Wearing undergarments that fit properly is about more than just accentuating your attributes and concealing trouble areas; as the foundation of every woman's outfit, a properly fitting bra affects your posture as well as the health of breast tissue.
A bra that is too loose will allow breasts to sag and cause back problems due to strain; if it's too tight the elastic and underwire can pinch and poke sensitive areas leading to discomfort, bruising, and even breast health problems, such as blocked milk ducts.
According to a June 27, 2006 article on Time.com, "If Your Bra Doesn't Fit, Go Shopping," up to 85 percent of women are wearing the wrong bra size. That means if you're a woman who wears a bra, you're most likely one of the boob offenders, treating your breasts badly by squeezing them into too-small cups or letting them swing haphazardly due to lack of support.
Follow these steps to finding the correct bra size, as explained by Le Mystère founder and CEO Michael Rabinowitz in The Handbook of Style (Quirk Books, 2007):
You can look up your cup size here:
Your lingerie retailer should have professional staff equipped to provide you with a complimentary bra fitting consultation. In addition to measuring you for your accurate size, the staff should also be prepared to help you find bra styles for specific outfits or occasions.
Just because you have a bra fitting once doesn't mean you're finished. No, the experts at La Senza say that women's bra sizes change up to six times during their lives. The lingerie retailer's national online survey results revealed that 45 percent of women surveyed have never had a professional bra fitting and 64 percent of respondents have been wearing the same bra size for up to five years.
Puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight gain, weight loss, menopause, and variations in fit between different brands and styles… there are many reasons why you should regularly go for a bra fitting to ensure proper fit and comfort throughout your life.