Shopping for the perfect bra can be intimidating and frustrating, especially when you’re trying to find the perfect size, the right amount of padding, and something that makes you look and feel your best.
And to confuse matters even more, finding the right bra is more than just grabbing the right cup and chest size.
When you’re on the hunt for the perfect bra, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the dozens of options, including, strapless bras, multiway, convertible, full coverage and the list goes on and on. etc.
And if you find yourself confused before even reaching the checkout line, lingerie expert and founder of Bras and Honey, Nicola Crooks, from San Diego, California, has come to the rescue.
Nicola took to TikTok to help break down the different bras that work for six different boob shapes.
Nicola, who regularly post videos on all things lingerie, showed her over 50,000 followers how there’s so much more to consider than getting the right cup letter and band number down when shopping for a bra.
In her video, which racked up over 8.6 million views, the lingerie expert detailed which bras will get your boobs looking their best and how to better understand your body according to different breast shapes.
Nicola Crooks, lingerie expert, took to TikTok to share what bras work for every boob shape and shared that if you have the breast shape pendulous you should wear a balconette bra
Pendulous breasts: Balconette bras are the MVP
For pendulous breasts, or breasts that are bigger at the bottom and shallower at the top, Nicola recommends a full coverage bra or a balconette bra.
Pendulous breasts usually have downward facing nipples, and an overall elongated shape.
Nicola showed that a full coverage bra will cover your entire breast, a balconette bra is cut a bit lower and will help to push your breasts up.
In an interview with BuzzFeed, Nicola said it was ‘normal’ for breasts to come in different shapes in sizes.
‘Bras are basically built for this round breast shape. So a lot of the times, you set yourself up for failure.’
She explained that you can determine your own breast shape by examining your breasts in the mirror and noticing both their shape as well as your nipple placement.
She noted that its also important to know the right bra size and fit and said: ‘The ideal way to get your measurement is to measure your band size (which is your ribcage) and then measure the fullest part of your breasts in your best-fitting bra.
‘Once you have those two measurements, [you can] determine roughly what your band size is, and what your cup size is.’
Nicole explained that for side set breasts she recommends a plunge bra that has a lower center or one with more side support
Side set breasts: Close the gap with plunge bras
Nicole explained that for side set breasts or ‘east-to-west breasts’ – which are sets where breast tissue lies at the sides – she recommends a plunge bra that has a lower center or one with more side support.
Side set boobs often have a larger gap between the breasts and expose more of your chest or ribcage area.
This set of boobs often has to do with your torso and ribcage, making it difficult to find the perfect cup size.
But Nicole showed that with a plunge bra you can still love your boobs and feel empowered.
She added: ‘If you don’t know your breast shape, it just creates this problem of not being able to get into the right style of bra.
‘Because all bras are not built equally, they are built dependent on your shape. If you don’t fit into that ideal, then you struggle.
And that’s what nobody ever tells you: That [the problem] is not you. The problem is the brand manufacturers that are building bras based on this outdated concept.’
For asymmetrical breasts — where one breast is larger than the other — Nicola recommends using a side shaper on the smaller side
Asymmetrical breasts: Even your breasts out with stretch lace bras
Two different size boobs are much more common than many people think and Nicola broke drown the bras designed for asymmetrical boobs.
For asymmetrical breasts — where one breast is larger than the other — Nicola recommends using a side shaper on the smaller side.
She also recommends using bras designed to stretch with fabrics to frame the natural shapes of your breasts or contour-style bras that have removable inserts so you can add an insert to the smaller side to even it out.
The lingerie expert recommends always sizing to the larger breast, so you can then use a side shaper on the smaller side.
Nicola added that stretch lace bras, which are bras that have an elastic paneling along the top and bottom of the bra to provide extra support, are another great option for asymmetrical breasts.
She recommends buying three different bras from the same brand that are the same size to find your best fit.
She added that the best way to ensure your bra fits properly is by using the band test.
To perform the band test you make sure you can fit two fingers under bra’s band and make sure its neither too tight or loose.
If you have bell-shaped breasts Nicola recommends you try plunge style bras or a full coverage bra with stretch lace
Bell shape breasts: Give your breasts an extra level of oomph with plunge bras
Bell shape breasts are usually found in people who have more breast tissue and tend to be narrow at the top and full at the bottom.
If you have bell-shaped breasts Nicola recommends you try plunge style bras or a full coverage bra with stretch lace.
Bell-shaped breasts are voluminous at the bottom and you should seek out a bra that will provide you with a comfortable amount of coverage and lift.
This breast shape usually requires a bra that offers a good structure and a fair amount of volume to the top of your breasts.
This is why Nicola recommends using a balcony or plunge style bra because it offers you more volume on the upper parts of your breast.
‘You also want to take into account where the wires are sitting on the breast tissue. A problem that I see a lot is that the cups people think the cups are fitting, but the wires at the sides are actually digging into the breast tissue.
‘You need to be looking and making sure that the wires are actually sitting on the ribcage, and not on the delicate breast tissue,’ she told BuzzFeed.
For smaller or ‘athletic’ breast shapes, which are usually a wider set with less tissue and more muscle, Nicola recommends a plunge or push up bra
Athletic breasts: Give your breasts a voluminous look with push up bras
For smaller or ‘athletic’ breast shapes, which are usually a wider set with less tissue and more muscle, Nicola recommends a plunge or push up bra.
People with smaller breasts often struggle finding the perfect bra that provides them with the right amount of volume, perfect fit and comfort, which is why Nicola recommends a push up bra.
A push up bra will help to accentuate you breasts and pull them up and together to make them appear more voluminous.
Nicola was inspired to post tips to find the perfect lingerie to her TikTok after she closed her own boutique during the pandemic and quickly noticed the lack of educational bra content on social media.
‘[Bras] are one of those things that nobody talks about,’ Nicola said.
She told BuzzFeed she decided to pursue an online presence after her shop began seeing a large number of returns.
‘We noticed that so many people just struggle with their bra size. And [we would read] the return notes: ”I’m a 38 D, but this doesn’t fit.” People still needed help. So that’s where the idea was born from.’
Nicola recommends a full coverage plunge bra for round breast shapes if you want an ultra-flattering fit
Round breasts: Say yes to full coverage plunge bras
Round breasts have an equal amount of fullness at the top and bottom and are typically fully circular.
And while most styles work well for this shape, Nicola recommends a full coverage plunge bra for this breast shape if you want an ultra-flattering fit.
The key to to finding the best bra for this shape is not structure, but support and coverage.
Since you can fare well with many different styles if you have round breasts, opt for something that you feel you’re best in and are most comfortable in.
Nicola’s video has garnered the attention of millions of viewers who have felt frustrated while shopping for a bra and the lingerie expert has been touched by the support she’s received.
She said to BuzzFeed: ‘I’m so passionate about bras and bra fitting, and I believe that everybody should have a bra that fits irrespective of size.’
Her TikTok video received thousands of comments from women who have struggled finding the perfect bra for years and thanking her for finally explaining how to get the right fit without the hassle.
Her TikTok video received thousands of comments from women thanking her for finally explaining how to get the right fit without the hassle
‘This is actually helpful. not sure exactly what to classify mine as, but at least makes sense why so many shapes do nothing for me,’ wrote one user.
Another user added: ‘Thank you for your service ma’am.’
‘This is actually so helpful, thanks,’ said one user.
One user commented: ‘This is the best video.’
Another added: ‘I needed this so bad.’
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