How to Tell if You Are Wearing a Too Tight Bra
Too tight bra
I have an honest question to start out with (and don’t feel bad if you’re guilty 😛 we’ve all been there) Do you feel a little bit like someone has pulled a piece of elastic really tightly across your under-bust so you feel a little bit like a sausage tied up with elastic bands in the mirror?
It’s simple. You’re wearing a tight bra and it’s too tight.
I know what you’re thinking though, you’ve looked everywhere for the right info as to how exactly to fix this and how to get a bra that fits properly. You’ve read the blogs, you’ve used the 37834 different calculators, yet still you’re getting the same issues. Firstly I have to say that bra calculators, stop using them. Not one single magical bra calculator is going to work for us all. (Feel free to prove me wrong, I’ve just never come across one, and I quite literally spend 12 hours a day reading blogs, forums etc.) We’ll first start with how to diagnose the problem. Then we’ll move on to how to fix it.
How to tell if your bra is too tight:
If your bra doesn’t fit, there are a few immediate problem areas which you can see pretty quickly.
Check the back band:
If the hook and eyes (being the back closure part of the bra) are straining to hold together and looking a little bit like the hero saving the damsel who’s hanging from a 100 story building, your bra, it’s probably too small. If this is the case, you will most likely feel the bra cutting into your ribcage and leaving a red marks. The band of the bra is too small.
Check the cup:
The cup is another dead give away. If the cup folds in anyway, sometimes around the top or if you’re really lucky around the top. The bra is way too small. The cup needs to sit smoothly across the breast.
Check the look of the bra:
If you look like you’re being squeezed like a bottle of ketchup and you’re feeling uncomfortable, wires digging and red marks that type of thing, then it might be worth reassessing your bra size.
How to solve the problem!
I know there are so many sites out there offering advice on how to fit yourself and what size you are and it’s great! However, do beware, in the end this comes down to you and you alone. The same method doesn’t work for everybody, however as a general guide check out our guide on how to fit a bra.
When ordering online always always always check if the site has a size guide and compare your measurements against their measurements. No size matching, bras differ to much for that!
In the case of people who have wide backs (like yours truly) sometimes it’s a simple case of adding a bra extender so you have another set of hook and eyes to play with. But don’t go sewing extenders on all your bras straight away, I would read the below first, then see if it’s for you.
The Bra Extender is NOT Always the Right Solution:
In fact, it is rarely the solution. The band of a bra is designed to hold 90% of the breast weight so if your band is too loose, you’re going to be leaving your girls hanging, quite literally. The bra extender is generally for women who have difficulty matching up the band length and the cup size, eg. when you have a wide back. There are so many brands out there today which can offer the exact fit so you can cater for this, however, when you have your heart set on one bra you need in your life and it doesn’t have an option regarding long band lengths, I would choose the bra extender.
The problem is that, I’ve noticed many of the fuller or curvier girls having a problem with fat around the back of the bra. I need to make a note that back fat as a result of gained weight and digging in are two completely different things. Many fuller figure girls have bought bras which have been far too loose in order to gain a smooth look all around. This may look good, however, your breasts are getting very little support. Again it is all in personal comfort and preference. A bra may look like it’s digging in when you look in the mirror, but if it feels comfortable and doesn’t feel like it’s digging in, you’ve probably got the right size.
