2978 Strapless Bra by Triumph

Finding the right strapless bra is not always easy.  Petite women and fuller-busted women alike have particular difficulty finding a strapless bra.  For A or smaller B-cup busts, some strapless bras can flatten out the breasts or they may not fill the cups completely; for D or DD cup wearing women and beyond, into E, F, G, H, etc, it may seem impossible to get any support from a strapless bra.  Here are a few quick, general tips to choosing a good strapless bra.

General Tips:

Look for silicone lining inside the back wings and band of the bra.  There are usually two strips of silicone per side inside the band, one at the top and the other along the bottom, to help the strapless bra stay put, like a no-slip grip.  Some strapless bras also have a silicone strip along the bottom, right beneath the underwires, for extra support.

Make sure the back band is sufficiently tight, but not asthmatically so, when you notch it at the LOOSEST hook. This is to make sure your bra will hold up properly; if your back band is too loose, it will not support anything and will move around too much when you move.  After a few wears and washes (by hand, please!), the back band will stretch slightly and you may find yourself using a tighter configuration for your back adjustment.

Tips for Petite Women: look for bras that have a pockets inside of the cups where a pad can be inserted or removed.  Depending on your choice of neckline, you may opt for a slightly more push-up effect for a lower-cut bodice, so you would have the option of inserting your removable cookies (pads), or another type of removable pad (fabric, silicone, water, gel).

2640 Strapless Bra with Removable Pads by Triumph

Tips for Fuller-Busted Women: Even if you find a strapless bra that fits you perfectly, you may still feel uneasy about not having any straps, since it’s an unusual feeling.  I may opt to wear clear straps with my strapless bra for more dance-oriented occasions if I’m wearing a lower-cut dress, for example… we ladies must avoid these sorts of fashion mishaps, particularly public ones!  Also try to go for a strapless bra that has a wider bra back hook and eye closure, for extra support.  Most strapless bras in DD cups and higher usually do have a three-hook-width bra back closure, which entails a slightly wider back band, to help minimize unsightly bulges, slim out the torso and keep your girls up where they belong!

Stay tuned for more useful lingerie tips from your Bra Doctor!

Have a question for me about bra fitting?  E-mail me!

5. Lifting Hide-A-Strap – Make your favorite bras tank-top-friendly in seconds!  Just gather your straps and secure them with this durable plastic figure-eight piece.  Gives your breasts a natural boost in any bra and helps prevent falling bra straps.

4. Body Tape - The quick multi-purpose fix for fashion emergencies, this dual-sided adhesive sticks to anything without irritating or leaving marks on your skin or clothing.  Ideal for plunging necklines or backlines, strapless wear, to seal the space between gapping buttons in your tops, and to quickly alter pant, skirt or dress hems.

3. Shoulder Cushions – Eliminate discomfort from indentation or marks  from your bra straps with these slim and comfortable silicone shoulder cushions.  Ideal for fuller-figured women to help increase support and ease pressure on your neck, shoulders and back.  Also helps prevent your bra straps from slipping down your shoulders.

2.  Bra Back Extenders – Easily add an extra one to three inches to your bra back band for a more precise, comfortable fit.  Ideal for when your bra cups fit but your back feels snug.  Just hook onto your back band and adjust as needed, no sewing necessary! Available in 1 hook, 2 hook, 2 hook Special European, 3 hook and 4 hook widths.

1. Magic Sponge – This aptly-named dual-sided clothing sponge by Forever New Fashion Essentials instantly removes marks on your clothes caused by deoderant, cosmetic powder, dust and more.  Flexible and compact to fit in even the smallest purse, so never leave home without it!

Do you have a more specific question? Let me know!

Bra Doctor

bradoctor@nowthatslingerie.com

Last time, I wrote about one of the most common bra fitting problems, the bra cup size. Today I will discuss the back band of your bra, and how to know if it’s properly adjusted or just not right for you. Always keep in mind that the back of your bra, the cups and the straps all work together to provide comfort and support. When one of these aspects isn’t fitting right, then the others probably won’t either. The majority of us take more than just one size or shape, depending on the bra company, the style of the bra (e.g. demi-bust, full coverage, etc.), the fabric they use, and so on. For instance, some 34B bras can fit more like a 36B, while others will fit more like a 34C, even within the same company! It’s not rocket science, but often it can seem just as complicated. Here’s some advice that I hope will guide you in your quest for your perfect fit.

When you first buy a bra, it is always best to adjust your bra either to the loosest hook in the back, or to the middle notch. NEVER buy a bra if you have to attach it to the tightest hook to feel adequately supported. Your bra band will stretch naturally with wash and wear, so you want to reserve the tighter hooks for later on. When you start off at the tightest hook from the get-go, you will be left with no room to make it fit more snugly when your bra’s elastic stretches out.

So, while you’re hooked at your middle or loosest notch in the back, the band should be aligned straight around your rib cage when your shoulder straps are comfortably adjusted. If too much flesh is spilling out around the sides, and you feel asphyxiated, then you need to increase the back band by a size. If your bra rides up in the back, or even in the front, then you need to decrease the band size accordingly. As a general rule of thumb, your bra should move with your body and not let you pop out of it as you go about your day!

I am constantly seeing women who are wearing a bra whose band size is too large, just because it was the only way for them to attain the right cup size. Let’s say you usually take a 38D but your back is too loose, while the cups fit just fine. To find your optimum size, you would need to increase the cup size while decreasing the band size. In this case, you should try a 36DD instead of a 38D, which will fit more snugly around your back while offering a large enough cup to encase all of your breast tissue.

Let’s try another example using the previous 36DD bra, but in this case, the back band is just a tiny bit too small, while the cups fit properly. Although you may be tempted to try a 38DD, you will find that the cup size of a 38DD will be bigger than the 36DD and your back band will be much too loose. Instead, you can try using a bra back extender, which is a small accessory that attaches directly to the back of your bra without needing to be sewn. This ingenious little device will give you more hooks to use with the back band so that you can adjust your bra (looser or tighter), according to your daily comfort. By attaching this extender to your 36DD bra, you are maintaining the correct cup size, while giving yourself some more wiggle room in the back.

Check back next time for the next installment of bra fitting advice when I’ll be discussing how to properly adjust your bra straps and why some types of straps are better than others. In the meantime, please contact me with any other fitting questions at: bradoctor@nowthatslingerie.com.

See you soon!

Bra Doctor

www.nowthatslingerie.com