How to Find the Right Bra Style for You

At Secret Drawers Lingerie we pride ourselves on offering a wide variety of fine lingerie, but just because a bra is gorgeous doesn't mean it's the right one for you. Here's how to find the right bra style for you.

1. What is the bra for?

Different bras serve different purposes. For example, an exercise bra is designed to restrict movement in all directions so while you bounce your breasts don't. The Champion Powerback sports bra, seen right, is great for exercise.

• Always wear a bra built for exercise when exercising or you can damage soft breast tissue with the excess movement.
• Make sure to try different moves in the change room. For example, make sure to bend over to make sure your breasts stay in the cups and the straps don't slip.

2. What size are your breasts?

We will fit you in something beautiful but some styles are better suited to specific breast sizes.

Typically women with a larger breast will require more overall coverage in the cup than women who are smaller. This will give more support. Other things to consider with large breasts include: the number of hooks on the back (more hooks equal more support) and extra comfy straps for the extra weight. The Elixir Cassiopée (seen left) provides full cup support.

For smaller breasts, consider whether you would like a little extra padding or if you would like to wear inserts. Make sure to bring any bra inserts with you. A demi-cup in the Chantelle Africa line, seen right, can provide uplift to a smaller breast.

• Consider a fuller cup for larger breasts.
• A push-up bra is generally a demi-cup (half cup) and creates cleavage by pushing breasts towards the middle as seen in the Empreinte Melody, bottom right. Push-up bras are available in many sizes.
• Some bras come with enhancing inserts built-in.

3. What are you wearing over the bra?

Some women prefer to have a seamless, smooth look when they wear a bra under thin fabric like a t-shirt. Also, some women with piercings like to make sure the jewelry doesn't show through their bra. A bra with a molded cup is often the first choice in these scenarios.

• A molded cup may provide a small amount of padding.
• A molded cup is generally a full-cup bra to provide a seamless look over the entire breast, like seen left in the Chantelle Africa line.
• For lace bras, try a shirt on over the bra to see how it looks and where any seams may lay.
• If you're buying a bra for a special occasion, make sure to bring your outfit with you.
• Consider the neckline of your clothing, a full cup may show in v-cut shirts.
• Wear a nude-coloured bra if you don't want the bra showing under light clothes.
• Wear a dark bra under dark clothes to avoid discolouration.

Get the Right Bra

Remember, a bra is like a pair of jeans: it can be your best friend or your worst nightmare. Choose wisely and make sure the bra fits to get the shape and support your desire. (Lejaby Envie de Cotton seen left.)

Picking the right bra shows just how much underwear matters.