Finding the perfect bra size is notoriously difficult. Victoria’s Secret was reminded of that on Sunday when an awkward mistake at its annual fashion show sparked widespread ridicule.
The lingerie giant, which has made billions selling £40 bras, faced criticism after Kylie Jenner appeared on the runway wearing a £37million diamond-encrusted bra that social media users claimed “didn’t even fit”.
According to Jené Luciani Sena, an expert from US-based intimates brand Shapermint and author of The Bra Book, one of the most common shopping errors is choosing a bra without considering breast shape or how widely the breasts sit.
Jené and Milly Major, senior design manager at UK lingerie brand Curvy Kate, have outlined the bra mistakes almost every woman makes at least once — from fastening a bra at the front to purchasing one that is comfortable only on its tightest hook.
Other common pitfalls include relying on the same one or two bras for every occasion and becoming overly concerned about visible panty lines, or VPL.
The good news is that each problem has a straightforward solution. Making a few adjustments can improve both the fit and the lifespan of your bras, helping you avoid replacing undergarments that have become misshapen.
Kylie Jenner wearing Victoria’s Secret’s £37million Fantasy Bra
1. Stop: Assuming the same bra size will fit in every shop or brand
Knowing your bra size does not guarantee that the same label will fit across every brand. Treating it as a universal measurement is one of the most common mistakes shoppers make.
Jené said: “Sizing can vary between manufacturers and even between styles within the same brand, so a 34D in one bra might not fit the same way in another. Instead, use your size as a guideline and be open to trying different options.”
She advises judging a bra by how it fits your body, rather than relying solely on the number and letter on the label. Sizing can also differ between American and European brands.
“Wireless bras can be a great option if you’re unsure, as they accommodate a range of sizes and don’t need to hit specific fit points — such as the centre gore sitting between your breasts — to fit properly,” she said.
2. Stop: Buying a new bra that is comfortable only on the tightest hook
It may seem logical to fasten a new bra on its tightest hook for the most secure fit, but that approach can shorten its useful life.
Bras naturally stretch through regular wear and washing. Starting on the tightest setting leaves no room to tighten the band later, once the fabric begins to lose its recovery.
“Instead, a new bra should generally fit securely and comfortably on the loosest hook, as this allows you to move to a tighter hook over time as the band stretches,” Jené explained.
3. Stop: Tightening the straps when your bra begins to lose support
“If your bra starts to feel loose or your breasts aren’t as supported as they once were, your instinct might be to tighten the shoulder straps all the way,” Jené said.
However, the band provides around 90 per cent of a bra’s support, meaning tighter straps cannot make up for a stretched-out band. Over-tightening them may also cause the straps to dig painfully into your shoulders.
Instead, check whether the band is riding up your back or feels loose. If it no longer sits securely, the bra may need replacing rather than further adjustments to the straps.
She also recommended tightening the straps every day, adding: ‘An easy mistake women make is that they forget to tighten the straps after washing their bras or when they’re going on a second day of wear. This can lead to it unknowingly feeling loose.’
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Before you wear a freshly washed bra, tighten the straps, as this little trick also instantly fixes gaping in the cups, Jene said.
4. Stop: Choosing a bra without considering how your breasts are positioned or their shape.
Breast shape isn’t just about size. How far apart your breasts sit, their fullness and projection, volume distribution, and where the breast tissue or root of the breast begins can all affect which bra works best for you.
‘A style designed to bring the breasts towards the centre may not feel comfortable or provide the shape you want if your breasts naturally sit further apart,’ she explained.
Jene recommends trying different cup shapes and centre-gore designs to find one that sits comfortably and supports your natural shape.
5. Stop: Assuming a sports bra should feel tight.
Sports bras are designed for different activities, and the level of support you need for yoga isn’t necessarily the same as for running.
‘Choosing a bra simply because it feels tight can be just as unhelpful as choosing one that doesn’t provide enough support,’ Jene said. ‘Excessive compression can restrict comfortable movement, while insufficient support may allow too much breast movement during higher-impact exercise.’
Instead, choose your sports bra according to the activity and how it feels during movement, instead.
‘Look for a secure, comfortable fit that provides appropriate support without restricting your breathing or digging into your skin,’ she advised. ‘Often the label will tell you what activity level it’s designed for, so be sure to check there too.’
6. Stop: Putting bras in the dryer
‘Since it’s generally considered ok to machine wash your bras these days (in a mesh bag with cool water on a gentle cycle of course), many women mistakenly think it’s fine to just toss their bras into the dryer,’ Jene said.
This is the quickest way to break down the materials and elasticity in your bra, she added, noting: ‘It’s literally our bra’s kryptonite.’
Instead, hang dry your bras as you’ll get much more use out of them.
7. Stop: Assuming wireless means ‘no support’.
On the contrary, due to advancements in design and technology, wireless bras nowadays provide just as much support as their metal wire predecessors, Jene said.
‘Wireless bras support busts up to a G cup with features like longer and wider bands, jelly strips, structured foam cups and wider straps rather than relying on an underwire.
‘So women who have written off wireless bras because they think they won’t offer enough support may simply not have found the right style!’
8. Stop: Fastening the bra front-to-back and swivelling it. Instead, practice the ‘swoop and scoop’ method.
Jene told Our News Outlet that the best way to wear a bra is to bend at the waist so all your breast tissue falls forward and ‘swoop and scoop’ breast tissue toward the centre so it settles properly in each cup.
