Are bras supposed to be uncomfortable?

Absaroka · Post by **Absaroka** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 10:22 pm

Okay here is a dear GG question.

Are bras supposed to be uncomfortable?

My wife hates them. Tells me how lucky men are not to need them. I respond that they can't be worse than neckties, which I view as a nmedieval torture device.

To me the feel of the bra band around my chest gets annoying after the thrill wears off, which can take a while. Also they tend to feel confining under the arms. I find that I have to have them at least a size bigger in the band than the charts say I do. Of course the cups are not really an issue for me. Although in the summer the whole thing gets sweaty

I don't have that problem with sports bras or camis with a shelf. They are pretty comfortable unless it is hot out, in which case I don't wear them.

Thanks

Andrea

SilverLady(SO) · Post by **SilverLady(SO)** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 12:01 am

Andrea asked - -

Are bras supposed to be uncomfortable?

My wife hates them. Tells me how lucky men are not to need them. I respond that they can't be worse than neckties, which I view as a nmedieval torture device.

Good question about the bras! Personally, I'd much rather go without one and up until the past 3 months, I hadn't worn a bra for over 15 years (special occasions being the only exception).

I don't have that problem with sports bras or camis with a shelf. They are pretty comfortable unless it is hot out, in which case I don't wear them.

Sport bras and camis with a shelf? OMG - I love them, and as our weather here is usually fairly warm year round, that's what I prefer to wear most days, too.

Here's the 'official' information from Bestform Intimates www.bestformintimates.com :

Band Size: Measure around your rib cage directly under bust. If the measurement is an even number, add 4". If the measurement is an odd number, add 5". If you measure 30", your BAND SIZE is a 34.

Cup Size: With your bra on, measure the fullest part of bust without pulling tight. If bust is 1" over the BAND SIZE, you're an A cup.

Band Size Plus 1" = A Cup; 2" = B; 3" = C; 4" = D; 5" = DD; 6" = DDD

The bra should fit snugly around the body so that it moves with you and stays in place, but not so tight that it feels restrictive, either. If the bra feels like it is too confining under the arms, have you tried a different style of bra? I have an underwire bra that fits 'wider' than normal - meaning, the wire comes closer to the armpits - but that is due to the style of that particular bra. As I don't wear that bra on a regular basis, I'm willing to put up with a little bit of discomfort on those few times I need to wear it.

- Are all your bras made by the same manufacturer? Have you tried another name brand to see if you have the same problems?

- Personally, I have found that the Vassarette brand fits me the best, no matter the style. I have tried the Bestform Intimates, Hanes, Playtex, and others, but I keep coming back to Vassarette for best fit, comfort, and style.

One brand that I just tried - and absolutely hate it out of all that I've tried - is the Pink brand by K-Mart. They had them on sale, thought I'd give them a try as they had a Balconnierre style (aka Boudoir style) that I liked. I bought 2 styles of the Pink bra line, and both were improperly marked for size - one was way too big (even on the 3rd hook), the other was way too small. Both bra labels said they were my size, so it wasn't just that the bras were put on the wrong hanger or had the wrong store sales tag attached. Guess I won't be buying the Pink brand again!

Once you are sure of your correct bra size, I would suggest you try another brand of bra.

Maybe Georgia has something else to suggest?

Marlena Dahlstrom · Post by **Marlena Dahlstrom** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 12:27 pm

If it's any consolation Andrea, I once read that two-thirds of GGs wear bras that are the wrong size. Partly because some have never had a proper bra-fitting and others don't realize they need to be refitted periodically (since your body changes over time).

BTW, sports bra are designed to minimize (i.e. squash things down) so I've heard they don't give the best lines for everyday wear -- but of course I'm not sure how breast forms behave in this situation compared to the real thing. More fun facts here: http://www.discover.com/issues/nov-05/d ... s-of-bras/

Stephanie H · Post by **Stephanie H** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 12:53 am

I know that when I purchase a bra, I mostly purchase one size smaller that I need.
The reason I do this is because by having a snug bra, it helps to ensure that I walk with good posture. Walking with my sholders back and my back erect and straight

.

SilverLady(SO) · Post by **SilverLady(SO)** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 2:11 am

Stephanie H- -

I would not recommend this practice at all, namely because you could be creating health problems for yourself later due to wearing a 'restrictive band' across your chest. The bra being one size smaller than you need means it is also 2" smaller than your chest.

Wearing a bra that fits properly is important, as is good posture, but good posture comes from practice and not from a bra.

Georgia(SO) · Post by **Georgia(SO)** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 11:41 am

Are bras supposed to be uncomfortable? Yes. They were invented by a man for a woman...go figure...

OK. Aside from proper fit, there are a couple of other hints. Never, ever, ever dry your bra in a dryer. It makes them funky. And dryers weaken the material around the underwire, making the underwire poke through more quickly.

I guess I'd need to know what kind of discomfort you are having to know what's wrong with yours. Basically, they aren't all that uncomfortable if they fit well. Let us know where it hurts and the GG girls will see what we can figure out....

-georgia(so) going on vacation for the holidays!

Jessie · Post by **Jessie** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:23 pm

Actually that is an urban myth that the bra was ORGINAL created by a man. Maybe the modern day bra might of but the first manufacterd bra was created by a woman. I know the first paten went to a man but I had read (and now I can not find it) on the web about a woman who created the bra.

I was doing a quick research for this post and fond that the bra was saposed to be a replacement for the ver uncoftrable corset.

Georgia(SO) · Post by **Georgia(SO)** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:13 pm

I stand corrected. And yes, a bra would be considerably more comfortable than a corset!
-g(so)

Absaroka · Post by **Absaroka** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:18 am

The discomfort seems mostly to be the band being to tight and also the whole thing catches under my arms. However since the first post I have found several that are actually quite comfy to wear as long as it is not hot out, which I understand is a given for discomfort.

Andrea

SilverLady(SO) · Post by **SilverLady(SO)** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:17 pm

Andrea -

When the band is too tight the bra will, indeed, catch under your arms - especially an underwire bra. May I suggest going up to the next size larger? Bra bands increase in 2" increments, and usually have 3 'hook' settings to adjust the fit; the only exception that I know of are the front-closure bras which do not have adjustable bands.

- SL

Absaroka · Post by **Absaroka** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 8:37 am

OK thanks

Andrea

Sissy · Post by **Sissy** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 4:04 pm

I wear a bra all the time, often 12 hours at a time. I sometimes forget I am wearing one. I would say that if your bra is uncomforatble, you are wearing the wrong size. I have found that the rules for sizing are different for men than they are for women. I am a man and my chest size around my rib cage just below the bust is 39 inches. I have found however, that I need to wear either a 34C or a 36B. If I wear a 34C, I use the hooks furthest out. If I wear a 36B, I use the hooks that are the furthest in. Personally, I like to wear a bra. It makes me feel right somehow, but I don't use breast forms.

Absaroka · Post by **Absaroka** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 1:27 pm

I suspect the sizing may in fact work differently for men than women also. But....recently I had all my measurements taken as part of a training program at the gym. I was astonished to find that I have a 46" chest. Here I had thought it was a 42" So maybe all the band sizes were wrong also. Currently a 42 feels good on some bras but a 44 seems to small on others.

Andrea

SilverLady(SO) · Post by **SilverLady(SO)** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 7:58 pm

Andrea, you wrote:

Currently a 42 feels good on some bras but a 44 seems to small on others.

I presume those bras are made by different manufacturers? I would suggest deciding which brand you feel more comfortable wearing, and make that brand your predominant choice. Some styles may fit you better than others, too, even when made by the same manufacturer.

Choosing a bra that fits comfortably is probably one of the most nerve-racking things to do - - so many brands, styles, and sizes - - so when you finally do discover the "best one" - stick with that one!

- SL

Absaroka · Post by **Absaroka** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 11:14 am

Puts me in mind of the fact that my wife has one bra. Several of it in a variety of colors but all 10 or however many she has are of one size, style manufacturer etc and are pretty much identical.

Andrea