Bra rules from A to DD

A scene in Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist gets the gist of it: Norah, wearing a sports bra under her shirt, is taken inside the van of “all-gay band” The Jerk-offs, and convinced by one of the band’s members to change into a better-fitting push-up bra before going out with Nick to find Fluffy. The resulting transformation is less dramatic than the usual nerdy-girl-takes-off-glasses-and-turns-into-a-hottie trick — no hair in the wind, no cheesy ‘90s anthem playing, and nothing was in slow motion. It’s just a case of a girl, getting rid of a uni-boob and feeling better about herself just by wearing the right bra. Even those who lack Kat Dennings’ assets might agree — when it comes to fashion, it’s what’s underneath that can make or break an outfit. Here are some tips, some of them we already know but often times forget or ignore, some new and possibly life changing, to finding the right coasters for your cups.

1. Never wear a white bra with a black shirt or a white shirt. Black or nude is always better — especially if flash photography will be involved.

2. Don’t let your straps show through a halter-top, racer-back, strapless gown, etc. — ever. Visible straps are generally no-no’s, but if you absolutely must, look to the likes of Gwen Stefani, who turns the fashion faux pas into rocker chic just by being her. If you’re not her, don’t risk it.

3. Don’t let your bra line show through your dress. Bra line = padding. Bras don’t just provide support; they create an illusion and bra lines are distracting, dead giveaways.

4. Do invest in a show-off piece — a bra with straps that are meant to be seen. They will come in handy when wearing sheer blouses, or low-cut shirts with an edgy look.

5. Always remember: just because it’s plastic, doesn’t mean it’s invisible. One of my pet peeves is the transparent plastic bra strap — they are not invisible! They look tacky, end of story.

6. Do make sure that the cups lie flat. When choosing a bra, pick one that doesn’t gap on the sides or on top of your chest. Go down a cup size if they do. When wearing bras with underwire, make sure that the wire doesn’t dig into the flesh. If they do, go up a cup size.

7. Do keep in mind that for push-up bras, all the support comes from the band, not the cups.

8. Adjusting bra straps to lift the breasts is a no-no! If you have the right size, you shouldn’t have to. Instead, try a smaller band.

9. Don’t choose a bra that rides up on the back, or worse, highlights back fat. The band should be perfectly flat on the back and stay on the same level as on the front.

10. Do re-evaluate the fit of your existing bras every six months — La Senza brand manager Bobeck Burias says, generally, bras have a shelf life of six months because our bodies change and bras go through wear-and-tear, too. Bras don’t last forever.

11. Underwire is your friend. Those blessed with B cups and above are advised to subscribe to the benefits of an underwire bra, which provides support and slows down sagging.

12. Do go for a bra with silky, nylon-based material if you’re looking for versatility. They can go undetected under almost any fabric.

13. Don’t wear a lace bra under thin fabric or super-tight tops — your clothes should always look smooth, not bumpy.

14. Find the right shade of nude. Unlike black, nude is not a very universal color — they come in as many shades as there are skin tones and finding the right one is important if “sheer” is your goal. I’ve found that pale (not pastel!) shades of purple or olive also work on occasion.

15. For strapless bras, go one cup smaller and make sure the bra has a wide band and a defined space in between cups, just so you don’t end up with a uni-boob.

16. The “pour and shake” is like the “bend and snap” — it’s pointless if you don’t do it right. It’s the right way of putting on a bra: put your arms through the straps, lean forward, let your breasts fall into the cups and fasten.

17. Don’t ignore the sales personnel — they are usually trained to find the right size for customers. La Senza stores have experts who can find your correct measurements and patiently assist you while you look for the perfect fit.

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La Senza stores are located at Abreeza Mall, Alabang Town Center, Greenbelt 3, TriNoma, Bonifacio High Street, Eastwood Mall, Harbor Point, Power Plant Mall, Resorts World Manila, Robinsons Galleria, Shangri-La Mall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, The Podium, SM Masinag and SM Southmall. For information, like Lasenzaph on Facebook.