Style tips: The perfect bra

It's an all-too-common mistake that many of us make without realising each morning as we get dressed. Because if the statistics are anything to go by, 70 to 80 per cent of women are wearing the wrong sized bra. A well-fitted bra can shave kilos of your frame, make your clothes hang better and most importantly - make you feel incredibly sexy. So after reinventing your wardrobe last week, it's now time to take a look in your small's drawer and make sure that you are wearing the right sized bra.
Identifying the problem

There's a quick and easy checklist to find out whether you fall into the guilty camp. Start by checking out the cups. They should sit smoothly over your bust - without any gape or flow over. If you're spilling over either the tops or the sides, your bra is too small. Allow for a little shrinkage when purchasing a new bra (especially cotton or spandex) but generally the cup shouldn't wrinkle, if it does you may need to go down a cup size. See how the back of your bra sits. A perfectly fitted bra should fit snug across your back - it shouldn't dig into to your skin, nor should it ride up above the bra line. If the back of the bra does ride up, try adjusting your bra straps. If this doesn't fix the problem, you may need to move down a band size. Finally, check the underwires. The underwires should lie flush against the chest; if they are jutting out your cup size may be too small.
The perfect fit
If you're guilty of any of the above, you need a professional fitting. Retailers and salespeople are trained to help you not only find the right bra size but also the right bra for your body type. And ladies, we'd never buy shoes without trying them so keep the same frame of mind when shopping for bras. And even if you're not sitting in the guilty camp now, keep in mind bra size can fluctuate fairly quickly with weight loss or gain and hormonal changes. Make an effort to have bra fittings on a regular basis.
Get shopping
Now you've got your size sorted, you can start thinking about different styles. There's nothing like an all-over lace number to make you feel a million dollars. Look for stretch lace as it will mould to your shape and suits most busts. With summer just around the corner, a strapless bra is a must-have.
Take good time and money to invest in a decent strapless bra - it shouldn't make your chest look flat or low but should emphasis your busts natural shape. And then there's the old faithful - the T-shirt bra, which we should all have a decent supply of.
A good T-shirt bra will be moulded to create smooth lines, even under fitting tops. Whatever style you choose, remember a well-fitted bra should make you feel gorgeous, even if you're the only one who knows you've got it on.
Got a fashion or style topic you'd like us to cover? Email Natalie at editor@simplyyou.co.nz