IS that underwire digging into your chest or do you have side boob?
Rest assured, you are far from alone when it comes to making mistakes over which bras to wear.
In fact, 81 per cent of women are wearing the wrong size, according to research from lingerie brand Boux Avenue.
Despite our breasts changing shape and size throughout our lifetime, more than a third of us (35 per cent) have never had a bra fitted — and I’m one of them.
I don’t like the thought of some stranger prodding my boobs.
Like most women, I have always just bought bras that I like the look of and, if it fits OK, I don’t take it back to the shop.
Generally, I ended up with 32D bras. So far, so not scientific.
But after having two kids — Jude, four, and Eva, 20 months — my boobs have changed. And not for the better.
They ballooned when I was pregnant and, after breastfeeding, they look decidedly less plump and perky.
I need new lingerie as I don’t fit into my old bras any more.
But shopping with the kids in tow hasn’t been successful as I never have time to try anything on.
Instead, I just grab one that looks like it might fit which, invariably, it doesn’t.
It’s obvious I need to make time to get myself measured.
Experts claim you should have a bra fitting every six to 12 months to ensure you are wearing the right fit and style for your bust.
Without expert help, and faced with a dizzying array of sizes, styles and brands, it’s no wonder we end up buying bras that don’t work well for us.
But the consequences are real.
We all know that feeling of an ill-fitting bra and it’s not fun — gaping or overflowing cups, straps digging in or falling down, band rising up or cutting in.
Priya Downes, founder and CEO of lingerie brand Nudea, says: “Wearing the right bra is the single most important factor to a woman’s wardrobe, no matter what size.
“If your shoes caused blisters you’d stop wearing them, so why do we find ourselves hanging on to uncomfortable undies?
“If you can’t wait to get home at the end of the day to rip yours off as soon as you walk in the door, chances are that you’re wearing the wrong size.”
Most high street stores offer free, walk-in fittings but, if you don’t fancy that, brands like Nudea do online fittings.
To find out my actual size, I ripped off the bandeau and tested these styles at six different bra-fitting services.
The results may surprise you .
HERE are Priya’s bra checks for finding the perfect fit:
UNDERBAND: This is crucial for support.
It should feel seamless against your skin, resting in a straight line.
Now, try to put two fingers under the band – there should be just enough room, leaving you with a perfectly snug fit.
CUPS: You don’t want them too tight, with your boobs bulging over the top or out the side.
And you really don’t want gaping between the cup and the top of your breast.
Neither is a good look under your clothes.
CENTRE FRONT: The wiring that curves up between your breasts should lay flat against your breastbone without any discomfort or rogue wire poking out.
Strapless microfibre multiway bra, £32
I WAS dumbstruck when the bra fitter told me I was an E cup.
I asked her to measure me again “just to be sure”.
Despite the cup size looking ginormous, it actually fitted really well and was the most supportive strapless bra I have ever worn.
I was considering quitting my job as a journalist and setting up an OnlyFans account.
But before I took the plunge, I was quickly brought back down to earth when I got measured at Marks & Spencer, which thought I was a different size altogether.
Printed lace trim wired full cup bra A-E, £10
MY back size measured 30.5cm but the bra fitter recommended I wear a 32C for comfort.
I have always thought I was around a 30-32C/D, so this measurement seemed about right.
The bra fitted OK but did feel a bit snug around the cup.
The fitter laughed out loud when I revealed I had just been told I was a voluptuous E cup at Boux Avenue.
“No sweetie, that’s a bit generous – a D at a push,” she said.
Lift demi bra, £22 at House of Fraser
“YOU have a small back and a big cup,” said the bra fitter after measuring me.
“I recommend Calvin Klein bras as they’re perfect for women with this shape.”
She was right.
The brand’s bra fitted perfectly and felt so comfortable.
It gave me a much-needed subtle lift, which looks great in low-cut tops.
Very Sexy non-wired push-up bra, £45
THIS was the only store that physically measured my cup size from above, rather than under it.
The padded bra fitted perfectly and gave me an instant boob job.
It was also super-comfy as it wasn’t underwired.
For a moment, I felt like a Victoria’s Secret model with my newfound assets.
Light blue non-wired T-shirt bra, £22
THE bra specialist told me I was a 30C/D and brought me a few in those sizes.
I have to admit, I love a non-wired bra and often sleep in one after reading that is how actress Liz Hurley keeps her assets so pert.
So I’ll happily admit I was keen on this one from the off.
I opted for the C cup and it is the most comfortable bra I have ever worn – I never want to take it off!
Ophelia balconette bra, £42
AT this fitting, the specialist didn’t even need to get her tape measure out.
Like a true boob whisperer, she just looked at my chest and said: “You’re a 32DD.”
Then she suggested a few bras for me to try on and stuck her finger under the band to make sure it wasn’t too tight or too loose.
While I liked the look of the balconette bra on the hanger, I don’t think it did much for me when I popped it on.
It seemed to flatten my assets, but the fitter insisted I was wearing the right size.
IT’S easy to see why so many of us are confused about our bra size.
To be told I’m a 30E in one store and a 30C in another is crazy.
On average, most shops told me I was a C/D, but the disparity between sizes is shocking.
No wonder women are wearing the wrong size when it varies that much from store to store.
This doesn’t happen with our shoe size, so why are bras so different
From now on, I will be getting measured every six months or so to make sure I stay on top.
