Buying a bra should be the one of the easiest purchases women make, but it isn’t. It’s absolutely the hardest thing to buy for ourselves. In fact I’d say that it’s even worse than fitting for shoes! We’ve all done it though, gone out when in a hurry and held the bra up to one boob to check it looks around the right size and just bought it; then got home and found the underwire digs in like the very devil. Did you know that over 80% of women wear the wrong size bra?

You can successfully buy the right bra by measuring your cup and back size regularly. Our breast size fluctuates a lot even though we don’t normally notice it, and by keeping an eye on your size (particularly around the back measurement) you can help reduce discomfort when you buy your next bra. You can measure your back size by taking a tape measure directly below your bust and right around the back. For your actual cup size, you will probably be better off getting the assistant at your store to help you, then keep those details written down somewhere or make sure you’ll remember them.

A good cup fit should be snug to the breast with no worrisome folds or creases. It should be neither too tight nor loose and should hold each breast in a comfortable looking way. Cotton bras are the best for everyday use, and sports bras really are fantastic if you go running or do much in the way of physical sports. They were designed specifically for that sort of thing – let’s face it, the way women’s breasts bounce up and down while running can be quite awful to see and experience, so it’s always best to have as much support as possible.

Sports activities are not the only ones we need to cater specially for though in the bra department. We need to consider our size as well as what purpose we want the bra for. If you’re fuller figured, then you will need more support so will probably have to look at under-wired bras for maximum support. Half-cup or demi bras are excellent for pushing the cleavage up to be noticed and should not push them together too tightly (this means the back measurement is wrong for you) Half-cup bras are great for evening attire. A good evening-wear bra to look for would be one with either see-through or removal straps, giving you the option to enhance your cleavage or to relax it.

Lastly, always take your time when going to purchase a new bra. There’s no point going shopping when you’re tired or rushed because you could make the wrong choice, and there’s nothing more uncomfortable than getting to work to find the new bra is going to niggle you all day; because the under-wire is digging in, the lace is aggravating your skin or the back of the bra is just simply too tight for you!

So many women's lives are complicated, busy and stressful. We spend hours of our days thinking of, taking care of and working for other people. This is stating the obvious, isn't it? How many of us actually take the time to care for and pamper ourselves? Probably not very many. Even finding the time to wash your face properly at night can be a chore, let alone mustering the energy. Most of us collapse onto our beds at night, exhausted.

When you get ready for bed at night, do you sleep in the ancient extra-large t-shirt with the spaghetti and paint stains on it? An old pair of sweatpants? The granny-panties that you keep meaning to throw away but end up wearing whenever you get behind on the laundry?

Think of your morning preparations. Getting ready to start your day may mean a rush to get yourself ready, and possibly your family as well. Do you wear the first bra and panties you reach in your underwear drawer and tug them on, without much thought? How long has it been since you wore a bra and pair of panties that matched?

What's the point, you ask?

Let's face it. We all know lingerie can add excitement and newness to our love lives, can impress a new boyfriend or spark an old flame with your husband. But have you considered what wearing beautiful, sexy lingerie and nightclothes can do just for you? Think of the little extra happy feeling you get when you slip on new lingerie to impress your man. Why not do the same thing ... just for you. Just because it makes you feel good?

In the morning, before you reach for just any old set of bra and panties ... consider wearing the prettiest, sexiest or just plain slinkiest set of bra and panties you own and see how that changes your attitude throughout the day. Chances are, you'll walk a little taller and feel a little extra boost of confidence when you know that underneath that boring business suit, scrubs, or soccer mom khakis and sweater set lives the passionate heart of a woman who values herself.

Beautiful and sexy lingerie is not just a luxury for us. We are modern women who are supposed to be able to juggle everything ... work, family, home, school ... and never drop the ball. Isn't it rational to consider simply dressing for the real you - the one underneath the you that the rest of the world sees. No, it won't change your ability to meet your deadlines and the demands of your day-to-day life. But it may just be the extra oomph you need some days to remind yourself of who you really are.

Underneath all the exterior clothing - the mom-suit, the business suit, the uniform and the other costumes we women wear from day to day ... lives a body that should be treated as the amazing being that it really is. Pamper yourself, treat yourself and look yourself in the eyes every day and know that you are worth the special effort.