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Infographic: How to find a bra that fits : Life Kit Can't wait to take your bra off at the end of every day? A professional bra fitter explains how to find a bra that makes you feel comfortable and cute.

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How to find a bra that fits: An illustrated guide (and printable zine!)

How to find a bra that fits: An illustrated guide (and printable zine!)

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Hands reach out to a perfect pink bra floating in the sky, carried delicately by two sparrows, beaming in a rainbow as the sun parts the clouds amid twin peaks and pink lotuses.
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LA Johnson/ NPR
Hands reach out to a perfect pink bra floating in the sky, carried delicately by two sparrows, beaming in a rainbow as the sun parts the clouds amid twin peaks and pink lotuses.
LA Johnson/ NPR

Download and print this zine, a mini magazine, about how to find the perfect bra. Fold it using these directions. Make an extra copy for a friend. LA Johnson/ NPR hide caption

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LA Johnson/ NPR

A good bra is hard to find. Sometimes the band is too tight but the cups are just right. Sometimes the straps are too loose but those pesky seams show through your shirt.

To help you find the perfect bra, Laura Henny, a professional bra fitter and owner of the lingerie shop The Rack Shack in New York City, explains popular bra styles, how to adjust your bra so it feels more comfortable and how to measure yourself at home.

A well-fitting bra can do wonders, says Henny. "It could help back pain. It can make you sit up straighter. It can make your clothes look better. And if you're wearing a pretty bra, it can give you a boost of confidence."

This guide was illustrated by NPR's LA Johnson and comes with a zine you can print and fold at home. Fold it using these directions.

Laura Henny, a bra fitter and owner of The Rack Shack, a lingerie shop in New York, shares tips on how to find a bra that fits and makes you feel comfortable, supported and cute.
LA Johnson/ NPR
Types of bras: Depending on the outfit or occasion, you may opt for a wired or unwired bra. Unwired offers comfort, while wired offers lift.Unwired: Soft, unstructured and sized S, M, L, etc.Bralette: Made of cloth and elastic, comfortable, has minimal support Sports bra – More supportive, designed to wear while exercising
LA Johnson/ NPR
Wired: Structured, sized by cup and band size (for example, 36B, 42D) Lined: Contains padding/moldingT-shirt bra: Creates a smooth look under thin fabrics like cottonPush-up bra: Lifts the breast tissue to create a fuller look Unlined: A seamed bra that doesn't have molding or padding
LA Johnson/ NPR
Styles of bras Wired and unwired bras come in many necklines and styles that shape the breasts. Plunge – Pushes breasts together and creates cleavage Balconette – Keeps breasts separate but still creates cleavage; has wide-set straps for a more open neckline Full coverage – Covers the whole breast, has straps that sit on the middle of the shoulder
LA Johnson/ NPR
Make your bra feel more comfortable Make sure the band is horizontal all the way around your rib cage.See if you can fit two fingers between the strap and your shoulder. This ensures it's not too tight and not too loose. Hook a new bra at the loosest setting. Over time, as the elastic in the bra stretches, cinch it tighter. Scoop all of your breast tissue into the cups to minimize bulging..
LA Johnson/ NPR
Measure yourself at home Underbust measurement – Measure around your rib cage under your breasts for the band size. That measurement is the number part of your bra size. Overbust measurement – With your best-fitting unlined bra on, measure completely around the bust at the fullest point. This is going to help you find your cup size, the letter part of your bra size.
LA Johnson/ NPR
Finding your cup size -- Subtract the underbust measurement from the overbust measurement. Say your underbust is 34 but your overbust is 40 — that's a difference of 6 inches. Then use that number to find the corresponding letter in the alphabet, which tells you your cup size. For six inches, you'd count to F, the sixth letter of the alphabet. And so your size would be 34F.
LA Johnson/ NPR
You can also put these measurements into an online bra calculator to check your size. Henny recommends the website https://www.abrathatfits.org/calculator.php If you'd rather have expert help, go to your local bra fitter at a lingerie shop or department store!
LA Johnson/ NPR

The audio portion of this episode was produced by Sylvie Douglis. The comic was edited by Malaka Gharib. The visual editor is Beck Harlan. We'd love to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or email us at LifeKit@npr.org.

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