Girls - almost 80% of you are wearing the wrong size bra! But don’t worry - we’re here to help you work out your size and highlight the importance of wearing the perfect bra.

There could be a few different reasons behind this. You may simply have just never been measured and told your actual size and have instead been working on estimations and guesses. You could be wearing the right size but the wrong style for your shape, leaving you with an ill-fit. Why settle for that when you could feel confident and stylish with the perfect bra?!

Alternatively, you may have had a professional bra fitting a few years ago and haven’t thought about your bra size since. The truth is, our breasts actually change at least 6 times over the course of our lifetime. We gain weight, we lose weight, we start a new exercise regime and build muscle, we change our diet and change shape, we get pregnant, we breast feed and we go through the menopause. Our boobs go through a lot! For this reason, we recommend getting fitted at least once a year to ensure that you’re getting the best out of your breasts.

Do it yourself

It’s super straightforward and simple to measure your bra at home. You will need two things - a non-padded, comfortable bra and a tape measure in inches. 

• Put on your bra of choice and measure around the bottom of the bra’s band, directly underneath your bust. Make sure that the tape is pulled in snug! 
• Note down the measurement, rounding it up to the nearest inch. If it’s an even number, add four and if it’s odd, add five. This will give you your back size, so for example 32, 34, 36 and so on.
• Then take the tape measure across your bust, again rounding to the nearest inch. The difference in inches between the two measurements will give you your cup size. For example, one inch difference is an A cup, two a B, three a C, four a D and so on. 

Let’s give you an example. If you measured 32 inches underneath your bust and added 4 to get a 36 inches back size and your bust size came out as 40 inches, that would make you a 36D as there is a four inch difference between the two measurements.

The perfect fit

So, you’ve got your correct bra size and you’re ready to shop for your perfect bra. Make sure you try all kinds of different shapes and styles as there may be a few that don’t work with your shape as well as others. For instance, if you have a lot of space between your breasts, a bra with full underwire will be difficult for you to wear and you may be better suited to a balconette bra as the cups are further apart. Get it right and show off your curves in the best way possible!

Choose a bra that fits perfectly when secured on the outermost hook. As the bra inevitably loosens over time, you can make it taut again by securing it onto the next hook. With a well-fitting bra, you should be able to comfortably slide two fingers underneath the band - snug but room for movement. Take a good look at how it sits on your chest; the back of the bra should be level with the front and your breasts should sit midway between your shoulders and elbows when you are looking at them side-on. 

Invest in your breasts

As soon as you invest in a well-fitted and good quality bra, we guarantee that you’ll notice the difference straight away. A good bra will feel comfortable from the moment you put it on and will provide all-day support, holding its appearance for many wearings and washings. You won’t feel the need to tug, pull or readjust throughout the day and you also won’t be able to see the outline of your bra under your clothes.

What you may not realise is that wearing the wrong bra size will not only look odd but can also give you breast pain, neck pain and headaches. If it’s not supporting you correctly, your upper body muscles will be working harder, adding extra unwanted strain. If your bra is too small it can even lead to shortness of breath as it will restrict your breathing, not to mention skin irritation. Being comfortable means you’ll feel confident and with confidence, you’ll be able to take on anything!

Girl power

When you buy yourself a selection of beautiful new bras, don’t throw out your old ones! Bras are the most needed, yet least donated item of clothing for women. Charity shops won’t accept used bras but there’s plenty of charities and initiatives that do. If you’re on the hunt for one, UK based charity Smalls For All will take your bras and donate them to women in Africa living in orphanages and slums, where underwear is widely unavailable.

At Tutti Rouge, we have a huge selection of busty lingerie for the girl who is sexy yet sophisticated, from back sizes 28 - 42 and cups D - J. Make us your first port of call in the search for your perfect bra and let’s make you unstoppable!