As a woman, I can honestly say that I hate shopping for bras.
I hate trying to find the right fit, I hate the prices, and most of all, I hate having to stare at myself in the mirror.
And, based on Googling “bras suck,” I’m not the only person who feels that way. There’s even a No Bra Day.
But, as women, we have all sorts of things that happen to change our bodies. Weight loss, weight gain, birth, breastfeeding … and unfortunately, every single one of them takes its toll. In other words, the girls need some support.
It has to be done. So, what’s the least traumatic way to make that happen? For one, I say start at home. By learning how to properly measure yourself for a bra, you can avoid the cutesy-20-something blond salesgirl that doesn’t know the meaning of the word “sag.”
Her Room has both a video and step-by-step written instructions for getting the right fit. In addition, they have lots of tips on getting the right fit … from real women who have mastered the process. They also have this checklist which lists all the things you need to pay attention to. As an aside, it’s important to measure yourself every six months … a lot can change in six months time.
Now you know your size. But what brand? That I cannot give you a recommendation … simply because it’s personal preference. But what I can tell you is that by going to a large department store, such as Macy’s or Target, you’ll have more of a selection to choose from. And that can be very helpful.
So you measure, and you shop. And now you have to care for them. How many of you just throw your bras in the laundry with the rest of the clothes? Come on. Be honest. I know I do. Who the hell has time to hand wash your bra? I’m lucky if I get a shower three times a week at this point in my life. But the sad reality is, the better you care for your bra, the longer it will last.
This seven step process is pretty basic and hits all the marks. But I like this video from The Little Bra Company, that explains not only how to wash your bra (hand or in the washer), but also ways to make them last longer. She also gives great suggestions on detergents to use (apparently, Tide is not the answer here!).
Finally, don’t do what I did. Don’t announce to your spouse that you’re going out to buy yourself some new bras an panties and then come home with Hanes. Just don’t. For two reasons: he’ll have expectations of sexy (while you’re thinking comfort) and your feelings will likely be hurt when he doesn’t have the common sense to just leave well enough alone and pretend he doesn’t notice.
photo credit: Let’s Talk About Bras
