I have been thinking of doing this for a while but it is only today that I actually have enough time on my hands, so enough chitchat! I present to you Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Bras But Were Too Afraid To Ask.

Chapter 1: Why it is so important to wear the correct bra size

There are basically two sides to this answer: one has to do with one's appearance and confidence. The other has to do with health and comfort. Both reasons overlap somewhat.

The right bra will do wonders for your appearance. It will make you look leaner, younger, and provide a better foundation for your clothes. For the well endowed, it will give lift (thus exposing and highlighting your waist), as well as providing shape an support. Your clothes will fit better and a whole world of styles you previously thought you couldn't wear will suddenly become available to you. For the modestly endowed, the right bra can create curve and lift even where you think you have nothing to curve and lift. You will be able to fill out all of those tops that previously collapsed over your dainty bustline.

For women of all sizes, wearing the right bra is good for breast health and will slow down or eliminate ligament damage that results in uncomfortable and irreversible sagging. If you are past the point of sagging, the right bra will create a perkier appearance. If you have any issues with bra discomfort, odds are you are in the wrong size. The right size will not only relieve your discomfort, but actually make you more comfortable.

If I have convinced you that wearing the right bra is a worthwhile investment in both your comfort and confidence, read on! If I haven't, there is no hope for you :p

Chapter 2: Before we begin...

Before I even begin to address any fit issues, one thing I always feel the need to do is purge women of all of their misconceptions about how bras should fit and what their size should be. Throughout this tutorial, it is imperative to keep an open mind.

-Understand that the vast majority of women are wearing the wrong size, and that probably includes you. Even if you have been fitted before and think your size is correct, not all fitters are created equal and you may need to be refitted. You need to be your own advocate and know how a bra should fit so YOU can make the final decision. That is the whole point of writing this up.

Personal anecdote: When i first got fitted, I was told I was a 32D. This was at a specialty lingerie shop, so I thought I was being fitted by experts. I got fitted every year, and while my cup size changed, my band size remained a 32. For years, I would have to constantly fuss with my straps and experience spillage out the bottom of the cups as my bras would get worn out. I thought it was just because I was hard to fit and my bras were just stretching, c'est la vie. I read a number of fit guides and began to suspect I was smaller than a 32, but I was quick to dismiss the idea. How could I be smaller than a 32? A 32 is tiny right? A trip to Intimacy totally changed my perspective. While the cup size may have been right, a 32 was way too large. I need a 28 band size. I also thought a D was huge (I came in wearing a 34B), but I really wasn't well enowed at all at that time (once I got to a DDD, it's another story).

I'll get more into fit later, of course, but that is just an example to illustrate my point.

-On that note, throw away all your preconceived notions of bra sizes. If you're like most women, you probably think a D and DD are large cup sizes. Actually, a 34DD is the average bra size (or so it would be if most women wore the correct size). That means that the average woman you see on the street--not the ones with large breasts--is or is near a 34DD. Part of the misconception comes from the fact that most stores stock a severely limited range of sizes. Many stores start at a band size of 34 to 42, and only have cup sizes A-DD. The true range of sizes available runs between 28 and 54 and from a AA-J. Some stores will even stock L's and M's.

-Be open to bras being investment pieces. A well fitting, high quality bra will be your friend for a long time to come. Especially when you have a larger size and need as much support as possible, it is worth it to get the best fitting, best quality bra you can afford. Most American brands, with the exception of Wacoal, are not sufficient in this area. European brands are made using more parts and better quality materials, and they understandably are also more expensive. Be prepared for a bit of sticker shock, but remember all the reasons I mentioned before and you'll probably get over it.

-Try on styles you might normally reject. Once again, throw away any preconceived notions of what bras are everyday bras vs. "special occasion" bras :p

Personal anecdote: All those bras I got when I thought I was a 32D/DD/DDD were "practical" tshirt bras. I thought they were the best solution for basic, everyday bras that I could wear under clothes without showing. I would only get nude or black because I didn't want any other color to show through my clothes. But now all my bras are seamed, many of them have lace and color, and none of them show through my clothes. I simply kept an open mind and it paid off. Seamed cups actually give better shape and support and make my bust look smaller. I would never go back to tshirt bras again unless I was a D cup or smaller.

Think of finding the right bra as an adventure and a journey: It will pay off when you finally reach your destination. If you ever get frustrated or discouraged, just remember all the reasons I mentioned in Chapter one, and your motivation will be back in a snap.

Hope you have enjoyed this edition! Stay tuned for the next installment where I tackle common signs and symptoms of an ill-fitting bra, and how to find a good fitter.