Welcome to the jungle of bras!
There is infinite different materials, properties and styles that can shape different bras.
Over 80% of all people walk around with the wrong size of their bras - let us change that.
You should always put 80% of the pressure around your body and only 20% of the pressure on the bra straps.
Common questions we get asked at our store Viva Viktoria:
- What is my size?
- Why is my bra causing chafing?
- Why does my bra straps not stay on my shoulders?
- Why is my bra causing a gap?
- Why cant I find a bra that fits me?
- Why does measuring sites not provide correct sizing?
- Why is it so hard ordering bras online?
- Why should I choose you for a store?
- Do you sell swim wear?
- Even when I've been helped it doesn't feel like a good fit, why?
- Why is it so important to get help in a physical location store?
- What are you prices of bras and why cant I buy separate wires?
- Why is it hard to find front closure bras?
- Why does my wires hurt me?
- Why do my wires snap?
- How come my bra doesn't feel good anymore?
- Why wont my panties stay up and instead roll down?
- What is a shape wear and what is it for?
- Can I wash my bras in a washing machine?
- What sizes do you sell?
- Why is my lingerie a grey color and not white anymore?
- How should I wash my lingerie?
- How should I put on my bra?
- Why is my bra knobbly?
Answers:
- What is my size?
You rarely wear the same size in different styles. Even inside the same brand the sizing can differ between different bras. This is why it is so important to try them on until you find your correct size. Even colors can make the sizing differ, darker colors usually makes the fabric less stretchy.
- Why is my bra causing chafing?
There is never a straight answer for this issue, but if you come into our store and show us the bra we can usually decide what is causing the chafing.
Common reasons:
- Wrong size
- Wrong shape for your body type
- Vassa sömmar/kanter Sharp edges/seams
- Allergy
- Why does my bra straps not stay on my shoulders?
The most common mistake when the bra straps wont stay on you shoulders is that the band around you is too big for you. If the bra is made for a bigger size it will come further apart than its made for your body. Another common reason is that you either have one or two sloping shoulders, and in that case you need to look at the bra straps placement, they need to be extra close to the neck. You would for example avoid styles as balconettes - they are made with the straps further apart.
- Why is my bra causing a gap?
The most common mistake that causes the gap in the cups is not that the cups are too big, but rather the band around your body. When you take away the pressure around your body your bra will lift from it and cause a gap (yes, no mater how much you adjust the straps).
Another common reason is because of weight loss/age and nursing when you loose some of the volume on top of your chest. This usually result a need of change in style and size.
- Why cant I find a bra that fits me? Why is it so hard ordering bras online?
The answer is simple, you have not been to our store before and gotten your size checked.
Because of the very many different sizes and styles it can be hard for anyone to know even where to start. We have the advantage of knowing each style and how they fit different customers.
Even when you try good bras it might not be a good fit for you style-wise and very hard for you to know why this fit is bad for you. Sometimes a bra can feel good at the time but not when wearing - we will also stop you from making those mistakes.
This is why we bra experts are here to help and guide you.
And because of the many different sizes you will have to try it can be very costly to order online.
- Why does measuring sites not provide correct sizing?
Until now we have never seen a measuring site giving the correct answer to any bra size.
- Why?
Since no human is made of plastic and all of us have unique bodys they cant make a mould that can be applied to every person. Charts does not take different shapes in consideration, some people are more soft in their bodys and some bodys are more dense. On top of that - all styles are different and you cant trust a one size guide to tell your size in each style. You can get an estimate of the correct cup size but the size around the body is 10/10 times wrong.
- Why should I choose you for a store?
We always help with fitting for those who want and need it. We can usually see what you cant when there is something missing or a bit off, and you will never have to leave the fitting room. We will do the running for you. When it is your first buy with us we can register your name and therefore save your bought styles, sizes and colors.
- Why?
You never have to start on square one. We know our styles and about what sizes you should pick from other styles. We now know what styles you like and what fits you.
We also have a possibility for a wish list that you can leave for your family, friends and partners.
We always help the ones that want our help but to ensure full attention from one our seller you can book a free fitting appointment here: https://vivaviktoria.bokadirekt.se.
- How do you choose sizes:
We can more easily see what sizes to choose for you than with a measuring band. The measuring band is just as misleading as sizing charts.
- Do you sell swim wear?
We sell swim wear that feels good and last longer (if you follow our care routine) all year around!
- Even when I've been helped it doesn't feel like a good fit, why?
If it occurs with time you could have changed within your body, sometimes it is barely noticable.
Your body will rearrange with time ana with different phases in life you change your size at lest 7 times.
If you have been wearing the same size your whole life it is very likely to be the wrong size, unless you are a unicorn.
Another common error some stores may make is give you a bigger size around the band of the body because otherwise the cups wont fit - but remember you are supposed to wear 80% of the support at your torso where you are strong.
- Why is it so important to get help in a physical location store?
Remember to favor your boutiques that know lingerie. We know our styles and sizes, we sincerely want you to be happy and feel good when you wear our lingerie. That is our passion.
- What are you prices of bras and why cant I buy separate wires?
They differ depending on brand and style. Some manufacturers take 1,5-3 years to make one style bra. They have to try them on different people and test them thoroughly.
They make lingerie with better fabrics, they are more breathable, they dont cause chafing, the wires are metal and not plastic and they also make bigger ranges of sizes to name a few reasons.
They last you longer (when following our care routine). Every unique size and style has a different shape, and this is also why you can not buy wires separate.
- Why is it hard to find front closure bras?
It is harder to close your bra when the clasp is in the front.
The reason why is because you have to wear the straps, the straps inhibits your mobility.
This also makes it harder for you to pick your correct size.
Another reason why you should not buy a front closure bra is that the most important part of a bra (see picture below) is being removed.
If you were to try on a bra with a thin line of fabric to connect the cups you would immediately feel a difference in support compared to a more firm and thicker fabric.
- Why does my wires hurt me?
If your wires are hurting you, you are probably wearing the wrong style or size.
That is almost exclusively the explanation but if you hurt from the wires despite having the right size and style it might be a problem caused during the day as time goes by.
For example: at the end of the day your posture will get worse as you get more tired and when you slouch the wires gets pushed into your ribs and will most likely hurt. This is most common with professions where you usually sit down, when you have a curved back or if you are in a wheelchair.
You will never get the same support with a wireless bra but for every year that goes by they get better and better and we highly recommend a wireless bra for those mentioned above.
- Why do my wires snap?
The most common reasons for why the wires snap is either connected to professions where you sit down, when the cups are too small for you and the weight is pushing on the wires, if you put on your bra the wrong way everyday or if you wash the bra in a washing machine.
If you put your bra on inside out and then spin it around you body to put it on every day it is most likely going to snap eventually. When you put in on inside out it will put pressure on the wires and you will also ruin the fabric and elastics much faster.
- How come my bra doesn't feel good anymore?
Either you or your bra has changed, you could use a change of style or size. A common mistake is to confuse the size around your body with needing to adjust the cups because of the similar effect it causes.
- Why wont my panties stay up and instead roll down?
You chose either the wrong size or style (just like with bras, one size does not fit all).
Example: Those with a smaller butt than tummy might need a pant that is higher and contain of a elastic band up top, a stretchy style is also preferred.
- What is a shape wear and what is it for?
Shape wear or "Spanx" are clothing and underwear that somewhat smooth out and shapes your body the give the clothes you wear over it a different feeling.
Many people mistake these type of articles for giving the same effect as a corset which is not the case.
Spanx is a brand but many refer shape wear as "Spanx". There are many very well made shape wear-brands that are not Spanx.
Please remember that influencers and celebrities usually edit their photos to look what they look like, you usually cant accomplish as drastic of a change in your body with shape wear as many influencers and celebrities would like you to think.
Different types of shape wear: panties, bodies, slips, camisoles, waist cinchers and thigh slimmers.
- Can I wash my bras in a washing machine?
The most expensive mistake you can make is washing your bra in a washing machine. The machine can break, but also your bra - despite using low heat and a laundry bag.
Just because it has not happened to you thus far, does not mean it cant happen to you.
The laundry bag is not to make less damage to your bra, the bag is made to protect the washing machine from your bra when it do break.
See an example below on what can happen when you wash it in a machine (even though it had a laundry bag around it):
- Why does my wires come out?
This problem is also connected to either professions where you sit down, when the cups are too small for you (or changed size) and the weight is pushing on the wires, if you put on your bra the wrong way everyday or if you wash the bra in a washing machine.
But if the wire comes out almost instantly it is probably a manufacturing defect.
- What sizes do you sell?
We sell uk A-K cups and European A-O in all bras and bikinis that makes those sizes.
We understand your disappointment when some styles dont go higher in cup sizes but there is always a reason behind it. If one of our suppliers decide to stop at a G-cup it is most likely not going to last in quality for an H-cup. A bra that needs to be able to give the right support and hold longer needs to be made differently with other materials and made different overall.
The circumference varies in the same way as cup sizes between 60-125cm uk 28-54.
Swim wear, clothing and night wear we carry in sizes XS-3XL and 34-54.
- Why is my lingerie a grey color and not white anymore?
It is a fact that is hard to keep your white lingerie white. You should always avoid using whitening detergent, since it bleaches the white color off sometimes.
If you machine wash it could be a good idea to do a wash between dark laundry and white laundry since the darker colors may stay the machine temporarily and transfer to the white laundry.
Another reason the white laundry turns grey could be lime in the water.
- How should I wash my lingerie?
Always follow the care instructions on the label.
Most fabrics can take harm by fabric softener since it ruins the elastic among other things.
Your lingerie and bras should always be washed by hand.
- Why cant I push my breasts up higher?
Many people wants a bra to raise their breasts higher than is proportional to your body. That is not possible. The height of your breasts are supposed be placed differently since we all have unique bodies and we cant work against gravity.
- How should I put on my bra?
If you put your bra on (sometimes inside out) and then spin it around you body to put it on every day it is most likely going to be worn out faster. When you put in on inside out it will put pressure on the wires and you will also ruin the fabric and elastics much faster.
Take your bra as you would have it on your body and hook up your bra in the back without your bra straps on. Lastly you put on your bra straps.
- Why is my bra knobbly?
When you keep your bras in a drawer many people will fold the cups into each other - do not do that. It is moulded to fit your breast and when you fold them another direction it will get knobbly.