Wearing a bra is the type of thing that most of us have been doing for so long that we forget we're even doing it.
You wake up, slide on your underwear and clasp into the same bra you've been wearing for years.
Unfortunately, around 80% of women wear the wrong bra size every day and have no idea, according to the lingerie experts at Town Shop in New York City.
With bras coming in all shapes and sizes these days, it can be hard to even know where to begin. There are more factors than just being too big or small with bras, making it even more complicated.
Luckily, there are some easy ways to tell whether your bra fits, or rather, doesn't fit you properly.
Wearing the wrong bra size happens to the best of us. Learn how to identify and fix the problem by looking out for these signs.
Thumbnail Photo: Instagram / therealwrapgirl
Sign 1: Band Rides Up In The Back
Have you ever noticed your bra band riding up in the back, where the hooks clasp? This is an extremely common occurrence for a lot of women.
Linda's Bra School explains that you might be wearing your straps too tight. You can try to loosen them and see if it helps.
Otherwise, it could be riding up because you're wearing a band size that's too big and the weight of your breasts is pulling the band up. If this is the case, go down a band size.
Sign 2: Your Straps Keep Falling Down
Bra straps were invented to help support your girls. When they slip down, so do your boobs. It's not only uncomfortable, it defeats the purpose of wearing a bra in the first place.
According to the experts at Bra Stop, your bra strap should be tight enough to fit two fingers between it and your skin comfortably.
If your straps are looser than that, just tighten them up a bit. However, if that still doesn't work, it could be because your cup size is too big and your boobs aren't holding it up properly.
Sign 3: Strap Gaps In The Back
A bra strap should fit snuggly and comfortably across your back. Gapping is an indication that you should go down a back size to support yourself a little better.
Sign 4: Chest Spills Over
A little cleavage never hurt anyone, but spilling out of your bra is never a good look or a good feeling.
Overflow can be an issue, especially if you have a bigger chest. If you're spilling, try going up a cup size so there is more coverage for your twins.
Sign 5: Cups Bulging
We're all guilty of wearing our favorite bra over and over again. However, unlike your favorite jeans, bras don't fit better as time goes on.
Linda Unhooked reports that bras, especially those with molded cups, can begin to lose their shape after a while, depending on how frequently you wear them.
This is a sure sign that you should replace your favorite bra so you can go back to making your silhouette as smooth as possible.
Sign 6: Cups Are Wrinkly Or Baggy
If you've ever noticed your boobs swimming around in your bra, it's probably time to get a new one.
Your cup size could have either been too big to begin with, or you've stretched your bra out over time. Either way, you want your breasts to be snug and supported.
Sign 7: Clasping It On Your Tightest Hook
Like many women, I always thought clasping your bra strap in the middle hook was a sign of a great fit.
However, the experts at Town Shop assured us otherwise: your bra should fit snuggly on the loosest strap when you first purchase it.
Fabric on the back band will stretch over time, so when that happens, you can just tighten up a strap. When you've stretched your strap to its limits, it's time to get a replacement.
Fitting into the loosest strap at first also extends the life of your bra for even longer so you won't need to replace as often.
Sign 8: Gapping Between Cup And Breast
The whole purpose of a bra is to support your chest and to keep everything closer to your chin than your knees.
If you notice gapping between your bra cup and your breast, try going down a cup size.
Linda's Bra School says that your breast should be centered in the cup. This could also depend on your breast shape.
For instance, it might be better to go for a demi cup if your breasts are fuller at the top than the bottom, whereas a full coverage shape is better for someone with a rounder shape.
Sign 9: Strap Leaves Mark On Shoulders
Nothing is worse than feeling like your bra straps are cutting off your circulation. A bra should be comfortable, not a torture device.
The folks at Adore Me suggest going down a cup size if this happens to you. A more fitted cup size will help to take some of the strain off your straps and redistribute the weight they were bearing.
Sign 10: Back Bulge
Bulging over your bra strap is an extremely common problem with an easy solution.
Chances are, your back band is too tight for your body. Fixing the issue is as easy as sizing up your back strap, or looking into a smoothing bra with a more sleek design.
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