Bra basics (+ book a virtual bra fitting)
Did you know that most women wear ill-fitting bras? So true and so easy to remedy! If you’ve been putting off updating your bras because you need a fitting with an expert (#pandemictimes), then I have an answer for you: a virtual bra fitting!
I recently had a virtual fitting with friend, fellow stylist and bra expert, Chellie Carlson. Chellie is such a treasure trove of bra-related knowledge, I wanted to share what I learned with you and encourage you to book a virtual bra fitting with Chellie!
Q - What are the key bras for every woman to own? What colors do you recommend?
A - I recommend seven bra styles for most women:
t-shirt bra
racerback
sexy bra
strapless
sport
stick ons (e.g. Nu bra)
bralette
With the pandemic and reduced activities/wardrobe demands, most women can reduce the size of their bra wardrobe temporarily (e.g. strapless, stick ons, etc). Now would be a good time to get fitted and re-stock -- before summer and wanting to wear strapless/skinny strap tops.
I stick with the basics when it comes to colors -- black (for wearing with colored shirts) and nude (for those lighter colored tops) are essential. From there, you can add colors as you like.
Q - How do you know if your bras are fitting properly?
A - There are five points to check to determine if your bra fits properly.
The band should be horizontal -- not pulling up or down or riding up your back.
The breast tissue should be fully in the bra cup -- not bulging out or gaping.
Bra straps should not pull or dig into your shoulders. You should be able to slip a finger under your strap and lift it without effort.
For underwire bras, the wire should be off of breast tissue e.g. sitting on your chest, without involving your breast.
The bra should not move around on your body when doing normal activity.
If any of the above issues are occurring with your bras, it is definitely worth having a virtual consultation with a bra specialist to determine your true size. I know some amazing bra brands and provide recommendations (and shopping links) depending on your needs.
Q - What are your tips for bra care, e.g. washing?
A - When it comes to washing your bras, less is more. There is no need to wash after every wear (most of the time). If it smells or is stained, then wash. For sports bras, it is usually necessary to wash more frequently depending on the level of sweating.
I recommend two to three everyday workhorse bras. These bras should be on rotation; do not wear the same exact bra every day as this does not give the fabric fibers a chance to go back into place and the bra will stretch out much faster.
As for how to wash, it is ideal to wash by wand with gentle washing detergent made for delicates. If you prefer to use a washer, put the bras in a lingerie wash bag and on the delicate/hand wash cycle. Never put your bras in the dryer!
An extra tip on storing bras -- never invert the cups when storing your bras. This ruins the shape of the cup and you’ll need to replace them more often.
Q - How often should you replace your bras (with or without a bra fitting)?
A - This question definitely depends on the woman and her cup size. The fuller your cup size, the more wear on your bras (and conversely, smaller cups need to be replaced less often). If you purchase higher quality bras, they will last longer. And, if you care for your bras properly (see above) they will last longer.
On average, I recommend being fitted for bras every year because our bodies are always changing in size and shape. If you have three to four quality basic bras and rotate them then they should last the year.
Book a virtual bra fitting with Chellie!