Of Slipping Straps and Cruel Clasps: How To (Finally!) Choose a Comfortable Bra

by Joanne Eglash

Want to know the secret of selecting a bra that actually fits right? Two words: comfort and support. In addition, an active professional such as a massage therapist should “pay close attention to fit, flexibility, and breathability,” says Cindy Kahng, co-owner of Azaleas, a lingerie and loungewear boutique in New York City. Here’s her checklist for finding your perfect bra:

• Because the right fit is so critical, make sure that you ask a salesperson to measure you if you’re not sure, or experiment with different cup and width sizes, Kahng adds. Just because you wear a 34B bra in one design by one manufacturer doesn’t mean that you’ll need a 34B in a different model, even if it’s by the same company.
• Massage therapists need to have full range of movement during their busy work days, and flexibility is all-essential. “Sporty bras or bras without an underwire are a great option,“ according to Kahng. Even if you wear a C or larger cup size, a style “with lots of Lycra” can give you the necessary support while offering comfort. In addition, opt for wide straps, which “offer more support than thin, delicate ones.”
• Look for natural fibers for breathability, so that you’re not perspiring under your bra by the end of a long day. When you’re trying on your bra, move around, experimenting with the fit as you reproduce movements that typify your activity during your workday. If you wear a larger size bra, check out the options that manufacturers who specialize in larger sizes offer, because “they usually have the best selection of supportive bras in both basic and sexy styles, such as Felina, Bravissimo, and Rigby & Peller,” says Kahng. In contrast, if you wear a smaller size, you may “actually find bras to be too constricting. Instead, I suggest wearing a camisole.” Possible manufacturers of camisoles include Gossamer and Duet, adds the expert.

• Choosing the right cup size is essential. Avoiding a puckered cup, “means the cup is too big,” or a back that “pulls up,” which means the cups are too small. “The center front of a bra should lay comfortably and flat against the breastbone, without gapping,” she says.
• As a massage therapist, you need to be free to move without worrying about your appearance. For that reason, you may want to opt for a sport bra, which “allows freedom of movement, but offers shaping and containment,” adds Goldstein. “Sport bras like Curvation (from Vanity Fair) are meant to support in all the right places, but have enough flexibility to move with you.”
• And whether you’re small-breasted or in the “well-endowed” department, look for a bra that “feels good and, more importantly, makes you feel wonderful. Women need a wardrobe of bras just like we have different shoes for different outfits.”