Don’t settle for shrink bands and open cups.

If your bra drawer is full and you’re still looking for “the one”, you’re certainly not the only one (in fact, some statistics show that up to 80% of women are wearing the wrong bra size). And that doesn’t even take into account the rest of the fit or what happens when you wear a bra regularly.
“Throughout history, we’ve been told that our breasts are the problem – they’re too big, too small or unevenly sized – and that misinformation and lack of proper selection has been the problem, ” says Ra’el of Cohen , co-founder and chief creative officer of ThirdLove.
Ready to upgrade? We asked Cohen to help break down what to look for when buying a bra so you don’t have to deal with discomfort.
How cups should be placed
When it comes to cups, Cohen recommends aiming for “comfort and fullness. “You don’t want your breasts to spill out of the cups of your bra, and too much space can create empty, unsupported space. Look down to ensure that the breast tissue fits evenly in both cups, with no spillage or gaps. Any gap over ¼ inch indicates that you need to go up a cup size (or less, which is why we invented the half-cup size).”
How the band should fit
For bands, the trick is to aim for a “comfortable fit. “You never want to feel like you’re peeing on the sides of the bra,” Cohen explains. “If the band is too loose and therefore not pulling the wire into the correct position, you may need to try a larger cup size and a smaller band size. As a general rule, you should be able to slide two fingers under the back of the bracelet. No more and no less.”
How straps should fit
Straps that are too loose (especially if they fall off your shoulders) can mean your bra wears out from use, the straps lose elasticity, or the bra is too big for you, Cohen warns. “Straps shouldn’t dig in either. The bra straps should provide most of the support, not the straps. If the straps dig into your shoulders, it’s likely that the straps are too loose and don’t provide enough support.”
How the size should fit
Of course, different breast shapes can benefit from different cup sizes and styles. “Breast asymmetry can also affect the look and feel of a bra,” Cohen notes. “About 40 percent of women who experience our virtual fitting room classify themselves as having asymmetrical breast shapes, in which case having a bra that immediately lifts and allows for insertion on one side can help lift your smaller breasts (ThirdLov’s 24/7 Classic Lift Low Bra is a great choice for removable inserts).”
How the shape should fit
According to Cohen, it’s also important to consider the shape of your breasts. “Breasts that are athletic or have more muscle and less tissue are wider and may have split cups and therefore benefit from a T-shirt style bra, while ‘flared breasts’ tend to be slimmer at the top and fuller at the bottom and can benefit from a full bra – one that covers wider memory foam straps. “
Cohen goes on to explain that “flouncy breasts,” considered to have loose tissue and downward-pointing nipples, can often benefit from a cup-style bra with slightly shorter cups and a fuller top, while “east-west breasts” ” a bra with nipples pointing in different directions predicts that a full Covered bras will help to bring the breasts up and against each other. “For “rounded breasts,” try a few days of non-coil bras when you want light support, or a platform bra when you want a very snug fit,” she suggests.
Warm Tips
Finally, Cohen notes that it’s important to remember that a woman’s bra size changes an average of six times during her lifetime. “We tend to think we should be the same size as we were told years ago, when in reality your cup and band size will change over time. It’s just a number, so don’t obsess over changes and know that you’ll look and feel your best when the bra actually fits.”