A bra guide to lingerie for your wedding

Bridal lingerie – a bra guide for your wedding

The wedding dress has already been chosen – a delicate dream in the purest white. The dream continues with romantic lace on the lingerie. But – it shows through the thin fabric of the dress. What should you actually bear in mind when choosing bridal lingerie?

Here’s a checklist to make your shopping easier:

Think about your bridal lingerie right from the start when you begin planning your wedding dress, otherwise you might be disappointed. If, for example, your dress is made of very thin fabric, you’ll need to stick to skin-coloured lingerie without lace.
If you’ve already chosen your dress – take it with you when you go to try on lingerie.
The style and fabric of the dress are crucial to your choice. It’s always easier if the dress fabric is thick and the style has sleeves or at least wide shoulder straps. A two-piece dress with a bodice isn’t quite as demanding – the bodice usually has a built-in corset.
For a strapless dress, or one with thin straps, you can wear a bustier, i.e. a long bra top. It’s delicate but has underwires and therefore provides good support. But bear in mind that underwires can show through thin fabric.
If you have a small bust, you can wear a strapless bra or one with so-called spaghetti straps. On the other hand, it is difficult to support a full bust with a bra that lacks proper shoulder straps.
For a dress with a low-cut back, there are bra styles with a low back, but these ‘require’ a smaller bust.
For a dress with a straight neckline, a balconette bra is best, as it simply lifts the bust rather than compressing it.
For a dress with a V-neck, a bra with a similar neckline is best.
Lingerie that matches the dress, shoes and tights is always a good choice.
Choose a shop with knowledgeable and helpful staff.

How to find the right bra

Don’t choose a size out of habit. Try it on instead! Many women wear the wrong size simply because they never take the time to find the right one. Once you’ve decided on a bra style, it’s all about finding the right size. And there are plenty to choose from – there can be as many as 32 different sizes for a single bra style. That’s how many there are when all the cup sizes are combined with different back widths.

01. The larger your bust, the more important it is to have a supportive bra; otherwise, it can lead to poor posture. Your breasts shouldn’t hang on your shoulders but should be lifted by the cups.

02. Try it on with clothes over the top; that makes it easier to see if the bra sits nicely.

03. Use a tape measure to measure the circumference under your bust. Then use that measurement as a guide and try on different cup sizes until you find one that fits. You can’t do it the other way round – the same cup size will be different for different bust circumferences.

If the circumference is too large, the bra will ride up at the back. If it’s too small, it will dig in. It fits best if you can slip a finger under the elastic band.

04. Lean forwards and ‘tuck’ your breasts into the bra as you put it on. That’s when it fits best.

05. If the shoulder straps dig in, it might be worth switching to an underwired bra that takes the pressure off your shoulders. Wider shoulder straps also help.

A Brief Guide to Bras

BALCONETTE
Underwired bra with ¾ cups. Best suited to a dress with a straight neckline as it lifts the bust without squeezing it together.

BODY
Good for a straight, smooth dress as it has no seams that might show through.

BUSTIER
Long bra bodice (reaching to the waist) with underwires. Provides support and lift in the same way as a corset, but without garters.

UNDERWIRED BRA
Features metal underwires beneath the bust to support and lift the bust. It reduces the strain on your back by 50 per cent.

MINIMISER
: This bra pushes the bust outwards into a larger, flatter shape. It can reduce the bust size by a whole size.

MAXIMISER
A heavily padded bra that creates a bust-enhancing effect.

PUSH-UP
A padded bra that lifts the bust and creates a deep cleavage.

STRAPLESS
A bra without shoulder straps. A must-have for a strapless dress.

TORSOLETTE
A corset-style top with suspender straps. Provides support and lift. Longer than a bustier, covers the entire tummy, and often features more lace.

T-SHIRT
BRA A bra with smooth cups. No seams are visible under tight-fitting clothes.

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