Back fat – our 3 point guide to the dreaded roll!

Sadly, we all know about back fat! That dreaded thing that ruins an outfit look and which all of us try to avoid, whatever size we are.

 Many pick up the challenge of trying to find a bra which hides the back fat. They’re barking up the wrong tree, so save your money and read on.

For a number of years now, manufacturers have attempted to come up with a bra which eliminates back fat or ‘angel wings’ as it is known in the States. But it’s like looking down the wrong end of the telescope.

What causes back fat?

Partly nature and partly the bra you’re wearing. Both are avoidable issues. Whatever size clients are, there is always a relationship between the bra band and the client’s back. Why? This is because the bra band essentially sits over different widths on the back and it is elasticated. Because the back isn’t the same size all the way down, as the band is elasticated it emphasises these differences and shows up ‘back fat. How noticeable back fat is partly depends on build, the back shape, the depth of the bra band and the bra fit. Knowing this means you can prevent the problem from arising, rather than trying to hide it.

 

The three most common causes are:

Depth of bra band: A narrower bra band will cut into the back far more than a wider band. Think about belts around your waist. A narrower belt will sit into the waist more than a wide belt and bra bands are exactly the same. A wider band will generally need less tension than a narrower band and therefore not dig into the body.

Secondly comes bra size. Most people believe band size is the cause of back fat but more often than not it is actually the cup size. If the cup size is too small the bust will be pushed to the side of the body and will therefore ‘spill’ over the side of the bra. If the bra band is too tight this will dig into the back, again causing back fat.

Thirdly comes band position: if the bra is riding up at the back, you’ll intuitively drop your shoulders forwards causing the bra band to ‘cut’ into the widest part of the back. This is the most common cause of ‘back fat’ and this is what we generally see when we look in the mirror.

What to look for?

What makes a ‘back fat eliminator’ different to other bras is the depth of the band at the side and back, the contour of the bra and the fabric. The bra will generally be deeper, have more tension in the fabric eliminating the need for a tight elasticated band.

In truth, all bras when fitted and designed correctly not only reduce back fat but they don’t actually cause it either. It’s the same old Bra Sense mantra : shape rather than size!  Right shape bra works with your frame and your bodyshape so ‘back fat’ is nothing more than evidence of the wrong bra for you.

Find out more by calling Sara at Bra Sense Ltd and asking how she can help you. With our experience, you’ll find we’ll get to the point very quickly and help you to just melt the back fat problem away.

 By Sara O’Regan – Founder of Bra Sense Ltd

www.brasense.co.uk   Twitter: @brasense   Email: sara@brasense.co.uk

 

 

Bra Fit for summer on 1st July at Tip Top Hair Design, nr Ashby de la Zouch

Bra Sense offers a pop up bra fitting service across the UK. We’re delighted to be returning to leading hair salon  Tip Top Hair Design at Staunton Harold in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire on Monday 1st July 2013. Tip Top Hair design is a leading hair salon set amongst the beautiful surroundings of the Ferrers Centre on the Staunton Harold Estate near Ashby de la Zouch in Leicestershire. If you’ve never been, it has to be on your ‘to do’ list, along with a bra fit of course! Along with Tip Top Hair design, the Ferrers centre offers a beauty salon, range of arts and crafts studios, along with a cafe and outstanding Garden Centre. So combine a bra fit with a day of relaxation at the Staunton Harold Estate.

For more information about the Bra Sense Fit, please call 01530 274840 or email sara@brasense.co.uk

 

Tip Top Hair Design  is situated at the Ferrers Centre in Staunton Harold Estate, Ashby de la Zouch, LE65 1RU.

Click here for directions.

For more information about the Bra Sense Fit, please call 01530 274840 or email sara@brasense.co.uk

Stylist Amanda M discovers the Bra Sense way to the perfect bra fit!

I was thrilled to be asked by Stylist Amanda M to explain more about the Bra Sense way to the perfect bra fit. If you haven’t visited her site yet, have a peek. It cheers up any rainy day!

Interview with Sara from Bra Sense – Tuesday, 31 July, 2012 – 16:34  

Do you want to appear taller, slimmer & have a more youthful shape? All this can be achieved by wearing a bra that is the correct fit, style, and size. Unfortunately, you won’t find the level of experience and expertise to help you work that out easily. Most shops or anyone who uses a tape measure to assess your size are very probably not going to work out the right combination and therefore style, fit and size of bra for you.

To find out more I am chatting to Sara, owner of Bra Sense. Bra Sense offer a unique fitting service & fit partly according to body shape.

So Sara, tell us about Bra Sense & your unique way of fitting:

Bra Sense fits to body shape rather than bra size.  Body shape is a combination of things that we at Bra Sense use to identify the key characteristics of an individual, which in turn will take us to the right design, makeup, style and finally, yes, finally, the size bra for a unique individual. Body shape is key to the bra fit and the bra fit is key to fashion. The bust is the only thing you can move, change the shape of or appear to change the size of on your body as your shoulders, waist and hips are fixed. Fashion is designed and sized to fit around these 4 points. So that’s why the bra is the fundamental thing to get right.

What are the signs of a badly fitting bra & what problems can they cause?

I am sure we’re all aware of the usual ill fitting bra problems. After all, most people experience them every day. Shoulder straps that dig in or slip off the shoulders, the bra riding up at the back; bulges at the sides or back or the bust being lower than we’d like are the common everyday problems people encounter.

One thing that most people don’t realise is, that to compensate for it, people will automatically add a dress size without realising it and therefore make you appear a dress size larger than you actually are. 

One example of the main things a badly fitted bra will accentuate is the dreaded ‘back fat’.  In this case, you can actually tell if someone is wearing the wrong bra by glancing at their back. The first thing everybody says after a bra fit is they want to instantly stand up and sit up straighter.  This is because the bra band is sitting in the correct position, just below the shoulder blades.   Back fat instantly becomes irrelevant. Also, since the bra works on a cantilever system, the bust will also be sitting in the correct position at the front. 

When buying a bra what should we be looking for?

There is no such thing as your bra size. Your size will vary depending upon the purpose of the bra, style and design. So forget size as the be all and end all.  Use your current size as a starting point but expect it to change. If you compare bras to shoes, we expect to be a different size in different brands and styles. Bras are exactly the same.   Think trainers, walking boots, flip flops, stilettos, slippers – they are likely to be different sizes and bras are the same.

Always check what the bra looks like with clothes on.  If you’re buying something to go under a dress or top, take the dress or top with you.  We once had a client who tried on two different bras in the same size. Both bras fitted perfectly but gave slightly different shapes. Her dress fitted perfectly with one bra but was too small around the bust area when wearing the other bra. The reason was that one was the correct shape for her Body shape, the other was not.

There are a variety of shapes available (full cup, ¾, half, etc) can you tell us about them?

There are lots and lots of styles out there and they will all fit differently on different people.  They really relate to how much coverage the bra gives at the top. People assume the amount of ‘coverage’ needed is to do with age and size but it isn’t.  It’s to do with bust shape and density of breast tissue and again, this is related to body shape.  I have clients in their 60’s who need far less support and shape than me, in my 30’s!

Obviously, a full cup has the maximum coverage and a demi-cup or half cup has the least.  A demi-cup is literally half a full cup so is usually only suitable in the smaller cup sizes  B or C  for example.  When it comes to cup design, be realistic with what works for you rather than what’s in fashion or what your friend wears.

Is there a good basic shape that works for most women?

Every woman has their own basic shape that works perfectly for them but there isn’t a basic shape which works for everyone.  In terms of style, T-shirt bras are the best buy ever, but you must get the style, design and fit just right! The fact that they are so plain is believe it or not their biggest advantage.  T-shirts, t-shirt fabrics and jersey fabrics are close fitting so patterns and fabrics on bras will show through.  So smoothness is key. But t-shirt bras always help create the ‘foundations’ for fitted, tailored and less structured clothing as well.  They have what I call a definite ‘fullest point’. So a good t-shirt bra is a good investment. Quick tip: if you notice creases in the cup, this is due to machine washing.  Always try to hand wash t-shirt bras.

 How often should we be fitted for a bra?

Well the ideal recommendation is every 6 months or as you lose or gain weight.  A lot of this will depend on how the bra has worn of course and how it has been washed.   It’s always worth having a refit, just to check the bra size is still correct. Also, when having a bra fitted, bear in mind you may change size during the month.

Most of our clients have a refit every 12 – 24 months.

Thanks to Sara for her insight into bra fitting. To find out more visit www.brasense.co.uk, email sara@brasense.co.uk

How to make the most of your strapless bra this summer

Summer is finally here. At last, we can forget the months of hiding ourselves away and pull on our strappy dresses and cut away tops. So, the vital first question – which bra do we wear?

Our top tip this summer: make your strapless bra fit you and your wardrobe in three  easy steps:

Strapless bra hooks are attached to the bra to make it possible to wear as wide strap set, cross over, racer back and halterneck. This is why they usually sit wide at the front of the bra. Most people try their strapless bra on with the straps and find the straps are perfect width but they don’t sit in the correct position and set about looking for a bra that will fit underneath strappy tops.  

So how do you get the best fit? Look at the hooks and yes, move them so they match you and your wardrobe perfectly. It’s not hard. New hook points can be sewn in at any point along the bra band, both at the front and back. By moving the hooks, you can sit the strap in exactly the right place for you and all your different tops and dresses.

Follow our 3 step process below to see exactly what we mean and how to do it:

Find where you want the hook to be positioned for you on the bra, directly beneath your clothes straps. Using an old bra strap, pinch a bit to make a loop, stitch it in just where you want it and off you go! 

Take the old bra strap and make into loop – matching it to the same size as the existing hook.

And stitch to the bra

Your bra straps will then sit perfectly underneath the strappy dresses and cut away tops. The bra straps can  also be colour co-ordinated or nude/clear straps can be used.

For more information – visit www.brasense.co.uk

By Sara O’Regan – Founder of Bra Sense Ltd  email sara@brasense.co.uk or call 0845 094 2827 .

5 Minute Bra Tip: It’s the band that really does lift the bust, not the straps.

Most people believe that the shoulder straps lift the bust. This is incorrect. Support for the bust comes from the band. The band has to be level at the front and at the back to take the weight of the bust and lift it back to its correct position. If you are using shoulder straps to lift the bust, have a bra fit and check the size and shape of the bra.

In the above photos the band is sitting too high up the body. This is causing the bust to fall forwards and pull the bra forwards. The shoulder straps are tightened fully as they are giving the bust the small amount of lift that it has.  The shoulders are being pulled forwards slightly with the weight.

What it should look like

You can see that the band is sitting lower, the weight of the bust is being lifted back onto the chest area and held between the shoulder blades. The fullest point of the bust is now pointing forwards rather than downwards and the cup is sitting flat against the body. The bra being worn is our best selling Le Mystere Dream Tisha.

For more information about the Bra Sense Fit, please call 0845 094 2827 or email service@brasense.co.uk

Taken from The Bra Sense Bra Fit by Sara O’Regan – Founder of Bra Sense Ltd – www.brasense.co.uk