Bra Mistakes You Didn't Know You Were Making

On a scale of one to 10, how much do you hate your bra?
If you're like most women, you're probably thinking at least an 11 — right?
It doesn't have to be that way, ladies!
Correct these bra mistakes you're probably making, and, before you know it, you'll be
demanding…
"I want a Bra! (bra bra bra bra)"
The dreaded measure
Let's just start with the obvious here.
Size totally matters — especially when we're talking about bras — so finding your size
shouldn't be a guessing game.
Unfortunately, most women aren't wearing the bra size that fits them best.
In fact, one study published in the journal Chiropractic & Osteopathy found that about
80 percent of women were wearing the wrong size bra, with the vast majority of those
women wearing bras that are too small.
If you spend all day tugging on your bra — or dread putting it on in the first place — there's
a good chance it's the wrong size.
It's pretty miraculous how much better a bra feels when it actually fits, so get a professional
measurement the next time you're out shopping.
Wrong choice
Those demi bras are cute, but they're not going to do the job for a gal with a larger
bust.
It stands to reason that larger breasts require larger, fuller cups to keep the girls in line,
but there's more to it than that.
One expert told Women's Health there are seven different types of breasts.
Your natural shape has a lot to do with what kind of bra will fit and look best on you.
For example, women with side-set breasts need a bra that will bring them together, and women
with tear-drop breasts need something with a little extra lift.
Hooked on tightness
If you're buying a bra you fasten on the tightest hooks, you're probably buying too big of a
band.
Bra fitting specialist Bobbie Smith told The Huffington Post you should actually purchase
a bra that fits on the loosest hooks when you buy it, because you'll need to tighten
it up later.
She says,
"A bra is going to stretch about three inches in its lifetime.
That's when you go to the next set of hooks."
Got strap-adjusters?
There is absolutely no need to spend all day moving your bra strap back up your arm.
Instead, make sure you're adjusting your straps every time you put your bra on.
Lingerie designer Mariana Hernandez told Prevention that washing and wearing your bras causes
the straps to loosen, so they need to be tightened frequently.
It also may be a sign your bra is too big, or that it's worn out and ready to be replaced.
Your wonky band
Take a look at the back of your bra in a mirror.
Does the strap run in a straight line across your back, or is it arching up toward your
neck?
If it's not a straight line all the way around, it probably doesn't fit.
Lingerie fit and style expert Jenny Altman told Women's Health a bra band that rides
up in the back is either too big or needs to be closed using a tighter hook.
Style rut
One bra style doesn't fit every need — that's according to Elisabeth Dale, author of The
Bra Zone.
She told Today that every woman should have several different styles of bras — as many
as nine, depending on your wardrobe — so you always have the right fabric and cut to
seamlessly complement your outfit of choice.
One size does not fit all
You accept that size fluctuates with the rest of your clothes according to fit and brand
— it's time to believe that to be true with bras, as well.
Lingerie expert Jenny Altman told Women's Health that not all bras — or their sizes
— are created are equal.
She says,
"Think of it like jeans.
You might be a size 28 in boyfriend jeans, but you may need a bigger size in skinny jeans."
You'll likely need to do the same size adjusting when you swap bra styles.
The t-shirt test
Unless you're planning on walking around in just your bra all day, you're going to need
to know what a bra looks like under your clothes before you buy it.
Bra fit specialist Kay-Lin Richardson thinks every woman should bring a T-shirt when she
tries on bras.
She told Cosmopolitan,
"They might think a bra looks great, but then they put a T-shirt on over the top and realize
it actually isn't giving them the shape they want.
Or they might feel so-so about a bra and then put the T-shirt on and realize it's perfect."
Two days too much
It's not a big deal to wear your bra more than once before you wash it — most women
probably do it, whether they admit it or not — but it is a big deal to wear it two days
in a row.
Bobbie Smith told The Huffington Post,
"Letting a bra rest at least one day in between wear will help the elastic regain its strength.
When you're wearing it two days in a row, it's like pulling on a muscle — it's going
to strain it and it won't be able to snap back."
Time to update!
Bras are expensive, so we try to make them last for a long time — probably longer than
we should.
Lexie Sachs, a textiles product analyst, told Good Housekeeping that you should be ditching
your bras if they've lost their shape or elasticity, are too small, or are just plain uncomfortable.
Sachs says the lifetime of most bras is six to 12 months, but she added that you can stretch
that time by rotating your bras and leaving time between wears.
Stack attack
Folding your bras may be the easiest way to get them to fit in your drawer, but it's also
a good way to wear them out faster.
Lingerie designer Elodie Giorgis told The Huffington Post,
"Bras should be stacked inside one another, never twisted with one cup inside the other.
This will distort the shape of the bra, particularly foam cups (that will tend to crease and dimple)
and also increase the chance of wires being displaced."
Squeaky clean
It's so easy to throw that bra in the washing machine and call it a day, right?
But according to lingerie expert Claire Chambers, that's not a great choice if you want that
bra to last very long.
She told Harper's Bazaar that, in most cases, your bras should always be hand-washed.
"Hand-washing sounds tedious but it's actually pretty easy...Combine your similarly-colored
delicates in a sink of warm water, and add a delicate wash that's specially formulated
for lingerie.
Swish around a few times, gently squeeze and then lay flat to dry."
Chamber explained that if you simply must wash your bras in the washing machine, you
should use the gentle cycle, utilize a lingerie bag, warm water, specialized lingerie detergent,
and never use the dryer.
She says,
"You should always lay your lingerie flat to avoid stretching out the band or straps."
But if you do dry your bra?
Just...keep calm.
"many times do I have to tell you?
'You don't put a bra in the dryer!
It warps!"
"Please.
It's a bra."
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Bra Mistakes You Didn't Know You Were Making

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