We hear you. For so many women, bras are an oft-regrettable necessity. Bras are (supposed to be) a solution to a problem, but what to do when the solution just creates more problems? Take a minute with Billy and tackle some of those problems so you can focus on what really matters—you.

Get in touch on the website or at billysbras@gmail.com if we can help you solve some bra problems and find your next bra. 

Comment below with problems you’ve encountered, whether those are issues you’ve solved or have yet to solve. Share your own tips and findings, too!

Underwire Discomfort

Underwires are great for support, but can cause major discomfort when they press and poke your sternum, armpit or leave bruises under your breasts. When optimal support becomes a major issue for being comfortable in your bra all day, it hardly feels worth it.

Solutions:

Double-check your fit. A bra that is too small in the cup will have its wire crossing breast tissue, especially at the bottom and sides near the armpit. A cup that is too large will be compensated by a too-small or too-tight band, pulling the underwire into the body unnaturally tightly. Underwires in a properly sized bra rarely cause more problems than they solve. 

Ditch the underwire and go for a well-fitted wireless bra. Fit is crucial so that the band can give all the support it's designed to provide. 

Make sure the bra is a good fit for your breast shape. Some boobs have wide roots, where the breast starts closer to the armpit putting that area in the pinch and poke zone of many bras’ underwires. Look where the underwire is on your chest after you take the bra off at the end of the day. If any of the marks left behind cross over your breast tissue, there’s a fit or shape mismatch.

It might be time for a new bra. As they wear and stretch, bras become unable to provide the firm-yet-springy support that allows them to fit comfortably. This causes them to lose shape, structure and shift outside of proper fit.

Poor Fit

A poorly fitting bra that has a too-tight band and cups that gape or overflow are a constant headache. These keep bras from remaining stealthy under clothes, cause more problems than they solve and leave you questioning and even hating your own body.

Solution:

Re-measure and re-think your bra size. Be sure to take into consideration your breasts’ shape, not just their overall size. Get in touch with a fit expert online, in a specialty store or send Billy’s a message with questions and recommendations.

Straps Slipping or Digging In

Adjustable or not, straps that slide off shoulders or cut into skin are incredibly frustrating, especially common if you have with narrow or sloping shoulders. Repositioning and adjusting bra straps all day long makes your day worse.

Solution:

If your straps are giving you issues, there is most likely an issue with your band and/or cup sizing. Fit issues elsewhere show up in strap problems, so don’t let them slide (pun intended). Get properly fitted and throw your current band and cup size out the window.

Sweat and Heat

Bras that trap sweat and heat, particularly in summer or during activity, are truly suffocating. Hot, sweaty boobs are not happy and can lead to wide-ranging discomfort and skin issues. Going with less support leaves your boobs flopping and bouncing which is painful and embarrassing.

Solutions:

Opt for a non-padded bra with a more breathable design. Thick layers of foam can trap heat and hold a lot of moisture against your skin.

Do a mid-day bra rest. Swap out your bra for a fresh one once or even twice a day. Unpadded, sports or wireless bras can pack down relatively small to allow having more than one with you all day.

Full-body anti-perspirant sprays and body powder can help prevent and combat the sweat. 

Unhook your bra every chance you get. Even a few minutes can help fresh, cool air circulate to your skin.

Go braless as much as you can! While not always possible or practical, if you’re physically more comfortable outside of a bra—maximize those moments.

A layered cotton bra pad works wonders for soaking up sweat and preventing your skin from chafing, especially at the inframammary fold under the breasts. They’re washable and packable so you can swap out multiple times a day if needed. Tip: Resist the urge to use fabric softener as that will reduce their absorbency. 

Bras are expensive

Good bras can easily run north of $50 and no one loves paying for something that doesn’t last or deliver on support. Bras are a major financial burden, and good ones can feel too much like a luxury item.

Solutions:

Obviously, shop at Billy’s. Our bras are good and actually affordable. 

Watch for sales at your other favorite shops and retailers and strategically load up during them.

Buy higher-quality bras. Yes, that's counter-intuitive, but better bras will last longer and you'll spend less in the long run. 

Allow yourself to be a priority in your life and give yourself permission to spend that money. You’re worth it.

Restrictive Feeling

Outside of an asylum straight-jacket or a heavy bondage fetish, the feeling of being constrained makes your day all about the moment you can take your bra off and be free.

Solutions:

Take “bra breaks” during the day when you can. Even a few moments can make a big difference for your sanity.

Check your fit to ensure you’re not in a too-small band or cup and being unnecessarily squeezed. A poorly-fitting bra is torturous and not something to "just accept."

Opt for bras with wider bands and wings to spread the area of pressure out over a larger area making it feel less like a cage and more like a hug.

Go bra-free for a while when you comfortably can and test it out. Maybe bras really don’t have to be a part of your life anymore.

Try out lighter weight, less structured bras like wireless or even bralettes. They’re great for soft support that feels more like a shirt than a bra and provide some support and nipple-hiding.

Ditch the bra in favor of boob tape. Going braless can mean some topside chaos, but boob tape can tame down movement to more comfortable levels.

Care and Maintenance Hassle

Handwashing, pre-soaking, delicate cycles, air drying and constant threat of ruin—bras are high-maintenance. Complication and extra steps in your laundry suck the simplicity we desperately need out of our life.

Solution:

Give yourself permission to wash your clothes the way you want without guilt. Want to use the dryer? Do it. Can’t hand wash? Use the gentle cycle. Your clothes are there to support you, not the other way around. Buying good bras that can stand heavy use and regular washing affordably means you can live your bra-life guilt free.

Appearance Under Clothes

Your day at the office or kids soccer game isn’t your personal lingerie fashion show, but often it can feel like your bra is making it one anyway. Visible lines, bulges, or straps showing through ruin even slightly-fitted looks.

Solutions:

Check your sizing to ensure its accurate. Bands and cups that are too small with create distinctive bulges in those areas. Cups that are too big will gape and crumple under clothing, too.

Look for specialty bra styles like plunge, racerback or multiway that allow them to hide under clothes better than traditional, standard bras.

Double-sided wardrobe/fashion tape can take a dress or blouse into position so it doesn’t slip and reveal what it’s there to hide.

A typical t-shirt bra has a significant amount of padding and thickness in the cups that can cause stand-out under a tight, smooth top. Going with a thinner, lined seamless that more closely follows your natural curves can create a smoother look.

Pair your seamed, cut-and-sew or unlined bras with patterned or textured fitted tops, effectively camouflaging the bras lines that might otherwise show.                    

Hiding prominent nipples

If you prioritize keeping your nipples out of your daytime life, your bra choice is likely heavily influenced by a desire to hide your nipples under clothing. Buying a bra for your nipples leaves a lot to be desired in support. Bras that do a great job at hiding prominent nipples are not always the best at support and comfort for the whole breasts, though.

Solutions: 

Get a well-fitting bra and deal with the “nipping” issue separately (see below). Often, a bra that fits truly well can be a powerful nipple tamer, even non-padded bras! 

Pasties can be worn braless or under unlined or less-than-super padded bras to tame outgoing, attention-hungry nips. There are disposable adhesive and reusable silicone styles in a range of colors to match your skin tone for ultimate blend-in hiding.

Go for a slightly looser or more textured top. Camouflaging the “pokies” is easy by simply confusing the eye in those areas or creating textured distractions making nipples far less noticeable.

Opt for a seamed, cut-and-sew bra with vertical seams that rest across your nipples. The added support and structure in that area can be enough to tame the issue.

Embark on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Your nipples are an important, functional and not-primarily-sexual part of your beautiful body. It can be unhealthy to view them as something shameful or scandalous, so moving toward acceptance of them being noticed can be a powerful thing for your self-image.

Lack of Support

For larger busts or those that don’t naturally point to the stars, finding a bra that lifts without sacrificing comfort is a struggle, but combining comfort with support feels like an impossible balance.

Solutions:

Sizing, sizing, sizing. Nail your bra size with confidence and don’t assume anything about your bra size beforehand. Pendulous breasts that sag can hide a lot of volume, and it’s easy for bra measuring to underestimate their true size because they don’t project as far from the ribs.

Don’t over-rely on the straps to lift. They are there to keep the cups in place, not lift and carry your breasts. If your straps are digging in, your bra is likely the wrong size and/or style.

Avoid plunge style bras that lack center coverage to lift and separate the breasts. Plunge styles can create crazy cleavage and the dreaded “uniboob.”

Go for full-coverage/full cup bras. There are many styles that are actually pretty and cute. Full-coverage doesn’t have to mean boring and old anymore. Properly supported breasts can mean a big boost in your comfort and confidence.

If you have exceptionally pendulous, saggy breasts, look in the mirror where they hang and refer to these tips: 

If they rest straight down, look for bras with bra straps in the middle of the cup with equal portions on either side.

If they tend to splay outward, look for balconette-style bras that have their straps placed further outward on the cups.

If they hang inward toward your centerline, choose bras with a high-gore to provide maximum separation as they’re supported upward.

Underwired bras are perfect for keeping your breasts supported in the cups and prevent that common downward spillage. Having an underwire provides key structure to the bra at the bottom of the cup, allowing it to lift and not simply smash inward. 

Societal Pressure

It’s common, natural and totally understandable to wish you could solve all these problems by going bra-free, especially if wearing a bra feels more about others than yourself.

Solution:

Focus on your own needs for bras and choose styles that serve you best. This may mean going to an unlined bra that may show through clothing or allow your nipples to be outlined. Or maybe you want a more padded bra that enhances your silhouette. The key is to remember you are the one buying and wearing the bra, make sure that everything about it serves what you want and value for yourself.

Fashion over function

It can feel like brands prioritize style and looks over function. Looking great makes sense (sometimes) but sacrificing feel when the look is hidden can be frustratingly ridiculous.

Solution:

There are dozens of bra brands and each has its own unique aesthetic. It’s easy to fall into ruts and stick with one brand or style for too long. Branch out and try a “boring” bra or a seamless unpadded rather than a push-up. Think about what you’re buying a bra for and stick to that. If one brand doesn’t check all the fit and function boxes for you, don’t settle. Another brand will. More frill, lace and straps can make a bra fun and sexy, but sometimes you really do want a fully practical style, and that’s really ok. A very eye-catching bra might be very uncomfortable, despite the marketing it’s paired with.

 

Taking a solution-oriented approach to finding the best bra for your life and boobs is actually possible and keeps you from ever having to settle on a bra that you really don't love. The search and efforts of asking questions and rethinking old assumptions is well worth it. You are worth it.