Bosom Buddies: Finding the Right Bra for your Girls
Why doesn’t this shirt look right on me? Why do I look sloppy? Why do I have four boobs? Being a woman, I am sure you have asked these questions to your self more than once in either a fitting room or while getting ready to go out. Oblivious to the fact that you could be wearing a wrong bra size; your frustration might lead you to think that; “maybe I’m fat” or “this is not my style” as an answer to these questions.
Eight out of ten women across the world wear the wrong bra size and deal with the same frustration as you do.
Gravity is a fundamental interaction of nature and we are all well aware of the gravitational pull and yet again we don’t use bras to prevent everything from going south. Part of the problem is that most women buy bras that they think fits them but in reality that bra is taking away the structure and shape of your body because it’s not your size, thus giving into the gravitational pull. An erroneous size could also make you look like you have four boobs. This is because women often make the mistake of buying a smaller cup size and a wider band size which will not only have a negative effect on your appearance but it will also crush your confidence.
After working five years at “Victoria’s Secret” I have learned the importance of a well fitted bra. It is extremely necessary to wear a right bra in order for your clothes to fit and give you the confidence that you need to rule this world. With the help of a friend and a measuring tape you can fight gravity and gain excessive confidence in only four simple steps.
First you need to figure out your band size. Hold the tape measure around your back at the band level then bring it to the front, just above your bust. The resulting number is the band size. If the number is odd, round down to the closest even number. Second step is to figure out your bust measurement. For example, if you measure to be 35 inches around, round down to 34. Now hold the tape measure around your back and bring it to your bust (at nipple level). This is your bust measurement, if this measurement falls on the half inch then roundup. You might be confused as to how you can be a 34-37 and what the even means when buying a bra. To attain your cup size, subtract the band size from the bust measurement. This number equates to the letter of your cup size. For example, if you find that you are 37 inches around your bust, you subtract 34 from 37, giving you 3. Then you count, 1=A, 2=B, 3=C, 4=D and so on. In this case if your measurements are 34-37 you are a 34C. Last but not the least, combine the band and cup size for the perfect fit. If you are having difficulty figuring out your size or aren’t confident in your findings then go ask an expert at Victoria’s Secret. You don’t have to buy a bra or pay for the fitting.
Once you have achieved your bra size, make sure you try on at least ten different styles and brands of bras before you find your perfect fit because companies don’t have standardized method of formulating bras. You should always use the middle hooks (located on the back band of your bra) while trying on your bra to get the accurate fit because it provides you the room to either tighten or loosen the bra if the elastic ages or shrinks over the years. Keep in mind that there are many different styles of bras like demi, full coverage, balconette etc. and you should buy the style according to your cup size and the style of your shirt. For example, Demi and balconette are ideal for shirts with lower neck lines whereas full coverage is ideal for support and for women with heavier bust size. Women often forget to adjust their straps; hence can not find the perfect fit in their size. It is imperative to adjust your straps as desired. Our bodies are not perfectly aligned, therefore one side could seem bigger then the other. This is a very common problem with an easy solution, just loosen the strap of one side and tighten the strap of the other side to achieve a best fit bra.
A pretty color and a shape that looks like it will fit you should never be a deciding factor to buy a bra. You must buy an accurate size, shape, and style of a bra because only a right bra can build a right attitude. It will not only shape up your body but also take your confidence to a new height. Every woman deserves to look and feel like a goddess and wearing a right bra brings you one step closer to feeling like one.
— Anna Alam, NEEM Magazine Contributing Writer
