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Read moreBra Cup Spillage & Overflow: What It Means When Your Bra Doesn’t Fit Right
Sometimes finding a well fitting bra can feel like you need to get a degree. You keep trying on different sizes and styles, yet you still encounter issues that seem to defy solutions. Rather than smooth, sleek lines, you see lumpy unflattering distortions. When your bra is not fitting right, how your clothing is fitting will out you every time.
What is Bra Cup Spillage & Overflow?
One major sign of an ill-fitting bra is cup spillage and overflow. Rather than fully encase the breasts, cups cut into the breast and tissue gets pushed over the top, sides or underarms.
Cup Spillage
When the bra cup is too small, it fails to contain the breasts properly and ends up cutting into the tissue causing a “quad-boob” effect.
Overflow
Bra overflow occurs when the breast tissue is not fully contained in the bra. This can occur from loose bands, poorly adjusted straps or just the wrong bra style for the breast shape.
Why does Bra Spillage Happen?
Here are a few of the top culprits that cause bra cup spillage.
Incorrect Cup Size
Breasts come in many sizes and bra cups are designed to completely support and hold breast tissue. Cups that are too small push excess tissue outside the boundaries of the cup and create an uncomfortable, unflattering shape.
Wrong Band Size
Bra bands are the main support for a good bra. Bands that are too loose will ride up and misalign the cups causing the breasts to spill out. Firm yet comfortable bands and perfectly sized cups are a power duo for a well-fitting bra.
Wrong Bra Style for Your Breast Shape
Bra styles cater to different shape issues. Understanding your breast shape allows you to determine what styles are designed best for you.
If you have a lot of breast tissue towards the bottom of your breast but not at the top, a demi style would be ideal as the cup is shorter and won’t cause gaping at the top. If you have breasts with a lot of tissue overall and find yourself spilling out of cups, try looking for full coverage or plunge style bras that fully encase your breasts.
Worn Bras
Even bras have a shelf-life and worn out, tired bras are no longer able to serve a purpose. Stretched out bands, loose straps and misshaped cups are all signs that it is time for an upgrade.
How to Fix Bra Cup Spillage & Overflow
Measure Your Size Regularly
Your body changes over time. Get properly measured and get to know your numbers. Fit matters and knowing your right size is the first step to fixing bra spillage.
Choose the Right Style for Your Shape
Your breast shape influences the cup style you should choose. Fuller breasts need deeper cup coverage. Softer tissue might require a more molded bra cup. Check out the Breast Dictionary and get familiar with how you are shaped.
Opt for a Larger Cup Size
Going for cups that are too small is the main cause of cup spillage. Try a larger cup size or even a style with larger, taller cups and see if your boobs are better contained.
Consider Half Sizes
Sometimes you might find that one cup size is too small but the next cup size up is too large. In this case, consider trying ThirdLove’s proprietary half cup sizes. 25% of women wear a half cup size, and you might as well!
Adjust Straps and Band
Bands need to be firm and tight enough to fit two fingers below. This allows the underwires to encase the breasts and stay securely in place all day. Straps can then be properly adjusted without causing cups to dig into the flesh and cause overflow.
Front & Back Smoothing
Model is wearing size
ThirdLove’s Solutions for Bra Spillage
When it comes to spillage, ThirdLove has you covered.
Fit Finder Quiz
Before choosing a bra, find your perfect size with our quick and easy Fit Finder Quiz. Within minutes, it’ll provide you with your perfect bra size as well as provide recommendations on different styles.
Top Picks for Preventing Spillage
The 24/7® Classic T-Shirt Bra is the easy go-to for everyday wear, comfort and support. The memory foam cups conform to you and the stay-put straps will not slip.
For lightweight yet full coverage, the ComfortStretch Smoothing Full Coverage bra is the answer to all your overflow needs. The stretch fabric provides a more body hugging fit and is designed to smooth unwanted lumps and bumps.
Prefer to go the wireless route? The 24/7 Classic Wireless Crossover Minimizer bra is for you. The comfortable style reduces your busts up to 2 inches without causing any overflow. Get a non-padded natural and sleek look without worrying about poking wires.
Model is wearing size 34D
Reduces up to 2"
Model is wearing size
How to Check if Your Bra is Causing Spillage
Here are a few signs you can check to see if your bra is causing spillage.
- Visible breast bulging. Cups that are causing the “quad-boob” effect and spilling tissue are key signs that you are in the wrong cup size. Try a different cup size or cup shape.
- Problems with how the underwire sits. Underwire that is sitting on the boobs rather than under them is a bra that is not fitting well. Try a different cup size or style.
- Bands riding up. A loose band is a major culprit for riding up and shifting the bra out of shape. Choose firm and fitted bands that allow you to move while it stays in place.
- Poorly adjusted straps. Straps that are too tight or too loose can cause cups to shift and lead to overflow. Always make sure that your bras are properly and comfortably adjusted.
The more you understand what you need for a bra to fit well, the more you can confidently pick from the many fantastic ThirdLove solutions available to you. Cup spillage and overflow is not a problem that needs to hound you any longer once you learn the right size, style and proportions built to fit you.
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