Supporting roles
Feature
It isn’t just men than find it hard choosing bras for their other half, women all too often get their bra choice wrong. Many are wearing the wrong size entirely and many opt for the wrong style for their needs.
Wearing the right bra is essential: a badly fitting bra or a wrong style for your size can lead to back problems, muscle tension and even headaches.
Wearing the right bra depends on your size and also on your level of activity. Bras worn everyday and for sport are first and foremost functional, not just to look sexy or to give you a cleavage.
Although it would be nice, no one bra can do it all. You have different bras for different jobs. Here’s a run down on the basic styles of bras and who should be wearing them and when.
Wireless bras. Light support or wireless bras have no underwire and are sometimes the preferred choice for those with smaller breasts. They are less constricting and more comfortable than full support bras. As they are wireless, they offer less shaping and more freedom: perfect for everyday wear.
Underwire bras. Full support or underwire bras help to shape and emphasise smaller busts, but they provide a far more essential role in supporting larger cup sizes. These are best worn everyday for larger busts and for shaping smaller busts. These are available padded or unpadded.
Push up bras. The Wonderbra began a revolution for smaller busted women and for those wanting to boost sagging boobs. It, and similar bras, lift breasts while adding shape and volume through extra padding. There are some more innovative versions around that use silicone inserts or water sacks to boost cleavages even further. They create a full cleavage and offer lots of support – ideal for evenings out. However, for everyday wear they can prove uncomfortable, especially before periods, when breasts can be tender, so keep them for evenings out.
Plus-size bras. For big-busted women, no ordinary bra provides enough support for everyday wear. These were once ugly old things looking like hammocks, but now, thanks to online retailers such as Fantasie, Freya, Goddess and Bravissimo, along with Marks & Spencer and La Senza, plus-size bras are prettier, sexier and more functional than ever. In plus-size bras you will find all styles for all functions, so make sure you are still wearing the right bra for the right occasion.
Sports bras. These are probably the least flattering and sexy in the bra family, but they are the most important one for active women. They offer full support, stopping the breasts from jiggling around during strenuous activity. The tissue in your breasts is delicate and any activity can cause the ligaments to slowly but permanently stretch, causing saggy boobs. This damage is more likely to occur in large busts, but small busts can sag almost as easily.
Maternity and nursing bras. Experts advise that you avoid underwired bras during pregnancy and breastfeeding as they can inhibit the developing milk ducts and cause breast pain. Maternity bras come in medium support for small busted women to extra supportive for larger busted women. You may need to go up a cup size or two, so try on maternity bras for size in-store or get measured before looking online.
If you are planning to breastfeed, you should buy a nursing bra close to your due date or shortly after your baby arrives because your breasts will grow larger toward the end of your pregnancy and when your milk comes in. Choose a nursing bra made of 100 per cent breathable cotton, as synthetic fabrics trap moisture and encourage bacterial growth and soreness.
Picture caption: Triumph’s Miss Tiffant bra and hipster – underwired with padding to create the perfect rounded shape in cup sizes A to D.
Credit: Triumph International.
MyVillage 03rd April
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