A bra should fit your body, not the other way around. It should embrace your shape, flatter your natural contours and smooth rather than constrict to avoid uncomfortable overhang. Understanding the main issue with bra bulge isn’t a body issue but rather a bra issue, look for a few key factors to find a fit that’s comfortable at any size.
Why Does Your Bra Show Your “Back Fat”?
Bra bulge, where the structure of a bra causes the body underneath it to push out especially at the back (below/above band) and underarm areas, can typically be attributed to either bra style, size or simply age.
You Are Buying The Wrong Bras
Start by sorting through the myriad of bra styles to find a few that work for both your wardrobe and your shape (our in depth guide, 20 Bra Types for Every Woman, is a solid resource to see many of the options). Even within a style, bras can vary greatly in terms of neckline, back design and strap options, so first focus on comfort and support, then play around with what works best for your typical style of dress.
You May Be Wearing the Wrong Bra Size
By now we’re guessing you’ve heard an alarming statistic about how many women are wearing the wrong size bra. There’s a lot of history, including the antiquated negative perception of larger cup sizes, behind why many women stay stuck in one size even as their bodies change through life and events like pregnancy and breastfeeding. Be willing to revisit your measurements each time you shop for bras, remember sizing can be a bit different by brand and understand sister sizes (the concept of retaining cup volume by going up a cup size and down a band size). For a quick refresher, check out our guide, How Should a Bra Fit, especially related to cup spillage issues.
Your Bra May be Worn Out / Too Old
Over time, a bra naturally stretches, both with wear and washing. At a certain point, it’s time to be honest with yourself, and say goodbye to your go-to if it’s not longer delivering the support it once was. A bra that lacks enough stretch to retain its shape can’t effectively contour yours, thus causing sudden spillage and bulge without your shape actually changing. Once again, the issue is with your bra, not your body.
Bras that Help Contour Your Back
Bra construction has come a long way in terms of both design and materials, as brands have recognized issues women deal with and attempted to alleviate them. At True&Co, we strive to design comfort for all sizes, specifically focused on smoothing to embrace your natural shape.
Features of Smoothing Bras
To start, our True Body lineup employs smoothing fabric, pull over design and thicker band width to avoid the common causes of back/side bulge.
Smoothing Fabric
A second skin fabric, True Body microfiber gives a barely there feel, even when employed in a slightly heavier weight for styles that deliver additional support. Further, seamless design means that where this material meets your skin the two become one, for both comfort as well as invisibility under clothes.
Claspless
For a completely flush look and feel, consider a pull over style bra which forgos the traditional bra clasp. This design also helps to smooth back bulge by eliminating another seam created by the connection of the hook and eye closure.
Thicker Bands
Another band element, overall width, can be helpful in shaping as a thicker band allows more material to spread across ones back while a thin bra band might have more tendency to cut in. As this width also extends into the sides, sometimes referred to as the bra’s “wings”, this can also help with any underarm concerns.
Our Favorite Smoothing Bras
Checking all of the above boxes, below are a few of our favorite bras to manage back bulge, giving you wardrobe options for necklines, straps and details like cooling mesh.
Lift Triangle Adjustable Strap Bra
Supportive lift meets smoothing contour. This slim strap style delivers wardrobe versatility alongside all day comfort. Removable pads allow you to customize the triangle cups for perfect fit while our softest True Body fabric ensures a barely there feel.
Lift Mesh Triangle Bra
Looking for a bit more breathability? We get it, and we put it right where you need it most. Cooling mesh panels along the back and sides add airflow to our triangle design while maintaining the same wirefree ease and second skin fit. Oh and did we mention the slim straps can be worn standard or criss cross? #winwin
Scoop Neck Bra
One of our (and your, based on over 900 reviews and a four star rating) favorites is the classic scoop. With a matching front and back neckline and a single layer of buttery soft True Body microfiber, it’s no wonder this lightweight, wirefree style is a go-to for many. Curve hugging, invisible under clothes and available in a variety of neutral skin tones, it’s ready to become a wardrobe staple for you too.
V Neck Bra
With over 2000 reviews and a four star rating, the crowd favorite V Neck Bra is one of our most loved styles. A double layer of super soft True Body fabric smooths your natural shape while the wirefree design hugs your curves. A matching back silhouette gives this bra style when worn on its own while seamless design make it disappear under clothes when layered.
