Back to school: the best bras for teens

While August is not the time to wish away the summer holidays (didn’t they begin only five minutes ago?!), it is the best time of year for parents to do the ‘back to school’ shop (sorry, kids). We’re guessing your must-buy list includes the usuals – new shoes, school jumpers, stationery, PE kit – but if you’re a parent of a young girl, have you forgotten something they may need every day?

Girls of secondary school age, and some girls in the latter years of primary school, are hitting puberty and will need a good bra. That’s not just a bra to wear to school every day of the week, but also a sports bra for PE lessons. At Royce we’ve been making teen and ‘first bras’ for years, and evolve our styles based on customer feedback, so we know a thing or two about making brilliant bras for girls.

Why you need to think about teen bras now

Talking to your daughter about bras at this age will ensure she’s starting good bra wearing habits early. Make it a normal part of everyday conversation and you can also help take the sting out of any potential embarrassment or confusion around the issue.

All breasts need the right support, whether big or small, to ensure the breast tissue isn’t damaged, to protect posture and to stay comfortable. We also believe that confidence is a huge part of this –many girls feel self-conscious as their body changes, so selecting a set of well-fitted bras to suit all their needs will go some way to helping your daughter feel more confident and positive about their own body image.

Choose bras that work with a school uniform

Most school-regulation shirts are white or pale blue, meaning bold colours and elaborate designs are out. Pick fuss-free styles in print-free fabric and in pale colours such as cream, ivory, blush pink or marl grey – these shades are practically invisible under school shirts.

SHOP POSIE

Style is still important

If you want your teen to get on board with wearing a bra, make sure it’s one she likes the look of! As she gets older, your daughter may not be into cutesy bows and frills so shop for more contemporary athleisure styles, crop tops and sporty designs. Our experienced design team know how to make these styles look great while still providing all the support needed.

SHOP LOLA

Try Lola, our wirefree crop top style bra with racerback design, available in white or peach. Or go for Posie, now available in four colours (within twin packs), a wirefree T-shirt bra which is great for teens.

Consider wear rate

School uniform needs to withstand a LOT of daily wear, and a bra is no exception. With a new bra worn every day you need to stock up on the favourites. Both Sophia (available in blush and cream) and Posie (available in blush and ivory; or blush and grey with white trim) come in a handy twin pack for this very reason, meaning your daughter can wear a fresh version of her favourite bra every day.

Don’t forget sports bras

In our opinion, sports bras are an essential item in any girl’s PE kit. According to data from the Youth Sport Trust, more than a third of schoolgirls feel discouraged to take part in school sports due to their periods and attitudes around their bodies. Wearing a sports bra that keeps everything securely in place helps lessen some of that self-consciousness.

SHOP ADJUSTABLE FIT

Many of our athleisure-style teen bras – such as Lola and Posie – work well as sports bras for teens, or try the Impact Free Adjustable Fit, a sports bra designed especially for smaller frames.

Does your daughter need period pants?

Don’t forget that we now stock NIXI Body period and leakproof underwear, an increasingly popular alternative to pads and tampons. Add some pairs of hipster or high-waist knickers (available in a range of absorbencies) to your basket.

Our DIY home fitting guide – just for teens

We recommend that your girl has her first fitting with a professional (check our list of stockists for a fitter in your area). Once done, she can check the fit of any new bras using our special DIY home fitting guide, just for teens. With these tips she can find her perfect fit in the comfort of her own bedroom, no adults required! (And can we just add that this guide works perfectly for grown-ups too – it’s timeless advice).

Underband

A whopping 80% of bra support comes from your underband so make sure it fits perfectly. The underband should sit in a straight line across your back (look in the mirror to check).

Hook & eye

We recommend you fasten on the middle hook and eye so you can adjust to make it bigger or smaller if you feel uncomfortable. If you can stick two fingers under the band, you’re good to go!

Straps

Straps slipping down can be annoying, and straps digging in are uncomfortable. Test them by making sure you can comfortably slip two fingers underneath – loosen or tighten them until they feel perfect.

Cups

Are your breasts sitting comfortably in the cup with no bulging or gaping? The cups should sit nicely around your breasts with the fabric smooth against your skin (no wrinkles or bagginess, please).

Now stand back, jiggle about a bit, find how it feels – adjust if needed. Looking and feeling good? Well done, you’ve just found your perfect fit!