If you fall under a certain algorithm, you’ve seen social media’s latest trendy, budget-friendly bras. These bras are everywhere and promise everything—from style and affordability to comfort and support (a few even promise to store your day’s belongings!). But at the end of the day (and shelf life), do these social media or ‘IG bras’ give us the support we need? Can they ultimately cause our bodies more harm in the long term? With so many brands vying for our attention (and wallets), we asked: Are they worth the hype?
How Four Online Brands Measure Up
Bra shopping, in general, can be overwhelming; shopping for bras online can pose an even more significant challenge. Without the ability to try styles on, we are forced to rely heavily on brand marketing and customer reviews. We still wanted to explore a few of these online bra brands to see how they measure up based on key factors like support, suitability for workouts, style, and overall comfort.
Shapedly focuses on shaping and smoothing, the most popular way to highlight seamless styles. Customers appreciate the comfort level and no-show appearance under clothing, but high-impact support and cuteness are not their primary focus.
Yitty: Founded by Lizzo, the brand focuses on comfort, size inclusivity, and body positivity. Like Shapedly, Yitty emphasizes smoothing and shaping but does not offer the high-level support needed for intense workouts or high-impact activities. Thanks to its unique designs in various fun colors, Yitty’s cuteness level ranks pretty high.
FeelinGirl: One of the newest viral sensations, this brand is often associated with offering various styles and colors at incredibly affordable prices. Overall, cuteness ranks high with FeelinGirl, but some of their styles are less likely to provide long-term support. Also, comfort levels may vary depending on body type and lifestyle.
Delimira: Fans of Delimira appreciate their style offerings in a range of sizes (including larger cup sizes) at reasonable prices. As a bonus, Delimira offers different levels of comfort and support, some suitable for light workouts. The brand offers a selection of trendy bra options, but overall, its focus is affordability and functionality over fashion.
The Bottom Line
Style Factor
Hands down: Yitty and FeelinGirl
Workout Friendly
None of these is ideal for high-intensity workouts, but some Delimira and Shapedly styles could be options for lighter activities.
Comfort
Shapedly for the win! Overall Support: Shapedly & Delimira (depending on style) generally reviews higher
Without knowing personal preferences and individual body types, these ratings provide a general overview and assessment based on brand focus and online reviews. Determining what works best for you and your lifestyle is the best way to determine what bra brands and styles will offer your desired support.
One Size Doesn’t Support All
It all starts with the right fit – but it can be easy to get lost in a sea of confusion when shopping for a well-fitting bra. Many women find the process of bra sizing to be confusing, often misinterpreting the relationship between band and cup size. Introduce the growing trend of S, M, and L sizing, which, albeit convenient, usually features bra styles that fail to provide proper support, especially for diverse body types. The generic sizing charts pose challenges for women with fuller chests, who often struggle to find comfortable and supportive bras.
Why The Right Size Matters
Wearing the wrong bra size is not only uncomfortable, but it can also result in a range of health issues. Studies have shown an ill-fitting bra that doesn’t offer adequate support can lead to breast skin damage—often visible to us as stretch marks.
Bras that don’t offer proper support have also been associated with breast pain, neck, shoulder, and back pain, headaches, and bad posture, to name a few.
Board-certified plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. James D. Namnoum shared studies showing that “80% of women wear the incorrect bra size, with 70% of women wearing bras that are too small and 10% wearing bras that are too big.”
These alarming statistics may not be surprising, as finding the right bra size can be challenging. However, the long-term consequences override the short-term process of identifying the best fit, brand, and style that works for your lifestyle.
Of the long-term consequences of wearing an ill-fitting bra, at the top of Dr. Namnoum’s list is Breast, Shoulder, & Back Pain. “One of the first things you may notice from wearing the wrong size bra is breast pain. Complaints are more typical of people with larger breast cup sizes, who exercise infrequently, or who are premenopausal.” Dr. Namnoum adds that “if your bra is too small, it can dig into your breasts. If it is too big, your breasts may have too much room and can become prone to bouncing around, contributing to tenderness [and potential sagging].”
Relating to shoulder, neck, and back pain, the Atlanta-based surgeon notes that while these types of pain are not solely linked to ill-fitting bras, improper breast support can only exacerbate these conditions. Bras designed with larger straps are recommended to disperse weight and offer full support, but, in some cases, straps themselves can cause unnecessary pain. (Think of deep grooves in your shoulders from strap pressure). If cases like these ensure or lead to more serious nerve pain, it is essential to discuss them with your healthcare professional.
Another painful result of wearing the wrong bra is ill-fitting bras that are too tight, which can lead to rib cage pain. These symptoms are typically seen in underwire bras, but wire-free styles can pose the same issues if you’re not wearing the proper band size.
Retailers and Designers alike have accepted that the bra-fitting process can be challenging for women and are doing their part to support consumers in their efforts to avoid these long-term health consequences.
Dillards partnered with the National Breast Cancer Foundation to produce The Bra Fit Guide, which aims to raise awareness about proper breast health and help women look and feel their best. The comprehensive guide explains how to measure your cup and band size correctly and features a range of styles to help you choose the right size and bra for your lifestyle and clothing preferences.
The best way to ensure you are wearing the right size bra is to have it fitted by a professional bra specialist. But if you’re in a time crunch, the Bra Fit Guide explains how to self-measure when schedules don’t allow an in-person fitting.
Finding the Right Bra: Expert Advice
Finding the right bra and fit for your lifestyle can be overwhelming and confusing, but it doesn’t have to be.
Bra Specialists Helene Delince and Stephanie Vincent are Sisters and Co-Owners of The Fitting Curve, a Bra Fitting and lingerie Boutique in Long Island, New York.
Stephanie stresses the importance of a professional bra fitting because “every woman’s body is different.” She adds, “Different women can wear the same bra size but have different breast shapes, density, comfort levels, lifestyles, etc., which is why a bra fitting with an expert is key.”
Helene also shares how a Professional Bra Specialist can educate the consumer on different bra manufacturers and how sizing, fabric, cups, and bands vary between different brands. “It is important to try everything on; with different brands, you may fall under different sizes, and you need to try different sizes to identify the best fit. You can’t do that when shopping online.” Furthermore, different styles in the same size and brand can also fit differently, reiterating the importance of trying styles in real time.
Beyond the measurements. Lifestyle is key. A professional bra fitting can offer a personalized and holistic approach to finding the right size bra. “A woman can come in for a fitting and has been wearing the wrong size for years, mainly due to mass market chain availability – but once she shares details about her lifestyle, it easy to recommend a more supportive style or sports bra type over a t-shirt bra if she has more of an active lifestyle,” Stephanie added. Lastly, Helene recommends visiting a Professional Bra Specialist for a fitting annually, on average, to update your bra collection or more frequently if lifestyle habits have changed or weight has fluctuated.
Even for those who are more comfortable and prefer generic sizing (SML), it is still ideal to get fitted by a bra fitter to identify the proper band size. Overall, SML sizing can be tricky. After all, it is challenging to find bras that offer the perfect cup and band fit.
Taking full control of your breast health begins with prioritizing a proper bra fit and construction. Always get a professional bra fitting with a specialist who will help you make informed decisions about your overall bra lifestyle experience.
‘IG bras’ easily catch our attention, but their focus on viral fashion trends can reveal how much they compromise functionality. They may leave women with larger busts feeling unsupported and, in some instances, experiencing discomfort or even pain. This lack of support can have long-term consequences, reiterating the importance of proper bra construction and sizing over social media sensations.
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