It’s Not You, It’s The Bra: 7 Bra Mistakes You Should Avoid

We’ve all been there, the dreaded bra shopping! Whether you are buying online (which is more the norm these days) or if you are going shopping in store, I think we can all agree that it’s challenging to say the least.

It can be super frustrating trying on a bunch of sizes. Even if you do find your size, as soon as you switch to a different brand you have to start the process all over again!

But alas, you’re a busty gal so you must soldier on. The bigger your boobs are, the more important it is to find a perfectly fitting bra. You wouldn’t buy a car before test driving it, or a couch before wiggling your butt around in it, would you?!

Wearing the wrong size bra is the biggest mistake big-boobed women can make. Too large and it won’t be supporting you, too small and there’ll be too much pressure which could damage you in the long run.

A good solution is a multi cup size bra such as *cough* SugarCandy *cough*, or simply follow these steps to get the most out of your bra!

Common bra mistakes & how to fix them

1. There’s a band!

A very common mistake is wearing an underband size which is too big.

If you’re struggling to find a bra that fits your lovely lady lumps, you may be convinced by the sales assistant to go down a cup size and up a band size. This is known as cross-grade fitting, but it’s not a foolproof solution.

Although it might *seem* like the bra fits you, an incorrectly fitted band can pose the following problems:

• The band will not place the cups in the correct position, so you will basically be walking behind your bra.
• The looser the band, the less support it gives. If you are fuller busted, you need all the support you can get.
• The wires will not display correctly and can dig into your breast tissue. This can be incredibly uncomfortable for you.
• If the band is not firm enough, this can also cause more friction and rubbing from your underband. This is more evident in sports bras and can cause chaffing.
• Your band will be riding up your back and not parallel to the floor. If your band is higher than your underwire, then tighten your hooks or go down a band size.

Solution: Measure your underband and try this size, or be professionally fitted.

Hot tip: Choose a bra that you are comfortable to do up on the loosest hook. This way, when the elastics wear, you can tighten the hooks!

2. Down in the valley.

Unless you’re going for that bombshell, super cleavage-y vibe, your breasts pressing together is a sure fire sign that your cups are too small.

It’s a common misconception that if you’re fuller busted your boobs will *always* be touching. Now, if you’re lying on your side, sure! They’re gonna be rubbing up on each other. But if you’re vertical there should be some separation between your breasts so that the wire can sit flat against your chest wall.

Solution: Increase your cup size to have better separation, lift and support. Hello happy boobs. 

Hot tip: If you push the wires towards your centre front and your boobs are squishy out the top or sides, it’s time to go up a cup size. Keep doing this process until there’s no more squish left.

3. My cup runneth over.

From memory, you’re only supposed to have two boobs. If you pop on your bra and suddenly have 4, then you will need to go up a cup size (or 2).

Solution: Make sure that your wires are sitting on the chest wall and there is no flesh underneath them — keep going up a cup size until this is achieved.

Hot tip: If you are more soft in the top cup, choose a style that has a soft elasticated or lace edge that won’t dig in.

4. Support your ladies.

If you have larger breasts, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed some fluctuation over the years, months, weeks and even days, depending on what time of the month it is of course.

The bigger your boobs, the less room for error you have. That’s why you’ll find many busty women have different bras to accommodate their fluctuations.

If you are wearing a bra that is too big for you, you will not be supporting your breasts and can actually cause some ligament damage that may result in sagging. 

Make sure you have the correct size on.

If the elastics don’t stretch properly or have lost it all together, it will be as good as useless, so it’s time to get a new one. Elastics in bras are like car tyres, they work until they don’t. 

Solution: Understand the size of your breasts at different times of the month and make sure you are supporting them correctly.

You might also like: 27 Different Types of Breast Shapes & Sizes

Hot tip: A monthly breast check is always a good idea, and while you’re at it, why don’t you measure your breasts every 2 weeks to see the fluctuations.

5. Don’t let the tag ruin your day.

Don’t be intimidated by your size, especially if it is further along in the alphabet. Here is a little bit of math to put things into perspective:

C cup = B cup + A cup

DD cup = D cup + A cup

HH cup = H cup + A cup

The increments are not compounding, they are only going up by an A cup each time.

Learn more: Bra Sizes Explained: How Bra Sizing Works

Solution: Embrace your alphabet!

Hot tip: It’s all relative. When comparing the same size breast, it’s all determined by the band size. An 8F is the same breast capacity as a 14D. 

The smaller the band size, the larger the letter. 

6. One style of jeans suits everyone, right?

Nope, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants was just a movie. The same goes for bras. 

If you find a bra you love, firstly praise the bra gods, then buy every colour in the same style. 

If you see a model wearing a bra in an itsy bitsy size, don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t look as nice in your size. There’s a reason shoe stores keep the smaller sizes on display.

Don’t compromise style for fit. If you find a good brand, you will be able to achieve both.

Solution: Know your body type and what styles suit you. If your body shape is not suited to low cut bras, then stick to the balconnet styles.

Hot tip: When shopping for a bra, always try on over the top your favourite top, t-shirt or blouse so you can see the shape they give under clothing.

And have fun with them!

7. Strapping young lady…

Your straps are adjustable for a reason. Make sure they’re adjusted so they are taking up the slack of your breast. While the underband provides the majority of the support in a bra, the straps are there to keep everything in place. Super necessary for big boobies!

You should be able to run 2 fingers underneath your strap and feel that this is firm and secure without being tight, stretched or digging in. 

So whatever your bra size, preferred style or function — follow these simple steps to keep you and your ta-tas happy.

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Disclaimer: SugarCandy does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.