Uplifting lingerie:

If you're reading this because you're thinking of buying your partner a beautiful piece of lingerie for Valentine's Day - well done! But please just make sure it can be returned, because a bra is a really difficult thing to buy and, in fact, many women get their size wrong.

For women reading this who need to buy a bra - if you find it a tedious and daunting task that you just want to get over and done with, at least make sure you know the basics of how to find the right size bra for you.

Regardless of your size, choosing a bra that fits correctly doesn’t mean it has to be unflattering – in fact, quite the opposite. There really is a bra to fit everyone, and to help make everyone look their best.

The big mistake many women make is buying a bra with the wrong cup size or one that’s too small. Around 80% of women are estimated to wear the wrong bra size, which means they’re not flattering their figure as much as they could.

Here are some tips from Simone Perele at Uni Hill Factory Outlets in Melbourne to help make your next bra purchase a little less daunting.

1. The underband around your body should be comfortable but also firm. If it’s the right fit you should be able to run your finger along the inside of the underband. If you can’t do this then the bra is too tight. The underband is what supports the weight of your breasts along with the cup and shoulder straps.
2. The bra should always be fastened on the first hook during a fitting.
3. Straps should never cut into you or leave indentation marks on your skin. Adjust the straps so that they are comfortable and there is no extra pressure.
4. The centre front (or small bridge of the bra) should lay flat against your breastbone. If it doesn’t sit flat, it’s usually an indication that your cup size could be too small or the panel is too short to accommodate the space between your breasts.
5. With underwire bras, they should also lie flat against your rib cage. If they bulge, dig into the soft tissue of your armpit or rub, then you may need to consider a larger cup size.
6. A bra cup should never wrinkle or pucker; it should have a smooth outline without spillage at any spot.
7. Your silhouette should demonstrate your bust sitting midway between the top of your shoulder and the bend of your elbow.

For more information visit www.uhfo.com.au