We've Come A Long Way Baby!

I first started working at Todd & Moore in 1983 and the original Jogbra was a mere 6 years old. I well remember that we carried one style in one color and it came in three sizes, small, medium, and large. Fast forward to 2011 and we now carry Under Armour, Adidas, Moving Comfort, Champion, and Nike sports bras in more colors than I can name in sizes from 32 B to a 44 DD. We have styles and fabrics to meet the support needs of most shapes and sizes.

It all started because 3 women saw a need for a proper fitting bra to minimize motion, prevent chafing, and provide comfort and support during athletic activites. Give credit to Lisa Lindahl, Polly Smith, and Hinda Schreiber for collaborating on the invention and using an apparel manufacturer in South Carolina to produce the first marketable Jogbra in 1977. How cool that the sports bra as we know it now, has roots in the Palmetto State!

It literally pains me to see women running or exercising without a proper fitting sports bra. Many will give up on running because of the pain and discomfort.
Here are some tips for finding a sports bra that fits:
• Use your regular bra size as a guideline, but try on smaller and larger sizes to see what fits best. Sizing can vary among brands and styles.
• Pay careful attention to the band. Most of a bra’s support comes from the band at the bottom, which restricts vertical movement. The band should fit snugly against your rib cage. If the band is too big, it cases the bra to creep up your back.
• If the bra has underwire, it should lie flat against your chest. If it’s riding up, the bra is too small.
• Choose a bra with broad, nonstretchy shoulder straps for the most support. If straps dig into your shoulders, they are either adjusted too tightly or the band size is too big.
• Make sure the cup size is right. The fabric must completely cover your breasts to effectively contain motion.
• Run in place, jump up and down, bend and reach – do whatever you can to test the effectiveness of the bra in the fitting room. And try on lots of styles and brands. You can’t tell by looking at a bra if it will work for you!
• Remember to retire your sports bras when needed. Over time they will lose their effectiveness from wear and tear.

Doing our part to support the Midlands,
Beth McCrary
Sales Associate & Buyer