10 Tips to Check Out Before Buying a Bra

We know how important a bra is in your daily life. No matter how good the day goes, if your bra strap keeps slipping or the wires keep poking, it is enough to spoil your mood and leave you feeling irritated for the whole day. But don’t worry, this nightmare can be easily avoided by one simple step, “buy the right bra”. Seems difficult? Well, it isn’t anymore, now that you have this checklist from us. So let’s go get you the perfect bra.

1. Right fit

Jumping right into it, the most important thing in a bra is the fit. You can never find the right fit if your don’t know your size. It is advised that you get your bra size checked every 6 months. Once you know your perfect bra size you need to cross-check if it fits you right. Which means, if it has underwired it should rest flat against your chest and not away. The cups should give your breasts enough room to breathe while keeping them in place. Make sure the straps are neither too loose nor too tight, ideally you should be able to pass 2 fingers from under your shoulder straps and back strap. Once you are through with that, it’s time to move ahead.

2. Fabric

It is important to choose the right fabric for your bras. Different types of bras need to of different fabrics for different occasions. For instance, you would need a moisture-wicking fabric for your sports bra while for a bridal one you could go for delicate fabrics like lace or satin. An everyday use bra should be made of a lighter and comfortable material like cotton while to achieve a seamless finish you should look for crease-free polyamide fabric. So pick a fabric based on your usage and the occasion.

3. Shade

Coming to the colour, you don’t have to go overboard with the shades. Most women are in the dilemma of what colours they should go for and end up buying shades that they can rarely wear. The best thing to do in such a situation is to go for basic colours like white, black, and nude. These are colours help you build a foundation to your bra collection and can be paired with any outfit. If you already have your basic bras in place then you can pick coloured bras to match your wardrobe palette.

4. Hooks

Always make sure that your bra hooks are of good quality material and are stitched into the band well. Keep an eye out for loose threading near the hooks as this may result in the hooks falling off and will get you stuck in a tight spot. Double-check the hooks for strength and durability by moving around and stretching a little.

5. Band size

Now no matter how good the cups look from the front, but if the band is not long and strong enough to go around your bust and leaves tight red marks on your skin, let me tell you, ladies, it’s a clear example of how looks are not everything. The band must be stretchable and must be made of a soft material to prevent harsh rubbing against the skin which may lead to rashes and itching. Check to make sure that the band size is the right fit your bust and you will save yourself the trouble of constant redness and irritation. If you are a heavy busted woman, it’s advisable to pick bras that have broader straps for extra support.

6. Straps

It’s important to remember those who hold you up when you need it the most, no I’m not preaching, I’m talking about your bra straps. Chances are whenever you remove your bra after a long day, you find a good set of prints on both your shoulders because of your bra straps digging into them or you just spent your whole day pulling your strap back to your shoulders. To stop this from ruining your day, adjust your bra straps before trying it on.

7. Breast and Bra Type

You know it’s important to go by the right cup size for your breasts, don’t you? Thank God! Yet, there is one thing many fail to understand and that is that not all bra types are for all breast types. A push-up bra is not required if you have a big bust and a minimizer bra will be of no use to a small breasted woman. So surf the wide ocean of the internet available or ask someone who knows about bras to choose the right type of bra for yourself. 

8. Check for reviews

Online shopping is a trend now. You can buy your favourite products by just one click while you sit on your couch and sip coffee, then why move out? But the comforts have their own restrictions, you don’t get to see your product before you buy it, in real at least, and it’s a bummer when you don’t get what you expected to. But thank God for reviews! Check reviews of previous buyers before you buy your bra online. This way, you know what you are going for. You can also try Clovia’s bestselling bras  to start with. 

9. The bounce test

This is a good chance to wake up the kid in you, I’m kid(ding) [pun intended]. So all you gotta do is once you wear your bra, jump! Yup, exactly what you think, jump to see if your movement doesn’t look too embarrassing. This is something you should try for the bras you plan to wear to show, like at a beach and also for your sports bras as workouts usually require a lot of movement. The bounce test helps you identify it there could be chances of side or top spillage.

10.  Maintenance

Finally, see how our bra has to be maintained. Check how it must be washed and dried. Whether you need hot or cold water and whether it should be hung or laid to dry. If you’re looking for an everyday bra avoid buying bras that have delicate lace detailing or embellishments which might require special attention and washing instructions. High-maintenance bras are good for occasional wear like bralettes for parties or lacy ones for your bridal collection or date nights.

Hope we’ve cleared all the possible doubts you could have about shopping a bra. We are sure if you follow these 10 tips you’ll find your perfect bra-mate in no time. So get set go on your shopping spree and thank us later!