Tales From The BRABAR Studio: Converting from Wire to Wireless for Everyday and Strapless Comfort

It wasn't unusual for many college-age young adults to come looking for bras for their upcoming Spring Breaks and Summer Vacations - after all, breaks and vacations are the time to get some new useful items for your wardrobe.

One such college-age young woman entered the BRABAR Studio to look for an everyday bra and strapless bra option. She specifically wanted an everyday bra with a back closure and a strapless one she could wear with all her spring and summer outfits. She said her size was a 32B, but I offered to measure her anyway - finding the correct band size and bust size is always key to finding the perfect-fitting bra.

A Real Fitting

After I took her to the fitting area, I measured her. She had a 28-inch rib cage measurement, so her band size was 28. Her overbust measurement was 33 inches. Subtracting the 28 band from the 33 overbust gives a 5-inch difference - a DD/E cup. She was actually a 28DD, not the 32B she came in thinking she was. She was petite in the ribcage with a full bust.

What I Recommended

Since she was looking for both everyday and strapless options, I suggested:

• The Everyday Bra - a versatile, all-day supportive bra with a back closure, removable cups, and adjustable straps.
• The Soft Day Bra - combines the ease of a bralette with surprising support, in Black, White, and Ballet Pink.
• The Soft Strapless Bra - ultra-versatile, ideal for off-shoulder, one-shoulder, halter styles, and tube tops, in Black and Mushroom.
• The Soft V Laceback Bralette - a reversible V-neck lace back bralette, nice enough to show with open-back or backless tops.
• The Soft Cami - a fan-favorite, seamless, unlined double-layer wire-free bra top.
• The Open-Back Backless Halter Bralette and the Strappy Halter Bralette - both great multipurpose options for backless outfits.
• The Lace Halter Bralette - combines feminine details with everyday comfort and medium-impact support.
• The Soft Crop Multiway Convertible Bra Top - endless styling options, from thin halter to criss-cross to a casual strapless bra.

What She Chose

Ultimately, the young woman purchased the Everyday Bra and the Soft Strapless Bra, both in 28-30. The Everyday Bra worked for her because of its adjustability - the back closure made the wireless bra feel like a traditional wire bra, just without the wire. She said she'd recommend BRABAR to her friends and come back for more everyday bras.

The Soft Strapless Bra was a perfect option for her spring break and summer vacation wardrobe of strapless and tube tops - exactly the best strapless bra to go with everything she had planned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did her actual size come out so different from what she thought she was?

A petite ribcage paired with a fuller bust is one of the most commonly mis-sized combinations, since it doesn't match the sizes most stores stock or the sister-sizing shortcuts many people learn to rely on.

Can a wire-free bra really feel as supportive as a wired one?

Yes, when the band fits correctly. A back closure and correctly sized band do most of the supportive work a wire is often credited with - the wire mainly affects shape, not support.

What makes a strapless bra work for multiple vacation outfits?

A correctly fitted band that stays in place without straps, in a neutral color like black or a skin tone, tends to work across the widest range of tops and dresses.

The Cheat Sheet

• Measure Underbust: Wrap a soft measuring tape right below your breasts. Round to the nearest even whole number for your band size.
• Measure Overbust: Wrap the tape over the fullest part of your breasts. 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.