Finding the Right Size Bra

Breast change shape and size over the years. As a teenager they are usually full in the cup. If you go on the pill they may get bigger. When you have babies they get bigger and might not go down to the original size. Post maternity and as you age they start to droop as there is little muscle tissue in the breast area. During menopause there can be an increase in breast size, sometimes due to HRT. If not on HRT, they can either increase or decrease in size due to hormonal changes. (The body stores  more fat after the menopause to top up dropping oestrogen levels - this fat is stored in the breasts and round the waist.)

Pulling bra straps tight to lift sagging breasts can cause shoulder and neck pain. Here's how to tell if your bra fits properly.

• Put the bra on and look in the mirror. Your breasts should not be touching each other.
• There should be a little gap between the breast and the underwiring, which should sit on the chest wall.
• The underwiring should not dig in anywhere, nor should the ends press into the breast itself.
• Lift your arms up. If the bra rises, it is the wrong size. As you move the bra should move with you and not move around.
• The back of the bra should be level with the underwiring and not riding up.
• You should have two breasts, not four (caused by too small a cup size).
• Put clothes on over the bra you are trying on to see how it looks.
• To put on a bra, put arms through straps, then lean forward so your breasts 'fall' into the cups. Then bring the strap ends together and fasten.
• Always try on bras before buying.

Source: Twiggy: a guide to looking and feeling fabulous over forty by Twiggy with Jenny Dyson. Michael Joseph, 2008.