Shopping for a new bra should be an uplifting experience in more ways than one. Bras are not only designed to provide breasts with lift and support but they are also designed to provide women with comfort and confidence, which is why bra shopping should never be delayed, because, repeat after me, “we deserve to feel supported and confident!” *women reading this chant in unison with a closed fist punched in the air*
We’ve heard our single friends say “I’ve got no use for nice lingerie”, well honey, we’ve got no use for that kind of attitude! Wearing nice lingerie is a form of self-love, and when you invest in nice lingerie, the warm feelings of confidence will rise up and that’s worth more than any validation another person can give you.
There can be an overwhelming amount of things to consider when shopping for a new bra. How do I find my correct bra size? Will this bra go with that dress? What style of bra do I like? Does this bra suit my breast shape? What is my breast shape??? Take a deep breath and relax, we’ve created this bra-buying-bible to help guide you through the important things to consider when bra shopping so the experience will not only be uplifting, it will actually be fun.
Above all else, knowing your true bra size is the most crucial factor when shopping for the perfect bra. We often find that our customers have a bra size they’ve been purchasing for years because it’s the bra size they were given at a fitting many many years ago. And despite that their breasts and body will have inevitably changed in size and shape throughout the years, their response when approached by our fit experts is “Ummm, like a 10D…?”. So, let us help you get some certainty and confidence.
The best lingerie is lingerie that fits you and leaves you feeling so comfortable that you forget you’re even wearing it. At Bendon Lingerie we are obsessed with finding you the perfect fitting bra, which is why we have bra fit experts located at all of our stores so that they can provide you with professional advice on your bra size. Bra sizes differ a little from brand to brand, so if you try on a bra after your fitting and it doesn’t feel right, our bra fit experts will check your fit to ensure you leave the store with the right size.
Getting fitted for a bra in-store is actually less intimidating than you think, and it is the most accurate way to find out your true bra size. If you can’t make it into one of our stores then you can find your size based on our size guide. If you need a little extra help, reach out to our fit experts on live chat.
So next time the retail assistant asks you what your bra size is you can either reply with confidence “A 10D!” or simply say “I haven’t had a bra fitting in a while so I’d really like to get one today.”
If you can’t make it into one of our stores for a bra fitting but you do have a tape measure handy at home, then let’s get you fitted!
You will need to take two measurements to find your bra size. Your underbust measurement indicates your back size, and your overbust measurement indicates your cup size. These measurements can be a little tricky to take on your own so if you do have someone at home that can help then put them to work!
1. To measure yourself for a bra, stand up straight and place the tape measure around your torso directly underneath your bust where the bra band would normally sit.
2. Make sure the tape is sitting firm and straight around your body and record the measurement. This is your underbust measurement.
3. To measure your overbust, place the tape measure around the fullest part of your breasts.
4. Again, ensure that the tape measure is snug but not tight, and parallel to the floor then record your overbust measurement.
It’s that simple! Use these measurements to find your bra size with our size guide.
Now the world of Bendon Lingerie is your oyster! You can search our website for bras and filter the recommendations by your size.
It’s very simple to determine whether you are wearing the correct bra size:
If your bra is not comfortable, you are not wearing the right size. If your bra cups are gaping, you are not wearing the right size. If your breasts are spilling out of the cups, you are not wearing the right size.
Not to worry, with nearly 90 different bra sizes here at Bendon we are confident that we can find you a bra in your size.
Check out Bra Fitting 101 for anything and everything about bra fitting, it’s the ultimate guide to help find the right bra size for you.
Lingerie plays an essential role in helping you look and feel good. There’s a bra for every occasion and activity meaning you should never have to sacrifice comfort and support. Whether you’re heading to the gym or wearing the dress of your dreams, there’s a bra for you. Here are some of our favourite pairings:
Designed to be worn under low-cut necklines, plunge bras give you the ability to show off your cleavage without your bra peeking through to steal the limelight. The angled cut of the cups and the side padding works together to pull your breasts together to create the illusion of a fuller cleavage. Plunge bras are a great staple for women with small or slim breasts who wish to give their busts a little oomph! Discover our Plunge Bra solutions
Designed to give you the ultimate lift, push-up bras feature padding within the lower cup to push your breasts upwards and create the illusion of a bigger fuller cleavage.
Some women prefer push-up bras more than others, and it really comes down to what you think suits you best. Some breast shapes are known to be well suited for push-up bras, for example, wide-set and conical shaped breasts benefit from the angled cups as they draw the breasts together.
Got burning questions about push up bras? Check out our handy push up bra guide for everything you need to know.
Strapless bras are a subtle lingerie solution that isn’t called upon every day but there is always a day when it will come in handy. Any outfit that bears spaghetti straps, halter-necks, racer-backs, and off the shoulder necklines require the perfect strapless bra to assist you with breast support beneath your outfit. Strapless bras are a must-have for every lingerie draw because when the time comes you don’t want to distract from your fire outfit with showing straps.
For more advice, check out our ultimate guide to strapless bras.
For women who don’t require a lot of support, wire-free bras are a great option to provide natural and flexible support. Bralettes can serve an even greater purpose than just being worn as an intimate, lots of women style bralettes as outerwear giving you more bang for your buck! Wire-free bras allow you to embrace your natural shape, not to mention the incredible comfort it brings as a WFH companion. Want more info about wire-free bras? We’ve got you!
As the name suggests, this bra style is perfect underneath t-shirts - well any shirts and tops for that matter. T-shirt bras have moulded cups with a layer of soft material on the exterior of the cup to provide a naturally rounded shape and a smooth profile underneath your tee so your bra goes completely unnoticed.
A staple style in most women’s lingerie drawers since the 50s, it’s hard not to love balconette bras.Their looks have continued to evolve and keep up with fashion trends all while never faltering on providing comfort and support to breasts all over the world. One of the best things about balconette bras is that they suit a wide variety of breast shapes. This style is identified by horizontally cut cups and wide-set straps that create a natural uplift. The cut of the cups provide less coverage than fuller cup styles, meaning balconette bras are a great option for your low-cut tops and dresses. If you’re still not quite sold on this versatile style, read our guide on ‘What is a Balconette Bra? (and why you need one).
Many lingerie brands started to prioritise designing for D+ women around the mid-2000s when breast implant surgery skyrocketed thanks to the likes of Baywatch babes Pam Anderson and Carmen Electra. However, NEWS FLASH, big boobs have existed for as long as women have, which is why we’ve been perfecting the design of D+ bras since the day we started our journey in lingerie.
To put it simply, larger breasts require more support, so D+ bras are engineered differently with features such as inner cup side slings, power-mesh back wings, and additional hook-and-eye closures in order to do this.
Fayreform has been specialising in D+ bras for over 85 years, and we’re proud to say that all of our brands including me. by bendon, Bendon, Pleasure State, and Lovable have followed suit and also offer D+ options.
We are committed to increasing our range of bras available for size 18+ backs. You can find all of our current styles (including some incredible wire-free options!) under Fayreform and bendon.
There will be times in your life, planned and unplanned, when you may require a specialty bra such as Maternity, Sports, Minimiser, and Front Closure, we’ve got you covered. If you’re not sure what you’re seeing online will meet your needs, our friendly in-store fit experts will be happy to help.
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of treating yourself to new lingerie, it’s definitely high up on the list of ways to practice self-love and care. Looking after your lingerie will extend its life, meaning you will be able to wear and re-wear all of your favourite pieces for as long as possible. Take care of your lingerie the way it takes care of you. And if you’re umming and ahhing over whether you need to bid adieu to old faithful, look out for these 9 tell-tale signs that it’s time to replace your bra.
Ready to go bra shopping at Bendon? Shop all of the bra solutions at Bendon now.
The latest & greatest from Bendon Lingerie
