Research shows that as much as 75 per cent of women are wearing the wrong bra size. We believe the problem is that women don’t acknowledge, or just aren’t aware of just how much their bodies change over time; with weight gain and loss, muscle gain and loss and with pregnancy and nursing. So with all this in mind, you can’t be the same bra size you were when you started wearing bras.

The truth is, in determining your bra size, it’s an art more than it is science, so measuring yourself may not be 100 per cent accurate. However, there are professionals in many stores that carry brassieres, who can help you determine your correct bra size. Just know that the number refers to the measurement around your chest/bust and the letter refers to cup size or the size of your actual breast.

There is a way to measure that can give you a very close estimate that you can then use to guide you when fitting. We found a website, that also has a bra size calculator which you can use as a guide: www.85b.org/bra_calc.php

But here’s how you do it, measure:

1. Below your bust, e.g. 30 inches

2. Your bust. (stay in line with largest point, which should be the nipple) e.g. 36 inches.

3. Above your bust. This is called the band measurement, e.g. 34 inches.

Make sure you are wearing a comfortable bra with no padding when doing this and use a soft tape measure. Basically, the figure you get for 3 (above the bust), is your bra size, the number, and should be rounded up to the nearest even number. And when you minus this figure from the figure you get when you measure your bust, you will determine your cup size. Every inch represents each letter, therefore, 1 inch = a, 2 inches = b, 3 inches = c, and so on. So based on the examples I’ve given, this person wears a 34b.

Now that we’ve determined size, we can eliminate that offence; however, there are many other offences that women commit, like exposed bra straps and front, this is probably because they aren’t aware of the many nifty and ingenious products available to help them achieve all kinds of looks without exposing their bra. With the holidays fast approaching, and many shopping for their holiday wardrobe, if you know what products are available to you, this can help you buy just what you want and will eliminate you not buying a look because you don’t have the correct bra to pull it off.