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TIPS FOR SOLVING SOME COMMON BRA PROBLEMS
Lots of women begin to feel like the "Little Bear" character from the classic fairy tale "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" whenever they go shopping for bras. This is because they find themselves repeatedly saying, "this one's too small", "this one's too big", and never being able to say, "this one's just right!"
Fairly quickly a lot of these ladies begin to blame their own figures for the problems, and that just isn't the case. The majority of the "issues" that arise with bras, and the ways that they fit, has to do with the sizes selected by the wearer and the general construction of the undergarments.
 For example, some of the most common complaints are about bra bands and straps, and how they might cut into the wearer's back or shoulders. Often, this is something that can be resolved by purchasing a bra in a slightly different sizing "combination". Though we will go into this in greater detail a bit later in this discussion, for now it is EXTREMELY USEFUL to understand that there is a sort of formula to memorize when considering any bra purchase.
Let's do a quick illustration and then move into a discussion about the most common bra complaints: A woman loves a beautiful lacy bra and selects her typical size, 34C. She decides to try it on because it is a bit costly and she wants to be sure it fits perfectly.
To this woman's dismay, she finds that the band on the bra is cutting into the flesh on her sides and back. She adjusts the hooks to a few different positions, but the bra is still uncomfortable. She does some quick calculations and goes to get a 36B instead. When she puts this bra on she instantly notes the difference and is far more comfortable. This is because the band of a bra is made wider when the length is longer, but the woman also had to do go down a cup size to accommodate the difference in the cut of the bra as well. Thus, she went from her "normal" 34C to a 36B and felt far more satisfied with the way the undergarment fit and performed.
This should be a woman's first line of defense when a bra seems just a bit uncomfortable - try to go up in the band size and down in the cup size by one measurement to determine if it is simply a matter of the "cut" of the bra that is to blame for discomfort.
With that being said, we can now look at the most common complaints in much greater detail, and determine some very useful solutions:
- Cup Complaints
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- Why does this bra make it look like I have four breasts? This is a common question, but it really takes only common sense to answer it. You are wearing a bra cup that is far too small. If the band is comfy, try going up a cup size or two to see if this ends the problem. If it doesn't, you need to do a full bra measurement (see our bra sizing guide) to be sure that you are in the right band and cup size combination.
- What if my breasts keep falling out at the bottom of the bra, and not at the top? This is actually a band issue and not a cup issue. If you are someone dealing with this uncomfortable complaint, go ahead and try a bra band that is one size larger (or one smaller, if the fit is too loose). Often this does the trick, but if it fails, then you too probably need to re-measure for fit.
- Why does my bra make it look like my breasts have wrinkles or puckers? Usually this is because you have purchased a cup that is too large. If you feel that there is "space" around your breast as it sits in the cup of the bra, you need to drop a size or try a double size. For instance, someone in a B cup could drop to the BB size.
- Can a push up bra or a t-shirt bra really make my breasts look larger? Absolutely, but it is also important to ensure proper sizing. Remember any breast enhancing bra will "wear" differently because of padding, construction meant to push up or hold the breasts differently, and will also have contours or molding that is more rigid than normal.
- Band Issues
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- Why does my bra persistently "ride up" my back? This may be the fault of the straps and not the band. For example, if the straps are too short in length they will cut into your shoulders AND cause the bra band to move upward. Just readjusting the straps often cures the issue. Again, however, the size of the band might be too large, and this means re-measuring is necessary to ensure that the proper size is selected.
- Why does this bra dig into me and refuse to lay flat in place? We have already addressed the reasoning behind this issue - the band is the wrong size or the cup and band combination doesn't work with that particular bra. Try going up or down by one band size and adjust the cup accordingly. (NOTE: you may have already realized this, but bra shopping requires even more patience and persistence than most other garment shopping ever will, but is well worth the effort!)
- Strap Problems
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 Why does this one strap ALWAYS fall? Reality tells us that there is no such thing as perfection and that any pair of objects will always differ. One eye is larger or smaller than the other, one shoulder is uneven from the other, and one breast might be smaller or lower than the other. Often these "differences" are undetectable, but this could be the cause for a falling bra strap. The simple solution is to avoid matching up the straps and the position of the adjusters. Simply put on the bra and adjust to the most comfortable and stable positions - even if this leaves the slides in different places along the two straps.
In closing, let's also consider one major factor of bra fitting issues - the age or the amount of wear and tear on the garment. Almost any of the issues we have considered can be attributed to the failing of the elastic in the garment or to the fatigue that the garment has suffered from years of washing, drying and wearing. It is necessary to consider replacing a bra that is uncomfortable; especially if it is a bit old and frequently worn. Fortunately, you now know how to avoid the worst choices and how to find the right answers for the most common problems with selecting a well-fitting bra.
Last Updated: May 21, 2011
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