Retiring Your Bras On Time

The wire should NEVER pop out of your bra, but believe it or not, the Bra Boss is not perfect.

I am guilty of not retiring my bras on time like the rest of us.  I might live, breathe, and eat lingerie, but I am human like the rest of us and get attached to pretty things that make me feel good.

If the wire rips through the fabric of your bra and pops out (as shown below) it is a sign that your bra has been through more life than a bra should ever see.  This is indeed my Freya Lyla bra from 6 seasons ago and about a week ago it went from poor shape to unwearable, breaking my heart. 

This bra lasted me several years, however, I was wearing the bra for well over a year longer than I should have.  This is what we call a "dead bra."  A bra that no longer does it's job properly.

I thought this was an important topic to touch on since ladies at the store tell me all the time that their bras are years old, but they seem to be working for them.  Just because a bra doesn't have physical damages, doesn't mean it isn't dead.  A good quality bra won't damage easily, but it will stop doing its after enough wear and tear.

So you ask, how long should your bra really last you? 

The average lifespan of a bra is 8-12 months, yet this estimate is dependent upon different variables- making it incredibly hard to give a direct answer to that question, however, one thing I can do is help teach you to identify when your bra needs to go.

Signs that your bra is "dead":

1. The elastic is so stretched out that it no longer bounces back
2. You wear your bra on the tightest hook, yet it still rides up and down your back throughout the day
3. When your bust is drooping and no longer lifted
4. If your bra has a molded cup that has lost it's shape
5. If there is any obvious physical damage done to the bra: holes, wire exposure, popped elastic, holes, loose hooks, etc.

What factors effect the lifespan of a bra?

1. How many bras you have in your collection - the more bras you have, the less they are worn, the longer they last
2. Rapid changes in your body - if your body is going through changes in size, your bras will not last you very long
3. How well your bras fit you - when you wear the wrong size bra, your bras will wear out faster
4. How large your cup size is - the larger your breasts are, the more stress your bra is under causing it to lose life faster
5. The way you wash your bras - putting your bras in the washer as well as drying them is the #1 way to kill your bras!  Click here to learn how to wash your bras properly 
6. The quality of your bras - not all bras are made with the same level of quality.  Certain styles and brands are constructed better than others.  It is important to know that quality is not always directly related to the cost, however, cost can play a role in identifying higher end brands.  Finding a bra boutique that you trust has done extensive research on their merchandise will help prevent you from purchasing bras of mediocre quality