Tales From BRABAR Studio: Finding the Right Strapless Option for You

Strapless bra season isn't over yet - there's still plenty of time for weddings, parties, and other events where you need the right strapless bra.

How Should a Strapless Bra Fit?

A good strapless bra will hug your ribcage snugly. It's the main principle at BRABAR that even your everyday bra, crop bra top, or halter bralette should support you from the band, not the straps, and fit snugly around the ribcage - just like a good strapless bra. This is why having the proper fit is so important. Use BRABAR's Fit Guide and Bra Size Calculator to determine your size.

What Else to Consider

There are several other factors to consider when picking a strapless bra:

• If you need one underneath a form-fitting dress, keep that in mind so it doesn't show.
• If you'll be more active while wearing it, you may need to go tighter on the band.
• For an all-day event, look for a wider band, which tends to be more comfortable over many hours.
• Avoid slippery or silky fabric - it's a recipe for slipping, so look for a strapless bra with a grippier material.

How to Find Your Bra Size

Overbust measurement minus band size equals cup size.

Start with your band size, determined by measuring your ribcage with a soft tape, snug and parallel to the floor, right where the band of a bra would sit. Round to the nearest whole even number for your band size.

Next, measure your overbust - the fullest part of your breast, tape parallel to the floor, with a slight amount of slack rather than snug. Round to the nearest whole number.

Subtract your band size from your overbust measurement to get your cup size. Each inch is a cup size: A = 1 inch, B = 2 inches, C = 3 inches, D = 4 inches, DD/E = 5 inches, DDD/F = 6 inches. Your band size plus your cup size is your bra size.

A Real Fitting

A teenager measured in the BRABAR Studio had a 27-inch underbust measurement, rounding to a 28 band. Her overbust measurement was 32 inches. Subtracting the 28 band from the 32 overbust gives a 4-inch difference - a D cup. Her bra size was 28D. She got a Soft Strapless Bra Top after being measured properly - a great, multi-use teenage bralette.

Strapless Options at BRABAR

With sizing in hand, what are the options for teenagers, young adults, and adults with petite ribcages and full busts?

• The Soft Strapless Bra Top - the top option, and what the teenager above purchased. Soft but secure around the ribcage, this longline strapless bra top can be worn as a bra or a tube top, in Black and Mushroom.
• The X Everyday Baselayer Bandeau - a more relaxed, lightweight, single-layer option, great for summer or lounging.
• The Soft Multiway Convertible Bra - a great choice for someone more active who wants versatility. Change the straps from two-shoulder, one-shoulder, criss-cross, or halter style depending on the outfit.
• Halter styles like the HUG Lace Halter Bralette, HUG Strappy Halter Bra, and HUG Backless Halter Bra - the lace version is a cute, feminine option; the strappy version reimagines the racerback with five straps; the backless version suits backless and open-back outfits or works on its own.

With all these options, you can find something that works for you, as long as you have the proper bra size - either from a professional fitting or by measuring yourself with BRABAR's Fit Guide and Bra Size Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a strapless bra need to fit differently than a regular bra?

A strapless bra relies entirely on the band, with no straps to help anchor it, so the band fit has to be more precise and secure than it would need to be with a bra that has straps.

What fabric should I avoid for a strapless bra?

Slippery or silky fabrics tend to slide down over the course of a day. Look for a grippier, more textured material that holds its position against skin.

Is a wider band always more comfortable for all-day wear?

Generally, yes - a wider band distributes pressure across more surface area, which tends to feel more comfortable over many hours than a narrow band providing the same support.

How to Measure

• Measure Underbust: Wrap a soft measuring tape snugly around your ribcage, parallel to the floor. Round to the nearest even whole number for your band size.
• Measure Overbust: Wrap the tape over the fullest part of your breasts, with a slight amount of slack. Round to the nearest whole number for your bust size.
• Calculate Cup Size: Subtract your band size from your bust size. Each inch of difference is one cup size, from A up through DDD/F.

Use BRABAR's Fit Guide and Bra Size Calculator to measure yourself accurately at home.