A garment that is worn for hours in close contact with one of the most delicate parts of the body. Which touches the skin and is likely to irritate it. So: cotton or lace? Underwire or not? This piece of underwear is crucial to the image women want to give of themselves. And choosing it is always difficult. To orient ourselves we asked for help from a breast specialist, Adriana Bonifacino, head of the breast care unit at the Sant’Andrea Hospital in Rome, and a specialized stylist, Joanna Grunt, co-owner of Pati Jò, shop of BraFitting, a method imported from the United Kingdom that allows you to find the perfect bra. Here is their decalogue
1. There is no bra for all: there are more than 200 sizes available considering the circumference and the cup, just as there is not one suitable for all situations, but depending on the dress and the occasion. The more “uncomfortable” but performing ones can only be worn for a few hours
2. Cotton is the preferred fabric, even if some elastic fibers allow you to shape your breasts to the fullest. Ideally, wear the bra with the highest percentage of natural fabric for most of the day
3. Those who have undergone surgery for breast cancer must not give up having a breast as they wish, perhaps with the help of a suitable bra. The first goal is to ensure symmetry with particular attention to comfort.
4. 80% of the weight is supported by the band under the breast and 20% by the shoulder straps. It is important that the band is tightened to the right point: when it is new it closes with the wider hook, as the fabric yields the others are used. It is useless to tighten the shoulder straps to the maximum: you only create ugly grooves and excessively load the shoulders.
5. You are born with the breast, not with the bra. As convenient as it is, it is a constraint that must be avoided as soon as possible. For example, when you are at home and especially during the night. Better to sleep with your breasts free. The issue of breast sagging depends on other factors
6. Beware of dyes, especially in summer. Through the skin, harmful substances enter the body. Dark bras do not allow you to see any nipple secretions: blood and serous ones must be kept under control.
7. About alternation. The bra should be “rested”: it is put on one day and left in the drawer the next day. Thus the fabric will retain its elasticity. It is washed strictly by hand and with delicate soaps, however it is better to always look at the labels.
“No Bra”, the movement of women who reject the bra
by Laura Taccani
8. The cup must first wrap around the breast. If you choose a bra with a cup that is too small, it creates a really ugly “hump” effect on the breasts. Even those with large breasts should never squeeze them by using bras that are too small.
9. To play sports you need a dedicated bra. It is forbidden to use the old one before throwing it away. The support must be strong and for this reason elastic and technical fabrics should be preferred.
10. Underwire or not, it must not leave marks on the skin. Just wade in the evening when you take it off to understand if the breast suffers any trauma.
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