How Long Do Bras Last? We guarantee not to pass judgment on you, whether your response is two years or five years. Unfortunately, many women don’t give much care to their bras, even though we consider them the most essential part of any woman’s wardrobe (you end up wearing a bra virtually every day, after all). Your old bra may be “holding up,” but at this point, it’s probably far beyond its prime. Find out when you need a new bra by reading on!
How Long Do Bras Last? best answer, Ali Cudby, author of Busted and Fit My Bras, and creator of Fab Foundations, says, “If you have a large selection of bras in rotation, you can go longer than six months before replacing your bras if you are caring for those bras properly.” Drying bras in the dryer accelerates the deterioration of the elastic; therefore, it’s best to avoid this premature death by air-drying and hand-washing them whenever feasible.
The elastic fibers in the band and the straps of every bra eventually wear down and cause the garment to lose its original form, no matter how gently it is used or maintained. The average lifespan of a bra is 6–9 months; however, we believe that with proper care, your bras may last much longer.
No matter how many you have or how carefully you take care of them, your bras will eventually need to be replaced due to changes in body weight and general wear and tear. Here are the telltale signs that it’s time to go shopping for a new bra, as recommended by the pros.
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How Long Do Bras Last?
We recommend replacing your bras every six months to a year, depending on how many you have and how often you use them. For example, if you only ever wear one bra, you’ll quickly run out and have to spend extra money on undergarments. Since this is the case, you should have at least three and no more than five bras to choose from (preferably one for each day of the workweek). Your bras will last a lot longer if you do this.
Signs It’s Time To Replace Your Bra
Wear and tear that is easy to see. There are obvious signs of deterioration that you should keep an eye out for.
1. The back is arched forward.
Bras tend to lose their shape in the back as time passes. One solution, according to Empreinte bra specialist Josie-Anne Le Diouron, is to tighten the hooks until the bra once again feels like it is snug across the chest. But when the band is too loose, even on the tightest hook, it’s a warning sign that you need a new bra.
2. The cups are oversized or strained.
Le Diouron says that if there is a sizable space between your breasts and the bra cups, either the cups have stretched out or your breast volume has dropped (which may occur with weight loss). Instead of providing smooth contours, the bra’s form will be seen through your clothing, she explains, and this will leave the breasts unsupported.
3. Straps are loose.
One of the most irritating aspects of daily life is having to constantly readjust anything, and slipping bra straps are right up there. If this is happening, then changes need to be made. The cup of the bra is attached to the bra’s back with a strap. Le Diouron advises doing this in order to make the cups a more comfortable fit for the breasts.
4. Or the Cups are too small.
According to Katie Donnelly of the Bra Fitting Blog, if your breast tissue is spilling out of the cups, either the cups are too small or the straps are too tight. It’s possible that your body has changed since your last bra purchase, and that you now need a different cup size.
If the cups fit well but there is still overflow, she suggests tightening the straps by relaxing them slightly. It should be loose enough that two fingers may fit between your skin and the strap.
5. The underwire is quite uncomfortable.
Does anybody take pleasure in having a sharp underwire scrape into their tender skin? Not in my opinion. According to Laetitia Lecigne, the creative director of Jockey, “Even if you try to put it back in and sew the area shut, that’s a temporary fix and it will likely come out again.” The admonition was to “Get rid of it!” Invest in some new wire-free bras now.
6. The cloth has completely disintegrated.
According to Lecigne, “The lifespan of a fabric is determined by how often you wear and wash it.” Your bra is dead and no longer working if you see signs of wear and tear, such as the spandex flaking off or the fabric becoming less stretchy as a whole.
7. There’s hair in your bra.
According to Cudby, “If you’ve ever seen little hair-like threads of elastic popping out of your bra, it’s too late—that bra is toast.” Your bra’s elastic has gone away if you can see individual hairs. She emphasizes that “elastic provides 80% of the support your bra provides” and that the band must be tightly secured to the body for the bra to be effective. It’s hard enough for a little piece of fabric to do its purpose! The elasticity of a bra is what makes it work to lift and support your breasts.
8. Drabness or fading of color.
Is your white bra becoming yellow or is your black bra losing its color? Get thee to a lingerie store at once.
9. You’ve developed new tastes.
Over time, a woman’s preferences in bras may change. “While bras normally get covered up,” explains Spicy Lingerie CEO and founder Jaclinne Cheng, “it is always important to choose one that makes you feel happy, comfortable, and even empowered.”
Final Thoughts
Need to make sure your bra fits properly? Watch this video to see how a bra should be fitted. Keeping your bras clean and stored properly can keep them feeling and looking like new for much longer. You should store them in a special drawer and wash them by hand whenever you can. We know it’s not the simplest answer, but we promise it’s the finest.
Gettin’ a new cleavage? Now is the time to try one of our high-quality, dependable, and pleasurable bras! Take a look at what we have to offer in terms of apparel and accessories.
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