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There’s no shortage of warnings about the perils of wearing the wrong bra size – from back, shoulder, and neck pain to premature sagging.
But there seems to be an unspoken consensus that a bra fitting is an even worse punishment.
Amid claims that eight out of 10 women are still wearing the wrong size – and Gen Z are increasingly in favour of going braless – M&S has announced a massive change to its current in-store sizing experience.
The high street store has ditched the tape measure and trained 2,000 lingerie specialists to visually estimate a customer’s cup and band size instead.
This ‘no touch’ policy was successfully trialled within 23 stores before being rolled out nationwide, and it’s true that a highly-trained fitter can identify a poorly-fitting bra just by looking at it.
Before the tape measure is even drawn, bra fitters are already looking for signs like slipping straps, gaping cups, and ‘breast tissue spillage’ that are dead giveaways you are wearing the wrong size.
Lesley Ann-Potter, who helps train staff at Boux Avenue, told the Daily Mail: ‘Your bra might be too big if your underband keeps riding up at the back, the straps keep slipping off your shoulders, or if there’s a gap or empty space between your breasts and the cups.
‘This usually means that you’re not getting enough support, and the bra isn’t sitting securely against your body.’
On the other hand, if you notice red marks on your shoulders or rib cage, or that your breasts are spilling out of the cups, you need to size up, said Lesley.
There’s no shortage of warnings about the perils of wearing the wrong bra size – but it seems a store fitting is even worse punishment (stock image)
‘In this case, the bra may be working too hard to contain your bust, leading to discomfort,’ she added.
In either case, you are likely making one of five common mistakes, said Milly Major, a senior design manager at Curvy Kate.
‘Bra shopping is no easy feat; it’s daunting and oftentimes incredibly easy to get wrong. But we’re all in the same boat, as 80 per cent of women wear the wrong bra size,’ she explained.
‘Once you know better, lingerie shopping will take on a whole new vibe,’ Milly told the Daily Mail.
One of the things that she sees most frequently is that customers will fasten on the tightest hook when trying on bras, which totally alters the fit.
‘The elastic in a bra wears over time, hence you should start on the loosest hook and work your way in as the band gets looser with wear,’ she said.
Another misstep is ‘forgetting to lean and lift’, according to Milly.
‘This is a crucial step as the bra cup is intended to encapsulate all the breast tissue, right up to under your armpits.’
Explaining the technique, she continued: ‘It’s all in the name; the move simply requires you to lean over and lift all your boob tissue into the cup of the bra, scooping it from the very back of the cup forward.’
Thirdly, she warned that most women erroneously believe that the way a bra fits in the changing room lasts forever.
‘Many women assume the fit of a bra the first time they put it on will remain forever, but just like shoes, your bra will take a little time to break in.
‘It should feel a little tight on your first try, but the right bra will mould to your body with more wear and should start to feel like a second skin.’
Another reason so many women end up with the wrong size is that they assume that ‘all bras are created equal’.
She warned: ‘Different stores or brands might design and fit slightly differently; no bra is the same, and you might find you are a slightly different size from brand to brand.
‘Wire strength, coverage and hook count can also vary, changing fit and comfort,’ Milly continued.
It’s equally important to remember that ‘Different cup shapes will fit differently’.
‘A plunge may feel gappy and roomy at the top of the cup if you have bottom-heavy or more triangular boobs, whereas a balcony might require a cup size up for someone with full and very rounded boobs,’ Milly told this newspaper.
She recommends familiarising yourself with different cup shapes and learning what you like, adding that it can make a ‘world of difference’ to the way your bra feels.
The biggest mistake is avoiding bra fittings, Lesley added.
When asked why most women are wearing improperly fitting bras, she said the ‘quick answer is not having ‘regular’ fittings.
She recommends appointments every six months to one year as sizes fluctuate more frequently than most women realise.
‘Gaining or losing just a few pounds can have an impact on your bra size, as your bust is made from fat tissue,’ she said.
Your bra size can also change with age, Lesley added.
‘In the early years, it is all about the development of your bust, very few people are the same size now, as when they bought their first bra. But age can also be a factor when you are nearing menopause and affect your bra size.’
Finally, exercise and hormonal birth control can also lead to fluctuations, so it is ‘always worth getting measured’ when you make any lifestyle changes.
