OH! Magazine - Australian Version October 2018 | Page 12

( WOMEN’S HEALTH )
ARE YOU WEARING THE
WRONG BRA SIZE?
Esther Labi reveals that 80 per cent of women wear the wrong size bra. Do you?
nce upon a time, going to the
shops to buy a new bra involved
being fitted by an experienced bra fitter.
Unfortunately, over the years, retailers
have cut costs, and services such as bra
fittings have gone by the wayside from
most departmental stores. Combine this
with our increasingly busy lifestyles and
many women finding that they don’t even
have time for a fitting. The result is that
many women simply just buy sets off the
shelf and wear a bra because they think it
fits. Sadly it’s not always the case,
especially for those in D cups or larger. Just because you wore a size 14C ten
years ago, doesn’t mean that size is right
for you today. Berlei did a study in 2015
that showed the average size in Australia
had gone up from 12B to 14D, so you
might be surprised at the size you fit into
now.”
Esther has some great tips on how to
check if your bra is the right size for you:
•
Your bra should be comfortable,
above everything else. The best
fitting bra is one that you don’t feel
you’re wearing.
In the store, around 80 per cent of women
walk in wearing the wrong size bra. They
are often shocked to find that they have
been wearing such an ill-fitting bra for so
long and can’t get over how comfortable
their new correctly fitted bra is. •
If you look in the mirror at your
profile, your breasts should sit at a
height mid distance between your
shoulder and your elbow. The back
band should also sit straight across
the body. If it rides up your back the
size is too big.
O
I explain to women that if they are wearing
the wrong bra size, the result is that they
are not getting the right support for their
breasts and this contributes to stretch
marks, sagging and even back, neck and
shoulder pain.
Women’s breasts change due to weight,
hormones (the pill or HRT), pregnancy,
menopause and other factors.
• The bra should be anchored to your
body when you lift your arms. If it
comes away from your body it usually
means the back is too loose. Try
wearing it on a tighter hook.
• The underwires should sit flat on the
front of the chest and fully encircle
the breasts.
•
Breasts spilling out of the cups (the
double-boob
effect)
or
the
underwires sitting out from your
chest wall at the front, are both signs
the cup is too small.
Wearing the right size bra is very
important for good health and wellbeing
and also for comfort and appearance.
Everyone has a different shape, that’s
why there are so many different types of
bras available – full cup, half cup,
moulded, plunge, etc.
Once you find your size, it’s important to
find the right style that suits you. When
you’ve found ‘the one’, you’ll know
straight away because it will feel so
comfortable. Don’t get caught up on the
letters and numbers of the size.
I suggest getting a new bra every six to
12 months, depending on how many you
have on rotation. Bras naturally stretch
with wear so it is important to buy a bra
where you can secure it on the outer
hooks and then tighten as your bra
stretches.
The good news for women is that just
because you are time poor doesn’t mean
you have to miss out on getting a proper
fitting. We offer virtual fittings over Skype
and can help you even over the telephone.
Wearing the right size bra will enhance
your comfort and also your appearance.
A well fitting bra can make you look five
kilos lighter and it can even reveal a waist
that you’ve forgotten you have!
Esther Labi
Esther is Australia’s very own ‘Bra
Whisperer’, and the founder of iconic bra
store Storm in a D Cup. To learn more visit
www.storminadupcup.com.au
12
OH! MAGAZINE ( OCTOBER 2018 )