How to Choose a Sports Bra

Now that spring is here and people are getting back outdoors and into warm weather sports, it’s time to look at how your bra is supporting those activities. Did you know that each and every time you bounce during strenuous physical activity, you stretch your breast tissue and cause irreparable damage?

A proper sports bra will not only protect you and keep you comfortable during exercise, it’s also another fashion item that matches the gorgeous colour trends of the season. If you’re comfortable, sports bras can be worn as a single top alone, you don’t necessarily need a tank top over them.

There are different styles of sports bras, with some that look very much like a regular bra, and others that come in the racer back style. While a racer back bra doesn’t have shoulder straps that can slip down on you while you’re working out, they do tend to put more pressure on your upper shoulders and neck. Keep that in mind while you’re choosing the best bra for your needs.

An expert fitting will help you determine your own personal preference for style and fit. Beware of the myth that a sports bra should tightly bind your breasts to keep them stable while exercising. Your bra should never compress the breast tissue, but should support it. Wearing two bras, or a bra that is too tight, will do far more harm than good, blocking circulation of the breast tissue.

Sports bras use highly technical fabrics that wick away moisture as you’re working out and sweating, so you don’t have to worry about being in a wet bra or having sore, chafed, red skin.

Depending on your favourite forms of exercise, you can choose sports bras with different levels of support. Look for numbers or descriptions such as 1/minimum support (e.g., for yoga) up to 4/maximum support (e.g., for running or aerobics). 

Spring Colours for 2014

The snow mountains are melting, the grass is peeking out, and the temperatures are finally starting to climb – yes, spring is here! From our first glimpse at the colours and designs, we had the sense that this spring is going to be fun. We’re all tired of the dark and dreary of winter, let’s come out of that and get a little more lighthearted and play!

We’re seeing more on the coral line of colours, with a punch of neon. This makes for an interesting contrast, where you might have a coral blush pink bra with just a pop of chartreuse (neon green). It’s a fascinating juxtaposition of bright colours onto these nice subtle colours.

Bright green is a popular colour trend for the spring, while different shades of blue will be ongoing right into fall. Blue has already been around for awhile, so it’s surprising how long it’s hanging on!

At Brabary we’ve even brought in a little bit of white, in keeping with the North American trend of white and nude t-shirt bras and white lace. Now keep in mind that whites don’t stay white for long. They get yellow very quickly, so if you’re refurbishing your wardrobe, you might want to choose some new articles to brighten things up.

As the temperatures heat up, it’s also worth looking at technical fabrics that breathe better and keep you more comfortable. Rather than rigid, molded cups, they use what’s called a spacer or 3D fabric – it’s like a weave with pockets of air in between.

As with the start of any new season, this may also be a good time to be fitted and make sure your bras are still fitting properly. Your bra should be supporting 65% of the weight of your breast tissue. If it’s not fitting properly, you’re carrying that weight in your neck and shoulders, which can cause headaches, back pain, neck pain and irritability.

If it doesn’t fit properly, your bra can be your worst enemy. If it does, it can be your best friend.