cups in a 34C bra are bigger than in a 32C. The rule is that if you go down a band size then you should go up a cup size. For example if you are wearing a 36C but think the band is too big then try a 34D or if you were to go down a band size again try a 32DD.

Straps

There is no measurement for straps and they are obviously not crucial for a bra as you can wear strapless bras, however they can effect your appearance and you should pay attention to how they fit. You can easily adjust the straps for comfort with no need to alter the bra size.

Straps should fit comfortably on the shoulders.

Straps should not dig in leaving red marks nor should they slip off the shoulder. You can simply adjust the straps to make them tighter or more loose. It is important to remember that you don’t get all your support and lift from the straps so don’t have them too tight thinking this will make your boobs look perkier, it will only give you red marks and could after time leave indents in your shoulders. Also don’t have your straps too loose. Having a bra strap hanging out under your sleeves is not a good look!

How to put a bra on

You may think this is silly to tell someone how to put a bra on but the fact is that most women just put one on in a morning or when buying a bra and don’t pay attention to how it is fitting and looks. So when you are putting a bra on try and do the following to ensure your bra is on correctly so it can do it’s job!

When trying a bra on you should lean forward and hold the bra by the underwire under the cups so the breasts fall naturally into cups.
Fasten the bra on the end (widest) hook and eye position. This allows you to tighten the bra as the elastic loosens with wear.
Scoop the breasts into the bra then run a finger along the top of the cup of the bra.
Then if necessary lean forward again and jiggle the breasts so they are sitting comfortably in the bra.
Adjust the straps. Do this by taking the straps off the shoulders and tightening or loosening accordingly.
Once the bra is on a good test to check the bra fits nicely is to try a T-shirt on over the top.

The benefits of wearing the correct size bra are

So many women are wearing the incorrect bra size and don’t seem to be aware of the importance of wearing the correct size. Here are a few little reminders of the benefits of getting the size right!

Helps to reduce neck, shoulder and back pains.
Helps to maintain a good posture.
Makes you appear slimmer.