Curvy Kate’s Bra Whisperer Katie Weir Explains How to Properly Take Care of Your Bra’s
A lot of us will wear a bra on a daily basis, but how many of us know how to properly take care of them? Here, Katie Weir, Bra Whisperer at Curvy Kate, gives her top tips for bra care at home as well as how to make sure you’re wearing the right size!
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What are your best tips for bra care?
Hand wash! Bras are expensive and we want to keep them looking beautiful and feeling supportive, so taking that extra care with a delicate non bio detergent and hand wash can make all the difference. Especially for those who find their underwires pop out, choose handwashing instead and your bras will last much longer. Another great tip that I have learnt is to not use fabric conditioner in your lingerie wash either as this will lead to premature ageing and stretching out of the elastics.
How often should you have a bra fitting?
The industry standard for a bra fitting is every 6 months, treat this as a check-up – if you are still the same size that is cool but in 6 months our bodies can change a lot and so for the utmost comfort, get a bra fitting and treat yourself to a new great fitting set which is going to make you feel AMAZING! We never seem to worry about buying a new dress for an event every month, but we would think twice about buying a new bra twice a year which is the foundation to your outfits on the daily. We need to turn bra fitting into a positive and happy experience so that women book in time to give themselves some self-love during that moment rather than believing it would be a traumatic experience. Finding a bra fitter/boutique that you love and trust can definitely help with this!
'Our bodies can change a lot and so for the utmost comfort, get a bra fitting.'
What are the benefits to a virtual bra fitting and are they as accurate as physical ones?
A virtual bra fitting can be done form your own home and you can reach a highly knowledgeable bra fitter where ever you are in the world! Independent lingerie boutiques can be few and far between, and online lingerie shopping is a minefield and so to be able to have all of the expertise at the end of a zoom is something quite marvellous!
I always say that a virtual bra fitting can be just as accurate as an in person fitting as long as the client is honest and clued up about the bra size she is wearing, how long she has had that bra and also, if she knows her current dress size. All of these factors help to visualise the person as if they are standing in front of you, as a fitter you can then see how the bra sits, where the breast tissue lies and from there best recommend the size and styles, she would look fabulous in!
How do you know if a bra fits and how do I make sure I am wearing my bra correctly?
First of all your bra should feel comfortable, as my mum likes to say a perfectly fitting bra feels like a hug or even sometimes a cloud which just gently holds your body. Your back band should be firm, by this we mean a two-finger tension and so pop two fingers to the back of the bra and pull away by an inch or so. If it is far more or far less than this, you will need a bra fitting, always wear a new bra on the loosest hook and eye on the back band and tighten up every 4 months to give you one year from that bra. When it comes to your cups, your breast tissue should be encapsulated by the underwires, so that they sit in line with the back of your arm pit. You should never see any breast tissue spilling over the top or the side of your bra. Finally, the straps – you want to use your straps but do not over or under use them so along with the two-finger tension on your back band, you should feel a two-finger tension on the strap too!
How long should you keep bras before throwing them out?
As mentioned, if you stick to wearing a new bra on the loosest hook and tightening every 4 months for the same great firm fit, your everyday bra should last for one year. It will then be time to replace!
How do I know which bra style is best for me?
It can be trial and error to find a bra style that you love and feel is perfect for you, but just don’t pigeon hole yourself into a bra shape that you have worn your whole life, as your breast shape changes on your life journey and so this is why a professional fitting is best. The fitter can tell by the shape and density of your breast tissue which styles would be best, for example, when I was in my twenties I would wear a moulded t–shirt bra all day, every day with nothing but fabulous cleavage and now my skin texture has softened like many women I find that these cups gape. Therefore, I now prefer non padded styles as they sit much closer to my breast tissue but still offer amazing shape and cleavage!
Does not wearing a bra cause sagging?
Yes, it is proven that unsupported boobs will sag prematurely vs boobs which have been held in a perfectly fitting bra! You can indeed reverse some sagging to the breast tissue pre 30 if you start to wear a correctly fitting bra as your breast elascticy is much higher.
Should you wear a bra to bed?
Wearing a soft cup sleep bra in bed is most advised for fuller bust babes, it really does keep your boobs in place, cool and prevents that dreaded boob slap mid snooze or even waking up with them in a different postcode. If you know, you know. I would not recommend sleeping in underwires so keep it soft cup!
What sets Curvy Kate apart from its competitors?
We are FUN, fabulous and want women to wear lingerie just for them! I think this is something that all of our customers can see in our marketing, we like to say we don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we are serious about what we do! For me, there isn’t anything better than a fuller bust babe with a big smile on her face in some beautiful lingerie that feel feels amazing in.
Which is your favourite lingerie set from Curvy Kate?
For me, it has to be the Emboost bra! I get SO many compliments on my cleavage and it is a bra shape which I have previously found hard to find in fuller bust bras. Many brands have the idea that woman above a D do not want cleavage so the fact this bra lifts my boobs to my collar bones makes me very happy! I also love our sister brand Scantilly as she is super sexy, wearable and does not compromise on support even in the fiercest of designs!
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