Have you got bosom bulge, wrinkly cups or wires and straps digging into your upper body? Do you find yourself pulling down your bra band as it rides up your back for the umpteenth time today?

It's so important to get it right, for the sake of those assets, and once you do there's no looking back. A good fitting bra will give great support all day, comfort through movement and a cleavage which will resemble a natural valley rather than a tight squeezed together effect or the four bosom look.

So, how do I know if my bra is fitting me correctly?

Well, here are a few simple guidelines.

Firstly, the band is where we get the most support, not the cups as you'd naturally assume. It should give a snug, comfortable fit. It should not ride up when you move and a good way to test this, when trying on, is to lift your arms above your head. It should also sit straight across your back in a horizontal line.

A simple way to find your band size is to measure with a soft tape measure. If you measure 38 inches around the ribcage, just below the breasts, then that will be pretty close to what you should be looking for and a great place to start.

Let's say you've decided that you need to look at a 38" band, how do you decide on cup size? In my experience women tend to undersize themselves in the cup and end up trying to squeeze into something too small, squashing delicate breast tissue.

I truly think that establishing cup size is a question of trial and error as different brands and styles have variable cuts, but it really is worth the effort.

How do I know if I have found the right cup size?

You need to ensure that the bresast tissue is sitting fully in the cup. You don't want it flowing or bulging over the top of the cups. If you are opting for a wired bra then the outer edge of the wire should not be digging in under your arms. In this instance you may need to try a smaller cup size. The wires should not dig in between the breasts either, If they are pushing together at the cleavage, once again, the cups is probably too big. The wires should sit flat against your body and the straps should be comfortable and adjustable, again not cutting in. 

Another important thing to remember is that cup size is relative to the band size. So, if you find that you try a style in a 38C and the cup feels great but the band is too loose, go down to a 36 band but come up to a D cup. D cups on a 36 band would be inline with C cups in a 38 etc.

Branded vs Highstreet

Finally, my best advice would be to buy branded. There are some fantastic ranges available such as Triumph and Playtex. The well known, established companies specialise in underwear and they understand what works for women, unlike the more budget friendly hightstreet retailers who try to cover all aspects of shopping. You really will get what you pay for and once you find a style you like then you should find you'll often get seasonal colour options so you'll never need to feel dull.