That moment of truth hits hard and fast, and it’s totally undeniable when the rim breaks. If it just peeks out; making unexpected appearances… or starting to “bite” in the middle of the workday; well, somehow we can postpone the inevitable for a while longer… Finding out one morning, that a cup is completely lifeless and has no wire at all; that’s another “instant recognition” moment.
When your bra underwire breaks
It is ALWAYS very frustrating, inconvenient… and aggravating when a ring breaks. When the bra is expensive; it can become a major problem for the user. A good bra costs more than $150. The only real comparison I can think of, which really ranks up there with trauma from a broken wire; It’s a flat tire. It has to be fixed/replaced, it’s going to be expensive, and it has to be NOW!
One of my clients was driving to work, in heavy traffic, when he felt the pop. After a frustrating morning at work; she called me on the phone and made the trip across town during lunchtime to drop off her bra for repair and buy a new one in a hurry. It is an expensive and aggravating problem.
Why do the rings break?
When the rings break; it is almost always a recurring problem for the user; and is usually not a defect in the construction of the bra. When this tends to happen on the same side of the bra each time; It is because of the asymmetry of the body. Yeah; most of us have one breast that is slightly fuller than the other. This also explains why your bra may constantly pull slightly to the side, buckle in the front center, or need one shoulder strap to be a little tighter. The bigger the cups; more stress puts this imbalance of weight and volume on the bra wire. Eventually something has to “give”
When your bra underwire slips out
When the hoop comes out of the casing; it can lead to some interesting moments. If you’re lucky; You will notice it before you put it on.
The professor I know was giving a lecture when she felt that “something strange” was going on. She was embarrassed to look down and discover that the wire of her bra had come out of her covering and was forming a crescent of silver metal on the upper part of her chest. Life is hard enough without moments like that!
Why hoops “break through”
When the cable is lost; that is, when you take your clothes out of the washer or dryer and discover that your bra is now irregularly shaped and a bit saggy on one side; it could be due to their washing techniques.
The Underwire Arm should NEVER be placed in the washer or dryer. That stray cable is likely stuck under the agitator, and soon it will manifest its malevolence by wreaking havoc on your washing machine. That’s double damage! The shaking motion of the washer causes the wires to “pop out” of the holder. Losing underwire is just one of the nasty things your bra can succumb to in the washing machine. Stretched and tangled straps, twisted and ripped brackets, frayed lace, are some of the others.
You will be doing it yourself; and pocket him a big favor by washing his arms by hand.
When your cables “droop”
For women with larger busts, the weight and pressure of the breast on the wires can cause the shape of the wire to sag. The cups become shallow and wide, compromising the integrity of the bra over time. Replacing the wires can restore that “new” fit and, compared to the cost of a new bra, can be a very cost-effective solution.
Bottom line: Proper washing and constant care of your new bra is mandatory to maintain its good fit and integrity. Reputable, high-end lingerie retailers will always repeat the mantra “hand wash, hang dry, no washers or dryers please” and add “don’t fold cups into each other” (for molded cups). I suggest you make an effort to pay attention to the washing and care recommendations of your bra specialist (you know, the place where you spent all that money). but a good bra lasts a long time; and replacing that errant underwire is a very viable possibility, if the rest of the bra is in good condition.
