10 Bra Mistakes You're Probably Making (And How To Fix Them)

10 Bra Mistakes U're Probably making                (And How To Fix Them)         

Here are the 10 bra mistakes you're most likely making:

1. Choosing a bra by cup size.

So we shouldn't be choosing bras based on cup size? Nope, says Smith -- instead, start with the numerical band size. "Cup sizes are directly related to a band size," she told us. "So for somebody to say, 'Oh, I'm a D cup' is irrelevant unless you know what band size it's correlated with." Cup sizes are not standard, meaning you may be a D with one band size but a E with another size band. A 32D bra is a cup size smaller than a 34D, for example. Letting go of whatever cup size you think you are will allow you to explore and find the best-fitting bra for you. Which leads us to...

2. Wearing a bra that's too small.

Many women's identities are tied up in their cup sizes, Bobbie says, making them resistant to go up a cup size in order to go down a band size. But you may be wearing a 36C when your ribcage measurement is a 32... which would require you to buy a bra that's a 32E. "A lot of women I fit, I bring them down to a smaller back band size and and suddenly their cup sounds huge," says Bobbie, "and they think that it's a character flaw." Own that larger cup size -- it means your bra will actually fit you better.

3. Fastening your bra on the tightest hooks.

When measuring your band size, you should go according to the outermost set of hooks, not the innermost. "A bra is going to stretch about three inches in its lifetime," says Bobbie, and when it does, "that's when you go to the next set of hooks." Buy a bra that fits snugly on the last set of hooks, and only later should you need to use the tighter ones.

4. Letting the band ride up on your back.

"The back band should never be higher than the underwire," says Bobbie. If it does, it doesn't fit you properly.

5. Insisting on a contour-style bra instead of a softer seamed, lined bra.

Contour bras are the molded ones, the kind that keep their shape even when they're in your drawer (and that you usually find at Victoria's Secret). Seamed bras are the soft ones with floppy fabric cups that mold to the shape of your breast. Which one is right for you, says Bobbie, depends on the texture of your boobs. "If your breasts are firm and they sit up high on their own," Bobbie recommends, "then you can get away with the push-up bras and the contour style." But if, like most women, your breasts are softer and not naturally perky, "they're going to settle at the bottom of the contour cup and you'll going to have space at the top of the strap."

Why does this happen? "A breast is naturally cone-shaped, not round," Bobbie explains, "so when you wear a contour with its own shape, you're trying to fit soft tissue into that shape." That's when you get spillage or "quadra-boob." The seams of a seamed bra, on the other hand, function like the support beams of a house, giving structure and shape to the breast. They work with your breasts to mold to them, instead of your breasts having to fit into a pre-determined shape.

6. Thinking you can wear one bra with every type of outfit.

Yeah, you just can't. Certain dresses are going to require a more perky shape, while some shirts might look better if your breasts sit lower and flatter. Try different bras for each item of clothing you have to ensure you're pairing your outfit with the best bra possible.

7. Wearing a bra two days in a row.

You may have that one bra you love, but bras shouldn't be worn two days in a row. "Letting a bra rest at least one day in between wear will help the elastic regain its strength," Bobbie tell us. "When you’re wearing it two days in a row, it's like pulling on a muscle -- it's going to strain it and it won't be able to snap back." One thing that helps keep that elastic fresh? "Washing it in cold water helps it, because the cold water shocks it." Oh, and while you're at it...

8. Washing your bras with Woolite.

Your mother might have given you that first bottle of Woolite for your delicates, but Bobbie revealed to us that Woolite is actually terrible for bras: "It was actually designed to soften wool, so you shouldn't use that on elastic, because you want the elastic to stay firm." That actually makes a lot of sense.

9. Keeping a bra for too long.

"When worn correctly and taken care of correctly, a bra is going to last you about eight months," Bobbie broke it to us. "After that, the band is stretched out, so it’s not going to support you anymore." That’s why you should have six to seven bras in your wardrobe so you can rotate them, making them last longer.

10. Settling for a bra that doesn't fit.

"Women just accept the fact that bras just aren't going to fit," lamented Bobbie. Guilty as charged -- we get aggravated and tired of bra shopping and simply settle for a a bra that kinda, sorta fits instead of a bra that fits perfectly.

But now that we know exactly what we're doing wrong, we can get reacquainted with the measuring tape and get back out on the bra buying circuit. For a peek into what a custom bra fitting experience is like.

To Pick the Right Bra And How To Put on a Bra ....

How to Put on a Bra

                      

                    Pick the Right Bra   Put on a Bra

You may think that bras are a necessary evil -- an uncomfortable undergarment that helps support your breasts while making you feel trapped or itchy. But if you are wearing the right bra size and learn how to put on a bra in a way that actually makes your breasts fill the cups, you'll not only feel much more comfortable, but your breasts will also look their best. If you want to know how to put on a bra the right way, just follow these steps.

EditMethod 1 of 2: Pick the Right Bra

1. 
   1
   Look out for obvious signs that your bra is the wrong size. The majority of women are wearing the wrong sized bra -- believe it or not. If your bra isn't the right size, then you will have trouble putting it on because it won't fit your dimensions correctly. Here are some easy signs that say that you're wearing the wrong bra:^[1]
   • If your breasts spill out of the top of the bra
   • If the straps of the bra cut into you
   • If the band of the bra cuts into you
   • If the bra feels incredibly tight, like you can't breathe in it
   • If the bra is so loose that the straps fall down no matter how much you adjust them
   • If you can comfortably fit two fingers between your side and the band of the bra
   
   
2. 
   2
   Get fitted professionally. Though you may be shy about going to a department store to get fitted for the correct bra size, this is the easiest way to find out the size of the bra you should be wearing. Don't be shy -- just walk into a Victoria's Secret or another specialty lingerie store and ask to get fitted. You can go to the back of the store so you have less of an audience if this makes you feel better.
   • The measuring tape that the fitter uses will be accurate.
3. 
   3
   Trust the band size. You may think that the band size you've been told to use is too tight, but the bra should fit a bit snugly. If you bump yourself up a size, then your breasts won't fit the cups of your bra correctly. You may not think so, but there's a big difference between a 34B and a 36B, so trust your instincts.
4. 
   4
   Don't be stubborn. You may have thought that you were a 36C all of your life, only to be told that you're really a 34D. Don't think, "This can't be right" -- instead, try wearing a bra in the correct size and see how much better you feel. If you really aren't sure about the results of the fitting, get a second opinion from another professional. But you must come to terms with your correct bra size, even if it means you haven't been wearing the right bra all of your life.
5. 
   5
   Measure your size once a year or so. You should get measured at least once a year to make sure that you're wearing the right bra size. There are a variety of reasons for why the size of your breasts can change, whether it's because your body is still growing, because you've experienced significant weight loss or gain, or if you're pregnant. This is a good habit to keep up if you want to wear the right bra and be able to put it on correctly.

EditMethod 2 of 2: Put on a Bra

1. 
   1
   Put your arms through the armholes. To put on a traditional bra, the first thing you should do is to place your arms through the armholes. A traditional bra will have two straps that attach the bra cups to the back of the bra and run up and over your shoulder to the back.
2. 
   2
   Clasp the bra. Most bras have clasps in the back that connect the right side of the bra to the left. These clasps will typically have either two or three hooks on one side that will connect with two or three loops on the other side. Your goal is to get all of the hooks into the loops. Many bras have two or three settings of tightness, so you can adjust the bra a bit to make it tighter or looser around your body.
   • To make it tighter, place the hooks into the loops furthest away from them, and to make it looser, place the hooks into the loops closest to them.
   • Some bras have a clasp around the front or side instead of the back. The clasp in the front typically just has one setting, so it's easy to clasp it. The clasp on the side can also have multiple settings which you can adjust just as you would adjust the clasps on the back.
   • Some women have trouble hooking the bra in the back and like to clasp it before they put on the straps. To do this, place the bra backwards over your breasts, clasp it, move it around to its proper position in the back, and then place your arms through the arm holes.
3. 
   3
   Adjust the straps. Once you've put your hands through the loops of the bra and clasped it, you'll need to adjust the straps so they fit perfectly over your shoulders instead of being too loose or too tight. If they're too loose, they can fall down off your shoulders, all the way to your elbows, and if they're too tight, then you'll feel uncomfortable and the bra cups will be pulled up too high. Here's how to adjust the straps on your bra.^[2]
   • Figure out if the straps are too loose or too tight. If they're too tight, then you'll feel constricted near the straps, and may even feel them digging into the skin of your shoulders. If they're too loose, then they won't stay comfortably on your shoulders and will be hanging off them a bit.
   • Find the clasps. The clasps are the plastic things on the back of the bra -- each strap will have one.
   • If the bra is too loose, simply pull down on the clasp so it moves closer to the back of the bra and then pull up the extra strap that will hang loose to straighten out the straps. Pull down both clasps to an equal length.
   • If the bra is too loose, then pull up the clasp from the bottom, moving it up, toward the front of your bra. You'll need to pull down on the straps while moving up the clasps.
   • If you see that you need to adjust the clasps significantly, it may be easier to unclasp and take off the bra to do this, so you can see what you're doing more easily.
4. 
   4
   Feel the bra to make sure it's positioned correctly. Once you've put on the bra and adjusted the straps, you should just gently pull at the straps and the sides and back of the bra to make sure that it fits reasonably well. After this, you can begin to make sure that your breasts fill the cups, which is the trickiest part of putting on a bra. Check the straps and band of the bra to make sure that nothing is twisted.
5. 
   5
   Bend down. If you're not already standing, stand up and bend down so that you lower your back about two feet, towards the floor. This will help you move your breasts in the right direction.
6. 
   6
   Move your breasts into the cups. First, feel the sides of your breasts for any additional tissue that is hanging off the sides of each breast, below your armpit. If you're in front of a mirror, you may be able to see this extra tissue. Feel for this tissue with the opposite hand from each breast and then move it in, so that it fills the side of the cup. Then, use the same hand to lift up the breast, so that you've moved the sides of the breast in, and then up.^[3]
   • Repeat the same process with your other hand and other breast. The sides of your breasts should have been gently eased into the sides of each cup and then lifted outwards.
   • When you've adjusted your breasts, you can stand straight up again.
   • Ideally, the underwire of your bra should be positioned right along the bottom of your breasts, without leaving any extra space for them to hang down. Your breasts should be perky and moving upwards, not hanging down below the underwire.
7. 
   7
   Smooth down your breasts. You may see a bit of a "muffin top" appear above each of your cups, which is where your breasts may look a bit like they're popping out of your bra. That's perfectly natural and is what should happen after you've tried to adjust your breasts to fit their cups. Now, take two fingers from one hand, and use them to smooth down your breasts in a straight line just above the cups of the bra until you've pushed your breasts down a bit, making them fit into your bra.

Art of Choosing the Right Lingerie

How to choose your bridal lingerie

Top tips for picking the perfect pieces

We asked the expert team to share their top tips for picking your bridal lingerie. Read on to discover the basic mistake we all make, how you can match your underwear to your wedding dress and the one piece every bride should pack in her honeymoon suitcase.

First things first

As soon as you have bought your dress you should bring it to a fitting so that your fitter can take into account any delicate materials, low backs and differing necklines and advise on the perfect solution for you. Brides often lose weight in the run-up to a wedding, so we would definitely advise an initial fitting, usually followed with a second just before your final wedding dress fitting. We have an alterations department on-hand for any last minute tweaks - alternatively, look out for local lingerie seamstresses that come with a recommendation if you need adjustments made before the big day.

What lingerie should brides choose to stay comfortable during their big day?

Bridal underwear is as important as the gown itself, ensuring you feel exquisite yet sexy and, most importantly, comfortable and well-supported. A lot of brides come for fittings at Rigby & Peller so that our lingerie stylists can fit them in the correct size to make sure they are looking their best on the big day. We normally recommend seam-free underwear to give a smooth silhouette. You need to be careful if you choose a lacy set or an embroidered set as they may show through. Many brides like to choose a second set of underwear for their wedding night, so they can opt for controlwear for the day and something sexier for the night!

The basic lingerie mistakes we all make...

The most common error women make is wearing a bra too small in the cup and too big in the back. You should feel comfortable in your bra all day, every day. This will increase your confidence because you know that you are wearing a bra which not only fits perfectly, but also beautifully enhances your shape and figure.

Different styles
Depending on the style of your dress we would recommend...

- A basque is very flattering because they uplift and hold in at the same time. However, this solution won’t work under a corseted dress.

- If your dress has straps we would always recommend going for a bra with straps as this will give you the most support and flattering silhouette.  

- For strapless dresses, we offer multi-way bras - they're a wardrobe essential as you can wear them as a regular strapless bra, with one strap or as a halterneck. These are great for your honeymoon, too!

 we have styles to suit every neckline, as well as the shape and construction of your wedding dress.

It doesn't have to be white

The colour of your lingerie depends on your dress. Cream or ivory lingerie is really special; nude lingerie is also really popular with brides-to-be as white usually shows through most fabrics.

The perfect honeymoon lingerie...

For your honeymoon, we would definitely recommend being a little more adventurous with your lingerie sets -  matching underwear always makes you feel a million dollars! Silky nightwear is luxurious and sexy, and is also practical for packing as it's so compact.

Most importantly, make time to have a swimwear fitting. We know swimwear shopping can be a daunting task but well chosen pieces will make you look and feel great. Ensuring you have the right style, size, colour and selecting a well-placed print or decoration will flatter and slim your figure by enhancing your best features. Pick underwiring or ruffles to enhance your bust, control panels to cinch in your waist and high-legs or tie-sides to lengthen your legs

 Lingerie Pieces to Drive Men Crazy

It may sound a little too far-fetched, but lingerie does determine how a woman feels about herself — comfy, hot or just commonplace. Picking the right style and size that complements your mood and accentuates your curves can make all the difference in that case. The world of lingerie is indeed baffling with plethora of options to choose from. And outlandish names like “baby doll nightie” or “garter belts” don’t make the task any easier. So, before you jump into the well, ensure you know its profundity. Lingerie incorporates everything from demure to decorous, from radical to racy, from feminine to man-friendly and much more. For woman, the benefits of wearing lingerie are infinite. Wearing the apt lingerie under your attire can make you feel desirable and undeniably gorgeous. However, when it comes to buying the right lingerie, most women just don’t know what to buy and how. Do remember that lingerie is not only about frills and laces, but also comfort. Irrespective of whether it is a simple thong or a complete costume, lingerie must make you feel “good” from within. If your drawer lacks some beautiful lingerie, then it is time to explore more about its types and get shopping.
Nothing turns men on quite like lingerie does. The less it looks like normal, functional underwear, the better. Men like to see women in swatches of lace and satin that would never fit comfortably under clothing. Here are some types of lingerie that every woman should try if she wants to drive her man crazy. 

Thongs and G-String Panties

If you want to expose your perfect shaped bottom, then thongs and G-strings are the perfect lingerie for you. They cover the front and leave the cheeks of your buttocks revealed with a thin, stretchable strip of fabric passing through them. Thongs are further classified as G-string, T-string, V-string, and C-string. While a G-string just has an elastic string at the back, a T-string gives the appearance of the letter ‘T’ at the back and a V-string separates into two strings to connect both the strings fastening the sides. A C-string, on the other hand, does not have a band to cover the sides and is shaped like a ‘C’ to cover the essentials with a flexible internal frame.Thongs are lingerie staples. It is difficult to believe that thongs only went mainstream 10 or 15 years ago; traditional briefs and bikini panties could not be worn under hip-jeans. Even though thongs are now commonplace, men are just as excited by them as they ever were. This does not mean that one should stick with boring cotton thongs all the time. Red or black thongs with sheer panels rank high on every man’s list of favorites.

Bustier

A sexy strapless bra that goes all the way to the waist with garter straps attached, a bustier pushes up the bust by tightening against the midriff. A bustier is made of silk or any other silky material. It can be worn with or without a panty. The primary role of a bustier is to enhance your breast line by giving them a fuller look and creating more cleavage.

Corsets

Almost similar to bustier, corsets offer a stronger and tighter grip and is laced and hooked at the back. The boning material supports the bust and gives the wearer an hourglass appearance. A corset can be tied loosely for a slinky effect or worn as a regular top. It’s fastened using a lace or hook, though in some cases, garter straps are attached to the bottom for support and to enhance its appeal.Corsets look great on their own or as part of more elaborate costumes. They pull waists in, making them look smaller and accentuating bustlines. Putting on a corset instantly creates an exaggerated feminine figure. The sexiest corsets are made out of transparent lace or gauze. Some corsets extend all the way upward like a bathing suit, while others only cover the area between the hips and the bottom of the ribcage. A corset with a ribbon or hook closure has a tactile element, since the man has to do the work of unfastening it.

Chemise

Chemise is one of the simplest pieces of lingerie to be worn. It is a short gown with a straight cut that falls just above the knees. It fits tightly to the body and has thin, spaghetti-like adjustable straps. Generally made with silky fabrics, chemises fall naturally around your body giving you a sexy, refined look.  

Camisole

A camisole is a short, loose-fitting sleeveless top that reaches the waist. It has thin spaghetti straps that go over the shoulder. Camisoles can be teamed up with a pair of matching panties or worn like a slip underneath a woolen sweater or open jacket.

Boy Shorts

Boy shorts are a good choice for women who are uncomfortable wearing thongs. They are kicky and a bit racy despite providing a decent amount of coverage. Women can be casual while wearing boy shorts. Wearing one’s hair down and keeping makeup minimal make a woman look great without any effort. Men love seeing women in feminized versions of male clothing. Boy shorts come in a variety of fabrics and colors. This is one of the few styles of sexy lingerie that does not look awkward in cute colors and patterns. The less womanly the shorts are, the cuter they are. This is the best lingerie choice for sporty women whose boyfriends and husbands love that side of them. It is counterproductive to go against one’s personality and natural inclinations by donning lingerie that is out of character. It is impossible to look and feel sexy in lingerie that does not fit one’s personal style. Boy shorts are perfect for low-key women.

Teddies

A teddy is a bodysuit that usually reveals skin in surprising places. Some teddies look like the edgy one-piece bathing suits that have recently become popular. They look like bikinis from the back, but the top and bottom pieces have a connecting feature in the front. Sometimes they have plunging v-necks that go down to the navel. Many are completely sheer or are little more than complicated arrangements of crisscrossed ribbons. The sex appeal of a teddy lies mostly in how form-fitting it is, so a demure lady could wear one that covers everything and still look sexy   .

Babydoll Nightgowns(prefer especially to wives)

A two-piece set comprising of a robe or loose billowy top with a matching bottom is termed as a baby doll. The top, generally, is a short gown, with built-in bra-like cups, with a loose flowing skirt. This lingerie can be found in different fabrics, such as silk, satin, nylon or any sheer material, depending upon your liking and preference. A baby doll exposes the entire legs, while some styles even emphasize on exposing the breasts. Though they have a skirt, they are matched with panties, since they are short enough to expose the bottomand also both comfortable and sexy. They make women feel flirtatious while flowing loosely around the body. Not every woman wants to show off every curve of her body, even to her significant other. The sexiest nighties fasten only at the neckline and swing open below that. Another style looks like a bra with a short skirt attached to it. They are available in fabrics of varied transparency. All one has to do is slip one of these nighties on over a thong or a basic pair of underwear to achieve a romantic, girly look.

Nightgown

A nightgown or a nightie is one of the most popular forms of lingerie. Generally worn for comfort, a nightgown comes in a wide variety of fabrics and types ranging from sleeves, sleeveless, heights for neckline, backless, and fabrics like silk, satin and nylon. There is also a variation in the size ranging from hip-length to knee-length to all the way to the floor like a negligee.

Garter Belt

The garter belt is worn directly on the skin around the waist. You can attach stockings or high-thighs to the belt with 4 to 8 straps dangling from this.

For a beginner, an entry into the world of lingerie is sure to be exciting. For an expert, it is something which must be explored incessantly. So, get ready to light up the next event with your new lingerie!

Every woman looks sexy and confident in the right style of lingerie. With a little experimentation, she can discover the kind of lingerie that her man likes the most....

ADDING A SEAM TO THE LOWER CUP.....

ONE: For a second seam in the lower cup, mark a line going from your bust point down to the bottom seam line.

It doesn’t matter where the line ends at the bottom so feel free to experiment! In this example, I’m dividing the lower cup into two relatively equal pieces, which will result in a seam that runs perpendicular to the main seam.

TWO: Cut the pattern piece along the lines and trace your two new pieces. Draw in a smooth, even curve connecting the top and bottom seamlines. The curve should be fairly subtle.

THREE: That’s it–your new pieces! Don’t forget to walk the seamlines and add 1/4″ allowances to the new seam.

VERTICAL SEAM ALTERATION

For this alteration, first mark where you want your seam to start and end. A vertical seam doesn’t have to be straight up and down–you could slant inwards or outwards. I found my starting points by marking these positions on a previous bra. It just so happens that my pattern–Pin-up Girls Classic–has a notch right at the center bottom, which is usually where a straight vertical seam starts.

ONE: Mark the bust point of your pattern.

TWO: On both pieces, mark in lines on the top and bottom cups, going from the desired starting point of your new seam to the bust point. I rotated the bottom cup in this example so I could draw a straight line down the two.

THREE: Split these pieces apart on the lines. You should now have four pieces total.

FOUR: Line up the top and bottom pieces along the sides until the seamline along the sides of the cup form smooth curves.

The cross-cup seamlines will match each other for a short distance, but will not come together at the bust point. Trace off the these new inner and outer pieces.

FIVE: Depending on your pattern style and where the apex is, one side may have smaller “dart” than the other. In this case, the outer cup has the smaller dart, so draw your new seam line on this side first. Draw in a smooth curve connecting the two upper and lower pieces close to the bust point.

On the inner cup, draw another curve of equal length. Because the “dart” on this side is so wide, the curve will not go around the apex. (You need to take some out from that “dart”, if that makes sense!) You can use a measuring tape to find the right curve length.

ETA: The flatter these curves, the less length (and volume) the cup will have. In your fitting, experiment with them to find the shape you like. If you’d like to pull things in more, you can experiment with making the inner curve slightly flatter than the outer curve–a good tool to use in shaping!

SIX: Smooth out all the new seam lines, mark your bust point notch, and add seam allowances.

In the above illustration I’m also smoothing off that strap extension from my pattern, because I’m not going to use a fabric strap.

There ya go–a totally new cup!

—

I hope these are clear, so let me know if you have any questions!

Have a beautiful weekend, all. And get ready to start the engines–on Monday we’ll finally get to sewing and I’ll start with some cutting and layout tips. See you then!

                                                                                                                        sbans.............