Today I drug myself into Victoria’s Secret for the first time in what felt like years. Being that it’s February, the store is practically exploding in lace–even more so than usual, if you can imagine that. But I kind of dug it, everything felt very feminine and empowering. Anyways, I recently came to the realization that I have been wearing the same bra for years now. And I don’t mean the same style–I mean the SAME bra.

Did you know that you can wear a bra out in as quickly as a month? I had no idea. I did some research and it sounds like the average bra should be replaced every 6 months to 1 year, depending on how often you wear it. Unless its a special piece that you only wear around once a month, those bras should last you a very long time. But that T-shirt bra you wear everyday to work? Yeah that puppy needs to be replaced on the REGULAR. Material also comes into play as far as longevity; but I say, buy what you want, what makes you feel good. Then keep an eye on it and replace it once the bra starts showing signs of age.

In an effort to maintain transparency, I am going to show you just how long I let things go in this department. It is my hope that this post highlights just how important it is to take care of yourself, even in areas as mundane and annoying as bra shopping. After talking about it briefly on my Instagram story, I had the pleasure of engaging with 20+ women on how this needs to be talked about more, their own experiences with bra shopping, and some recommendations for new retailers to explore.

Signs It’s Time for a Replacement

• The band is stretched out or always hiking up in the back
• The straps constantly fall off your shoulder, no matter how much you adjust them
• The cup fabric is wrinkled or has permanent creases
• Your body has changed and the bra just doesn’t feel “right” anymore

Choosing the Right Bra

Can you imagine putting your bra on in the morning and NEVER touching it again throughout the day? “Impossible!”, you say? Wrong. That is the power of a properly fitted bra, sisters.

This is honestly the worst part of the battle, but also the most important. Who wants to have a stranger wrap their arms around your tits, try on multiple bras, AND suffer through fitting room mirrors? I know, I know. But the 30-minutes to an hour that it takes to be fitted and find a style you love is 100% worth it to never have to endure a poor-fitting bra again.

If you’ve never been fitted, it’s not as scary as you might think. I can remember going with my mom to VS and seeing signs about fittings. I imagined some strange woman seeing me completely topless and strapping some kind of measuring tape around me. That is not how it goes. In fact, they can measure you right there on the sales floor, depending on what you’re wearing and your comfort level. All it takes is a non-bulky shirt, and the employee will wrap a measuring tape around the fullest part of your bust to get your cup size and around your ribs to get your band size. It’s painless!

I bought two bras today that I’m super excited about! One is a t-shirt bra with THICK straps! Seriously. I almost died when I saw those glorious straps. The other is a blush balconette–I also got the matching underwear! I decided its time to ditch the idea of these things being for men–my ASS, this shit is 100% for me. It’s been a long time since I owned a bra/panty set that made me feel sexy; what better time than now?! Especially with Valentine’s Day right around the corner. Here’s to being single and thriving!

Regardless of your relationship status, have you ever felt a bra that properly fits? It completely changes the way you feel. You’re supported, clothes are more flattering, and quite frankly its a huge confidence boost. Some retailers I was recommended to try include:

• Victoria’s Secret — They’re running some Valentine’s Day promotions currently
• Wacoal America — I can’t wait to try this brand–it appears to be very inclusive
• Le Mystere — High-impact and still perfect for under any outfit
• Lululemon — Read more about this life changing bra below…

That “High Impact” Life

It would be a sin not to share my all time favorite sports bra. The “Enlite” by Lululemon, and while there’s some sticker shock associated, this bra is unparalleled. It’s half the reason I’ve let my normal bra’s go for so long. I wear this damn bra DAILY–under athleisure, during workouts, even under my cute clothes! It doesn’t give you that “uni-boob” that is so common in sports bra’s and it lasts for. ever. I’m not kidding. I have probably six of these, even the very first one I bought 2 years ago is barely showing signs of wear.

There is a break-in period on this slice of heaven, sometimes when they’re brand new it can be difficult to clasp the bra, but that’s because eventually the material MELTS to your body. It fits like an absolute dream. As a busty girl, having a solid sports bra is essential, and this one meets all the requirements. Also, they regularly put the seasonal colors on clearance–I’ve purchased multiple for $39! If you’re neutral on color, as I am, this brown one is currently on sale with a wide size variety still available.

Looking for something more budget-friendly? I was recommended to try this one by Le Mystere! Personally, the Enlite bra has me forever taken care of in this department, but more options never hurt!

Proper care

I realize we’re all out here investing anywhere from $50 to $100+ on bra’s and lingerie, so we also need to talk about how to properly care for these items. In order to prolong the life of your lingerie, try washing them in a mesh laundry bag. If this were a perfect world, you’d wash them in a mesh bag, on a gentle cycle, with lingerie-specific detergent, and nothing else in the washer. Or better yet, some people are out here hand washing their shit. Now, if you’re like me, that sounds like a hell of a lot of work. #ItsANoForMeDawg

Instead, I would suggest meeting somewhere in the middle. Have you ever pulled a bra out of the washer/dryer and found that a clip got caught on another article of clothing and either damaged the clip or the item it was stuck to?? So frustrating, right?! Seriously I need all my clasps firing on all cylinders.

I’ve known for a long time that I need to invest in a lingerie bag, so that’s my first step. You can buy these from a variety of retailers;I went ahead and ordered these from Amazon. (I also love that I can take the XL size bag with me when I travel to separate out my dirty laundry. Double win!) Another thing I’ve done for a long time is hang dry my bra’s–I find the dryer can be very aggressive on quite a few items, including lingerie.

Let’s talk about the “girls”

Alright, it’s one thing to take care of the bra’s that support us, but its another to take proper care of the “girls” themselves! We’ve all heard these items, but sometimes we need a friendly reminder. It’s 2020 ladies, we can’t be out here neglecting the girls closest to us. (A.K.A. your boobs in case I lost you)

• Monthly Self Breast Exams: Listen, this is so much easier than we all have it made up in our minds. It takes 2 minutes in the shower or while you’re applying lotion. In case you forgot what the system is, here’s a quick lil graphic refresher 😉

• Moisturize: Let me repeat that, MOISTURIZE. The skin around your breasts is like the Kardashians: thin, sensitive, and high maintenance AF. All I’m saying is, what you skip in private will one day be visible in public, ya feel? My favorite lotion of all time is the Hempz Original!
• Eat Well and Exercise: Ultimately, every inch of our bodies thrive when we take care of it–and that includes your boobs.
• Wear a Bra, or Don’t: There’s really no right or wrong here, but if you DO wear a bra, make sure it’s doing it’s part. Invest in a correctly-sized, well-fitting bra, care for it, and replace it when its due.
• Annual Clinical Breast Exams: Schedule it when you do your other OBGYN annual exams–knock it all out in one setting.

That’s all for now, ladies! I hope this post was educational and helpful all around. Here’s to taking proper care of our “girls” in 2020–inside and out!