When you’re looking for the perfect back smoothing bra, it can be hard to know where to start. There are so many different styles of bra on the market, with many making claims of smoothing your back fat and giving you a seamless silhouette. How do you know which one to believe?
In this article, we’re going to talk you through everything you need to know about back smoothing bras, from what causes those troublesome bulges in the first place to the best types of bras for combatting back fat.
What Does Back Smoothing Mean?
When you wear a bra, you may find that some of your flesh bulges at the back. This is sometimes called ‘back fat’. Whilst this is something you’d probably rather avoid, it is a problem that many of us will experience at some point or another.
Back smoothing bras aim to reduce the appearance of lumps, bumps and bulges, giving you a smooth and flawless silhouette. Rather than cutting into your flesh and exacerbating the appearance of back fat, they have wider side and back wings, distributing the support of the bra to avoid creating so-called back fat.
There are many different styles of back smoothing bra on the market, from a wide range of brands. Read on to learn more about the styles of back smoothing bra that you can choose from, as well as taking a sneak peek at some of our top picks.
Looking for a seamless smoothing bra? Click here
Why Do Bras Show Back Fat?
Contrary to the name, back fat is not caused by having fat on your back. In fact, even the slimmest of people can have back fat if they wear the wrong bra.
We’re going to let you into a secret when it comes to back fat: A poorly fitted bra is the single most common cause of the appearance of back fat.
If you’re wearing a properly fitted bra, it should be just tight enough to provide your bust with the support that it requires, without causing your skin to spill out of the sides. Your cup should also be big enough to accommodate your whole breast, without breast tissue being left behind.
A poorly fitted bra is the most common cause of back fat, as the band digs into the skin, leaving bulges behind, whilst breast tissue spills out of the side of the cups.
Now that we know that back fat is caused by a poorly fitted bra, we can start to look at solutions for reducing its appearance. In fact, if you choose the right bra in the right size, you could even get rid of back fat completely.
How to Minimise the Look of Back Fat with the Right Bra
Noticing some unsightly bumps or bulges at your back when you wear tight-fitting clothes? You're probably wondering how to camouflage that back fat with your bra. Well, you're not alone. One of the main culprits for this issue is often a poorly fitted bra. Believe it or not, a significant number of people are walking around in the wrong bra size, mainly because high-street shops still use old-school fitting techniques. If you've been advised to add a couple of inches to your band size, you've experienced this outdated approach.
First thing first, make sure you're wearing a bra that fits you properly. To do this, fasten your bra on the loosest hook and then slip your fingers under the band. If you can get more than two fingers under there, your band is too big. Conversely, if you can't fit two fingers comfortably, it's too small.
Now, take a look at the cups. The middle part, known as the centre gore, should lie flat against your chest. The wires should encircle your breast tissue without pinching or digging in. Check in the mirror from the side; if you see any breast tissue spilling over the top, your cups might be too small. On the other hand, if the cups look empty or there's a gap between the fabric and your breast, the cups are too big.
If you're confident that your bra is a good fit but you're still not happy with how your back looks, consider a back-smoothing bra. These bras usually come with wider back and side panels, distributing support over a broader area and reducing the pressure that can cause bulges. This helps to create a more streamlined silhouette, meaning you can say goodbye to those annoying lumps and bumps.
Learn how to check your bra size here
How Do Back Smoothing Bras Work?
Back smoothing bras are a popular choice for people who are concerned about the appearance of back fat, but how exactly do they work?
There are a few features that set back smoothing bras aside from the crowd, giving them the ability to smooth out bulges and give you the support that you need without creating lumps and bumps on your back.
In this section, we’ll talk you through some of the features of back smoothing bras that we think you should be looking out for.
1. High Levels Of Support
We’d argue that one of the most important things to look for in a back smoothing bra is the amount of support that it gives you. We’ve already explained how wearing a properly fitted bra is key to eliminating back fat, but the bra needs to do its job too. If the bra doesn’t offer adequate support, the fabric will be under more strain during wear. This can increase the appearance of lumps and bumps, as it works to try and support your bust. Choosing a back smoothing bra that offers great support will enable the bra to sit more smoothly on your body, reducing the appearance of back fat.
2. Broad Back Panel
When a bra has a narrow back panel, the support has to come through a very small amount of material. This can cause strain on the bra, allowing bulges to become visible beneath your clothing. Opting for a bra that has a wider back panel will distribute this support across a larger surface area, helping you to avoid that troublesome back fat.
3. Seamless Design
If you’re looking for a flawless silhouette with seamless contours, you’ll need to look for a seam-free bra. Not only will this help to smooth your back, but it will also help your bra to disappear seamlessly beneath your clothing, giving you a smooth silhouette no matter what outfit you choose to wear.
4. Width, Width, Width
Width is everything when it comes to finding the perfect back smoothing bra. Not only should you look for a wide back panel, but you’ll also need to look for a bra that has wide straps, along with a wide under band. This will provide your bust with additional support, helping to prevent the bra from digging into your skin, resulting in back fat.
Which Bra Is Best For Back Fat?
Whilst a properly fitted bra is often enough to reduce the appearance of back fat, sometimes you might want to go a step further in the fight against bulges. A back smoothing bra is a great way to minimise your back fat and create a smooth and flawless silhouette that you’ll want to show off.
But how do you know which back smoothing bra is the right choice for you? In this section, we’ve picked out some of our favourite back smoothing bras on the market today, helping you to make the right choice for your wardrobe.
1. Elomi Smoothing Seam Free Bra
Whatever your outfit choice, the Elomi smoothing bra is a great choice. With a seamless design and moulded cups, this bra disappears effortlessly underneath any outfit, leaving you to focus on what matters most in life.
This innovative bra features a power net back, along with a banded frame, providing outstanding anchorage and support. This is coupled with slip-proof shoulder straps, so that you can rest assured in the support delivered by the Elomi smoothing bra.
Our customers love the shape that the Elomi smoothing bra gives them. This is thanks to the inside cup support panels which provide excellent shape and lift. The leotard back helps to keep your back looking smooth all day long, giving you that flawless silhouette that you crave.
The Elomi smoothing bra is available in cup sizes D – GG, along with back sizes 34 – 48, making it ideal for people of almost any size. Not only that, but it’s also available in nude and black, giving you ultimate flexibility when you need a bra that will hide effortlessly beneath your outfit.
Discover the Elomi smoothing bra here
2. Fantasie Smoothing Balcony Bra
If you’re looking for great coverage combined with ultimate comfort, you’re going to love the Fantasie smoothing balcony bra. This beautifully soft bra features moulded foam cups, along with a seam-free design, giving you excellent shape without compromising on support. This makes the Fantasie smoothing bra perfect for wear under fitted clothing.
This bra features softer finish simplex to provide a firm and supportive fit, whilst the reduced cradle provides a lighter look. When you slip on the Fantasie smoothing balcony bra, you’ll notice the fantastic forward projection that it offers. You’ll also notice that the wide back panel smooths out your back, leaving you a flawless silhouette.
If comfort is at the top of your tick list when it comes to finding the perfect back smoothing bra, be sure to give the Fantasie smoothing balcony bra a try.
Find the Fantasie smoothing bra here
3. Panache Porcelain Moulded T-Shirt Bra
Our customers love the Panache Porcelain moulded t-shirt bra, which works hard to give you a perfectly smooth silhouette. The seam-free wings sit smoothly beneath your clothes, smoothing out any lumps and bumps that they find, whilst the smoothing padded cups make this bra ideal for wear under almost any outfit.
The Panache Porcelain doesn’t compromise when it comes to comfort either, as the silky soft microfibre fabric will leave your skin feeling great all day long. Not only that, but you can also cross over the straps into a racerback style for wear under clothing with a crossover neckline.
Discover the Panache Porcelain smoothing bra here
Related Questions
Why Does My Bra Lift Up When I Raise My Arms?
If you find that your bra moves around when you lift your arms up, there’s a good chance that the band of your bra is too loose. To check the fit of your under band, fasten it on the loosest hook and slide your fingers underneath the band. If you can fit more than two fingers underneath the band, it’s too big. Alternatively, if you cannot fit two fingers under the band, it is too small. Wearing the correct band size is essential to getting the right level of support from your bra and ensuring a comfortable fit.
How Do I Know If My Cup Size Is Too Big?
Getting the right cup size can feel like a challenge, but it’s really important to make sure that the cups of your bra fit properly to give you the shape, support and comfort that you deserve. If you notice that your bra cups are gaping at the top and your breast tissue is not filling the cup, it’s likely that the cup size is too big. However, if your breast tissue is spilling over the cup or the underwire is digging into your breast tissue, the cup is likely to be too small.
In Summary
So called ‘back fat’ is a problem that most people have experienced at some point in their lives. The most common cause of back fat is a bra that does not fit properly, so the first step is always to ensure that you are wearing the correct bra size.
If this doesn’t solve the problem, you may choose to try a back smoothing bra, which will have a wide back panel to distribute the support of the bra across your back and minimise any lumps and bumps. This can help to give you a smooth silhouette, whatever your outfit choice.
If you need help finding the perfect bra for your body shape, or calculating your bra size, we’re here to help. Send us a message today to find your perfect bra.