The best bra for your breast shape

If you don’t address a poorly fitting bra, you will likely look lumpy and bumpy, but, more importantly, you risk damaging your health in the long term; back pain, breast pain, bad posture and restricted breathing are all common problems associated with the wrong bra.

Your size

See the full bra fitting problems & solutions article to diagnose and address a wrong-sized bra. But in a nutshell, a bra that is too big on the band size will leave you with droopy boobs and a number of posture complaints, including pain in your back, neck and shoulders. A bra band that is too small will crush your rib cage and restrict your breathing, not to mention give you unsightly back fat. A bra that is too big in the cups will leave you seemingly lacking in bust, regardless of your actual size, while a cup size too small will create the dreaded side and quad boob effects.

Your shape

Not all bras are the same. If you have measured your bust correctly and are happy that you are selecting the right size, but the bra still doesn’t look or feel right, then try a different manufacturer or style. Some designs are better suited to smaller or larger chests in general, but each style can be unsuitable and unsightly for the wrong shape.

If you are blessed with full breast tissue at the top, then a full cup bra is likely to fit well: the extra material at the top will contain all your breasts (rather than cutting them in half and creating the quad boob), and the thicker straps will give you additional support (particularly if you are a larger size). A small chest might look swamped under so much material, while a teardrop-shaped breast will not fill the top of the cup, which will wrinkle like a deflated balloon.

Boobs that are spaced wide apart can often risk side spillage in regular styles, but a side support bra will help to propel your breasts forward and together. Alternately, a plunge bra will also bring the boobs closer together and create a cleavage where previously it was missing.

A teardrop shape describes breasts which are fuller at the bottom: if this is you, try a demi cup or balconette bra to give you great support from below, without any material in the upper cup to wrinkle. Teardrop boobs won’t have the embarrassing overspill or quad boob either, that fuller breasts will experience in this style.

Moulded bras are perfect for ladies who have a fullish bust, which has perhaps dropped with time: they will fill the pre-formed shape, while acquiring a nice lift. Just be sure to get the right cup size to avoid unsightly bulges at the top. Teardrop boobs, on the other hand, don’t work so well in a full moulded bra as they are likely to gap at the top; this is where a demi-cup works better.

Now try your bra

Once you have selected the bra style that suits your shape, the best way to check that you are not falling out in any direction is to take a plain, close-fitting t-shirt with you when bra shopping. Pop it on over your prospective new purchase to check out your silhouette – it will reveal any lumps and bumps you might easily overlook in your eagerness to buy new underwear. It’s also worth trying a few moves – such as bending over, bouncing up and down on the spot, and reaching above your head – to check that the bra will actually support you in everyday activities, as well as looking good.