Dear Younger Me: Before You Buy Your First Bra
What Do I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before Buying a Bra?
GIRL GUIDE
brabar
GIRL GUIDE
BRABAR
girl guide
Before you buy your next bra, here are the things we really wish someone had told us first.
By: Lucy DiChristina
Buying your first bra and sometimes feels like there’s something that everyone else knows except for you and that you’re on the outside of some huge world changing secret that lets people find clothes that actually fits. Hypothetically buying your first bra should be simple, and then you walk into a store and see rows of sizes and styles, wondering where to even start and why there are so many options. Many girls don’t understand, for good reason, what they’re going to get when they go into a bra fitting experience. We don’t understand that bra sizing is not perfectly standardized in America and that every brand fits people a little differently and then every brand‘s actual product fits differently. Here are some things that I wish people told me before I went bra shopping for the first time and honestly years after my first bra shopping experiences.
Are Bra Sizes Universal?
One of the biggest surprises for early bra shoppers is the fact that bra sizes are not standardized across stores. A 32B in one brand might fit completely differently than a 32B in another brand, even though hypothetically they’re supposed to be representing the same exact measurements. Different brands use different measuring methods, different cups, grading, different actual product materials, and different fit models. Altogether this equals no standardization across the bra industry and millions of girls left confused to make sense of their bodies measurements. So remember, it’s not your body that is changing when you go into every store it’s actually the bra itself no matter what the label says.
How Am I Going To Be Measured For A Bra?
So getting measured for a bra can lead to a different experience across different stores. Many people think that one set of measurements can lead to a couple different bra sizes that can still accurately fit your body. However, even though different stores measure differently, they also put people in sizes that don't align with their actual measurements. Measurement methods can differ widely, including, measuring snuggly, measuring more loosely, and most notably different stores can use completely different sizes and calculators that have different equations that all end up leading their customers with a fake sense of satisfaction and real discomfort. You also might often hear about the +4 method which adds inches to your underbust to determine your band size, which actually makes no sense. Since your band size is directly representative of your under bust why are we adding any numbers in order to get a correct fitting. While this method at one point was common and felt standardized now modern fitters use many different approaches and honestly, there’s not even close to one universally accepted in measuring system. The next huge problem with finding a bra that fits is that your body is an anatomical fitting versus retail fitting. So basically what this means is that bras are not made to reflect a person’s body, they are simply made to reflect someone's measurements, but in the view of the specific store that you are shopping at.
How Do Bras Change Over Time?
Another little secret that is kept hidden is the difference in feeling and support girls can achieve in a new bra versus an old bra. Even if you were wearing the same size bra, a bra that is new compared to a bra that is old can fit completely differently. An old bra gets worn by the different wear and tear that you were putting it through on a normal daily basis. This may be activities, laundering, or the long days that you may be wearing your bra for. When you are buying a bra, you should try to buy it on the largest hook that way as it stretches and gets worn, you can move it to the middle and the tightest hook to maintain the support that comes from your band. However, this also should not stop you from thinking that you deserve a new well fitting product. Don’t feel ashamed if you don’t feel like your bra fits anymore and don’t feel surprised if you don’t necessarily come out with a whole new bra size. Your bra may just be worn and it might just be time for a new product.
Where Does My Bra Support Come From?
What I don't understand about the industry is how people expect girls to know what to look for if we don’t even know where the support of our bra comes from. One of the biggest confusions is that people think straps provide your bra support. I completely understand why people think this, this is something that the industry has been pushing down our throats for as long as I can remember. However, a well fitting band is actually the part of your bra that does the majority of the lifting and support while keeping yourself stable. If your straps are doing too much work because you’re banned, you’re going to feel uncomfortable. This feeling of discomfort is by no means normal and you deserve a bra that feels comfortable and supportive. Although it is fine to adjust your straps, you should not feel like you need to constantly be adjusting different parts of your bra in order to be able to live in it. Your body deserves comfort and you deserve a bra that fits at all times and impact levels.
Why Is It So Hard To Find The Right Bra Style?
Finding a bra style that you feel confident in can take time. Although your bra size comes down to measurements, bra style is truly a very personal experiment. Different girls have different qualities that they want to get out of a bra and you will get that from completely different styles of bras. Something that was never told to me is that it’s okay to have many different styles of bras even for the same events and that you like the same amount. Your comfort is personal and just because a friend or parent may love one style of bra does not mean that it’s going to work for you and you should feel allowed to find the style that works best for you because I promise every bra style does feel different.
Why Is This Only Hard For Me?
I know that sometimes finding your bra size and finding bra that fits and feels super isolating and like you’re the only person that has ever gone through this. I promise this feeling is valid, but also lots of girls struggle to find bras that they feel like actually fit and honestly 80% of women are wearing the wrong size bras even now. Everybody struggles at first and it takes some serious effort to find bras that you feel comfortable in what matters is that you feel comfortable exploring different size bras and different style bras so you don’t feel the need to settle for a bra that truly does not fit and struggle with wearing the wrong size bra for years wondering if you will ever feel comfortable. I promise you’re not doing anything wrong bro shopping just has a learning curve and it takes time to get used to it.
What Are Some Bra Shopping Tips?
Okay, so let me just give you a rapid fire of some of the best bra shopping tips that have helped me. I would say try on three different sizes when you are first trying on a bra. You never know which one will fit you best and this gives you a good range without feeling like you are promising yourself to a certain size before exploring any of your other options. Second, make sure to move around. Realistically you don’t wear your bra only in stationary positions so make sure you’re testing it whether it be raising your arms, sitting down and then standing up, or twisting from side to side. No matter what you’re doing your bra should stay comfortable while you move and keep supporting you. Lastly, give yourself time. The first bra you buy may not be the one that works best for you and that’s totally normal. Bras just like everything else take time to get used to. That is totally okay and to be expected. I promise at some point your bra can feel like the most empowering part of your outfit.
One Last Thing Before You Go
If there’s one thing I urge you to keep repeating to yourself before you go to buy your first bra, it is that finding your perfect fit is a process and it is not a test. No one is grading you based on your bra size or how many bras it takes for you to find one that fits. Bras are designed by people and with that there is human error. Every brand makes different executive choices about sizing, materials, and how they want their bras to fit. Their decisions may not apply to you and that is completely okay and you should not punish yourself for that. The most important thing is finding a bra that makes you feel confident, comfortable, and supported to forget you’re wearing it and to feel brave enough to go about your day. If it takes you a few tries to finally find a bra that makes you feel good about yourself, that is okay and a well worth it process. I promise you are not alone and the feeling of finding a bra that fits is unlike anything else.
XOXO BRABAR
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
FAQS
Finding a bra that fits can feel difficult because bra sizing is not the same across every brand, and different styles can fit differently even in the same size. Your body is not the problem—bras are designed differently depending on the brand, materials, and style. Finding the right bra is a process of learning what feels comfortable and supportive for your unique body.
No. Bra sizes are not universal, which means you may wear different sizes depending on the brand or style. A size on a tag is simply a starting point, not a definition of your body. Instead of focusing only on the number and letter, pay attention to how the bra feels, how it supports you, and whether it lets you move comfortably.
When buying your first bra, focus on comfort, support, and finding a style that makes you feel confident. Try moving around in the bra, adjusting the straps, and making sure the band feels secure without being too tight. Remember, your first bra does not have to be perfect—the goal is to find something that works for you and helps you feel comfortable in your changing body.
