Underwires are uncomfortable. Do I really need a bra with underwire?

If your underwire is poking or uncomfortable, you may not be wearing the correct size or style for your body type.

You should have a professional fitting at least once a year, but in between, you can perform your own spot checks by using our “points of fit” guide below. Remember, you may have the right size, but just not the right style.

Points of Fit (relating to underwire discomfort):

Center Gore (center front): Should lay perfectly flat with your breast bone. If it is painful and digging in, you need either one cup size bigger or a different style of bra.

Underwire: Should rest under the arm pit just behind the breast tissue, not on the breast tissue. We like to equate this concept to a letter and an envelope: the envelope (underwire) must be slightly larger than the letter (breast) so that the letter fits comfortably inside. If the underwire pokes or rests on top of the breast, you need a larger cup size or a different style of bra for your body type.

Underwires help to hold the breasts in a position that gives you the most support and lift. We recommend bras with the support of wires. If you have had a medical procedure and are unable to wear underwires, or are still bothered by wires after a professional fitting, there are brands who make specially designed wire-free bras that still give great support without using underwires.