It is thought by those in the know that 75% of us are wearing the wrong bra size. Either the back size is too big or the cup size too small. To ensure your bra fits well and is comfortable you need to make sure you are wearing the correct size. Below is some advice on how your bra should look and fit and a measuring guide so you can make sure you are wearing the right size.

What your bra should look like

• the strap around your body should be firm but comfortable.
• the back and front of the bra should be level.
• the wires at the front should be lying flat against your ribcage without rubbing or digging in.
• there should be a smooth outline a the cup, your breasts should be enclosed in the cups, without any bulging over the tops and sides of the cup.

Common problems and how to put them right

If the bra rides up at the back
Either adjust the hook and tighten or try a smaller back size. It is a common mistake to wear a back size that is too big it should be comfortable and will only move around if it’s too big. Just remember if you try a smaller back size it will also be smaller in the cup.

If the straps dig into your shoulders
This probably means you are wearing to big a back size. The main support of the bra should come from the strap around your back not your shoulders.

If your breasts are bulging out the tops or sides
This almost definitely means the cup size you are wearing is too small and you need to try a larger cup size.

If the wires dig in or stick out
This often means the cup size is too small as your breasts are forcing the bra away from your body. It is best to try a bigger cup size so the wires lie flat.

To check your bra size you only need two measurements

Step 1 ~ Measuring your back size

To do this it is best to stand in front of a mirror and use a tape measure to measure around the rib cage immediately under your bust. Once you have done this do the following:

If the measurement is an odd number – add 5 inches
If the measurement is an even number – add 4 inches

For example if your under bust measurement is 30 inches, this is an even number so add 4 inches giving you a back size of 34.

Step 2 ~ Measure around the fullest part of your bust to obtain your cup size.

If the bust measurement is:

the same as your back size, your cup size is A
1 inch more, your cup size is B
2 inches more, your cup size is C
3 inches more, your cup size is D
4 inches more, your cup size is DD
5 inches more, your cup size is E
and so on through F, FF, G, H etc

For example if your under bust measurement is 30 inches + 4 = 34, your back size is 34 and if you have an over bust measurement of 38, your bra size would be 34DD.

When finding the right bra and size you do need to bear in mind that sizes and styles do vary between manufacturers, you need to make sure when you receive you lingerie or swimwear you try it on to make sure it looks and feels right. The advice above provides a general indication of your bra size but the most important thing is that the bra feels comfortable.