WWhether or not prescription sports bras led the Lionesses to victory Sunday night, the term remains “a new and underreported phrase for many women who play sports or work out,” says Priya Downes, founder of Durable Underwear . brand Nudea.
A step up from a regular bra fitting, a “sports bra prescription” is comparable to the kind of gait analysis you might get when buying a running shoe: watching how a player moves and then match them with the right type and size of bra. In the case of England’s winning goalscorer Chloe Kelly, that appears to be a Nike Dri-Fit Swoosh, which she plans to rock.
When shopping for sports bras, most of us tend to opt for the off-the-shelf compression type. Designed to prevent movement by flattening the chest and pulling it close to the body, they come in a range of sizes “but aren’t designed to have the perfect fit, so [it’s not surprising] a lot of professional athletes put their sports bras on,” adds Downes. “It’s just that we don’t normally see them on the big screen.”
The Lionesses had access to “biomechanics of the breast” Prof Joanna Wakefield-Scurr and the English Institute of Sport; instead of that kind of access, here are five ways to get the next best thing to a prescription sports bra
Equip more than once
“To get the right size, your best bet is to try on as many as possible,” says Downes. “Your breasts are constantly changing. Most of us go through six different sizes in our lifetime. It pays to fit your whole life instead of staying the same size forever.” Compression bras are made from a heavy microfiber, so “they’re designed to cover part of your ribcage as well as your breasts, and they’re super stretchy, which is great if your breasts change,” but sometimes, she adds, “we need something a little more suitable for our body type.”
Don’t just follow the traditional bra size
“It’s not necessarily about cup size,” advises Laura Franklin, Bravissimo’s fit expert. Downes, meanwhile, says 80% of the support comes from the back girdle — the fitted fabric strap that goes under your chest. This is the most important part of a sports bra, “so it’s essential to make sure it fits properly to prevent any damage and minimize movement,” she says. “If it feels a little tight, uncomfortable, then it’s the right size.”
Consider adjustable straps
“These are surprisingly hard to find in a sports bra, and you certainly won’t see them in a regular bra. [compression] kind, but if you have a fuller bust or a small rear and a large bust, it’s really worth looking into a bra with them,” says Downes. The focus is on comfort as well as support. “They don’t have to dig in because they don’t have to take the weight of the breasts,” she says. Likewise, if you’re getting red marks when you take it off, “that’s the wrong size, too.”
Choose a bra that fits your workout shape
“What works for something high-impact like soccer or running may not be necessary for something like yoga or pilates,” says Downes. Most sports bras are made with microfibers and synthetic fabrics, which wick away sweat better than slow-drying cotton. But breaking a sweat isn’t the priority with something like pilates. “You don’t need full-stretch, industrial-strength microfiber; you just want to give a little bit,” she says. Franklin recommends something soft with a front wrap and thinking in terms of light support rather than, say, binding. Downes suggests ribbed cotton, or Tencel, which has some stretch. “No one wants to be uncomfortable doing downward dog.”
Even women with small breasts should wear one
“Bras are essential for all women, regardless of their cup size,” says Charlotte Morgan, senior womenswear designer at independent activewear brand AYBL. “Without proper support, the ligaments in your breasts can stretch and, over time, be susceptible to irreversible damage.”
Can you ever wear two bras instead?
You went to the field but you forgot your sports bra? “I mean, you could double up and wear two bras together if that was available to you,” says Downes. “But again, it’s about fit.” However, if one of them is an underwire, forget it: “Underwires will hinder your performance,” says Morgan. Downes agrees: “Two wrongs don’t make a right, and the same goes for ill-fitting bras.”
