I bet you’re thinking: Why is she writing an article on how to put on a bra? I know. It seems obvious, right? While the mechanics of putting on a bra are straightforward, there is a layer of nuance which helps ensure a comfortable and supportive fit. For a demonstration, watch the video below:
Hooking the Bra
The Traditional Way: Place your arms through the straps of the bra and adjust the cups into place. Bend over at the waist and hook the bra in the back.
The Spin: Orient the cups of the bra behind your back facing upwards and pull the sides together in the front to hook the bra. Gently spin the bra to the front once hooked. Slide your arms through the straps and pull the bra into place. When situating the bra in the back, try to keep it in the same position you would wear it normally in the front to avoid flipping the underwires up as you spin. Tugging the wires and band puts additional stress on the bra and can damage it.
The Hybrid: As someone who is neither flexible nor coordinated enough to hook my bra in the traditional method but prefers less wear-and-tear, I developed a combination alternative. Do not put your arms through the straps and instead adjust the bra into a comfortable position on your torso (usually near the waist) with the underwires in the front. Hook the bra in the back. Then place your arms in the straps and slide the bra upward, making sure the lower breast tissue is inside the cup.
Over the Head: Hook the bra off the body and then slide it over your head like a tank top, placing your arms through the straps as you pull the bra down your body and underneath the breasts. I am including this method for people with disabilities who cannot hook the bra in any of the above ways; however, this method is not without significant disadvantages. Sliding the bra from your shoulders, over the breasts, and onto the ribs requires a significantly looser band than recommended. Furthermore, the wear and tear on the bra will be higher than spinning the bra around the torso. If you have limited mobility and must use this method, try front-closure bras, assuming they are made in your size and you can snap them. Front-closures slip on like a vest, lessening shoulder stress. However, if you cannot use or wear a front-closure, consider a wireless bra with more stretch in the band to make pulling it over your head easier. You may also want to invest in a shaping tank for a little extra hold to compensate for the looser band.
The Final Steps
After the bra is hooked, lean forward at the waist and use the opposite hand to gently pull the breast tissue on the side of your body forward and lift. Repeat for the other side and resume standing.
You might experience some extra tissue underneath the center gore or at the top of the cup. Take your two forefingers and separate the breast tissue, smoothing it back into the cups. If you’re still overflowing, the cup is too small, and you will need a larger size. Never be afraid to go up in the cup–even several cup sizes if necessary for the best fit.
If you are wearing a wireless bra, please remember you may not be able to keep the breast tissue separated in the center depending on your size, the bra, and your tissue type. Wireless bras do not have the necessary structure to prevent the tissue from gravitating to the center. Furthermore, even some underwire bras may not successfully separate the tissue if your breasts are set close together. See my article on bra fit for more information.