Navigating the mystical world of bra shopping

Shopping is fun, but bra shopping is a nightmare. Did you know that eight out of ten women wear the wrong bra? the reason being most manufacturers are focused on selling limited sizes.

With more than one bra size, secret codes and rules that seem to be held by a sacred elite society, most women end up wearing the wrong bra and enduring years of unnecessary discomfort.

So how do you get to pick the right bra?

The right fit

A good bra should fit well. It should be able to hold the girls up without feeling pressed by the underwire, also, consider how accessible the hook is on your back.

Other things to consider are whether the strap of the bra is sliding off your shoulder or whether the underwire is digging into your skin.

White T-shirt test

Oh yes, this is actually a thing. Always go bra shopping wearing a tight white T-shirt, if you can see the bra peeking out, that bra probably won't serve you as much as you would like it to.

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Measure your boob size

You will need to visit a lingerie shop to get the exact size. However, if that is too much of an inconvenience, you can do it in the comfort of your home by using a measuring tape and a little online research.

How many bras are enough?

If you can afford all the colours of the rainbow to match every outfit you pick, that's fine but for those who like to keep things subtle and neutral, you will need at least seven bras.

Three sets of neutral-coloured bras that are closer to your skin tone, a black one, nude coloured, a strapless set and a lounge bra or bralette.

Should you have a workhorse bra?

The answer is no. You cannot wear the same bra daily. This is because the elasticity on the bra needs a break to shrink back to its original size.

Useful tip: always make sure your bra fits the last hook so that when it stretches you can still tighten it.

How often should you wash a bra?

Well, this depends on how often you wear it. But some people say it depends on how much you sweat. If you sweat a lot then, of course, you need to wash them after every wear, if not, you can get away with wearing them a couple of times before you wash them.

Handwashing is the best method for cleaning your bras but if you must use a washer please put your bra in a laundry bag and remember as a cardinal rule to never heat dry your bra. Heat ruins spandex.