Think you might be wearing the wrong size bra but don’t know where to start when it comes to checking the fit?

Fear not, these 5 key pointers will help.

But first, some myth-busting.

#1 To get the right level of support, you should ideally be wearing a sized bra – either wired or non-wired – on a day-to-day basis. Say goodbye to your S/M/L bralettes ladies.

#2 Underarm fat is not a thing. What you are likely thinking is an extra roll under your arm is, in fact, breast tissue. Yep, your boobs go from just under your collarbone, all the way around to under your arm. That’s why it’s so important that they are fully supported properly.

#3 Classic alphabet bra sizing (e.g. 32E, 32F, 32FF, etc.) was originally created in the late 1920s and not a huge amount has changed about it since then. Although pretty much all bra brands still use it, what constitutes each size can vary across brands (this is due to a range of factors including fit model, style, grading, etc.). So it is important that you check the fit on your boobs and body before committing to keeping/buying it.

 

Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s get down to the 5 things to look out for when checking whether your bra fits or not.

 

Band

The underband of your bra (the part that wraps around your ribcage and fastens at the back or the front, depending on bra style) should feel like it is fitting firmly all the way around, but not like it is too tight or difficult to breath when it is fastened.

Aim for no more than 2 fingers to be able to get underneath the underband when it is fastened on the tightest setting.

It should also not be pulling up at the back, instead sitting level all of the way around your body. If you find that your underband is creeping up towards your shoulder blades, then consider going down a band size.

 

Cup

The entire breast should be encased inside the cup, with no bulging or gaping either at the side or front of the cup.

If you are getting the dreaded quad-boob (the cup cutting your boob in half to breast tissue is spilling either out the side or the front of the cup), then you should think about going up a cup size.

Similarly, if the material of the cup is gaping or sagging, then you should consider going down a cup size.

 

Underwire (if your bra has it)

If your bra has an underwire, it should run along the natural crease of your boob and not sit on any breast tissue – especially under the arm.

So, if you find that it feels like your boobs are making a bid for freedom either under or outside the side of the underwire, then it’s probably time to go up a cup size. 

Front

The front of the bra, also known as the gore, is the area in between the cups – this should be sitting flat against your ribcage.

See our above point on your boobs making a bid for freedom, if this is the case then think about going up a cup size.

 

Straps

Think of your straps like they are goldilocks, they shouldn’t be too tight or too loose. You should be able to fit no more than 2 fingers stacked on top of each other underneath your strap.

Why is this we hear you ask…if you’re straps are too tight then they are doing quite a bit of the work that your under band should be doing. Often resulting in sore shoulders and little red welts underneath where your straps are.

If your straps are too loose, then they aren’t providing the additional support that they need to.

It is probably also worth mentioning that you should be wearing a bra with straps the majority of them time so that you are getting the right level of support.

If you're not 100% sure what to do when it comes to finding out what bra size to try, why not check out our guide to finding your bra size.