FROM THE FOUNDER'S DESK

Bra Sizing

Whew. What a mess.

Here are some not-so-fun facts:

Did you know that the cup-and-band bra sizing we use today is a made-up system with no standardization?

Did you know that you could be up to
eight different sizes depending on
what brand you are shopping?

So when underwire bra companies say “80% of women wear the wrong bra size,” it’s important to remember that, you and your apparent stupidity are not the problem.

I have personally seen a pile of about thirty underwires from various bras piled on a table. All were labeled 36C on the tag (before we ripped the underwires out to measure and study them). There was up to a three-inch difference in measurement. 

What the actual heck. 

That’s one of the many reasons why we worked so hard at Evelyn & Bobbie to simplify sizing. 

We cover 114 band-and-cup sizes in seven easy sizes: XS – 3XL.

I can wear an Evelyn & Bobbie Medium and an Evelyn & Bobbie Large.  Both work pretty great. I can gain a few pounds and lose a few pounds, and my bra drawer (which features exclusively Evelyn & Bobbie bras and prototypes) still says to me each morning, “Hey. No stress. We’ve got this.”

But I realize that not everyone has switched entirely to Evelyn & Bobbie bras. (Or at least… not yet!)  Many of you are still wearing underwire bras on a regular basis. So, with that in mind, here are a few common mistakes for you to avoid with traditional underwire bras: 

• A band that is too loose. If your band hikes up between your shoulder blades and is loose, you are almost certainly carrying the weight of your boobs on your shoulders. No bueno. You need a smaller band size or a less stretched-out bra, at a minimum.

• When you wear a properly fitting Evelyn & Bobbie bra, your “long-line” band sits low on your torso. It hugs the bottom of your ribs. That, combined with wide-set straps, puts the load of your bust on your skeleton and core muscles. That feels like “ahhhh,  I feel two inches taller!”

• Your underwire is sitting on breast tissue. This is actually a big deal. Not good. I can’t tell you how many 32DDD customers I have seen over the years that have been told by retailers that they are a 36C. They sport a band that is too loose and a wire that sits on top of breast tissue at the center front, side boob, or both. Now, don’t get me started on the lack of research evaluating the impact that wearing underwire bras has on our breast health (I can and will go on for days…), but we absolutely do know that no wire should be sitting on breast tissue.

• Ok, you know what’s coming next... Hey, I’ve got an idea: how about we ditch that underwire all together and simply wear soft, flexible garments that move with our body?? It’s time.

• You’ve gotten used to daily bra pain. When I started this company, my mom had permanent divots in her shoulders from narrow bra straps. Most women have ten to twenty bras in their drawer and only regularly wear one or two of them. Usually the most worn-out ones; the ones you can tolerate. But that does not mean they are comfortable, healthy, or supportive of healthy posture.

• If you have divots in your shoulders from bra straps, it’s time to switch to healthier bras. (I know a lady…)

I do realize, as I write this, that I am biased. I started this company because I was tired of tension headaches, poor posture, underwires that jabbed into my ribs when I stand up straight and tired or daily discomfort. But it’s not just about being uncomfortable. It’s also about being healthy. Posture impacts breathing, and even mental health. I want you to have bras that feel great when you stand up straight, take a deep breath, and lead from the heart.

At Evelyn & Bobbie, we spend each and every day building the future of bras, so you can have all the goodness that modern technology has to offer. Oh, and feel your most beautiful, too.

Today, reach for a wireless, ergonomic bra that was designed with your health and comfort in mind. Reach for Evelyn & Bobbie.

It’s going to be a good day.