Most of us don’t think about replacing a bra until it stops fitting right, but by then it’s usually been past its prime for months. Bras wear out quietly | the straps loosen, the elastic tires out, the underwire shifts | long before anything feels obviously “wrong.” Here’s the 3 part check to run on your go-to bra right now.
1. Check the straps
Pull the straps to their shortest setting. If they still slip down through the day, the elastic inside has stretched past the point of holding its shape. A strap that needs constant re-adjusting isn’t doing its job anymore, no matter how many times you tighten it.
If your straps have given out, it’s usually a sign the whole bra has stretched with them. Our wire-free styles hold their shape well between wears and are a good next pick if support, not structure, is what you’re after.
2. Look at the elastic
Turn the band inside out and look closely at the elastic threads along the edges. Fraying, visible threads, or a band that feels loose and ripply instead of snapping back into shape are all signs the elastic has broken down. The band carries most of a bra’s support, so once it goes, the whole fit goes with it.
Hand washing in cold water and skipping the dryer will extend the life of the elastic in any new bra you buy | our full care and washing guide walks through it step by step.
3. Feel for the underwire
Run a finger along the underwire casing, especially near the tips. If you can feel the wire poking through the fabric, catching on your finger, or sitting at an odd angle, it’s time to retire that bra. A shifted or exposed underwire won’t sit against your body the way it’s supposed to, and it can be uncomfortable or even poke through.
If underwire has never been comfortable for you in the first place, it’s worth trying a wire-free style instead, like Erika, one of our best sellers for a smooth, no-wire fit.
The quick version
If your bra fails any one of these three checks, it’s telling you something. Bras don’t fail all at once, they wear down one part at a time, which is exactly why it’s easy to keep wearing one well past its useful life.
Give your everyday bra this 30 second check today. If it’s showing its age, this is a good week to replace it | sitewide is 20% off through the weekend, so there’s no better time to swap out anything that didn’t pass the test. Not sure what size or style to replace it with? Our fit calculator takes the guesswork out of it, or browse our best sellers to find your next everyday bra.
Looking for the full “keep or toss” checklist? Check out our related post, Bra Refresh | To Keep? Or, Not to Keep?
