The importance of a good fitting bra

Experts estimate that more than 80% of women are wearing the wrong size bra.

While we’ll spend whole afternoons browsing for the bra that’ll bring out the Kelly Brook in us, we don’t pay as much attention to getting the right fit.

But wearing a badly fitted bra can actually make you ill, leading to headaches, neck pain, poor circulation and skin and even breathing problems. A badly fitted bra will also affect your posture in a bad way.

Your breasts change throughout your life, so be sure to get fitted for the correct bra every six months. The average woman changes bra sizes six times in her life, due to changes such as hormones, weight loss or gain, pregnancy or exercise.

With a perfect fitted bra, the breasts are supported from underneath and not from the shoulder straps. This way it will be almost no pressure on the shoulders.

Most lingerie departments have bra-fitting specialists who can measure you on request. A bra should lie firmly against the rib cage. 90 percent of a bra’s support comes from a firm band. A 10 percent loss or gain or in weight usually equals a change in one cup size. A bra should be level front to back across the bodice.