Signs You're Wearing the Wrong Bra

An unbelievable 80 percent of women wear the wrong bra size, estimates Tracy M. Pfeifer, M.D., a board-certified plastic surgeon, and we see them all the time in our Secret Drawers Lingerie store. Women don't know what a bra should look and feel like so they don't know when they have the wrong fit. (Lejaby, left shows a good fit.)

To make matters more complicated, each manufacturer has its own version of sizing so a 36B in one brand does not equal a 36B in another; and a 36B has a smaller cup size than a 38B. Yes, it's a bit confusing, so the best thing to do is to ignore the numbers and just look for the best fit no matter what the number or letter may be.

Tips You're Wearing the Wrong Bra

1. If your band or straps are leaving marks on you, you're in the wrong size. Correctly fitting bras are comfortable, do not rub, and certainly don't leave red marks or indentations on your body.

2. Look at the fit not only from the front, but also from the side. Your breast should not spill over the top of the bra. You might think this looks good until you notice bumps under your t-shirt when looking from the side. If you're looking for va-va-va-voom cleavage, you can get it without wearing the wrong size.

3. The center of the bra and the bottom underwire should be flush against your body. If you see a gap, you run the risk of "uniboob". You can definitely find a better fit.

The fit on this Lejaby model, right, could be better. The center of the bra doesn't rest against her breast bone and she's spilling out of the cups.

4. If the cups pucker or wrinkle you're probably in a cup that's too big. The right size cup fits like a glove - your breast fills it completely without spilling over the top.

5. The back band of a bra should not ride up your back. When you look at your bra from the side there should be a line from the fullest part of your cup to your band that is parallel to the ground.

The Most Important Bra-fitting Tip

If your bra doesn't make you look and feel amazing, it's the wrong one for you. The best way to get a great fit is to visit a specialty shop like ours for a professional fitting. We will guide you through the numbers and letters to the one that works for you.

We'll be providing more bra buying tips in the future, but remember the right bra can make you look smooth, uplifted and even younger, while a bad fit can do the opposite. Bra fit matters.

(Images credits: Lejaby)