I make bras for women with fuller busts – how to know your lingerie fits and the key sign it will be ‘torture’ to wear
A LINGERIE designer has revealed her top tips for shopping for bras that perfectly fit a fuller bust.
Curvy women have frequently vented about the challenges of trying to find a stylish yet comfortable-fitting bra.
However, underwear specialists have been busy crafting options that take into consideration how the needs of big boobs differ from smaller sizes.
Jeanette Misseldine, who boasts over 12,000 followers on Instagram, is the founder of British lingerie shop No.1 bra, who cater for a B-HH cup.
She told The U.S Sun that many women are unaware of what type of bra best suits their body shape, because there hasn’t been much education for consumers from the big brands.
She said: “They choose to put their people in stores to fit them from a sales standpoint, and choosing for yourself is still an enigma.
“Ladies tend to choose from the visual first but have no idea which one will be comfortable.
“You could select ten from a variety of brands and try them all and still not find comfort.
“The majority of ladies walk around all day with the underwire digging in at the side of their bust. You get that pinching feeling when you least expect it.
“The reason for this is the narrow shape of the underwire. They are shaped like a horseshoe and grip you below the bust.
“It’s hardly surprising that most women walk in the door at night and rip off their bras with their shoes.
“Women deserve comfort. We run businesses, look after houses, clean, cook, and bring up our children.
“Why is it that most women are putting up with this intense discomfort?”
Jeanette has shared a list of what to look for when buying a bra so that you don’t have to rely on salespeople in lingerie shops.
So, how many of her tips are you already aware of?
GET THE CORRECT BAND SIZE
Jeanette warned that the cups will not provide the right support if the band that sits around your rib cage isn’t correct.
She said: “The bra band which is fitted around your rib cage needs to be fitted to your body, snug but not tight.
“It needs to be horizontal around you. It must not ride up your back like a moon shape.
“You’ll see this at the back of ladies with the arch on the back and the bra riding up high on their shoulder blades.
“A typical sign for this is when you have to hoist up the straps high in an effort to pull the front cups up to get support.
“Then you know the band isn’t working, as the straps are too tight and the cups are not lifted.
“If it’s riding up, then reduce the band size.
“For example, if you’re wearing a 36 go down to 34, and then see if it’s horizontal and supporting rather than riding up.”
ENSURE THE WIRES AREN’T DIGGING IN
The lingerie expert explained that bra cups are deliberately positioned to be at the front of your rib cage.
She said the wires can sit close but it’s crucial that they don’t dig into your chest wall.
She said: “If you can feel the pressure from the wire upon first wear, then reject that style and brand as all their wires may be similar.
“Pressure at the front means the wire is too narrow for your bust girth.
“The wire will force itself to sit on your breast tissue, which won’t be comfortable or healthy.
“Many women experience this and accept it until it becomes ‘their normal.’”
Jeanette explained how looking at the shape of the bra in your hand can be useful for knowing whether or not it will dig into the side of your boob or grip your underarm flesh.
She said: “When holding the bra look at the shape and if the wires look narrow (like a horseshoe) and if the bra looks tortured for sure it will feel like torture on your body.
“If the wire looks very circular it’s going to hook back at the sides and into you.
“If the wire is very high in your armpit, it has an underwire that’s too high for your frame.
“If the wire is ending and your bust flesh is hanging over then the wire shape is too narrow and the cup too small to house your shape.
“Look for a wider wire that is shaped back and away from your bust tissue.”
CHECK THE FIT OF THE CUPS
Jeanette revealed that she can tell if a bra is the wrong cup size for a customer by just looking at how the fabric fits.
She said: “Looking at the cups, if your bust is hanging in it and there is excess fabric, then you need a smaller cup.
“You don’t want to be hanging around in the bottom of the cup and if you have a gaping hole or excess fabric, this won’t be giving you any uplift or making the best of your shape.
“There will be wrinkles in the cup which won’t look good in clothes.
“If you have a contour cup that’s big for you, there will be an empty area and the bra may rub you.
“If you are bursting out of the cup then the cup needs to be bigger to contain your shape.
“Only increase one cup at a time e.g. from B to C, and then check.”
TRY DIFFERENT BRANDS
Jeanette recommends trying a different lingerie brand if the bra wire is uncomfortably resting on the chest no matter what style you choose.
She developed No.1 bra, which ships internationally to the US, to provide women with stylish options that make them forget they are even wearing a bra.
Her designs have wide side panels made from soft fabric for comfort as well as pretty lace detail.
She said: “All underarm flesh is completely inside the bra and you’ll never get that flesh overhang, therefore you look great in clothes because the underarm flesh is covered and smooth.
“No.1 bra has been created for women of today.
“We require style comfort and a luxurious feeling, so we can go about our day feeling comfortable, looking smooth, and uplifted which in turn helps our well-being.
“Once you try a No.1 bra you’ll never wear another brand again.
“A bold statement we know but it is the one thing our customers tell us constantly.
“We know this means they are truly comfortable.”