The Perfect Bra
A statement that seems to be as elusive as it is poignant.
When you truly think about it, you realize how much this wonderful piece of fabric and material really does for you throughout the day. Day in and day out, a good bra can provide the support, comfort, and flexibility needed to perform the various to-do's of everyday life with confidence, reliability and style. In many ways, a great bra is one that does all the right things you're looking for without needing to be heard.
The right bra’s ‘right things’ are multifaceted. It considers needs related to:
The occasion;
The mood;
The outfit;
The time of the month;
The body shape;
The activity; and so forth…
That’s a lot to ask for in an item of clothing! Albeit a big request, this is a problem that affects most women throughout their life. In fact, nearly 80% of women are wearing the wrong bra size. Hence this blog series, "The Hunt for the Perfect Bra": I’ve done some digging in the market to shed light on this issue by looking at and giving my take on select offerings provided by today’s leading lingerie brands.
Keeping It #AerieReal
My first stop? Aerie.
So much of feeling and being confident when it comes to expressing oneself through clothes is finding what supports and enhances one’s authentic self. Luckily for me, the Aerie Real Foundation’s mission to build confidence in women by offering intimate, cozy apparel that fits one’s unfiltered style was exactly what I was looking for that day in store while on my search.
Aerie, the loungewear brand of American Eagle, launched in 2006 with the intent to celebrate girls and women in curating and living a lifestyle that is authentic, real, and positive. In a world that can place pressure on girls and women to look unrealistically perfect at all times, Aerie's household brand continues to prove that beauty, comfort, and confidence can coexist in the unedited, everyday moments of life. The moment I walked through the Aerie store, I felt just that. The pieces, along with its apparel representatives, offered an air of ease and comfort that, regardless of age, simply inspires you to find pieces that align with and support the Real you.
Going in, I wanted my perfect Aerie bra to feel invisible, look incredible, and do the lifting in all the right areas. After looking through the store and its different bra styles, I made my best and final stop at the Balconnette Bra.
What's In This Smoothez Pick?
I chose the Balconnette Bra because it checked all of the boxes for my specific needs. Given my past experiences, it was really important that the band was breathable, the coverage worked well in both tees and low-cut shirts, and the support from the cup and straps were reliable during movement from daily activities.
It's important to note that every woman's bra needs varies. Some women, for example, experience the issue of having excess cup fabric when moving around, while others deal with the uncomfortable spillage that occurs when there is not enough material. While different problems may arise, the same can be said that ill-fitting bras not only chip away at the confidence one feels with it on, but can pose health risks to the breasts, shoulder, and back areas over time, as well.
To best review the bra in a way that is helpful for others with slightly different needs, I measured it against metrics that assess its quality, fit, style, and more.
Quality:
One of the great things about the Balconnette Bra (the cup, especially) is that it's stretchy and soft, and yet, is also able to keep its shape to provide the right amount of support and coverage. Like other bras in the collection, its Nylon-Spandex material blend makes it so that one can expect a comfortable, all-day wear experience through its elastic, shape-shift ability. It's a fantastic feeling knowing I can quickly grab the Bra any day of the week and it will look as great in a tight tank as it will with a silk blouse... You really can't beat that kind of versatility!
Fit and Style:
Before I go on to describe the fit, I'd like to add a special call to action: please make sure you check your measurements before buying a bra! Each store may differ in the way they reference sizing, so knowing your body will lead you in the right direction of finding your perfect bra. Women's bodies go through significant changes over time (weight fluctuations, pregnancy, hormones, health complications, etc.), so it's safe to say that its corresponding bra types do too.
After getting measured by an Aerie representative, I was confident that the size I was choosing the bra in was fitting for me. That being said, the actual fit of the Bra was perfect due to its unique style. Too often, one can experience underwire digging that causes chaffing and pain; however, the Bra's flexible wire lining around the cup gives the bra an appropriate amount of structure without making way for the usual discomfort that comes with underwiring that is improperly encased.
As mentioned earlier, I really wanted a band that was breathable. What does that mean exactly? Too often, I've worn beautiful blouses only to find that the real showstopper came from the outside side creases formed by my too-tight-for-me bra band. A far too common of a problem, side creases are the result of a band that simply does not give way to one's proper shape. For me, the Balconnette Bra took care of the issue due to its no hook-and-eye flexible back bridge. With this Bra, I can feel confident knowing that I (cute tops included) shine through despite what I wear or what i'm doing.
Support:
Lastly, my perfect Aerie bra had to provide the right kind of support over the course of my daily activities. I'm fairly active, so it's great to know that I can rely on this Bra's comfort and lift no matter the occasion. The support brought by the straps and structured cup design gives me comfort in knowing that it'll feel great whether i'm out running errands, dancing like no one's watching, or tackling my next project.
Staying on After A Long Day = Success
After years of coming home from a long day only to find immediate relief in taking off my bra, i'm excited to continue this journey and explore the best types of bras for life’s different experiences and moments.
'The Hunt for the Perfect Bra' Continues...
If you’ve found your perfect bra, I’d love to know which one it is and what makes it so!
Camila Romero Maya
Founder
#KeepGoing #KeepYourVentureGoing #KeepYourPassionGoing
Note: This article was crafted and written by Brand Reliance LLC. AI systems, like Chat GPT, were used in this article as a means for spell-check purposes only.