How to know the bra that best suits you

Choose your size well

It is necessary to correctly measure your torso and chest contour to know your true size. More than half of women wear the wrong one.

Preformed cup bra with a low cut, ideal if you have a high bust, by Kiabi, € 18 each.

You can wear a size 85 and have a large chest

Contrary to what many people believe, the number that appears in the size of a bra does not correspond to the size of the chest but to the contour of your body. The cup size is the letter that accompanies the number: it starts at A for the smallest breast and continues in alphabetical order B, C, D as the breast is larger.

Large cup bra but with a small contour, for thin women but with large breasts, by Alma Bloom, € 39.99 for the bra and € 14.99 for the thong.

Find the model that best suits your body

Just because a bra is your size does not mean that it will fit you. You have to take into account the shape of your chest to choose the correct one.

Balconette bra, ideal for small to medium high breasts, by Chantelle, cpv

The Rings

They have to be perfectly adjusted to your body, without digging into the skin or separating from the body between the breasts.

This bra, with a high underwire on the side and a rather low V-neck cup, enhances a small bust. C&A bra and briefs, € 9.90 each.

Great capacity

If you have a large chest, the strip that surrounds the body is the one that actually holds it, so it is very important that it fits well to your contour. You want it to be wide.

Closed cup bra for large breasts, by Gisela. The bra costs € 19.95, and the panties, € 8.95.

Suspenders

They do not have to bear the weight of the chest. If they dig into your shoulder, it is a sign that you are wearing them too tight, or that the contour of your bra is not suitable for you.

Balconette bra with low cup and with straps at the end, perfect for deep necklines or boat style, by Passionata, cpv

Push up effect

If you have a small chest, the inner pads can help to enhance it. For the effect to be natural, the cup has to fit snugly against the chest, without unsightly holes in the rim.

Printed set with push-up effect bra, by Etam. Bra, € 34.99, and briefs, € 18.99.

Second skin effect

A well-chosen bra will make your clothes feel better, but if it is not the right one, there can be bulges and folds that will spoil your outfit. Make sure before purchasing that nothing is marked by trying it on with a tight shirt over it.

Nude microfiber set that guarantees invisibility, from Wolford. Bra, € 115, and panties, € 80.

Delicate skins

Cotton bras without underwire or padding guarantee comfort if you have a small chest or a wide base.

Stretch cotton set, with bottom strap and velvet straps, by Mi & Co. Bra, € 28, and panties, € 24.

Top style

T-shirt bras are in fashion, which are very comfortable when you have a firm chest.

Set in red lace with wide shoulder straps and panty for maximum comfort, from Wolford. Top, € 130, and panties, € 70.

Neck straps

The new off-the-shoulder fad calls for a bra with the straps resting at the base of the neck rather than the shoulders.

Set in pink lace and printed satin, with wide lace straps at the back, from Primark. Bra, € 10, and panties, € 5.

Wide back

If you have a large contour, even if your chest is small, you should choose a bra with a wide strip around the contour to prevent it from digging into the sides.

Set in embroidered poplin and lace, from Etam. Bra, € 34.99, and briefs, € 16.99.

Cross braces

For garments with a T-shaped back, you will want bras with crossed straps behind.

Tulle set with lace, Primark, Bra, € 8, and briefs, € 4.

Saggy chest

Look for bras with a separate high underwire to lift and shape your cleavage. You want the cup to be high to comfortably hold the volume of the breast.

Embroidered satin set by E-Lakokette. Bra, € 36, and panties, € 35.95.

Transparency

Use non-wired bras if your bust has a wide base. One with transparencies will make you feel equally very sexy.

Unfilled set in transparent lace, by Love Josèphine for La Redoute. Bra, € 37.99, and briefs, € 19.99.

Elastic lace

The wide bands of elastic fabric gather the chest without reducing mobility. They are perfect for active people.

Elastic lace set with flower print, Hanky Panky. Bra, € 57, and thong, € 29.

Retro inspiration

Shapes inspired by old-time lingerie are a trend. Wear these outfits with items with large necklines to show them under your clothes.

Graphic print set by & Other Stories. Bra, € 55, and panties, € 45.

Control lingerie

Sculpting the figure is getting easier with the push-up padded bras and the fajitas made of light fabric but with a super-reducing effect.

Spanx skin color push up bra and slimming bra set, cpc

1. How do I choose my true size?

In Spain the standard size is French, which is marked on the labels as "ESP" or "FRA" and is measured in centimeters.
The bra size consists of a number and a letter. The first, for the outline; and the second refers to the size of the cup.
To find your true size you just have to measure your thoracic contour just below the chest with a tape measure . To the value obtained, you have to add 15. The resulting figure will be your size, which usually goes from 75 to 115 or more and that goes from 5 to 5, so choose the one closest to your measurement.
The letters, which go from A to E, indicate the size of the cup,breast volume. To find out which is yours, measure your chest from the most voluminous part (usually the areola) and subtract from it what your contour measures before adding the 15 centimeters. It will be A if there is a difference of 12 to 14 cm; B if it is 14 to 16 cm; C, from 16 to 18 … Take this measurement when you don't have your period, as the chest may be more swollen. If you have a slightly sagging chest, measure yourself with a bra since it does not have padding.

2. How do I know if the bra I am wearing is appropriate?

The part of the bra that really supports the weight of the chest is the band that surrounds the torso, so it has to be as tight as you can but without being annoying. Check that it is perfectly aligned around the contour and well supported both in front and behind. If the strap separates from your body in the area between the cups or you can fit more than two fingers between the strap and the body at the back, the contour size is not correct. As for the cup, to be adequate, it has to collect the breast without pressing it or spilling over the cup. Make sure the side coverage is also correct, there should be no love handles on the sides of the glasses, under the armpit.

3. How do I know if the cup fits my chest correctly?

The trick to finding out is, once the bra is on, bend at a 90-degree angle and swing your shoulders and chest to the side. When you get back upright, your chest has to be perfectly positioned and adjusted to the cup of the bra. Another thing that can help you is putting on a tight shirt over your bra. This garment that clings to your skin will show protruding bumps in cups that are too small, or the visible edges of the cup in a bra that your chest does not fully fill.

4. Why does the clasp have three hooks?

With use it is inevitable that the gum that surrounds the thorax gives way. Therefore, when you buy a bra it has to be perfect when you fasten it on the first of the hooks, and then you will be tightening it as it wears. The system works in reverse when you are pregnant: you put it in the smallest and you release it as your breast grows.

5. What type of bra suits me?

It is another important point, since maybe the size is correct but the cut of the bra does not suit you. If your chest is small and wide at its base, balconette or half-cup bras will suit you better , which is quite open at the top and with a straight cut. The triangle cut without underwires will also suit you well.

If, on the contrary, your chest is large and with a narrow base, more tubular in shape, it may be somewhat droopy and then you are interested in underwired bras, with the cups well separated and the chest cover more full.