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The Correct Way to Put on a Bra

Yes, There Really Is a Correct Way to Put on a Bra

If you tend to put your bra on by simply slipping your arms through the straps and fastening the hooks at the back, we have news for you: you're doing it wrong! A tweet showing the tag from a bra by lingerie brand Third Love reminded us all of this and caused a Twitter storm in the process, with thousands of retweets, "likes," and comments.

OK, obviously you can do whatever works for you. But if you want the right support and fit, there is a trick you can use, and it could reveal fitting problems you never knew you had. This is particularly useful if you have either a fuller bust or a curvier figure, but it's a handy trick for women with any cup or band size.

The technique is known as the "scoop and swoop," and it involves manually manoeuvring all of the breast tissue into the cup, rather than just letting it fall into place. Put your arms through the straps of your bra, then lean forward and let your breasts fall into the cups. Lift the underwires so they sit right under the bust, flat against your body, and fasten the bra at the back (on the loosest hook to start with, as the elastic loosens over time you can use the tighter hooks). Once fastened, gently pull the bra away from your body at the side, and use your hands to gently scoop all of the breast tissue into the cup, pulling from the bottom and the sides, under the armpits.

If you don't do this, you may find your bra doesn't actually hold all your breast tissue and is acting more like a cover than a support. In fact, if you've never put a bra on like this before, you may find the first time you try it that your boobs spill out of a bra you thought fit you perfectly. If so, it's time to book a bra fitting! This video shows exactly how this can happen.

So why is this important? Many believe that women with fuller busts, especially those who've been wearing the wrong size bra for many years, can suffer from tissue migration. This is where the breast tissue, having been unsupported by an ill-fitting bra, has slowly moved towards the underarms and even, in some extreme cases, the back. In very extreme cases, migrated breast tissue can be part of the reason for the dreaded "back fat," that crease of flesh just below the bra band. If you buy a bra with a cup that truly holds all of your breast, and you scoop and swoop it all into the cup, including the migrated tissue at the outer edges, it instantly lifts and smooths.

Even if you don't believe in tissue migration (some people argue it's a myth and the rolls and bulges are just regular old body fat), using the swoop and scoop method still creates a smoother line under clothes, a more defined waist, and a more supported bust (as the band will take the weight, not the straps). Try this next time you put on you bra, and see how much of a difference it makes.

Image Source: ShopStyle Photography
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