How do bras even work?!
Something I've experienced a lot is trans girlies not feeling comfortable seeing a professional fitter for bras, but all boobies deserve support!
Bras can be tricky, making sure your bra fits properly is extremely important for your muscles, bones, posture, and boobies!
Different Types
This is a non-exhaustive list of different bra types
Sports bras. These are designed usually without padding simply to comfortable hold you in place for physical activity, they will often make your chest look smaller/flatter than other bra types due to the lack of padding and wider coverage
Bralette. These are small bras, often aesthetically pleasing and designed for smaller or self-supported (eg implant) boobies. They're a good alternative if you have a smaller chest or have had top surgery and don't like the feeling of the wire (underwire) that holds regular bras rigid
Full coverage. This bra does what it says on the tin, it covers your boobies fully and often has light padding to maintain it's shape. These are often also sold as t-shirt bras. They will usually have underwire.
Push up bras. These have extra padding built in, often designed to give your chest lift and shape, they can make what you have naturally look bigger and will have underwire and padding.
Plunge. If you are blessed with a small rib cage or big boobies or want more cleavage, a plunge bra is often underwired and slightly padded but makes a deep V shape on your chest, allowing you to wear lower cut and V neck tops and dresses
Balcony. These bras are designed to sit across the lower half of your breasts. They often have a flatter top which ends just above the nipple. These are often padded and have underwire.
How to measure
To find your bra size, you need your "back" and "cup size". These can be worked out by standing up straight, and measuring around the widest part of your chest (usually across your back and across your nipples), and then measuring around your rib cage directly under your chest. The difference gives you your cup size, the rest is your back size. Each bra brand has slightly different sizing, so always check your measurements.
You know if you have the right size bra because your straps will sit flat but you'll be able to get two fingers underneath. The straps should sit comfortably on your shoulder without digging in. The middle part, usually a triangular shape that sits on your sternum between your boobs should sit flat against your body
Padding
Cis women pad too! Padding is a normal part of bra wearing, it can change the size and shape of your breasts and you can use this to your advantage depending on what clothes you're wearing. I suggest a breathable padding, like a "crumpet" style silicone with holes, however you can even use socks. Anything that you can roll up to look smooth can be used but certain materials will be more likely to cause sweat and sweat rash etc so be careful about how long and when you pad.
Padding under your bust will allow them to appear fuller, this is great if you have a smaller chest, just make sure that your padding is underneath your boobies and not sticking out the sides. I prefer to roll padding into a small sausage shape to put under my boobs when doing this method. Padding from the side will give you more cleavage, just make sure that it's not spilling over under your armpit and changing the way the bra sits, as this can be uncomfortable.
Some of us are not blessed with a small rib cage and big boobs, as a cis woman I have broad shoulders and a wide rib cage, this means that even though I have a large chest, I don't have cleavage unless I have the right type of bra and padding for the outfit I'm wearing. Try what seems right for you and never be afraid to go and get professionally fitted for a bra. If you're worried, adult shops (such as Ann Summers in the UK) are often more guaranteed to be LGBT+ friendly than regular clothing stores
