How to Find the Right Size Bra

Men, avert your eyes. Ladies, take notes! What I'm about to share with you is so important that Oprah devoted an entire show to it. It's an issue near and dear to our hearts, and it deserves our support.

Eighty percent of women are wearing the wrong size bra. NO MORE! It's time to learn what size you really are and what type of bra is suitable for your body type. Once you make the switch, it will change your life.

Many women get used to wearing one particular size and continue to stick with it throughout life. The truth is that weight loss/gain, pregnancies and aging can alter the size you're meant to wear. Oh yeah, so can denial. Many ladies may be embarrassed to hear they need a smaller size, or a bigger one, but the truth of any clothing item is this: It doesn't matter what size you are, what matters is proper fit.

It isn't a pretty thought, but let's have a gravity lesson here. What goes up must come down. What was once firm and perky will eventually become, well...less so. Age comes not only with wisdom, but with body changes. Laugh lines and eye crinkles may show where the laughs and smiles have been, but no one needs to know that your 'girls' have decided to head south for the latter half of your life. Plus, some believe that leaving your chest in the wrong bra can actually cause the breast tissue to sag over time. So, without drastic cosmetic surgery, the one good combative trick is to wear a good bra.

Brassieres were developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to cover, support and elevate the breasts. It has since become a necessity in most women's wardrobe. A properly fitted garment, especially an undergarment, provides the basic foundation that boosts, along with other things, your confidence. Putting your bosom in place will make you look thinner. Instead of a lumpy silhouette, the lift will separate the curves, defining the torso and waist, and even improving posture.

How can you tell if your bra is the wrong fit for you? Well, if it rides up the back, the straps dig into your skin, or the ladies can be tucked into your belt, chances are it's time to change! Following these guidelines are essential not only for outward appearances, but for your inner self as well. A trained professional bra-fitter is really the best way to go for the best results. If you're not ready to have a pro help you, get yourself a mirror, a tape measure and an unbiased mind-set.

How Do You Measure Up?
Standing in front of a mirror, take the tape measure and calculate the top of your bust line; the tape should go underneath your armpits, high on the back and level to the front. If the number is even, this will be your band size; if you have an odd number, add one inch.

Now take the measurement of your cup size. To do this, wrap the tape loosely around the fullest part of your chest. It's important to make sure the 'girls' are in the appropriate place to begin with, so unless you have help or are extremely handy, you may want to put on a current bra for positioning purposes for this measurement. Take this number and subtract your band size from it. The difference in inches translates into your cup size. This is a general guideline: A difference of 1 inch is an A cup, 2 inches equals a B, 3 inches translates into a C cup and a 4 inch difference is considered a D. Anything larger than a D cup is unreliable, giving more reason to be professionally measured.

Once you're ready to shop, things to consider in your bra quest include practicality. Seamless bras give the ultra smooth look, while the pretty lacy bras will give a bumpy appearance. Neck and shoulder pain is a sign that your bra is not supportive enough. Get one with thicker straps and stronger support. For a fuller look, try a push up bra or a padded one. For a more demure style, get a minimizer bra. Underwire bras not only give support but elevate. Try on various bras and brands to get the right fit. Common fitting problems include spillage, loose or tight straps and the band riding up.

Spillage
If your breast is coming out of the bra's cup, you need to go up a size. This is especially true for push up bras and strapless bras; the cup sizes run small with these styles. Unless surgically manipulated, one breast is larger than the other, sometimes as much as a cup size. Buy to fit the larger one and adjust the straps accordingly. Padded cups are great, and to even out or give an illusion of a little extra use "chicken cutlets" or nylon or silicone inserts known as "cookies".

Loose or Tight Straps
When your straps are constantly falling down, they may just be stretched out. If tightening them doesn't work, the cup may be too big. Your breast should fill out the entire cup; if the top is too loose, the straps will fall. Another factor could be small or sloping shoulders. A different style bra, like a racer-back or one with convertible straps, is a good option.

If your straps are cutting into your shoulders, loosen them. If this doesn't work, then you may need to check the band size. The pressure on the straps decreases with a proper band. Also, the size of the strap itself could be the issue. Try one with a thicker width for better support.

Band Size
A brassiere's band should generally be parallel to the floor and land mid-way between your shoulders and elbows. It should lay flush to your skin. If your undergarment rides up in the front, go up a size. If it rides up in the back, you need to either tighten the band or go down a size. Buy a bra that fits on the loosest setting. With wash and wear the elastic will loosen, so over time you can tighten the band size until it's time for a new one.

The best way to get the best fit is to be measured by a trained professional. Tips when being measured professionally include shopping mid-week, organizing your time and keeping a positive attitude. Stores are more likely to be less crowded during the week than on weekends and the chance for good service is better. Also, once you have your new size, leave plenty of time for trying on new styles.

Just like jeans, each manufacturer cuts their bras differently, so one size and style in one brand may fit differently than another. Plus, you went through the embarrassment of a stranger measuring you up, you might as well buy yourself a little something pretty. (Side note: professionals have seen it all, so no embarrassment should be felt whatsoever, but of course, this is easier said than done.) Building a good foundation starts from the inside. Here's looking forward to a brand new you!