Troubleshooting Guide
This troubleshooting guide lists some common bra problems and solutions, and product recommendations for a better fit.
Where are your bra issues?
Underwire
Cups
Band
Shoulder Straps
Other
Underwire
Cups
Band
Shoulder Straps
Other
UNDERWIRE
The underwire digs in at the center gore
If everything else about the bra fits well, the reason is the underwire is too hard and rigid. A softer underwire will help. Try something from our FlexWire collection.
If the center gore hurts because it's too tall for you, try a bra with a shorter center gore. Here are our bras with short center gores.
If the center gore hurts because it's too tall for you, try a bra with a shorter center gore. Here are our bras with short center gores.
The underwire digs in at the center gore
If everything else about the bra fits well, the reason is the underwire is too hard and rigid. A softer underwire will help. Try something from our FlexWire collection.
If the center gore hurts because it's too tall for you, try a bra with a shorter center gore. Here are our bras with short center gores.
If the center gore hurts because it's too tall for you, try a bra with a shorter center gore. Here are our bras with short center gores.
The underwire digs into your armpit
If the bra otherwise fits well, but the underwire pokes your armpit, the underwire is too tall on the sides. This tends to happen to people with petite body types (5'2 or under), or people with shorter torsos. Switching to a bra with a wire that comes up shorter on the sides will fix the problem. Check out bras with shorter underwires.
The underwire digs into your armpit
If the bra otherwise fits well, but the underwire pokes your armpit, the underwire is too tall on the sides. This tends to happen to people with petite body types (5'2 or under), or people with shorter torsos. Switching to a bra with a wire that comes up shorter on the sides will fix the problem. Check out bras with shorter underwires.
The underwire digs into your back
If the bra otherwise fits well, but the underwire hurts because it's reaching all the way to your back, the underwire is too wide. Switch to a bra with a narrower underwire. Check out our bras with narrow underwires, and bras with regular width underwires.
The underwire digs into your back
If the bra otherwise fits well, but the underwire hurts because it's reaching all the way to your back, the underwire is too wide. Switch to a bra with a narrower underwire. Check out our bras with narrow underwires, and bras with regular width underwires.
The underwire is sitting on your breast tissue
If the underwire hurts on the sides because it's sitting on your breast tissue, this is a sign that the underwire is too narrow. To fix this bra fit problem, try a bra with a wider, more open underwire. Check out our bras with wider underwires. Alternatively, try a wireless bra. Here are our wireless bras.
The underwire is sitting on your breast tissue
If the underwire hurts on the sides because it's sitting on your breast tissue, this is a sign that the underwire is too narrow. To fix this bra fit problem, try a bra with a wider, more open underwire. Check out our bras with wider underwires. Alternatively, try a wireless bra. Here are our wireless bras.
Center gore doesn't lie flat
If it feels like your breasts aren't "dropping" into the cups, because the cups don't have enough room in them, choose a bra with deeper cups. Here are our projected bras and our very projected bras.
Center gore doesn't lie flat
If it feels like your breasts aren't "dropping" into the cups, because the cups don't have enough room in them, choose a bra with deeper cups. Here are our projected bras and our very projected bras.
CUPS
The cup gaps/wrinkles on top
If the cups feel fine everywhere else, but there is some wrinkling or gapping at the top (feels like there is "too much bra" at the top), try a bra with a shorter cup. Here are our bras with less front coverage.
The cup gaps/wrinkles on top
If the cups feel fine everywhere else, but there is some wrinkling or gapping at the top (feels like there is "too much bra" at the top), try a bra with a shorter cup. Here are our bras with less front coverage.
The cup gaps/wrinkles above the wire
This is when there is excess space between the wire and the bottom of your breasts. This can happen for a number of reasons.
First, make sure you scoop and swoop.
If this is happening because the bra is overall too tall for you (both gapping above the wire and gapping at the top of the cups), pick a bra with a shorter cup. Here are our bras with shorter cups.
First, make sure you scoop and swoop.
If this is happening because the bra is overall too tall for you (both gapping above the wire and gapping at the top of the cups), pick a bra with a shorter cup. Here are our bras with shorter cups.
The cup gaps/wrinkles above the wire
This is when there is excess space between the wire and the bottom of your breasts. This can happen for a number of reasons.
First, make sure you scoop and swoop.
If this is happening because the bra is overall too tall for you (both gapping above the wire and gapping at the top of the cups), pick a bra with a shorter cup. Here are our bras with shorter cups.
First, make sure you scoop and swoop.
If this is happening because the bra is overall too tall for you (both gapping above the wire and gapping at the top of the cups), pick a bra with a shorter cup. Here are our bras with shorter cups.
The cups gap/wrinkle on the sides
This is a lesser-known bra fit issue, and something not many people notice. When it happens, you don't feel held in by your bra. It feels like your breasts have too much room, but when you size down, you get overflow at the top. A too-wide underwire can cause side gapping. Here are our bras with average width underwires, and our bras with narrow underwires.
The cups gap/wrinkle on the sides
This is a lesser-known bra fit issue, and something not many people notice. When it happens, you don't feel held in by your bra. It feels like your breasts have too much room, but when you size down, you get overflow at the top. A too-wide underwire can cause side gapping. Here are our bras with average width underwires, and our bras with narrow underwires.
Overflow on top
Top overflow (also known as "quadboob") typically happens when the cups are too small. If the overflow is more than a smidge and clearly visible, this signals that you are wearing a cup size that is at least two sizes too small. We recommend remeasuring and using our size calculator for a quick check.
Full-on-top shapes (when you hold your breasts up with your hands, most of the breast tissue is above the nipple) tend to struggle with top overflow. If you've tried the same bra in several neighboring sizes, but you always overflow, you need a bra that's full-on-top friendly (tall cups, more open pattern for the top half of the cup). Here are our bras that suit full-on-top shapes.
Full-on-top shapes (when you hold your breasts up with your hands, most of the breast tissue is above the nipple) tend to struggle with top overflow. If you've tried the same bra in several neighboring sizes, but you always overflow, you need a bra that's full-on-top friendly (tall cups, more open pattern for the top half of the cup). Here are our bras that suit full-on-top shapes.
Overflow on top
Top overflow (also known as "quadboob") typically happens when the cups are too small. If the overflow is more than a smidge and clearly visible, this signals that you are wearing a cup size that is at least two sizes too small. We recommend remeasuring and using our size calculator for a quick check.
Full-on-top shapes (when you hold your breasts up with your hands, most of the breast tissue is above the nipple) tend to struggle with top overflow. If you've tried the same bra in several neighboring sizes, but you always overflow, you need a bra that's full-on-top friendly (tall cups, more open pattern for the top half of the cup). Here are our bras that suit full-on-top shapes.
Full-on-top shapes (when you hold your breasts up with your hands, most of the breast tissue is above the nipple) tend to struggle with top overflow. If you've tried the same bra in several neighboring sizes, but you always overflow, you need a bra that's full-on-top friendly (tall cups, more open pattern for the top half of the cup). Here are our bras that suit full-on-top shapes.
Overflow from bottom
Bottom overflow is usually caused by the band being too loose, and/or the cups being too small. A properly fitted band shouldn't let any breast tissue "escape." Overflow from the bottom is a usually sign that your bra size is significantly off. We recommend remeasuring and using our size calculator as a starting point.
Overflow from bottom
Bottom overflow is usually caused by the band being too loose, and/or the cups being too small. A properly fitted band shouldn't let any breast tissue "escape." Overflow from the bottom is a usually sign that your bra size is significantly off. We recommend remeasuring and using our size calculator as a starting point.
Overflow from the sides
If the side overflow is only a smidge, we recommend the same size, but in a wide underwire bra. If the style you are wearing is already a wide underwire style, we recommend going up one size.
If the side overflow is about 2-3 fingers, we recommend going up at least one cup size.
If the side overflow is about 2-3 fingers, we recommend going up at least one cup size.
Overflow from the sides
If the side overflow is only a smidge, we recommend the same size, but in a wide underwire bra. If the style you are wearing is already a wide underwire style, we recommend going up one size.
If the side overflow is about 2-3 fingers, we recommend going up at least one cup size.
If the side overflow is about 2-3 fingers, we recommend going up at least one cup size.
Asymmetry
Our asymmetry-friendly collection has bras with some padding. The padding is removable in some styles, and sewn-in for other styles. They can help even out the two sides.
Asymmetry
Our asymmetry-friendly collection has bras with some padding. The padding is removable in some styles, and sewn-in for other styles. They can help even out the two sides.
BAND
Band rides up in the back
When your bra band creeps up your back, and the whole bra "see-saws", this is usually because the band is too loose and/or the cups are too small. This signals that your bra size is significantly off. Remeasure and use our size calculator for a quick check. Make sure to measure your ribcage snugly, imitating the tightness of the bra band.
Band rides up in the back
When your bra band creeps up your back, and the whole bra "see-saws", this is usually because the band is too loose and/or the cups are too small. This signals that your bra size is significantly off. Remeasure and use our size calculator for a quick check. Make sure to measure your ribcage snugly, imitating the tightness of the bra band.
Band feels too tight
If your cups fit well - the cups encapsulate your breasts without gapping or overflow at the top, sides, or bottom - then sister size up (e.g. if you are wearing 34G, try a 36DDD). This will take away a little bit of the lift, but it will be better for ribcage comfort.
Sometimes, the band feels too tight because the cups are too small. If your breasts feel suffocated by the cups, your body can confuse it for the band being too small. Do an independent band test: wear the bra with the cups pointing down your back, so you are only wearing the bra band, not the cups. If the band feels ok in this case, stick with the same band size and tweak your cup size. If the band still feels too tight in this case, go up a band size.
Sometimes, the band feels too tight because the cups are too small. If your breasts feel suffocated by the cups, your body can confuse it for the band being too small. Do an independent band test: wear the bra with the cups pointing down your back, so you are only wearing the bra band, not the cups. If the band feels ok in this case, stick with the same band size and tweak your cup size. If the band still feels too tight in this case, go up a band size.
Band feels too tight
If your cups fit well - the cups encapsulate your breasts without gapping or overflow at the top, sides, or bottom - then sister size up (e.g. if you are wearing 34G, try a 36DDD). This will take away a little bit of the lift, but it will be better for ribcage comfort.
Sometimes, the band feels too tight because the cups are too small. If your breasts feel suffocated by the cups, your body can confuse it for the band being too small. Do an independent band test: wear the bra with the cups pointing down your back, so you are only wearing the bra band, not the cups. If the band feels ok in this case, stick with the same band size and tweak your cup size. If the band still feels too tight in this case, go up a band size.
Sometimes, the band feels too tight because the cups are too small. If your breasts feel suffocated by the cups, your body can confuse it for the band being too small. Do an independent band test: wear the bra with the cups pointing down your back, so you are only wearing the bra band, not the cups. If the band feels ok in this case, stick with the same band size and tweak your cup size. If the band still feels too tight in this case, go up a band size.
SHOULDER STRAPS
Shoulder straps dig in and cause pain
As a rule, shoulder straps shouldn't be doing much of the lifting when you are wearing a bra. The band and underwire should do the majority of it. The cups do a little. The straps are mostly there to keep things in place.
If your shoulder straps fall off, and you have other bra fitting issues on this list (such as overflow, gapping, the band feeling tight, underwire pain), we recommend remeasuring and using our size calculator for a quick check. Make sure to measure your ribcage snugly, imitating the tightness of the bra band.
Don't just tighten the straps for more support! If the band is loose, only tightening the straps without changing sizes will cause the shoulder straps to dig.
If your shoulder straps fall off, and you have other bra fitting issues on this list (such as overflow, gapping, the band feeling tight, underwire pain), we recommend remeasuring and using our size calculator for a quick check. Make sure to measure your ribcage snugly, imitating the tightness of the bra band.
Don't just tighten the straps for more support! If the band is loose, only tightening the straps without changing sizes will cause the shoulder straps to dig.
Shoulder straps dig in and cause pain
As a rule, shoulder straps shouldn't be doing much of the lifting when you are wearing a bra. The band and underwire should do the majority of it. The cups do a little. The straps are mostly there to keep things in place.
If your shoulder straps fall off, and you have other bra fitting issues on this list (such as overflow, gapping, the band feeling tight, underwire pain), we recommend remeasuring and using our size calculator for a quick check. Make sure to measure your ribcage snugly, imitating the tightness of the bra band.
Don't just tighten the straps for more support! If the band is loose, only tightening the straps without changing sizes will cause the shoulder straps to dig.
If your shoulder straps fall off, and you have other bra fitting issues on this list (such as overflow, gapping, the band feeling tight, underwire pain), we recommend remeasuring and using our size calculator for a quick check. Make sure to measure your ribcage snugly, imitating the tightness of the bra band.
Don't just tighten the straps for more support! If the band is loose, only tightening the straps without changing sizes will cause the shoulder straps to dig.
Shoulder straps fall off
If your bra fits well otherwise (band feels comfortable, cups encapsulate your breasts without overflow or gapping), only the shoulder straps fall off, try bras with a U-back (sometimes called leotard back). These bras have straps that sit closer together in the back, preventing them from slipping.
If your bra has slipping shoulder straps along with some other bra fitting issues, such as overflow, gapping, feeling tight in the band, or underwire pain, then it's time to remeasure using our size calculator.
If your bra has slipping shoulder straps along with some other bra fitting issues, such as overflow, gapping, feeling tight in the band, or underwire pain, then it's time to remeasure using our size calculator.
Shoulder straps fall off
If your bra fits well otherwise (band feels comfortable, cups encapsulate your breasts without overflow or gapping), only the shoulder straps fall off, try bras with a U-back (sometimes called leotard back). These bras have straps that sit closer together in the back, preventing them from slipping.
If your bra has slipping shoulder straps along with some other bra fitting issues, such as overflow, gapping, feeling tight in the band, or underwire pain, then it's time to remeasure using our size calculator.
If your bra has slipping shoulder straps along with some other bra fitting issues, such as overflow, gapping, feeling tight in the band, or underwire pain, then it's time to remeasure using our size calculator.
Shoulder straps are too short
Our newer styles (from January 2023 onwards) have longer straps that work for most under 6'. If you find the straps still too short, please reach out to hello@understance.com or book a virtual fitting, and we can help find a solution for you.
If you find yourself constantly lengthening the straps in order to give your shoulders some relief, we recommend trying a smaller band size. A tighter, more supportive band can take some weight off your shoulders.
If you find yourself constantly lengthening the straps in order to give your shoulders some relief, we recommend trying a smaller band size. A tighter, more supportive band can take some weight off your shoulders.
Shoulder straps are too short
Our newer styles (from January 2023 onwards) have longer straps that work for most under 6'. If you find the straps still too short, please reach out to hello@understance.com or book a virtual fitting, and we can help find a solution for you.
If you find yourself constantly lengthening the straps in order to give your shoulders some relief, we recommend trying a smaller band size. A tighter, more supportive band can take some weight off your shoulders.
If you find yourself constantly lengthening the straps in order to give your shoulders some relief, we recommend trying a smaller band size. A tighter, more supportive band can take some weight off your shoulders.
OTHER
My Understance size is very different from my size at other brands
First, make sure you are using the same sizing system. Many brands that carry bigger cup sizes use UK sizing, which goes A, B, C, D, DD, E, F, FF, G, GG, H, HH, J, JJ… Understance is based in Vancouver, Canada, and we use North American sizing, which goes A, B, C, D, DD, DDD, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N…
If you have only shopped at stores with limited sizes (up to DD), and you are not completely happy with your bra (slipping shoulder straps, band not staying put, spillage, generally feeling not very secure in your bra and a need to constantly adjust), we recommend you give your Understance calculator size a try.
Check out our bad fit vs. good fit video.
If you have only shopped at stores with limited sizes (up to DD), and you are not completely happy with your bra (slipping shoulder straps, band not staying put, spillage, generally feeling not very secure in your bra and a need to constantly adjust), we recommend you give your Understance calculator size a try.
Check out our bad fit vs. good fit video.
My Understance size is very different from my size at other brands
First, make sure you are using the same sizing system. Many brands that carry bigger cup sizes use UK sizing, which goes A, B, C, D, DD, E, F, FF, G, GG, H, HH, J, JJ… Understance is based in Vancouver, Canada, and we use North American sizing, which goes A, B, C, D, DD, DDD, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N…
If you have only shopped at stores with limited sizes (up to DD), and you are not completely happy with your bra (slipping shoulder straps, band not staying put, spillage, generally feeling not very secure in your bra and a need to constantly adjust), we recommend you give your Understance calculator size a try.
Check out our bad fit vs. good fit video.
If you have only shopped at stores with limited sizes (up to DD), and you are not completely happy with your bra (slipping shoulder straps, band not staying put, spillage, generally feeling not very secure in your bra and a need to constantly adjust), we recommend you give your Understance calculator size a try.
Check out our bad fit vs. good fit video.
I wear different sizes in different Understance styles
Our bras are categorized by projection. Some have shallow cups, some have very deep cups (we separate our bras into four levels of projection). They are designed for different breast shapes. In practice, some people can wear bras across projection levels, but at different sizes. For example, if you wear Zoe in (a shallow) 34G, you can wear Salma in (a projected) 34DDD. Conversely, if you wear Anya in a (very projected) 40I, you can wear Salma in a (projected) 40J.
I wear different sizes in different Understance styles
Our bras are categorized by projection. Some have shallow cups, some have very deep cups (we separate our bras into four levels of projection). They are designed for different breast shapes. In practice, some people can wear bras across projection levels, but at different sizes. For example, if you wear Zoe in (a shallow) 34G, you can wear Salma in (a projected) 34DDD. Conversely, if you wear Anya in a (very projected) 40I, you can wear Salma in a (projected) 40J.
