What’s That ‘Measured’ Bra Image About on HerRoom?
December 08, 2010
Since the beginning of HerRoom, every bra on our site has included a front shot on a mannequin with a kind of grid overlay on top of it. I’ve come to learn that some women find it invaluable, but others blow by it or totally ignore it because they don’t understand what it’s telling them. Well, it tells you a whole bunch. Let me explain.
Here are two examples of some measured shots on our site. The one on the left is the Wacoal 65191. On the right is the Bali 3413. The horizontal line shows the breast apex line. This means this line goes through the points of the breasts. Most bra’s center panel comes up to this line as it almost does on the Wacoal. But, if you look at the Bali, you can see that the center panel is below this line. This tells you that a lower cut top can be worn with this bra. The vertical center line tells you the center panel of the Bali bra is about 3/4" lower. So, now you know how much lower on your chest the center panel will sit. This vertical line also allows you to measure the height of the center panel.
Let’s talk about the two vertical lines running through the apex point on each breast. These two lines tell you a lot as well. First, the straps on the Bali bra are very close to these lines. This tells you the straps are a center pull strap. If you have problems with straps falling off your shoulders, a center pull strap (meaning the straps are attached to the cup more in the center than to the sides) will stay up on on your shoulders. The Wacoal bra has wide set straps. This strap placement is great for necklines where a large percentage of your chest will be exposed.
Here’s what else these two vertical lines tell you – the cup coverage. The Bali bra is going to have more breast coverage. The cups come up 2 1/2" above the breast apex. The Wacoal bra has just 2" of coverage above the apex of the breast. Clearly, the Bali is going to give you good breast coverage while allowing you to wear a low v-neck blouse.
These two vertical lines also extend down to the breast crease line where the underwire rests at the base of your breast. On the Wacoal bra, there is a nice lace edge added just below the wire. However, on he Bali bra, you can see that they have built a lower band under the wire for additional support. This was probably done to strengthen the support of the bra since they lowered the center panel. For petite women, bras with a built-on lower band may be too much bra for them. This could be true for short-waisted women as well.
The next time you shop for a bra at HerRoom, I hope you will take a second to view our measured image. It goes a long way towards telling you how a bra will fit and look on you before you even try it on. No other site on the Internet gives you this information… yes, I’m tooting my own horn here. Okay, I’m stepping off my soap box.
Find these measured bra images at HerRoom in these departments:
Bras
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Posted by Tomima at 8:16am
3 Comments »
Anatomy of a Bra – The Center Panel
November 04, 2010
That little triangle-shaped patch of fabric sitting between the cups of your bra is no afterthought. There’s a lot of engineering taking place between your breasts.
That center panel, also called a gore, helps to determine the shape and placement of your breasts. Traditionally, the top of this panel should be horizontal with the apex of your breasts (read nipples) for the best breast support. This is the primary reason I show the "measured" image on every bra we sell. The graph overlay shows you many things, but it specifically shows you where that center panel is going to land on you.
Over the last couple of years, decollete tops have sent women looking for bras with what is called a ‘plunging’ center design. In this case, the center panel is cut lower. Now, these bras fit fairly well for women in cup sizes up to a D. But, the larger cup sizes must be fit very precisely, or the woman falls out when she leans forward.
Officially, the center panel should rest directly on your sternum. If it does not, this usually means your cup size is too small and you need to size up. However, there are three exceptions to this rule. The first is a minimizer bra. Because their design objective it to reduce breast projection, minimizer bras create a kind of compression of the breasts. The center panel in some is therefore missing altogether, but if it is there, the proper fit does not mean the center panel must touch the sternum. The second exception is soft-cup or wire free bras. Without an underwire, it is almost impossible for the center panel to successfully rest on the sternum. The final exception would be larger breasts. With so much breast tissue, there is sometimes simply not enough room for the center panel to get to the sternum.
Finally, no conversation about the center panel can end without a discussion of front-closure bras. These are bras that have a clasp in the center front. It is extremely difficult to design a good front closure bra. The center panel is now a clasp which reduces the bra’s stability in the center. Not to mention that the bra now has no adjustability, so it must be an extremely accurate fit. Women in between band sizes will find the fit unacceptable. Front-closure bras have some of the highest return rates on the market. So, if you are a lover of them, this is why you don’t see very many – the manufacturers and retailers shy away from them for this very reason.
The next time you are shopping for a bra, give some thought to its center panel. The more that’s there, the better the support.
Find bras in all styles at HerRoom in these departments:
Bras
Follow HerRoom on Twitter for daily tips.
Posted by Tomima at 12:56pm
2 Comments »
A New Average Bra Size in the USA
March 23, 2010
The average bra size used to be a 34B in America. In fact, when I need a sample of a new bra style, what size arrives? Yes, a 34B. Everyone in the bra industry still uses this size as the norm. But over the last 10 years, the average bra size has been climbing.
Ten years ago, when I started in this business, I was informed that the new average bra size was a 36C. Well, it is now being reported that today’s median bra size in the US is 36DD – that’s an increase of 2 cup sizes.
I’m happy to say that the bra industry has seen this trend coming. I’ve noticed that many traditional manufacturers, like Wacoal for example, have increased their cup size range. You can now purchase many of their bras in a G cup (which is the same as a DDDD cup). The brand Olga actually revamped their entire bra size range two years ago. Their products now start with a C cup and go up – no more B and A cup sizes.
As the need for larger cup sizes grows, I really do wish we could standardize how these cup sizes are named. You may not know this, but many manufacturers could be calling your cup size by other letters. For instance, some manufacturers refer to a DD as an E cup, a DDD as an F cup and so on.
For those of you needing help deciphering all the variations for your cup size, I’ve tried to make it easy by creating our size conversion chart. Simply find your column, and you now have your cup size in every bra brand available.
Find all cup sizes at HerRoom in these departments:
Bras
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Posted by Tomima at 1:45pm
4 Comments »
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