Common bra issues relating to straps and back bands
1. Slipping Straps
Is there anything more frustrating than having your bra straps slip down your shoulder? Not only is it uncomfortable but you immediately lose support down that side.
As we wear a bra, the straps will inevitably start to stretch. There is no way to avoid this. If you have a favorite bra that you’re wearing 3 or more times a week, this may start to happen even in as little as 2 months of wear.
You can tighten your bra shoulder straps (and we recommend you do this every other month!) but over time they are going to get stretched beyond a certain point and then you’ll have to ultimately throw your bra in the bin. Goodbye $50+
That’s where The Bra Lab’s interchangeable straps can make a difference to the longevity of your bra and also, your wallet. As long as you’re laundering your bra correctly, your straps may ultimately stretch but your cups should last you a very, very long time. And when your straps have stretched out, simply replace them for as little as $10 (and if you wait for one of our incredible sales, this is usually even cheaper!).
2. Stretched out straps
As mentioned above, this is inevitable. There’s nothing you can do to stop straps stretching, although it’s worthwhile knowing that lace tends to give and stretch a lot more quickly than spandex, nylon and cotton. Straps with minimal stretch include faux leather straps as well as silicone ‘clear’ straps – both of which we sell at The Bra Lab.
When purchasing back bands, make sure you are getting the right size. Your back band should attach to your cups and fit you comfortably and snug on the loosest hooks. You should be able to just insert two fingers between your back and the band. Many people think there are 3 sets of hooks so that the one band size can fit multiple sizes, however this isn’t really the case and you shouldn’t be aiming for the middle hook. If you do, then you only have one point to go tighter when your strap stretches a little. So make sure your back band fits you on the loosest hook so you have room to tighten it over time. If you’re wearing it as a strapless you will also want to go one hook tighter for that occasion anyway.
3. Gaping sides
Sometimes we have a little bit of space at the side of the cup when we’re trying on a bra.
This usually means you need to go down a size so make sure you always try that. Gaping sides can also mean the cup style is not right for the shape of your breasts – and if this is the case (and no sizes seem to work) then try a new style.
You can also use shoulder straps to help eliminate the gaping sides. Try tightening the straps. You can also pull them into a criss-cross across your chest to see if that helps to flatten the gape. But really, this should only be used as a last resort – if you have a bra or set of cups that you really want to wear.
4. Bra back bands that ride up
Usually this is due to either of two things:
- Your back band is too loose, or stretched out
- Your shoulder straps are too tight
Or it could be a combination of both. Make sure your back band isn’t too loose to start with. Remember that you need to tighten your back bands and shoulder straps every other month. Unfortunately this also means that with a lot of wear, and particularly with heavy breasts, bras don’t last that long. This is why The Bra Lab’s interchangeable strap system can really help give long-life to your bras and save you money.
The Bra Lab’s cups and bands clasp on two sides which also prevents riding up of the back band as the support and the pull effect is distributed evenly across both sides. This is a real win for bigger-chested ladies who have previously been unable to go strapless.
