Sports Bra Fitting Tips

  • Please get in touch if need some help as a measurement is just a guide to the bra size you need or you can complete our Online Fitting Form and I'll email you size & style recommendations.
  • A measurement doesn’t account for your body shape; breast shapes and where they’re placed on your chest wall; the difference between your breast shapes and sizes; and your height will have an effect on the bra sizes and styles right for you too. But it's a great place to start!
  • Although the method below is the best I've found, this online sports bra calculator is also a good place to find your NZ/UK or AU bra size

Right, so let's start. First you will need a soft tape measure. Write down your measurements in inches.

  1. Put on your best fitting bra. It shouldn't be padded and if your boobs are already falling out you know you're not wearing the right size!
  2. Measure around your rib cage, right under your breasts. Keep the tape as straight and parallel to the floor as possible. Measure this tight! You don't need to be straining to pull it tight as a corset, or leaving marks on your skin, or anything like that. But you should measure this much snugger than you would normally measure another part of your body. Write down your rib measurement.
  3. Measure around your breasts. Measure loosely this time. It might help to lean forward, especially if the bra you are wearing isn't particularly supportive. Write down this measurement.
  4. The rib measurement you wrote down is your band size. If it's a fraction, just round to the nearest whole number. If it's an odd number, say 31, you should try both band sizes around this (30 and a 32.)
  5. Now take the breast measurement you came up with. Subtract your band size from this number. For example, if you measured 29.5 and you were going to start with a 30 band and you measured 36 inches around your bustline, then the result would be 6.
  6. Each number is a cup size. It generally goes: A,B,C,D,DD,E,F,FF,G,GG, H,HH,J,JJ,K,KK... But, brands can be slightly inconsistent. Some brands might skip some of those, or substitute DDD for E etc. So double check to make sure that you are buying the size you think you are! In addition, some brands or styles may run large or small and you may have to adjust accordingly.
  7. If you thought you were a 36DD, and you come up with something like 30H, don't freak out! You aren't weird, I promise. So many people are wearing the wrong size that we have a really distorted idea of what a “normal” size is. Just give it a try. It's only a number!

Did you know there are no muscles in the breast? They are composed mainly of fatty tissue, skin and Coopers ligaments. These ligaments are not elastic so a repetitive action such as running can stretch the ligaments irreversibly. IRREVERSIBLY ladies! This could result in a sagging breast nightmare, not to mention that running without the correct support can cause upper back pain and shoulder issues. Wearing a sports bra reduces the movement of your breasts when running by over 52%.

Here are some awesome fitting tips!

  • Baggy or wrinkled cups? Try going down a cup size. Cups overflowing? Try going up a cup size.
  • The cup should contain the whole of the breast with no creases in the cup (try going down a cup size) and no cleavage on show (go up a cup size).

  • Don't let the straps take the strain.
  • Perfect fit: if you lift the straps they should only have a one to two inch give
  • If the straps are digging into the shoulders adjust them where possible
  • If straps fall off the shoulders, tighten them

  • 80% of support comes from the band, 20% from the straps.
  • Never mind a rule of thumb; here's what you need to know about fingers. Your bra band should feel tight and firm, but with enough space to insert two fingers under the back band, and one under the centre front. If your band is too big your straps will end up taking the weight, which will cause them to dig in.
  • Ensure the band follows horizontally across your body. So look in the mirror side-on. Is your bra band at the same level all the way round? If it's riding up at the back, you probably need a smaller band size.
  • It even helps to pull the back about an inch lower than the front and that should give you a clean line and take care of “back fat”.

AND FINALLY...

 

  • Fasten a new bra on the loosest hook i.e number 1 in the picture above
  • As the bra begins to wear you can start moving in
  • When you get to 3 or 4 it’s time for a new one