5 Uplifting Benefits of a Wired Bra
Finding a bra that fits well is a struggle for many women, and the biggest decision to make when it comes to bra shopping is whether to look for a wired bra or a wireless bra. Underwire bras have gotten a reputation for being uncomfortable. Many people even wonder is wearing an underwire bra bad for you? However, this is not always necessarily the case. In fact, a wired bra can be very comfortable because it has more to do with getting the right size and style for your breast shape than anything else.
In addition to the right wired bra being comfortable, there are many benefits to wearing a wired bra, including:
- They provide support.
- They contour breast tissue.
- They can offer a lift.
- They can help improve posture.
- They provide a shapelier physique.
Learning more about each of these benefits of a wired bra can help you immensely as you try to find the right bra for you. Read on to find out more about how each of the above benefits can help and support you as well as other important things to consider when it comes to finding the right wired bra.
Table of Contents
What Is the Difference Between a Wired and Non-Wired Bra?
The main difference between a wired and non-wired bra is that wired bras have a wire wrapped in fabric and inserted into the bottom of each bra cup. This wire helps lift and separate the breasts.
Non-wired bras, on the other hand, are only comprised of fabric, and their support comes from the straps. This makes them a nice option for lounging around in; however, they do not offer the same support and lift that a bra with a wire does. If you are considering should I wear a bra to bed or just pajamas, an underwire bra should never be in the question.
Non-wired bras also do not provide the same visually appealing look that underwire bras do. The underwire being inserted into each cup helps define each breast’s shape and gives them a lift. Bras without a wire can tend to give the impression of a “uni-boob” and do not have the same lift that a wired bra does. An underwire bra can take you from just wearing a dress to looking stunning in a red dress.
What Are the Benefits of a Wired Bra?
Ideally speaking, when you put on a wired bra, you want to forget that it’s there. The right wired bra will fit right, provide the right support and coverage, and be comfortable without having to constantly be adjusted as you go about your day.
If a bra does not do have these qualities, then it is time to look at a different brand, a different style, and—if you are not already wearing one—consider whether an underwire bra would be more beneficial to you and provides the comfort and support that you need. However, there’s plenty to love about wired bras, so before you switch to non-wired bras, consider the benefits below.
5 Uplifting Benefits of a Wired Bra
As mentioned before, underwire bras have an unearned reputation for being uncomfortable. Many people hear the words “wired bra” or “an underwire bra” and get images of metal poking into their skin. This may happen; however, it is not because the bra HAS a wire in it, but rather that the bra has been worn out, is not cleaned properly—which may cause the wire to break and poke through the fabric—is simply the wrong style, or most importantly, is the wrong size (more on this later).
On the contrary, the right underwire bra can actually be more comfortable than a wireless bra and provides plenty of benefits:
They Provide Support
Probably the most obvious benefit to having an underwire bra is that they provide support. For women with large chests, having extra support in their bra is not only more preferable but sometimes necessary. However, even if you are smaller chested, having extra support can still be beneficial. This is especially true if you have gone through pregnancy and breastfeeding, which may stretch the ligaments that support and hold your breasts up.
Of course, just having this type of support can lead to other benefits, which we’ll explore further below.
They Contour the Breasts
Another benefit of the underwire in bras is that they contour the breast. What this means is that the wire helps encompass the entirety of the breast tissue. Breasts come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and the weight sits in different areas. For some women, the majority of their breast tissue is more on the sides of their breasts.
Contouring helps with two things:
- It helps center the breasts toward the front of the chest.
- It brings the weight of the breasts closer to the chest.
This is similar to the effects of wearing a backpack where the straps are properly tightened. Even if the backpack has heavy items in it, if the bulk of the weight is pressed closer to the body, the strain on the muscles is reduced. In the same way, when the breast tissue is condensed into one area and pushed closer to the chest, the chest muscles don’t have to work as hard to hold the weight.
Additionally, contouring, in effect, separates the breasts instead of squishing them together in one uniform blob. While this is more “aesthetically appealing,” having that separation also ensures that the chest muscles work more uniformly, and each has its own weight to bear. Whereas, without that separation (which can happen more easily with wireless bras), one side of the chest may be working harder or have more weight to carry than the other.
They Provide Lift
Along with contouring, another benefit that contributes to an underwire providing more support is that the wire helps lift the breasts up. While some lifts can be accomplished with the right style, shape, and material of a bra, the bulk of a lift will come from a wire being underneath the breasts.
Similar to the effects of contouring or surrounding the breasts and drawing them closer to the chest, lifting the breasts via an underwire also brings the weight of the chest more in direct line with the chest muscles, and the wire helps hold them in place instead of sagging or shifting that may occur without a wire. This, in turn, reduces strain on the chest muscles and the back, neck, and shoulder muscles.
Additionally, the added lift means that there is not as much required of the bra straps to hold up the breasts, meaning they are less likely to dig into your shoulders and create marks and discomfort.
They Can Help Improve Posture
A benefit that goes hand in hand with lifting and contouring is that improved support can naturally lead to improved posture, which can help reduce muscle aches and tension, as well as headaches.
When the breasts are not properly supported, they will sag, and your shoulders will naturally slump forward with them. Having wire support that lifts them means that you will naturally lift and hold your shoulders back, as well.
When the bra’s contouring successfully separates the breasts and evenly distributes their weight, your shoulders end up separating instead of slumping toward each other or hunched up.
They Create an Attractive Shape
The last benefit of wearing a bra with a wire in it is that it creates an attractive shape. The lift created by the wire keeps the breasts from sagging or pointing downward. Meanwhile, the contouring helps create a round shape that many people find attractive and looks good no matter what you’re wearing—it is especially great for a night out on the town!
Obviously, having the proper support and feeling comfortable in a bra is the most important thing to look for when shopping. However, having one that helps you feel and look great in any situation can’t be underestimated either. Feeling more confident in your body and how you present yourself is always a good thing.
How to Maximize the Benefits of Wired Bras
Wired bras can provide much in terms of proper support and lift, but you may not feel that way if you have a history of feeling very uncomfortable any time you wear one. With that said, there are a few things you should keep in mind if you want to take advantage of the benefits wired bras have to offer:
Get Measured
Before you purchase any bra, you should go to a lingerie store and get measured. Many women have never done this and, as a result, are wearing bras that don’t give them the proper support, resulting in discomfort and soreness.
There two parts measured for bra fittings:
- The band. This is the part of the bra that lies directly under the breast and wraps around your torso. Having a wider band can help immensely with support if you have larger breasts as it helps more evenly distribute the weight. Getting the proper size in the band is very important, as being the wrong size (either too small or too large) decreases the support or can become very uncomfortable very quickly.
- Cup size. The cup size is the size of the breasts themselves. Most will usually fall into A, B, C, or D. However, even though two women may technically be the same size by these standards, it is important to remember that shape, breast tissue, and direction of breasts can be very different and that different brands will be more supportive and better suited to some women than others of the same cup size.
Be Mindful of the Bra Gore
One more thing that can help immensely with proper support is the gore. This is the part of the bra which lies between the cups. It connects the cups, keeping the breasts at the front of the chest while also separating them from each other, which helps ensure even weight distribution. The larger your chest size, the taller the gore that you will want on your bra.
In Summary
There are quite a few benefits to having a bra with an underwire. It can provide a lift, help separate the breasts while keeping them close to the chest to provide less strain on the muscles, including the neck, shoulder, and back muscles. In turn, this can have the added benefit of you looking and feeling your best while also improving your posture.
Some other things to consider when looking for a bra with proper support are making sure you are fitted properly so that the band and cup size are the right ones for you. An ill-fitting bra will provide the least amount of support that you need. Additionally, having a taller gore in-between the cups can provide extra support that larger-chested women may need.
