The Do’s and Don’ts of Bra Shopping

Disclosure: In any review for a product or service, products or compensation may have been provided to me to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” and "Terms of Use" tabs for more information.

Okay, we all love shopping. But not all shopping experiences are created equal.
Shoe shopping is always fantastic. A couple great friends, a nice lunch (with a glass
of wine perhaps), and hours can go by in the blink of an eye. But bra shopping? That’s
a bit different. Even the ladies with perfect bodies hate bra shopping, and really, how
many women actually think they have a perfect body, even if most other people would
consider them that way? And for the rest of us, bra shopping can be uncomfortable,
awkward, depressing, ridiculous, or just plain miserable. But thankfully, it doesn’t have to
be that way. Here are a couple of do’s and don’ts to remember the next time you go bra
shopping, that hopefully will rescue you from despair.

First and foremost, do not go bra shopping right after a meal. The bigger the meal,
the longer you should wait before heading to the lingerie department. You should
absolutely never go bra shopping if you feel bloated, or are retaining water. In those
cases, chances are you won’t like how you look even in the perfect bra. Considering
you’ll have to stand in front of those unforgiving mirrors shirtless, bring a bottle of water
and go out for dinner after the shopping is done. Along those same lines, do not go bra
shopping during your menstrual cycle. It’s fine if you like to wear certain bras during that
time of the month, but otherwise reschedule your shopping trip. The measurements will
probably be a bit off during menstruation, as your cup size changes.

Next, remember that your opinion isn’t always the best one, especially if you’ve
bought ill-fitting bras in the past. So definitely don’t pass on a bra simply due to how it
looks on the rack. Bras, just like many dresses, can be deceiving before you see how
they actually fit on your body. Sure, you want a bra that looks sexy, but if it doesn’t fit
right you won’t feel good, no matter how many frills or lacy bits it shows off. Open your
mind to trying something new, and you may be surprised. In addition, do make sure you
listen to the advice of the women who work in the store. If you can be professionally
fitted while you’re there, definitely take advantage. Finding the perfect bra is tricky, and
you may not really know the exact size and shape that will best fit your body. Ask for
suggestions and give them a shot before heading right for your safety pick.

Make sure that when going bra shopping you head out well prepared. That means
bringing a sample of something you frequently wear, so that you can see how the new
potential bra looks in a real life situation. But don’t wear anything complicated if you’re
going to be trying on a ton of different styles. Your best bet is to wear a simple tank top
or t-shirt for the majority of your shopping. These plain shirts show everything, especially
under the evil fluorescent lights of most shopping malls, so you’ll be able to analyze the
look and silhouette of the bra at its most revealed. Of course, if you’re buying a bra for
use with a particular dress, definitely bring that with you to try the whole look out.

Finally, don’t be afraid to get your questions answered. Take time with it. You’ll wear
the bra you purchase every week, and if you don’t find it shopping at thissite, you’ll find it at the next one. Discuss the options with the salespeople, and only
bring friends with you who are in it for the long haul. Do whatever you need to do to
approach the shopping from a relaxed, positive place, and take the time to get it right.
You deserve it.