How To Shop For Bras Tips

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Shopping for intimates is, well, intimate. You can sheepishly poke at some chantilly lace and give a tentative nod to the cheek-revealing undies, but maybe you just want someone to answer a million questions about what those numbers on the tag mean — and sometimes, it’s not so easy to seek out help. Bra fitters recognize this hesitation, these bottled-up apprehensions, and they hold all the answers (even to those queries you’re too shy to ask). It’s all in a day’s work.
Experts from ThirdLove, TownShop, and I Love A Good reveal five surprising things you probably didn't know about your bra.
You should wear your bra on the outermost hook in the back, not in the middle. (That stretches out the band faster.)
Personally, I always wondered about the three hooks on the back of my bras. If I'm already picking the band measurement according to the size of my torso, why would I need to tighten or loosen? I assumed this was a silly misstep, and fastened my bra on the middle hook. Well, I should've put more faith on lingerie architects: Once you find the correct band size, you start wearing it on the outermost hook and work your way inward as the band stretches. Whaaat?

The way you extend the life of the bra is as the band stretches — the elastic breaks down, and if you wear it every day for six months to a year — you move it in and tighten, reveals Zak. She goes on: The one thing women should know is, if you’re trying a bra on that you’ve ordered at home or in a fitting room, you should only be trying it on the last hook, and it should be quite snug.”

A lot of crucial bra mistakes start with the band. “Most women will pick the bigger band size and they will put it on the tightest hook thinking it will fit better, Bernadette says, but it’s actually how people end up wearing the wrong size, because they don’t realize that over time, the bra is going to stretch. From the get-go, you're putting more and more pressure on the band than necessary, and it loosens much faster.
The best bras are the ones that are convertible (like ones that come with removable, adjustable straps).
This may come as no surprise to anyone with a closet filled with diverse and varied silhouettes, but the best style of bra is one that plays double or triple duty — a one-bra-fits-all-outfits deal. When shopping for a new bra, Altman recommends going for adjustability. I think having a bra that has good adjustability is almost like getting a custom bra.” She calls out the little tiny j-hook that a lot of bras have on the back as the hardest-working cog on the gear. It turns your regular straps into a racerback; if the straps are adjustable and removable, you have two additional styles at your disposition — halter-neck and strapless. The world is your oyster.
You can get your bra tailored.
The life expectancy of your bra is about a year, depending on the wear and care. (Avoid the dryer, people.) But there are certain strategic nips and tucks that can reinvigorate one of the most important parts of the item: the band. Altman notes that some specialized lingerie stores offer band alterations at low cost. Others can fully alter your bra.

You can also bring your everyday bra to the tailor to take in a slightly stretched-out band or too-loose straps. For five or 10 dollars, you can totally get a little update on it, she advises. Although, she cautions that these kinds of services are best on simple styles — not overly ornate lace ones.