BRA FITTING TIPS

You know you've picked a dud bra when… a) You spend your whole day trying to get those darn underwires to stop digging into your flesh. b) The straps are constantly falling down quicker than incy wincy spider. c) You have a not so contoured outline through your tee-shirt, otherwise known as the double decker look. d) Feel like the back-strap of the bra is riding so far up your back it's about to come right around and blindfold your eyes e) All of the above! The thing with underwear, lingerie if you will, is that it should feel like you're wearing nothing at all. Beauty shouldn't come at a cost, especially not one that involves any of the above scenarios. Bra buying is a fairly daunting task. What it isn't, however, is rocket science. Taking another one for the team, the nzgirls went on the hunt to find the intimate details of your intimates. We spoke with Katrina VanDijk, a bra-fitting maestro from Berlei. Firstly, how to get the right fit Before you even put the bra on, ensure straps are completely loosened when first putting on bra. The straps should rest firmly and comfortably on the shoulders without cutting into the flesh. Straps should be adjusted enough to have the breasts lifted and sitting half way between the shoulder and elbow. Fasten the hook and eye in the middle, this will give you the option later to loosen or tighten as required. The back gore/strap should sit low and should be pulled down beneath the shoulder blades. If the back gore is too high it will give a saggy bustline. Centre the breast in the bra ensuring the nipple is in the centre of the cup, this will give a nicer shaped bustline. You can do this by leaning forward letting the breasts drop into the bra. Lastly put on some clothing to ensure you are happy with the shape you have created. It's still not quite right… If you spend the entire day pulling up the straps, so much so you've developed some fairly decent biceps, then… Reduce cup by one size Straps lost elasticity time to replace bra Shoulders are sloped, require a bra with tapered back shoulder straps. You feel like the backstrap is about to become a blindfold because it's riding up so much Try a tighter hook Loosen straps – the back gore should sit halfway between your elbow and shoulder Bra is too big or has lost elasticity. You've got the weight of the world on your shoulders, or at least some nasty red marks Loosen straps slightly A more supportive bra is required. A bra with wider or padded straps is required. You're not so keen on the Double-Decker look Increase the cup size by one Try a fuller cupped bra The cups are crinklier than Grandma's hands or the bra isn't sitting flat Trying dropping a cup size It feels like the underwires are attempting to dig through your chest all the way to China The band or cup is too small increase size. Tee