It’s Not You, It’s The Bra: 7 Bra Mistakes You Should Avoid

Fit Tips by Sugar Candy - July 29, 2020
basic bra - beige

We’ve all been there, the dreaded bra shopping journey. Whether you’re shopping online or going in store, it’s a universally frustrating experience. Too often busty women are sized incorrectly, or settle for a bra that’s just “okay” so that they can move on with their day. Unfortunately this leads to one of the biggest bra mistakes you can make, wearing the wrong bra for you.

It’s time to break up with your bad bras, because it’s not you – it’s the bra! That’s why we’ve broken down the 7 most common bra mistakes busty women are making, to help you find your unicorn bra and realise you don’t have to compromise on comfort or support!

Common Bra Mistakes + How To Fix Them

wrong band size

1. The Wrong Band Size

Easily one of the most widespread bra mistakes is wearing an underband size which is too big. 80% of a bra’s support comes from the band, so you can imagine this is a huge issue, particularly for fuller busts. This tends to happen for one of two reasons.

The first is a crime against the fuller bust community, and involves bra fitters intentionally sizing clients up in the band because they don’t stock their true cup size. This usually happens at department stores or lingerie store chains, and it ensures they still get a sale even though it’s at the cost of their client’s comfort and support.

If an incorrectly fitting band isn’t the result of a bad fitting, it’s usually due to a lack of understanding and education on how a bra should fit. A well fitting underband will run parallel to the ground and feel firm on the loosest hook, that way you can tighten it as the elastic wears out over time.

spill out boob

2. The Wrong Cup Size

I’m sure it comes as no surprise that the second most common bra mistake is wearing the wrong cup size. This can be a tricky one to gauge, because cup and band size are both so interrelated.

For example, at first glance it may look like your boobs are encompassed by the cups, but if you size down your band size without sizing up your cup size, you’ll likely end up with four boobs instead of two!

Once you’re wearing your perfect band size, keep sizing up in the cups until you achieve the below:

  • Boobs are fully encased in the cups with no spillage out the top, sizes, or below.
  • If you’re wearing an underwire, it should be sitting flat against your rib cage and all around (not on top of) your breast tissue.
  • The centre gore should lie flat against your sternum, separating your bust.
monoboob feature

3. Monoboob

It’s a common misconception that if you’re fuller busted, your boobs will always be touching. Not only is this untrue, it’s also a recipe for boob sweat, chafing and general discomfort!Once you’re wearing your correct cup size, your boobs should be nice and separated. Depending on the fullness of your bust or your boob shape you may notice that you’re not getting as much separation in wire-free styles, so it’s important to look for ones that have heat moulded cups and reinforced fabrics to keep the girls apart like Sugar Candy.

no support bra

4. No Support

We can’t tell you how many times we’ve heard that fuller busted people have given up on support, because all they crave is comfort. News flash, when you have big boobs support IS comfort!

That’s not to say you have to resort to heavy duty underwires. Wire-free bra technology has come a long way over the years, and now rivals the support of the infamous underwire.

bra size label

5. It’s Not About the Letter

Don’t be intimidated by the size you see on the tag. A bra size is simply a ratio, your band size is the measurement around your ribcage, and the letter represents the difference between your bust and band.

For example, an A cup means there’s a one inch difference between the underband and overbust measurement. So when you go up in cup size, you’re really only increasing by an A cup each time!

Learn more: Bra Sizes Explained: How Bra Sizing Works

wrong style bra

6. Wearing the Wrong Style

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants was just a movie, in reality different styles of jeans suit different people. The same goes for bras!

Once you know your true bra size, the fun part begins. It’s important to try on as many different styles as you can until you find one that works for you. Then buy it in every colour!

Boobs come in all different shapes and sizes, so don’t be disheartened if a bra that should fit still feels uncomfortable. It’s just not your perfect match.

back bra straps

7. Not Adjusting Your Straps

While most of the support is coming from your underband, the straps are there to keep everything in place. Don’t believe us? Completely loosen one of your bra straps and compare the shape of each side in the mirror.

If your strap is well adjusted, you should be able to run two fingers underneath it and feel that it is firm and secure, without digging in. Also remember to keep adjusting your straps, as they can move around in the wash and elastics can wear out over time.

And that’s it! As long as you keep these 7 bra mistakes in mind next time you’re shopping or clearing out your lingerie drawer, your boobs will be comfy, supported and grateful. Until next time!

Disclaimer: SugarCandy does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.


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