When researching this series about great fitting bra's we realised how little we really know about the pretty things that are supposed to uplift and support us.  When fitting a bra, there are so many things to consider, and we learnt that if the bra fits well, it is slimming, gives unbelieveable support, relieves pressure from the back and shoulders and creates the most amazing shape ever!

The bra straps -  Are actually not there to create lift which most of us believe.  They work with the band or wings to evenly distribute the weight of the breasts.  They should be tight but comfortable and you should get one finger width of space beneath the strap.

The wings or back panel - The back panel should always be snug fitting, but never constrict your breathing or be uncomfortably tight.  It should also not ride up your back and always sit level with the bridge or centre gore at the front of the bra.  Too tight means you need a bigger band size, riding up means you need a smaller one.  You should be able to put one finger inside the back band comfortably.  Remember when purchasing a new bra that it should hook on the loosest hook.  This increases the life of your bra, as the elastic relaxes you can still tighten it using the other hooks.

The Bridge or Centre Gore - This is where the wire of the cups meet at the front of the bra between your breasts.  This part should lie flush with your ribcage but not dig in or gape.  If it pushes in and squashes the breast tissue, your cup is too small, and if it gapes the cup is too big or the band size is too large.

The Cups - There should be a seamless transition between the cup and the breast, no bulging or puckering.  This should be comfortable and your breasts should naturally fill the cups.  If you are bulging out at the front and by your underarms, then the cup is too small, and if the cup has a gape in the front you need a smaller size.

There are several excellent lingerie suppliers, who will professionally measure your bra size. We recommend the following :
    Simply Gorgeous Lingerie
    The Corsetiere
    Liza Clifford Professional Bra Fitting Studio

However, you may want to measure yourself, below is a guide to assist you. You will need a soft tape measure, a well fitting soft unpadded bra and someone to assist you.

Please note, this is only a guide and that your size may differ based on bra brand and style. It is always best to be measured by a professional bra fitting studio.

The perfectly fitted bra gives us confidence, great support and makes us feel sexy. However, statistics show that only 1 in 4 woman are wearing the correct bra size. Lingerie shopping is meant to be fun and enjoyable. But as we all know, it can turn out to be a nightmare...standing in the dressing room trying on different sizes and styles, till you walk out frustrated! Either having bought the bra that fits OK, or with nothing at all.

Below are a few signs that you are not wearing the correct bra size :

• Your breasts are bulging out of the bra causing over-spill
• The center of the bra i.e. the fabric between the cups does not touches your chest bone
• The back band of your bra is riding up
• At the end of the day, you get red marks on your shoulders from your bra straps
• Your breasts look saggy or don’t look like the right shape
• You feel that your shoulders are being pulled forward
• The fabric of your bra cups crease
• The sides of your breasts bulge up
• The under-wire of your bra pinches your skin
• Your bra straps slip off your shoulders
• Your bra cups gap and sag with loose material
• The under-wire of your bra lifts off your rib-cage