How to Put On a Bra - The Right Way!

Yes, there is a right way to put on a bra!

The question in the title may seem funny. Do we really need expert instructions for the simplest daily activities? If not, then how do we explain the fact that sometimes we buy a bra that seemed great after putting it on "quickly" in the fitting room - and later it turns out that something wasn't right?

How you put on a bra will determine whether you can immediately decide if it fits, or whether it's worth trying on a different size or style. You may find that you'll have to add one or two minor steps to your bra fitting routine in a moment - but I assure you that avoiding misguided purchases is worth it.

Why Putting on a Bra Correcly Is Important

To put on a bra, you'd think, all you have to do is throw the straps over your shoulders and fasten the hooks. If you succeed with this, and your breasts don't resemble flattened pancakes, you don't have to look for bigger cups, nor do your bust fall out of the cups, you'd think that everything is fine. This is where the mistake and the reason for countless misguided purchases lies. We buy ill-fitting bras because we don't know that putting on a bra is not about putting it more or less on the bust, but rather putting the bust into the bra. A bra is not a pair of caps on a ribbon, nor something like a bandage over the breasts. Instead, it's two interconnected and "cooperating" pieces - the band (around your torso) and the cups. Each must individually fit our bodies perfectly.

Here is the key philosophy of bra fitting: The most important thing is your body. It is the bra that should fit your body, not the other way around. Too often, blinded by the beauty of lace, or simply because the size selection is small, we force ourselves into lousy bras that don't serve us (or even hurt us) in the long run. The methods themselves are not as important as the goal you want to achieve. That goal is to feel good in a bra.

Putting on a Bra - Step by Step

• If you are trying on a bra, take a look at the straps first - bras in stores have them shortened (especially if the bra was hanging on a hanger), or lengthened to the maximum. Pre-adjust the straps - later you will adjust their length more precisely.
• Slide the straps onto your shoulder, while gathering the bust with the bra, so that they are in the cups and the underwire sits under the breasts.

Fasten the bra at the back at its loosest position (the outermost hooks). It's a good idea to do both of these steps in a slightly bent-forward position.

You can also start by placing the underwires under the bust and fastening the bra in the back and put the straps on later. This alternative may be more comfortable if you have large or drooping breasts.

Are you unable to fasten the bra at the back? You're not the only one. Many women fasten their bra from the front and then turn it around their bodies. Unfortunately, this method has some disadvantages. With a well-fitting, that is, tight bra band, twisting can be difficult. You can fasten the bra at the waist, if you have a narrower circumference there than under the bust, then twist it around and finally pull it upward to where the bra should sit. But what if the area under your bust is where you are the narrowest on your torso? It's worth trying to to push yourself to learn to fasten in the back - sometimes it's just a matter of changing your habit. If your have problem with mobility in your shoulder joints or other conditions won't allow it, then indeed, you are left only with the twisting method - but try to do it gently, to avoid damaging the bra.

• Stand up straight. Check the position of the bra - correct if it is too low. Each underwire should be directly under the breast.
• Lay your breasts in the bra. Slide your right hand from the side into the left cup and gently knead your body into the cup from the side and, if necessary, from the bottom, while holding the underwire with your left hand, you can bend it slightly. Do the same with the other cup.
• Make sure that the bra strap at the back lies horizontally. Grab the underwire under the breasts with your fingers, bend over, and then gently shake the bra from side to side - this will allow the breasts to lay naturally in the cups. You can also shake your breasts (torso), instead of the bra. You can perform this step instead of, or in addition to, the previous one of laying in.
• If at any point you find that the shoulder straps are too short or too long, remove the bra and adjust the straps. You can also do it at the very end. You can also try it without taking the bra off - to do this, slide the straps off your shoulders and try to reach the adjusters.
• Stand up straight, correct the straps if they have slipped, make additional adjustments in necessary (e.g. smoothing the edge of the cups). Now you can finally assess whether your bra fits your well or not.

Remember to have the correct posture when you have finished putting on your bra, which means standing up straight in natural stance, without hunching over. Your bra should fit you when you stand upright, not when hunched over - it should encourage you to breathe with your full capacity. If bulges appear above the cups in this position, it's a sign that the cups are too small.

Scooping vs Pushing

You might have come across suggestions to scoop your breasts from the sides into the cups, reaching as far back towards your back as possible, and trying to push as much tissue as possible into the cups. However, it's important not to overdo the so-called scooping. Your goal is to put all of your breast into the cup - but this does not include all the tissue on your side, or the folds of skin and tissue in the armpit area. Exaggerated "gyrating" makes no sense - the body will go back to where its natural place is anyway.

Of course, if you previously wore cups that were too small for a long time - a very common mistake - it may turn out that some of your breasts "got used" to staying next to the cups (on the sides, in the armpit area, or even below the underwire). Then it's a good idea to help them find the right position by gently kneading them. In time, you may find that you will need even larger cups, because your breasts have returned - "migrated" - to their place.

Your Daily Routine

Let me guide you through how you should put on a bra every day, once it's properly fitted:

1. First, place the straps over your shoulders and gently pull the cups over your bust.
2. Fasten the bra at the back.
3. Lean forward slightly, grasp the underwires of each cup with your fingers, and shake them from side to side. Alternatively, you can shake your torso without holding onto the bra – this works too and can be quicker.
4. Straighten up and check that everything is correctly in place. For instance, ensure that your nipples aren't positioned too low in the cups. If needed, make any adjustments or repeat the shaking process.

Sometimes it turns out that the straps have stretched too much during the last wear, or the bra has become loose and needs to be fastened to the next hook. This is the moment for a possible adjustment.

If I Put On My Bra in a Completely Different Way, Is That Wrong?

There is no one right way to put on a bra. Some of us prefer to fasten the bra at the back, others – at the front, and then turn it to the correct position. Some first put the straps over their shoulders, and then fasten the bra at the back – others do it in the reverse order. Some adjust the straps while wearing the bra, others prefer to take it off, move the adjusters slightly and put it back on. There are enthusiasts of scooping, shaking, and both. Everyone develops their own daily bra routine – what's important, however, is to always keep in mind the final effect – comfortably supported breasts in the cups.

Listen to Your Body

Why do I go into such detail about how to put on a bra? I want to convince you that it's not worth deceiving yourself by wearing a bra just to make it "fit," even though it doesn't. Lingerie manufacturers are getting better at providing us with items that suit various shapes and sizes. If you can't find anything in the store that fits you - check somewhere else! Replace an unsuitable bra with a new one. The bra is for the breasts, not the breasts for the bra!