I recently received two similar reader questions:

1. The back of my bra always rides up. What should I do?
2. My bras won’t stay put in back. They always ride up causing lines and bulges in the back and reducing lift in front. Am I buying the wrong bra, wrong size or what?

First and foremost, make sure you’re wearing the right size and style bra! Approach bra buying like you would if you were buying a pair of shoes – trying a variety of sizes and styles is the best way to get a gauge on fit, look and feel. Being properly fit in a Soma boutique by a trained fit expert will ensure that you find a great bra. If you can’t visit a Soma boutique, I recommend using our bra fit guide on Soma.com.

The band, not the straps, is actually what gives you the most support. With that said, your bra band should be snug, yet comfortable, and stay put when you lift up your arms. You should be able to fit one finger under the band and it should be level all the way around your body.

Your band will hike up if it’s too loose. Think about it. If your band rides up in the back, then your cups come down in the front and that’s when you notice your breasts sagging. If your band is too tight, it can dig into the skin and actually create the appearance of dreaded “back fat” by causing lines and bulges in the back and on your sides.

I hope this helps!

Xx,
Jessica

I receive a number of reader emails from women who have survived breast cancer. First and foremost, I’m awed and inspired by your emails. Soma, and our sister brands, White House Black Market and Chico’s, are supporters of Living Beyond Breast Cancer (lbbc.org), an organization that empowers all women affected by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life. To date, our brands, with the help of our phenomenal customers, have donated over one million dollars to LBBC.

Recently a reader asked me why we don’t sell mastectomy bras. We currently do not offer mastectomy bras because they require specialized construction that requires equally specialized training to ensure proper fittings in our boutiques. While we don’t offer mastectomy bras, we do offer options for women who have had surgery as a result of breast cancer:

• Our wire-free styles, especially Agnes, offer softness, comfort and support. Women who’ve had a mastectomy may need a bra that can support a prosthetic breast form. A contour (or padded) cup may not allow the form to sit inside the cups in a way that provides an even, symmetrical profile.
• Brianna Cami Bra – Soma’s head of technical design once designed mastectomy bras. She told me that Cami Bras are an incredibly popular choice because they can support a prosthetic, hide unevenness and provide excellent coverage thereby helping to create a sense of security for women who have had surgery.
• While minimizing may not be what you need per se, a minimizer bra, like Emma or Verona, has a wider underwire to fit a breast form and lessen the degree to which the breast tissue is projected.
• For women who’ve had surgery and breast implants, and want to feel sensuous, our Selena Bra is also a good choice. It’s gorgeous, provides unlined, full-coverage and undergoes our 70-point test to ensure a great fit and comfort.

Xx,

Jessica

It’s the final week of our “Giving is Beautiful” Bra Donation initiative! You have until August 14th (this Sunday) to drop off your bras at any Soma boutique or to mail them in to The Bra Recyclers.

I can’t encourage you enough to donate any bras that you no longer wear. It makes such a huge difference to struggling women who are working every day to get their lives back on track.

Plus, we can’t wait to announce how many donated bras we’ve collected. Make sure you enter our contest with your best guess!

And now that you’ve made all that room in your top drawer, be sure to check out Soma’s new and luxuriously beautiful Oh My Gorgeous™ Cami Bra. A bra and a camisole in one, this elegant bra effortlessly takes you from summer to fall. Try it now under summer’s barer styles and wear it later under v-neck and wrap sweaters and dresses. It’s actually meant to be seen!

The number one question I get from women is “How do I know I’m wearing the right bra?” We all know that a perfect fitting bra can help you look taller, thinner and feel better. But how can you tell if your bra fits properly? Here are my five basic bra fit tips:

1)    Band

• The band should be level around your body and parallel to the floor.
• The band should be snug, but not too tight, and you should be able to run one finger under it.
• Our rib cages expand when we sit so if you’re uncomfortable when sitting, try a looser hook placement or go up a size.
• Back close bras should fit comfortably when secured on the middle hook; this will allow you to tighten or expand your band by an extra ½” on any given day (if needed).

2)    Cups

• The edges of the cups should lie flat against your skin. If you don’t fill out the cups, select a smaller cup size. If you’re overflowing, go up a cup size or choose a style with a fuller cup design.
• Your breasts should face forward! If they fall to the sides or sag, you need a different size or style of bra.

3)    Center-Front

• In most cases, the “center front”, the small piece of fabric that’s in between the bra’s cups, should be flat against your breastbone. If not, this could be a sign that your cup is too small. Note: The center front may not lie flat on women with larger and more closely set breasts. Also, wire-free styles may not rest against the breastbone depending on the specific design of the bra.

4)    Underwire

• The underwire should encircle your breast and it shouldn’t pinch or poke your skin.

5)    Straps

• Your straps should stay in place and not dig into your shoulders.
• If your straps keep falling, try adjusting them or try a style with straps that are closer together, like a racerback bra.

Finally, your bra should never cause pain, red marks or bruising. A great fitting bra should be comfortable and supportive. The best way to ensure your perfect fit is to be professionally fit by a trained bra fit expert. Soma offers free bra fittings in all of our boutiques as well as live chat with a fit stylist and a helpful bra fit tool on Soma.com.