Let’s face it – very few of us women actually enjoy going bra shopping. While we may love browsing beautiful, satiny or lacy items, the whole trying it on and getting it right can be downright tedious. But though bra shopping may seem a bit overwhelming and unpleasant, it can be just the opposite if you have some insider knowledge are well prepared... By far the most important thing is to purchase a bra that is the right size. 80% of women wear the wrong sized bra – can you believe that the average woman will wear six different bra sizes throughout her adult life? We gain and lose weight, our hormones wreak havoc on our breasts, we get pregnant and many of us breastfeed, and in mid-life we go through menopause. All of these can dramatically impact on the size and shape of the breasts and also of the torso – which is every bit  as important in fitting a bra as is breast size. The wrong sized bra is uncomfortable and unhealthy. Neck problems, shoulder hunching, and back pain are all potential risks of not getting it right. Bra sizes are based on two measurements: bust and underbust. The combination of these will dictate your band size and your cup size. You might not realise that the cup is sized relative to the band – so not all C-cups, for example, are equal! For instance, if a 14C bra is spot on for cup size but too large in the band, the correct size to try would not be a 12C, but a 12D. It’s not as confusing as it may seem. Follow these easy steps to find the perfect bra for you: Measure Underbust: wear your most comfortable aloneonly for measuring. Use a flexible but not stretchy tape measure. Measure around your rib cage, directly under your breasts, without having the tape too loose or tight. It  should be parallel to the floor. This measurement is your band size. Measure Bust: Measure with tape again parallel to the floor, and not too tight or loose, around the fullest part of your bust (still wearing your bra). Your breast shape should not be altered by the tape. Determine your bra size:

Berlei_bra

Courtesy of Berlei

These are sure signs your bra is the wring size: Baggy Cups = Cups too large Bulging Breasts (top or sides) = Cups too small Protruding wires = band size is too large Back rides up = band size is too small Bra straps dig in = straps adjusted too tight, cups too small, or band too large.