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How to Find the Perfect Fitting T-Shirt Bra

I am always on the lookout for great tips on fit and was fortunate enough to speak with Angela Chamoun, buyer at Diane's Lingerie. Angela shared with me her top tips on how to find the perfect fitting (and comfortable!) T-shirt bra.
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Raydene Salinas

Creating a beautiful outfit really starts with your undergarments. Previously, I wrote a blog on how to buy a bra after 40. A lot of those tips can apply to anyone wanting to have a great fitting bra. Now, with spring in full bloom it is time to think about T-shirt bras. This style of bra looks great with shirts, tanks and all kinds of dresses and tops.

I am always on the lookout for great tips on fit and was fortunate enough to speak with Angela Chamoun, buyer at Diane's Lingerie. Angela shared with me her top tips on how to find the perfect fitting (and comfortable!) T-shirt bra.

What is the difference between a T-shirt bra and a regular bra?

A bra is categorized as a T-shirt bra when it has smooth and seamless cups. The idea is that the smooth cups won't show any lines under a T-shirt creating a seamless look. The cups can be preformed to provide nipple coverage or they can be a soft, seamless fabric.

Who is the T-shirt bra for?

All women! A T-shirt bra is a great option to have in every lingerie wardrobe.

Any new innovations or styles for spring?

New cup fabric: Chantelle has developed a new fabric called 'space mousse'. This innovative fabric is smooth, breathable and lightweight yet provides ample support up to an H cup. The fabric is also crush resistant which is great for travel.

This bra provides great coverage for a seamless look under T-shirts and a low center front that allows for lower cut tops. The bra also featured centered bra straps, a great feature for women with narrow and petite shoulders who struggle with slipping bra straps.

New size range: This season we are excited to expand our range of T-shirt bras up to an H cup. To further support the new selection of sizes we are stocking the Bijou T-shirt Bra by Elomi. Elomi is a brand geared towards the full figured customer with size ranges running from 34 to 42 bra bands and cup sizes E to H.

Bijou features molded matte fabric cup that are smooth and seamless and a plunging neckline without a push-up effect. The neckline has a sweetheart shape. It also features a moveable J-Hook to convert the bra into a racer back style, perfect for summer tops!

Seamless Lace: T-shirt bras can be made of soft cup fabric as well (not preformed). There are some gorgeous seamless lace t-shirt bra options up to an H cup. These styles feature seamless lace that is light and transparent but very supportive.

Colour and print: T-shirt bras don't always have to be nude or black. If you are wearing a white T-shirt then the ideal bra to wear underneath would be nude. If you are wearing a colourful or patterned T-shirt well then your bra can be colourful and patterned as well. Have some fun with colour, prints and cute shoulder straps.

How can you make sure your T-shirt bra fits properly?

The bra brand should fit snuggly (not too loose or too tight). The majority of a bra's support comes from the bra band. The bra band should also sit lower down on the back (parallel or lower than the front of the bra), it shouldn't be riding up.

The cups and underwire should encompass all of the breast tissue. This will help to create a smooth and seamless look under T-shirts.

Most women are wearing the bra band to loose and it rides up the back and the cups too small which causes spillage of breast tissue. These issues become all the more noticeable under a T-shirt. We recommend being fitted by a professional bra fitter at least once a year to determine size and update your bra wardrobe.

What kind of materials are T-shirt bras made of?

The cups of T-shirt bras are made of a preformed foam, spacer fabric or memory foam. We recommend giving them all a try to see what works best for you. Spacer fabric and memory foam are quite innovative, please see details below.

Spacer fabric: a three dimensional knit with an open weave.

Benefits: lightweight, breathable, crush resistant, natural shape, nipple coverage.

Memory foam: a foam which reacts to body heat and then molds to the body.

  • Molds to the breast shape on inside of the cup and retains its round shape on the other side, this creates a custom fit for every woman.
  • Crush resistant.
  • Soft and comfortable.

How to care for your T-shirt bra?

We recommend hand washing and hanging T-shirt bras to dry. This helps to preserve the preformed cups. If they must go in the washing machine, we recommend a bra cage on the delicate cycle. Cold water and a specialty wash like Forever New helps to restore the elasticity of the bra.

Any other tips?

Make time for a bra fitting session before T-shirt season, this will allow you to check your size and find the perfect style to wear under your favourite T-shirts.

  • Bring your favourite T-shirts with you for the bra fitting.
  • Have some fun with colourful and printed T-shirt bras.

I am going to use these helpful tips as I continue to expand by style ideas this spring!

Your suggestions are always welcome, as I continue on my journey to live life to the fullest. Let's have the very best 2015!

Visit Sacha daily at SachaD.com

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