The Belle Forme 8-Step Bra Fitting Guide
Step 1: BAND
The support of the bra should actually come from the band, not the shoulder straps! A correctly sized band should fit parallel to the floor or slightly lower in the back when you look to your side in the mirror. When you purchase a new bra, it should fit best when it is on its loosest hook. This allows you to tighten the bra as it stretches with wear and washing.
Signs that your bra’s band is too big would be your breasts falling out from the bottom of the bra or the bra back riding-up frequently.
FIT FUNCTION: The primary support should come from the band, not from the straps. Choosing the correctly sized band and the band width are essential for achieving your ideal support. The band is the foundation on which you build upon in achieving your Perfect Fit.
Step 2: CUPS
Your bra cups should be big enough so as no fatty tissue should be spilling out of the top or bottom of your cups or bottom of the band. In addition to the cup size, you must consider the cup shape as well. Correct cup size but wrong cup shape will not give you the Perfect Fit. Note: We are not referring to the Balconette or Push-up Bra that accentuates your actual breasts, but rather the fatty tissue that may be incorrectly squeezed and mistaken for proper fit.
FIT FUNCTION: The correct cup size and shape are critical in achieving the Perfect Fit. Support alone is not enough, you must also have control. For shaping purposes (as in our Classic Fit Bras), the cup is even more critical in containing all the collected fatty tissue in the correct position.
Step 3: STRAPS
Your straps must lay flat and not dig into your shoulder. Remember, the primary support comes from the band, not the straps. The straps should be adjusted to where 2 fingers can fit vertically between the strap and your shoulder’s highest point, so there should be some play.
FIT FUNCTION: If the shoulder straps work extra hard to give you the adequate support, you may need to consider trying a band size smaller.
Step 4: UNDERWIRE
Your Bra's underwire should fit comfortably over (not above or below) your breasts' natural crease line. The underwire curvature should not stick out and potentially poke you under your arm pit (that indicates a too large cup size and/or incorrect bra for your body type). If the wires bend away from your chest in the center, this usually means your cup size is too small.
FIT FUNCTION: Many women don't like wired bras saying they are not comfortable. However, correctly chosen and placed wired bras give more support and lift to various breasts’ sizes, without sacrificing comfort.
Step 5: CENTER PANEL
The center of the bra should rest flat against your breastbone (with the exception if you have naturally touching breasts). If the bra's center panel doesn't sit flat against your breastbone, this could be a sign that your are wearing a too small cup bra.
FIT FUNCTION: If the bra's center panel doesn't sit flat against your breastbone, this could be a sign that your cup size is too small. Depending on how much lift you desire, you can select from the different types of bra frames. The higher bra center will generally give you more coverage and full support. A lower bra center creates more cleavage and sexier neckline.
Step 6: SIDE BULGE
If after you fasten yourself into the right size band/cup bra you still notice tissue bulging on the side then you are in the wrong style bra for your body type. Determining the correct bra style for your body type is essential. While for certain body types completely eliminating the side bulge could prove difficult, it can certainly be minimized. Depending on preference, both Classic and Modern Fit bras offer wide side panels that, once all the above mentioned steps are followed, should greatly help in reducing or eliminating the side bulge.
FIT FUNCTION: The important thing in eliminating the side bulge is NOT to sacrifice the previous 5-Steps above just so you can eliminate the bulge. The function of this fitting step (which may not apply to all) is to eliminate the bulge and still achieve the other fitting functions mentioned above.
Step 7: APEX ORIENTATION
All breasts basically point in one of three orientations. This is called the Apex (Nipple) Orientation. The 3 orientations (directions) are: forward, downward and outward. There is no one orientation that is more common than the others. All three directions are very common. When choosing the bra that will give you the Perfect Fit, you should determine first what Apex Orientation you are.
Step 8: DIFFERING CUP SIZES
All breasts are asymmetrical and rarely are the left and right breast the exact same size. Some individuals will have this condition more prominent than others. Minimizing the appearance of this condition requires a mix of steps depending on the particular body type and cup size. From using the right size, shape and number of cookies, to matching your body type with the correct bra type, along with proper fitting techniques, will result in a comfortable and uniform look and fit. Belle Forme fitters are specialized in this field.