How to check your sports bra fit
How do you know if the sports bra you are wearing fits correctly?
Use these guidelines to check the fit of the sports bras you currently wear and when trying on new sports bras. Keep in mind, every sports bra is sized differently, so you may not wear the same size from style to style. That’s why it is very important to check the fit versus just checking the size of the garment.
Consider the band, the piece that goes around the rib cage, and the cup, the fabric that actually covers the bustline, separately when checking the fit.
First, here’s how the band of the sports bra should fit.
- Straight all around the body
- Parallel to the floor
- Up at the bottom of the bustline which is perhaps under the breasts if you are larger cup size
- Snugly, so that the band does not move if you twist your trunk side to side
- Smooth, so that there is no wrinkling or extra fabric on the cup itself
- Fully encasing, so that there is no breast tissue spilling out of the top and sides of the cup
Wearing too small a cup size where there is a “muffin top” fit (extra breast tissue uncovered and squeezed out over the bra cup) is the most common fit issue with the cup of the sports bra.
Consider the shoulder straps. You may or may not be able to work with this aspect of the sports bra. If the shoulder straps of the sports bra are not adjustable, there’s nothing you can do. Contrary to popular belief, the shoulder straps actually work hand in hand with the band of the bra. They are not a separate aspect of the garment independent from the band or any other aspect of the sports bra.
If you find the sports bra shoulder straps are digging into your shoulders, then try to tighten the band. As mentioned above in number (4), the band should fit very snugly all around the rib cage. If you are wearing a loose – fitting band, tightening the shoulder straps to try to get more lift and RVM® (restricted vertical movement) is not the answer. The answer is to tighten the band, assuming the band is adjustable.
It’s best to first tighten the band and only then tighten the shoulder straps. It really should be done in that order, band first, straps second. Tightening the shoulder straps first can alter the fit of the sports bra.
My other site answers some common fit questions: Bra Size Info
Or, email me directly as I’ve learned a thing or two after 10 years of fitting women into the right sports bra.
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