Questions to Ask Yourself for a Better Fitting Bra: How To Tell If Your Bra Really Fits

Finding a bra that fits you correctly can determine how good you feel when you are wearing it. Here’s what a well-fitted bra looks like-

• The centre front should sit flush against the ribcage, without digging into your chest.
• Breasts should fit securely aligned along the edge of the underwire.
• The cups should fully encase your breasts with no spillage on top or on the sides.
• The straps should sit comfortably without digging into your shoulder.
• The majority of the support should come from the underband.
• The underband itself should be snug and sit level without riding up.

Find your perfect-fitting bra today! Take the Clovia Fit Test.

We put together a few questions to identify the signs of an ill-fitting bra and a couple of simple tests to help you find the right fitting bra. You can do all of these tests hassle-free at home.

1. Does the band sit horizontally across your back?

A well-fitting bra should have a back strap that runs horizontally across your back.

If the underband of your bra is riding up, it is not the right size. You can try loosening the shoulder straps. Oftentimes, that is what causes underbands to ride up at the back.

Otherwise, opt for a smaller band size so that it is snug against your back. You can also move up a cup size to make sure you don’t have to tighten the shoulder straps too much.

Calculate your Band Size on Clovia’s Bra Size Calculator

To check whether your bra straps are adjusted correctly,

2. Take the 2-Finger Test

For straps:

The straps of your bra should only provide approximately 20% of the support, with the rest being provided by the back strap or underband.

If the straps carry too much weight, they can dig into your shoulders and cause discomfort. This can also be why your bra straps regularly slip off your shoulders.

To ensure that your bra straps are the right size, simply place 2 fingers under one of the straps, and they should both fit comfortably without pushing the strap off the shoulder.

Bonus Tip: Before putting your bra on, try tightening the straps to the half-way point so it’s easier to judge what needs adjusting.

For center gore:

The fabric connecting the cups is called the centre gore, and on a well-fitting bra, it lies flat against your sternum without feeling uncomfortable. Try slipping two fingers under the fabric, and if the cups sit up away from your sternum, you should try a larger size.

3. Take the Jiggle Test

Once you’ve put your bra on correctly, lean forward and scoop your breast flesh up from under the wire and into the centre of the cup.

Now jump around. You can do the shimmy or some jumping jacks. If the breasts stay securely in the cups, you’ve got the right size on.

If your breasts seem to want to escape from the bottom, you’ve got too large a band size. If you get spillage over the top of your bra cups, your cup size may be too small.

Find your perfect bra size with Clovia’s Bra Size Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do I really need to be replacing my bras?
It depends on how well you care for your bras. Bustier ladies tend to require replacements every six to nine months, whereas women with smaller chests can wait up to 18 months.

What are the signs that my bra size is wrong?
Signs of an ill-fitting bra include spillage over the top or through the sides of your cups, backstrap of the bra riding up, and straps digging into your shoulders.

Why does my bra band ride up at the back?
Your bra band can ride up at the back because of your band size being too big, or cup size being too small.

What does it mean if my bra straps keep slipping off?
If your bra straps keep falling off, they are either too tight and putting too much strain on your shoulders, not tight enough, or not tight enough.

Why does my bra cause spillage or bulges?
Bras can cause bulges or spillage when they are smaller. You can try sizing up a cup size to get a more comfortable fit.