BRA INFO & BLOG
BRA INFO & BLOG
Not Cheaper Online
The snark-free response to “Can’t I get this bra cheaper online?”
Bra-Free? Judgement-Free.
Bra or no bra? You get to decide for yourself.
Bra Problem #14: Strapless Solutions
“I just need a good strapless bra that stays up and is relatively comfortable. Also, I would like a beautiful bra that I don’t spill out of (and doesn’t look completely unsexy).”
New York, New York: Grail Goes to Curve
Our first year attending Curve NY, the largest lingerie trade show in North America
True or False? 80% of Women Are Wearing the Wrong Bra Size
You’ve probably encountered this “statistic” before. Is it accurate?
Bra Problem #13: Summer Bras
“Good summer bras! I wear only tank tops from May to October. Most bras can be seen from the arm hole area and/or the neck area of my tanks! Another problem I have is when I wear racer back style bras – the straps always seem to show around the neck area of my shirts. Also, they are always so uncomfortable! They dig into my arm pit area and put tension on the back of my neck. But I love the lift it gives me!”
Big ‘Ol Ugly Bras
Because all bras over a C-cup are woefully unattractive… Or are they?
Cleavage: Uniboob’s Spicy Cousin
What is cleavage, and how can this effect be achieved?
Bra Problem #12: Trouble with Shapes
“I have a list: 1. Bat wings, 2. Four boobs, 3. Pancake boobs, 4. Underwire trying to stab through my heart, 5. Boobs trying to strangle me.”
The Grail Brand Footprint
So, where do all those bras come from anyway?
What is “Support”?
Despite its technical meaning, “support” is often used as a catch-all term for other, related functions.
Bra Problem #11: More Underwire Woes
“WIRES. I need them, but the poking under the arms drives me nuts. And straps that won’t stay or that curl all up and won’t lay flat. I have bras that were not cheap with straps that curl!”
Inventory Then and Now: 2019 to 2023
Oh, how our style options have grown in 4 years!
The Dreaded Uniboob
What it is, why almost everyone hates it, and how to prevent it.
Bra Problem #10: Undependable Underwires
“Underwire that breaks and stabs me making me bleed. Not having that anymore.”
The Sensory Side of Bras
Everyone’s sensory system is calibrated differently. This impacts your perceptions of texture and pressure, which may affect what sorts of bras you’re able to wear comfortably.
Bra Problem #9: Asymmetry
“I have an 11 year old who was breastfed. That said, the goof would only eat out of the left one, and my right stayed the same. So I look heavy on my left. Does any bra accommodate for ooomph? I hate that my damn nipples are totally lopsided.”
Adaptive and Accessible Undergarments
The need for, and the challenge of finding, disability-friendly bras and underwear.
International Sizing Systems
Different parts of the world have their own naming systems for bra cup sizes.
Bra Problem #8: Straps
“This is going to sounds really stupid but it’s like… I can’t find the right tightness in my straps. Either they’re falling down or pulling my bra up and over my breasts. I can’t find a happy medium in tightness or looseness. It’s aggravating.”
Bra Problem #7: Tacking
“I have had ONE bra in my entire life where the wires sat flush against my sternum. They pretty much always stand away from it and I hate it.”
The Problem with “Beauty”
You do not have to feel “beautiful” to have respect and compassion for your body.
Bra Problem #6: Big Band, Small Cups
“Bras with a big enough band (42) have a cup size too big that puckers. The bottom of the cup fits, but the top has no cleavage. When I get fitted for a bra in plus size stores they say I need a huge cup and smaller band and the cup swallows me.”
Bra Problem #5: Pressure Sensitivity
“Anybody else end up with a stomach ache (like high up where your actual stomach sits) after wearing almost any kind of bra for more than an hour or two? Like the pressure from even the loosest fits end up hurting deep in my rib cage.”
Bra B.S. #2: The Big C
Bras DO NOT cause cancer. Full stop.
Bra Problem #4: Petite Fit Bras
“Petite fit bras! Bras that fit my cup size have underwires that go into my armpit.”
Bra Problem #3: Gaping or Curling Edges
“The top part of the bra cup starts to ‘roll’ and shows under shirts.”
When is a Sale Not a Sale?
Why many online and chain intimates retailers would rather call something a “Sale” instead of what it actually is: “Clearance”.
Bra Problem #2: Wire-Free Strapless
“Is there a way to make a wireless strapless bra that stays up?”
Bra Problem #1: Texture Issues
“Why are all the cute bras SO ITCHY?!? Or they look like hell under a shirt?”
Foam Molded Versus Unlined Bras
Breaking down two of the most significant bra style categories. What are the pros and cons of each?
Bra B.S.: Saggy Boobs
Why wearing bras- or forgoing them- doesn’t actually cause or prevent saggy breasts.
Messy Fitting Rooms
Why bra-splosions are inevitable, and why you shouldn’t feel guilty about trying on a million things.
“Ethical, Cheap, or Quality Construction? Pick Two.”
Why it’s so hard to have it all when it comes to cheap, well-made bras that don’t contribute to human and environmental exploitation.
Carmen’s Bad Bra Journey
How Grail owner Carmen went from walking bra disaster to certified bra nerd.
What Happens During a Fitting?
Intimidated by the idea of a bra fitting? Learn more about what’s involved and why it’s probably less awkward than you think.
Bra Lifespans
How long should a bra last? Is there anything you can do to keep them from wearing out prematurely?
Go Underwired or Wire-Free?
What’s the difference, really? Is one better than the other?
Bra Sizing
Why is bra sizing so hard to understand? Blame sizing inconsistency, differences in international size terminology, and misunderstandings about what bra cup sizes really mean.