Did you know? 75% of us women wear the wrong size bra. Many of us don't even realise it. My inspiriation for this hub was an article I saw on television and also inspired by me myself recently being fitted by Bravissimo.

So...how do we know when a bra no longer fits? The signs to look for in a bra are the following:

• The back strap will ride up your back, the back strap on a good fitting bra should be straight and even across the middle of your back. It is the back strap that provides your main chest support. If the strap is riding up your back, the support is faltering and your breasts will sag.
• Your shoulder straps may dig into your shoulders causing pain and red marks.
• If your breasts are 'bulging' out the side and top of the cup you may need to go up a cup size.
• The centre of your bra (the bit between each cup) would be away from your skin. In a proper fitting bra, this part will touch your skin.
• If your bra no longer fits, the underwire will not incase your bust line, it may also dig into your skin and make red marks.

These days you can go into many stores such as Debenhams and Marks and Spencers and ask them to size you for a bra, they will generally use a tapemeasure which is often seen to give an unreliable result. I have previously been unhappy with the service of these two stores fitting services and I now recieve my fittings from Bravissimo. Bravissimo do not use tapemeasures to work out your bra size, they work from the bra you are already wearing and experiement with different bras as different designs will fit differently.

How to find a correct fitting bra:

1. The back strap will go evenly across your back and feel comfortable, you will instantly know the difference after wearing an incorrect bra. The strap and bra will be on an even level right around your body. When trying on the bra and then wearing your purchased bra you should fix your bra on the loosest hook, you do this so during wear and tear and the bra begins to feel a little loose, you can fix the bra on other hooks to feel more secure.
   
2. The part at the front of your bra between each cup should sit against your chest. If it doesn't you may need to go up or down a cup size.
3. The cups of your bra should encase your breasts smoothly. If your breasts 'bulge' over the top or sides, you need to go up a cup size. If there is a big gap between the material of your bra and the breast then you would need to go down a cup size.
4. The underwires will encase your bust line, the top of the wires will be at an even level with your breast.
5. After adjusting, your shoulder straps should feel comfortable and along with the back strap your breasts should be slightly lifted to give added support and hold your bra in place.
6. You should be able to fit two fingers underneath the band of your bra, if you cannot, your bra is too tight.
   

Tips for big busted women:

• A balconette or full cup bra is most flattering, never go for a plunge as they do not provide maximum support and you will generally spill over the top of the cup.
• The material of the bra should not be too flimsy.

For those with one breast clearly bigger than the other:

• Always fit the bra to the biggest breast.

Women who have lost weight:

• Use a bra with strong material for maximum support.
• Breasts should be lifted into the bra and positioned so the nipples are in the middle of the cup.
• A full cupped or balconette bra works well.

Bras for all occasions:

• If you are wearing a low cut dress then aim to wear a plunge bra, you will have added cleavage to show off those curves.
• T-shirts. A seam free bra works best to avoid any embarrassing moments where material may poke out!
• High neck tops. A full cup bra works best to hold in your breasts at all times, your look will be ruined should your breasts be falling out of your bra.
• Strapless dress/top. Strapless bra 

REMEMBER! Be careful if you are wearing a bra with padding. The bra should mould your breast, do not force your breasts into a padded bra.