Bra-vo for the perfect fit

Following International Women’s Day and in advance of Mothers’ Day, The Clare Champion finds out about the highs and lows of a woman’s wardrobe essential

Wearing an ill-fitting bra can often lead to back problems and poor posture, whereas wearing the correct fit can actually improve the waistline and give you a longer, leaner-looking figure. This is the advice from professionals to women of all ages, mums, daughters, grandmothers and great-grandmothers.
“Over 80% of women who come into my shop to be measured are wearing the wrong bra size,” reveals June Moloney of La Jolie Femme, Francis Street, Ennis.
There are a number of signs that indicate that a bra doesn’t fit properly.
“A saggy bust is one sign. It is generally caused by wearing a bra where the back is too big. The back of your bra should run around your body in a straight line and not ride up your back. The four boob cleavage is another giveaway. When trying on a bra, it’s also a great idea to try on a t-shirt to check you have no bulge coming out over the cups, if there is a bulge, the cups are too small.
“Wearing a bra that is uncomfortable is another sign. A bra should not feel uncomfortable or hurt. If you have this problem, it generally means the cups are too small. This results in wires resting on the bust tissue and digging in. Equally, wires should not be sticking out from the body. Wires should sit flat against your skin. If the wires poke out from the sides or the centre of the bra, the cups are too small,” she explains.
According to Ms Moloney, the most common mistake women make when choosing their bra is choosing one that is too big around the back but too small in the cup.
“Wearing an ill-fitting bra can cause back, shoulder and neck pain, as well as hindering good posture. A good fitting bra should be comfortable and flattering, giving you enough lift and support and preventing back and neck problems,” Ms Moloney outlines.
Joan McCay and Lorraine McCarthy of lingerie boutique Vamp Lingerie in Limerick also promote the benefits of wearing the right size bra.
“Measuring and fitting the bra is key and every day, women come to us wearing the wrong size bra. We see older ladies, in particular, wearing bras that are too big, providing inadequate support. Often, it’s the cup size that is too small and the back size too big and everything is leaning forward. The bra should do the work and not your shoulders, otherwise, you will experience unnecessary back and shoulder pain, breast pain and poor posture. Indeed, many chiropractors and osteopaths warn their patients against wearing ill-fitting bras and a number of Mid-West practitioners refer their patients to me,” Ms McCay outlines.
“If you are finding that the shoulder straps are digging into your shoulders, this is another sign. This is often caused by the under band being too loose and the straps are tightened to over-compensate and dig into the shoulders. If the centre of the bra is lifting away from the body it also means it’s not a good fit, the centre should lie flat against the body. Your bra straps should be parallel. If they are not, your back band becomes over-stretched and it means your bra is probably too small,” she advises.
“If you need to tie your bra on the inner-most hook, it’s too big as it should be tied on the outer-most hook, unless you are pregnant and it’s a maternity bra and this is the only exception,” Ms McCay continues.
According to both experts, wearing the right bra makes a big difference to a woman’s overall appearance and its importance is often overlooked.
“Underwear can make or break your look, no matter what your age and whilst you may be wearing the most expensive outfit, if your underwear is not right, the outfit won’t look right either,” Ms McCay concludes.
Ms Moloney concurs, “Women forget how often we wear our bra and forget the importance of wearing the right size bra. Getting the right size bra can change your appearance, confidence and health. A woman should get measured at least every six months and especially after any weight change. Women tend to forget when they drop a dress size that more often than not, their measurements have changed.”