THE
BRA BOOK
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INTRODUCTION 8 out of 10 women are wearing the wrong bra and don’t even know it! Shocking, because women have been wearing bras for centuries. From boosting confidence to a slimmer appearance, there’s a lot the right bra can do. Carefully engineered, sometimes with nearly 40 components, a bra is designed to help, support and lift women physically and emotionally. This book is a guide and an encyclopedia that will empower women to change their lives by uncovering the mysteries of the bra.
“You need to rise up and get a proper bra fitting!” - Oprah Winfrey, 2005, The Bra Revolution
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back to basics
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4 BACK TO BASICS
SIGNS OF A WRONG BRA 1.You always wear your bra on the tightest hook.If your bra
is too loose when worn on the first hook, it means the band has worn out. What you should do: Throw out that old bra and go down a band size!
2.Your bra straps are too tight on your shoulders. It is the band that is designed to do most of the lifting. However, if your straps cut into your shoulders, it’s a sign that they are trying to support too much. This strains your shoulders, which often leads to aches and pains.What you should do: First check the fit of the band by dropping the straps. If the band continues to hold you up, it’s a good fit. Or else go down a band size. Smaller the band size, more the support, and less strain on the shoulders.In fact, the band offers 80% of support, while the cup only does 20% of the lifting.
3.You have spillage from the top of your bra. A properly
fitted bra should cover the entire breast and there should be no overflowing.What you should do: As soon as you spot spillage, you should go up a cup size.
4.Your bra has wrinkles. Wrinkling on the cups and extra fabric not only means the bra is a bad fit but also makes garments look unappealing. What you should do: Go down a cup size. Wrinkling occurs when the cups are too big for you.
6 BACK TO BASICS
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5.You notice bulges on the sides of your bra. A good bra
holds all of your breast tissue and there should be no bulging on the sides. What you should do: Go down a band size. Your cups are currently compressing your breasts, leading to bulges on the sides. It is possible the wire may not be the right shape for you, so try a different brand.
6.Fabric between the cups doesn’t sit flat against your
chest.The fabric connecting the cups of your bra is called the ‘centre front’. In an ill-fitted bra, this portion is pushed forward and away from your chest wall. What you should do: Move up a cup size and let your bra give you the support you deserve!
7.Back of the bra is riding up.
When the weight of the breasts is too large for the bra, it tends to ride up in the back. What should you do: Go down a band size. Smaller the band size, more the support. You might also be pulling the straps too tight to achieve preferred lift. Remember, the band provides the lift, not the straps.
8. Bra moves when arms are raised. In poorly fitted bras,
the band refuses to stay in place. This defeats the purpose of wearing a bra, as you are getting little or not support. What should you do: Go down a band size and go up a cup size. You could also try loosening the straps.
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1935 Cleavage makes a comeback. Bra companies begin to introduce cups ranging from A to D.