Lingerie Advice

If you are suffering from any of the following you are probably in the wrong size bra:

• Straps cut into your shoulders
• Back riding up all the time
• Back fat appearing over the back strap of the bra
• Pinching on the sides of the bra
• Underwire digging in or feeling uncomfortable
• Breasts bulging over the cups

Measuring Your Bra Size

There are two stages to measuring your bra size. First of all you measure under your bust to find your bust size and what's called your "bra band" measurement. Then you have to determine your cup size to get the perfect fitting bra.

Underwear:
How To Measure Your Bra Size

To find your bra band measurement

– measuring in centimetres/inch and using a soft tape measure, measure your rib cage immediately under your bust. Make sure you are wearing a non-padded bra when you do this and it might be useful to get someone to help you with the measuring. The tape should be held quite firmly but should not feel uncomfortable. The bra chart below will convert your band measurement into your bra size. Remember that all brands will vary slightly so make sure you try on a variety of bras to ensure you get the best fit.

Now, to find your cup size

– measuring in centimetres, measure around the fullest part of your bust making sure that the tape measure is level at the front and back. The tape should be held quite firmly but should not feel uncomfortable. You can now check your cup size using the bra size chart below as a guide. This will give you an approximate idea of your bra size but it is worth trying on a choice of sizes and styles to ensure you get the best fit. 

*measured in cm

Shopping Advice

Don’t leave purchasing your bridal lingerie until the last minute. Your bridal underwear must be purchased before you have your first fitting so that your wedding dress can be measured around the underwear.

Brides should remember that if they have a full bust they should try not to choose a strapless style gown as you want your wedding day to be as comfortable as possible.

It is really important that we all fit ourselves regularly as you will not remain the same bra size throughout your life.

We women are continually changing – age, puberty, pregnancy, sport, weight fluctuations are all factors in the changing size and shape of our breasts.

The main problem with wearing the wrong bra size is the lack of support your breasts will get. Wearing the wrong size can cause neck, shoulder and back ache due to the weight of the breasts pulling the bra up at the back.

Wearing the wrong bra size can also mean the wires of the bra sit on your breast tissue. The wires should encase and support- not sit on the breast tissue as this causes unnecessary pressure and discomfort.