women’s bra fitting guide: plus size & curve
Check out our plus size bra fitting guide to help find your bra size, how to check if your bra fits properly, common bra fitting problems and what makes our plus size bras so great.
How Should A Bra Fit?
When buying a new bra it's important to check that it fits properly. Not only to make sure it's comfortable, but the wrong fitting bra can be a cause of bad posture, neck pain and headaches.
Your breasts should be completely enclosed in the cups with a smooth line. There should be no bulging over the cup or baggy cups.
If you're wearing a wired bra, the underwire should sit flat against your ribcage to your armpit and the wire to the centre should sit flat against your chest.
Common Bra Fit Problems
If your back band is rising up this means it's too big and isn't giving you the correct support. Put your fingers under the band and pull it away from you, it should not stretch more than 4cm / 2 inches. Solution: Try a smaller back band size (up a cup size too) until the band sits horizontally around your body and fits firmly.
When your bra is fastenend on the middle hook and eye and it doesn't feel comfortable or digs in, your band size is too small. Solution: Try a bigger back band until it sits comfortably and firmly around your body.
The back band and cups should give you 80% of support, so if the straps are digging in this is a sign your bra isn't fitting correctly. Your shoulders are taking most of the support so your back band could be too big. Solution: Try a smaller back band size and a bigger cup size, making sure your straps aren't tightened too much.
Your straps should sit comfortably on your shoulders when you have the correct band and cup size. Solution: Try tightening the straps until they sit comfortably on your shoulders.
The back band and cups should give you 80% of support, so if the straps are digging in this is a sign your bra isn't fitting correctly. Your shoulders are taking most of the support so your back band could be too big. Solution: Try a smaller back band size and a bigger cup size, making sure your straps aren't tightened too much.
Your straps should sit comfortably on your shoulders when you have the correct band and cup size. Solution: Try tightening the straps until they sit comfortably on your shoulders.
The wires should sit flat against your ribcage. If the bra is pulling away from your body at the centre front or lifting away at the side of the cup there's too much room. Solution: Try a bigger cup size and remember you may need to go up a back size too.
Underwire can hurt if it's sitting on your breast or armpit rather than your ribcage. Your breasts should be fully enclosed in the cups and the wires should sit flat against your ribcage. Solution: Try a bigger cup size if the wire is sitting on your breast and try a smaller back size if the wire is sitting into your armpit, remember you may need go up a cup size too.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What Is A Sister Bra Size?
A sister bra size works on the principal of ratios, with bra sizes that share the same cup volume despite having different back sizes and cup letters. Depending on the style of bra, you may fit an alternative size better. For example, you can go up in a back band size and down in a cup size or alternatively go up in a cup size and down in a back band size. Head to our bra size chart to find out your sister size!
How Do I Look After My Bras?
To avoid misshaping your bra and fabric quality, you should always hand wash bras. If you put bras into the washing machine, this can cause your wires to misshape and push them around - this is a common cause of wires popping out of the casing.
What Is The Best Bra For Large Busts?
We know it's not just important to get the correct fitting bra but also find the best style for your body shape. Head to our bra style guide to help navigate your way around the different bra types and the perfect style to suit your shape.
head to our bra style guide to find out the best bras for large busts
