Wednesday, December 20, 2006

12 Best of Bra Tips

The Correct Way to Put on a Bra


The following steps explain how to put on a bra the correct way. Wearing your bra properly is as important as finding the correct bra to wear. Take these steps:

  1. Place your arms through the straps and slide them over your shoulders.
  2. Bend forward from the waist and adjust your breasts so that the nipples are on the fullest point of the cup. Make sure your breasts are completely in the cup.
  3. Fasten the hooks to the middle position.
  4. Stand up straight and adjust your straps again so your breasts are at the right level in the bra
  5. Make sure your bra fit is comfortable and sits in the middle of your back.

How Do I Know When My Bra Does Not Fit Properly?

There are ways to know that your bra sizing is incorrect. Some immediate signs are:

  • Rising up in the back: When your bra rises up in the back, this means it is not supporting the weight of your bust.
  • Shoulder Pulling: If you find yourself leaning or hunching forward regularly or if your shoulders are strained from pulling forward, chances are your bra is not the right size for your bust.
  • Falling Breasts: Your breasts are not being properly supported if they do not sit upright in a central position on your chest.
  • Falling Straps: If your straps slide down your shoulders or leave red marks in your flesh, your bra is probably too big around the bust and too small in the cup area.

Maternity Bras Are Hard to Fit

A maternity bra is a hard piece of lingerie to purchase in an accurate size. This is because during pregnancy, your breasts are constantly changing in size, texture, contour, etc. Your body is likely to change through each trimester, so do not purchase more than a couple of bras for each stage. Purchase a maternity bra for the size you are now. A common misconception says that you should purchase a maternity bra that gives you room to grow. Instead, proper support of your breasts is always important, especially during pregnancy. Choose a maternity bra style with wide, cushioned straps and stretchiness in the band.

The Playtex® Expectant Moments Bra is the perfect transition bra. Purchase it late in pregnancy as its roomy cups can easily accommodate changes in breast size, while still offering full and upright support. This Playtex® lingerie features a nursing flap, accessible with one hand. A soft cotton bra complete with multiple back settings, the Playtex Expectant Moments Bra is a perfect fit for expectant and new mothers.
 

Take Your Time Getting Fit For Good Mastectomy Bra

The process of choosing a good mastectomy bra is often a difficult one. Manufacturers are creating more styles and colors all the time to make the process as easy as possible. Most mastectomy bras have a pocket in the cup area to hold a prosthesis.

A breast prosthesis simulates the shape of a natural breast. A well-designed mastectomy bra will help to make the prosthesis look natural and will provide comfort around the scarring area.

Take your time getting the right fit -- and make sure comfort is a major factor in any mastectomy bra purchase.
 

Bali® Boasts Entire Line of Minimizer Bras

From underwire to soft cup, leading bra manufacturer Bali® has created an entire line of minimizer bras--from the bestselling Bali® Satin Tracings Minimizer Underwire bra, which slims the bustline by more than an inch and boasts lightly cushioned straps to the Bali® Silver Lining Seamless Underwire Minimizer Bra, which features molded cups and side slings.

This is important because many minimizer bras fit according to your body type. A choice in features will help you to determine what kind of minimizer bra you need to make your upper half look smaller and slimmer, and help your clothes fit better.
 
One Hanes Place Tip: Choose a minimizer bra that maintains your breast shape and flatters your overall look. The Bali® Satin Tracings® bra gives an overall slimming effect to your silhouette while still preserving the shape and contour of your breasts. Minimizer bras should make you look slimmer, not flatter.
 

Bra Fabric Is An Important Factor

One of the most important considerations when choosing intimate lingerie is the fabric of your bra. You need a bra that is comfortable but also offers you support and shaping. Cotton is soft and breathes, but is not your only choice for comfort. Also, cotton by itself may not offer enough shaping and support. Nylon and polyester are supportive and can be woven into luxurious lace, lustrous satin or light microfibers that feel smooth against your skin. Look for bras with spandex added for the comfort of stretch. A fabric blend is often your best choice for the perfect combination of skin pampering and pretty shaping.

One Hanes Place Tip: Comfortable, elegant intimate lingerie is a Bali® specialty. A great example of this is the Bali® Downtime® Cool Stretch® Wirefree bra. This bra offers lightweight support, with an amazing breathable cotton-rich fabric. It is seamless, so you can slip it on under just about anything and features a cotton-lined underband, which gives you added lift. This wirefree bra is soft, comfortable and wears well for everyday.

Bras Should Be Worn Properly

Bras are designed to be worn a certain way. Here are some tips to making sure your bra fits the right way:

  • Straps should run straight up and down and should not ride up in the back at all.
  • Breasts should be completely enclosed in the cups with no spillage out of the sides or front
  • Underwires should lay flat against the top of the rib cage and should not poke, prod or push against the skin in any way.

Be Daring --- Go Braless With Breast Petals

Some women have the option of going braless with certain outfits. However, with thinner fabrics, your nipples can sometimes show through. Nude breast petals can alleviate that problem. Worn with or without a bra, breast petals work with any garment ---- casual or dressy. They provide a cover-up for your nipple and make going braless even more fun and fearless.
 

Do I Need To I Wear a Sports Bra?

Most forms of exercise, even moderate activity, puts a strain on your breasts. The stress that exercise puts on the sensitive breast area can often result in temporary pain and stretching of the Cooper's ligaments, which is the area of the chest containing the outer skin and connective tissues. Breasts do not have much internal support, which is why strain on them from strenuous activities, such as jogging, can cause saggy breasts. However, studies show that you can reduce the stress on your breasts by 78 percent. The way to achieve this is by wearing the correct sports bra during exercise or other sports and activities.

Sports bras provide the extra support needed to avoid excessive bouncing of the breasts, which results in less stress and pain on your breasts. Designed to hold your breasts firmly in place, sports bras allow you a complete range of movement. Most ports bras come in fabrics designed to repel moisture from the skin. Sports bras come in a variety of styles and fabrics, so choose one based on your personal active routine.
 

Bra Extenders Help Bras to Last Just A Little Longer

Sometimes, you find that you have bras that are a perfect fit in the cups, but feel snug around the band area. A bra accessory that can alleviate some of that discomfort is a bra extender. Purchasing a bra extender is a great idea if you have bras to replace or if your size changes, but have not yet had the time or the means to do so.

1 comment:

Kristine said...

Great overview on bra fitting. I've written up an article on maternity bras on my web site, http://www.smallshoppingworld.com. Lot's of good advice on what to look for when buying a maternity or nursing bra.