Lingerie Myths Decoded

There are so many expert and non-expert opinions about lingerie out there that it can be difficult to keep up. What’s true and what’s not? That’s a question we at #ShopNTL want to answer for you. We want you to be informed when it comes to lingerie so that shopping with us can be as simple as possible. However, don’t forget that our Bra Doctor is always available to answer any questions you have or dispel any possible lingerie myths you may believe. Here are some lingerie myths we found that we want to decode for you so you don’t have to believe anything that could be a detriment to having the best lingerie for your needs.
MYTH: If a bra feels too big, go down a bra band size.

Greta Push Up Bra by Affinitas Intimates

Your bra band is a very important component of your bra. However, many believe that if it feels like it’s moving up and down your back, that means it’s too big. That’s not always true! For example, one of the easiest ways to tell if your bra doesn’t fit is if the back band doesn’t run flush around the body with the front of the bra. That could be a sign that your band band is actually too small, and not too big. You want your back band to sit fairly tight on your back (i.e not digging in) and laying flat against your back.

MYTH: The larger the letter in your bra size, the larger your breasts are.

via Tumblr

Bra sizes are a funny thing in that they are a little bit more complicated than you might think. Your band size plays into the size of your breasts just as much as the cup size does. That being said, your breasts may not appear “big” but you may still be a D cup. Furthermore, you can place two women beside each other who are both E cups and they could appear to be on opposite ends of the bra size spectrum. This may seem elementary, but many women are very strongly motivated by their bra size – it can be a source of insecurity, can make it difficult to shop, or they may choose to shop for a smaller size due to negative perceptions about size – which is a whole other ballgame to tackle.

MYTH: If you want great cleavage, wearing a bra that is a little tight is okay.

Sheer Desire Ideal Lift Push Up Bra by Blush Lingerie

Great cleavage can make us feel sexy and confidence, and can really help us fill out a particular dress or top. However, there are bras built to enhance cleavage, leaving no excuse to be wearing the wrong size for the sake of cleavage. Consistently wearing a bra that’s too small can be uncomfortable and actually painful. If you want good cleavage, consider a padded style, a plunge style, or even add some bra pads to really push them up.
MYTH: White or nude must be worn under a white top.

Modern Touch Modern T-shirt Underwire Bra by Calvin Klein Lingerie

It used to be considered a rule that when wearing white, you must wear a white or nude bra underneath. This would essentially camouflage any visualization of the bra under the garment. Not only does white actually stand out under white, but it’s not longer necessary to hide your lingerie! Of course, this isn’t a work-appropriate look, but it’s no longer a faux-pas to be able to see your bra underneath your clothing.

MYTH: If you’re a 34B, you’re a 34B everywhere.

via Big Bust Support

If you know that you can’t fit into the same size jeans at every shop, why would you believe you could fit into the same size bra everywhere? Every country has a different size standard, and so it’s important to try on the bra before you buy it as fit can change depending on the country it was manufactured in. Furthermore, each style is more complementary to a certain breast shape, so a balcony bra from one brand will fit you differently than a full cup bra. Not sure what we mean by breast shape? Read more about it here, because it’s super important to know.

Were you surprised by any of the myths we discussed on this blog post? If so, be sure to leave us a comment! You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter where we share a lot of information about lingerie that comes out. Our Pinterest is also full of lingerie related things and so much more, and we have some lingerie tips on our YouTube channel.