Bra

Buying a bra isn't exactly the type of topic that women like to talk about that much. Studies have shown that 70-75% of all women wear the wrong size bra. Most women are wearing bras that are too small for their actual bust size.

If you have back, neck, or shoulder pain it could be directly related to your bra size (which is probably not the correct size). Even when you go for a bra fitting at a store that specializes in bras/panties it seems that professional fitters can get it wrong as well.

We found some excellent research done by Choice.com (an Australian consumer site) where they sent women into stores to get fitted by experts and 68% of them came out with poor fitting bras. They had wrong cup sizes, wrong underwire shapes, underbands that were either too tight or loose, and side wings that were not wide enough. There are some signs you are wearing the wrong size bra such as your breasts are literally coming out, the band is riding up your back, or the cups are wrinkling (they are too big). How should you measure bra size?

Keep reading below to find out what size bra you should be wearing and which styles are best suited for your body type.

Finding your exact size is the number 1 thing to do before purchasing any bra (no matter how good it looks). To properly measure your bra size take a tape measure and put it around your rib cage just under your bust. Then, measure around the fullest section of your bust and subtract the first # (rib cage measurement) from the 2nd # (bust size). The difference between the two numbers will give you a # that has an equivalent cup size:

0 - 1 1/2 inch = AA,
1/2 - 1 inch = A,
1 - 2 1/2 inches = B,
2 1/2 - 3 1/2 inches = C,
3 1/2 - 4 1/2 inches = D,
4 1/2 - 6 inches = DD (E),
6-7 inches = DD(F),
and 7-8 inches = G.

Eventhough you should stick with your appropriate cup size, you can change the style of bra that you wear since they do fit differently on your bust. There are also underband sizes (10, 12, 14, 16, etc) which can complicate the equation as well. The various styles of bras are push up bras, padded bras, demi bras, full coverage bras, sports bras, maternity bras, minimizer bras, seamless bras, nursing bras, and strapless bras.

There is not a lot of research that says if you wear no bra that your breasts will sag, but women with larger busts will definitely have back and neck problems if they go without the necessary support provided by a bra. Victoria's Secret sells mostly bras from their "sexy bra" line and they have made shopping for a bra fun for women and men. Bras are sold at most major clothing retailers like Macy's, Kohl's, Wal-Mart, Target, and other department stores.

The top bra brands are Bali, Playtex, Sheer, Vanity Fair, Wacoal, Calvin Klein, Chantelle, Maidenform, Goddess, Le Mystere, Warner, Olga, Lilyette, and Jockey.

Bras come in all colors - pink, white, black, red, purple, etc.

Each women has a unique shape so find a bra that fits your bust size and select a style that makes you feel comfortable. Down below we have tried to list the most popular bra styles with a brief description and where to purchase them at.

Training Bra:
Girls start developing breasts at all different ages, so as a parent it's up to you to keep the lines of communication open and take your daughter to get fitted for a training bra when that time comes. When girls first start wearing a bra, something like a sports bra or training bra should be sufficient to start with. These bras are available in small, medium, and large. As your daughter develops more, you will need to find a bra with cups.

Push Up Bras:
Women with smaller breasts have been sold on the push-up bras which add the look of cleavage by pushing your bust together. Lots of push up bras are padded, which helps enhance the bust line. Another variety of push up bras are called demi bras which don't cover the entire breast leaving the illusion of larger breasts. There are 2 websites we found that carry a large selection of push-up bras, demi bras, and padded bras - Barenecessities.com and Victoriassecret.com. Bare Necessities carries bras from Dolce & Gabbana, Jezebel, Calvin Klein, Bali, DKNY, and many more. Victoria's Secret will definitely liven up any womens bra collection with their wide range of push-up bras. The famous Wonder Bra was released some years back and was the one of the first push-up bras to really catch the attention of women (and men).

Plus Size Bras:
Having large breasts might seem like a blessing, but many women with larger busts suffer from back, neck and shoulder strain that can only get worse the older they get. Breast augmentation is a common surgery done on women with breasts that are too large for their body type. We understand that not all women want to go the surgery route, so there are plus size bras that should give you enough support to alleviate your health problems. Full figure bras are available on sites like Biggerbras.com and at websites like BareNecessities.com. They offer full cup bras, underwire bras, and plus size sports bras. We found sizes as high as DDD, E, F, G, H, I, J, and K on Biggerbras.com. They even have a section called "Oprah's Favorite Bras" which features the bras that have been mentioned on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Sexy Bras:
No company has done more for bras than Victoria's Secret. They have added style, color, and a sexyness to womens bras that brings in millions each year. The sexy bras that Victoria's Secret offers have lace, are see through, and are padded to enhance the look of the female bust. Sex appeal is what they represent and their Very Sexy line of bras has done very well. They sell very few plain white bras, most have floral patterns or combine hot colors (reds, pink, etc.) to create the right look.

Maternity/Nursing Bra:
If you are expecting a baby or have recently had one you realize how much your breasts will change during pregnancy and after the birth of your child. Your breasts will become larger during your pregnancy and remain bigger than usual if you plan on breastfeeding. Therefore, you will need to buy nursing or maternity bras. A nursing bra is designed so that the cups open and pull down so that you can have your baby breastfeed without too much hassle. Bare Necessities again has plenty to choose from for women who need bras while they are in the nursing stage with their infants. They carry Bravado, Elle Macpherson Intimates, Leading Lady, Goddess, and Bella Materna.