This blog post is for the ladies, and the men that love them.

Many women don’t wear the right underwear. Right size especially (we can deal with right underwear for specific outfits in some other post). Many more don’t even know their bra size. It is important for women to understand that bra’s should never be bought because they are cheap. You should buy because it supports your breasts. In the same manner, they should be more functional than fashionable. This is not to say that buying sexy underwear is a sin, but a wrong bra size can ruin an otherwise flawless outfit.

If you find that you constantly have back pains, shoulder pains or general upper body discomfort, you might wanna check first if your bra is giving you enough support. Bras are not just meant as coverings for breast like pants. 

There are quick ways to spot a bra that’s not your size, all things being equal…

•  If your bra strap falls off your shoulder, it is NOT your size. You shouldn’t need to keep putting your hand through your blouse to pull the strap back in place.
• Your boobs should NEVER spill over. Not from the sides, not from the top either.
• When you lift your hands and your bra lifts too, it is NOT your size
• If the underwire pokes the side of your breast, you are wearing the WRONG fit.
• Your bra SHOULDN’T leave painful marks on your body.

As you loose or gain weight, your bra size changes, and you can start by adjusting the hook from in to out or out to in before going on to buy new ones.

Let us get this straight – In bra fittings, there are no such things as small, large or medium size. You are either an A Cup, B Cup, C Cup, and so on. And while I understand that it is  difficult to get stores that measure bra fits, especially in places like Africa, since we are not manufacturers, you can actually measure yourself at home.

(continue reading to learn how to measure)

Many ladies are under funny delusions that larger cup sizes like D’s to G’s are for grown up women or lactating moms. But really, a 17 year old can be a D cup. And the thing is, no matter how much boobs God has blessed you with, if you are wearing the right size of bra, they will stay intact and firmly supported. If you are running down or up the stairs, your boobs honestly should not flap up and down if you are wearing the right size.

Here is how to measure for a perfect fit bra.

1) Know Your Band Measurement; Measure directly under your bust. Ensure the measuring tape is fitted and snug. Round up whatever you get to the nearest whole number. If the number is even, add four inches, if it is odd, add five. E.g (if you measured 32inches, your band size is 36, and if you measured 33 inches, your band size is 38

2) Know Your Bust Measurement; Wrap the measuring tape around the fullest part of your breast like nipple level. Ensure it is not too tight. Round your measurement to the nearest whole number.

3) Calculate Your Cup Size; Subtract your band size from your bust measurement and refer to the chart above. E.g, 37inches bust minus 34inches band = 3inches i.e 34C. 1 is A, 2 is B, 3 is C, and so on. Alternately, when you are measuring your full bust, count how many inches you can see in front from one side breast to the other. Correspond the number with the letters in the chart to get your size.

   

You can also try these tips to see if your bra fits;

• Look at yourself sideways in a mirror, and ensure that your breasts are sitting midway between your shoulder and elbows. If not, you need a bra with more support.
• Ensure your bra is not too tight. You should be able to slide two fingers underneath the strap and underneath the band.
• Choose a bra that fits perfectly when it is in the outermost hook, so that as it loosens over time, you can move it to the tightest hook
• The back of your bra should be level with the front. Don’t pull your bra down at the back because you want to wear a backless dress. Buy the proper bra for that kind of outfit.
• When you wear a fitted shirt, your breast shouldn’t bulge.
• After wearing a bra, you should have a clearly defined cleavage line. It shouldn’t be all squashed up.     

A good bra can change your life, Literally