Spring Cleaning Your Bra Wardrobe
I don’t know about you, but I am positively THRILLED that it’s finally spring. Winter can be pretty when the snow’s all fluffy and it’s not too cold, but there’s nothing better than a spring day. Birds chirping, little green things growing…doesn’t it all just make you want to clean?
Wait, don’t go! Hear me out. Spring cleaning is a thing for reason. It’s all about fresh starts, you know? But don’t worry, I’m not about to tell you to clean under the fridge or take a toothbrush to the tile grout. (I would never betray your trust like that!) No, we’re doing something much more fun today: spring cleaning your bra wardrobe.
Mae is ready for spring in Sculptresse’s Chi Chi
Purge
The first step to any wardrobe update is to declutter. I like to start by laying everything out on my bed, so I can see it all. Go through your entire bra wardrobe and pull out the obvious “never gonna wear this” pieces. At this stage, it’s okay if there are some that you’re not sure of; we’ll get to those later. Right now, get rid of the ones you know aren’t right for you. Hate the colour? Fabric disintegrating? Hasn’t fit you in ages? Send ‘em packing.
Repair
Next, pull the items that you like but aren’t quite in perfect condition. Maybe the straps are all stretched out, or the band is. Maybe the hooks are beginning to pull out of the band. Maybe the underwire has popped out. These are all generally fixable problems! Broad’s alterationist, Fana, can make repairs or alterations to put your bra back in action.
Get Help
This is where we tackle the bras you’re not sure about. There’s no real harm in keeping something because you love it and think you might wear it someday. But if you’re just not sure if a beloved, older bra can be repaired or adjusted to fit you better? Ask a pro! Fitters are great for this. At Broad we’re happy to give you a quick bra check-up, making adjustments and recommending repairs as needed. And if an old favourite really isn’t wearable anymore, we can probably find you something similar.
Donate
Don’t just throw away the bras in the “no” pile. If they’re still in good condition, donate them! How can you tell if a bra’s in good enough condition? Usually if you’re hesitating, it’s probably seen better days. Watch out for deteriorating elastic (those little white “hairs”) and super stretched out bands or straps, as well as more obvious damage like holes, torn lace, or missing hardware. Anything you donate should be ready to wear (i.e. clean, doesn’t need repairs) and still have some life left in it. Contact your local women’s shelter or thrift store to learn their donation guidelines and find out if they accept bras.
The Bijou t-shirt bra, by Elomi
When you’re done spring cleaning your bra wardrobe, you’ll have a better idea of what to look for going forward. You may even be inspired to re-dedicate yourself to preserving your newly curated collection. (Lucky for you, I’ve written guides on how to make your bras last, how to store them, and how to wash them!) At the very least, you’ll have gained some closet space. And that, plus warmer weather, is definitely worth celebrating.
