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What to Look For
The band of properly fitting bra should be snug and touch the bones on either side of your ribcage. The straps should be snug too, but shouldn't dig into your shoulders. The bridge in the middle of the bra should lie flat against your body and touch between your breasts. "You should be able to have the band on the second hook comfortably and be able to fit just two fingers underneath it," she says. If your breasts billow out of the cups, if the cups wrinkle, or if the band rides up or the straps slip, you're wearing the wrong size. You should get fitted by an expert every 6 months but measuring yourself and being educated before you go shopping is key. "Sales associates are not necessarily receiving the best training or using the right methods. Plus, every brand uses different fit models and each style is cut differently so be sure to try it on or make sure the online retailer has a good return policy," says Jené.
Inch by Inch - How to Measure
Use a sewing tape and measure around your ribcage just below your bust; round up to the nearest even number and add 2.
Measure the fullest part of your bust and subtract your band size from that number. The difference in inches is your cup size. For example, if your band measurement is a 32 and your bust a 33, you're most likely a 32A.
For more information about Jené Luciani and The Bra Book, visit www.jeneluciani.com.
A Woman's Must Haves Bras
Strapless
"Spa" T-Shirt and contour styles
"Specialty" plunge, racerback, convertible
Sports
Three "sexy" demi-cup, balconette, sheer or lacy styles