Monday, March 18, 2013

The Difference Between Bra Facts and Bra Preference

When you start researching bras and bra fit you quickly realize that it's a pretty huge topic. This is because boobs are as diverse and unique as the women they live on. There are lots of different bra blogs out there and they all have different information depending on their personal style, breast shape and lifestyle. It can be confusing to know which information is right for you.

In general the information breaks down into two groups. Firstly there are facts about what good bra fit looks and feels like; this information is pretty much non-negotiable. Secondly there are bra preferences like style, shape, colour and comfort levels. There are no right or wrongs in the bra preferences, it's totally down to the individual. To help you decipher the must-know bra facts from bra preferences I've put together a quick cheat's list:

Bra Facts
  1. All your breast tissue (including that squidgy bit at your armpit that you think is fat) should sit inside the cup.
  2. Your bra band should stay in place and not ride up your back.
  3. Bra straps should not slip off and should not dig in.
  4. A new bra should fit you on the loosest set of hooks first (unless it's a maternity bra)
  5. Your gore (the part between your breasts) should be flush with your body.
Bra Preferences
  1. Whether you prefer to wear a balconette bra, a plunge, a full cup or a wire-free. There are no hard and fast rules about what you have to wear (other than wearing a sports bra when active)
  2. How tight your band has to be. Some women prefer a really tight band, others like it just firm and some prefer to have it as loose as it can go without compromising fit (as soon as it starts to ride up then your band is too loose).
  3. Shape - some women love rounded cups or lots of cleavage, some like a more minimized look. Whatever shape you like you can find bras that will give you that look.
  4. Price - There is no right price to pay for a bra, it depends on what you're comfortable paying for the amount of wear you will get out of it. A well constructed bra that is worn and cared for well should last between 8 and 18 months (depending on how often you wear it).
  5. Style - There are lots of different styles of bras that fit different breast shapes differently. Working out your breast shape will really help you work out which bra bloggers have reviews that are relevant to your shape. Check out Bratabase's Breast Shape Gallery.
Once you have the bra facts nailed down you can start to explore the bra preferences that suit your body and personal style. When you find bras that tick all the boxes on the bra facts list and have all the things you're looking for in your bra preferences you have found your bra sweet spot! xx
Posted by bflycollection at 7:30 AM
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8 comments:

  1. UnknownMarch 18, 2013 at 11:22 AM

    Agreed, although I would add that the center gore needs to lay flat (with the exception of soft cup bras).

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    1. bflycollectionMarch 18, 2013 at 4:16 PM

      Can't believe I missed this one (Doh!) I've updated the list - thanks June! xx

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  2. AnonymousMarch 19, 2013 at 2:19 PM

    Oh, I love this! It puts the responsibility on the wearer to learn her bra facts, while empowering her to choose bras that suit her personal preferences. What a great way to think about bra fit!

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    1. bflycollectionMarch 19, 2013 at 3:11 PM

      I'm glad you like the post. It's wonderful that there are so many bra blogs now but for a newcomer the conflicting opinions can be confusing. I wanted to make the distinction between the information that will help you find better fit and the information that is just opinion. xx

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  3. Cat CookMarch 19, 2013 at 3:56 PM

    This is so true! So much of bra buying is about experimenting with what works for the individual. I've found out that I have major shape preferences that aren't about fit; I know I won't wear a bra out if the side profile isn't *very* round, even if it is very comfortable and meets all "fit" criteria. I think that really has to do with what I wear daily. If I dressed up and wore more 40's/50's inspired clothing, I think I'd love a pointier shape, and I love how it looks on other people. Even so, it's nice to try on a couple things that you don't know if you'll like at first, because sometimes bras can completely surprise you!

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    1. bflycollectionMarch 19, 2013 at 4:01 PM

      I'm so glad that has come across. Whether or not a bra fits you is pretty absolute but things like which bras work with your wardrobe or which shape you prefer your bras to give you are all subjective to you. These things are never wrong, they're just preferences. I've always said that I can throw all the bra science in the world at you but unless you feel happy and comfortable in your bra it doesn't make a blind bit of difference! A bra that fits you and makes you feel good is a GREAT bra! xx

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  4. AnonymousMarch 19, 2013 at 7:07 PM

    I look forward to every single blog post from you. Love how clearly explained, documented, and even credited your information always is. Now I'm off to Bratabase to get even more informed! Thanks for all your effort in educating all women about keeping their breasts in good form!

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    1. bflycollectionMarch 19, 2013 at 7:10 PM

      Thank you so much for this! It can feel like I'm swimming upstream against the tide sometimes so I'm glad to know that the information is helpful and easy to digest. I hope you find some useful information at Bratabase, it's a truly unique resource xx

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