Getting the right style

 To make the most of a small bust:

• Try a balcony style bra, with or without padding. This can give you a squarish neckline, excellent uplift and a lovely curvy shape.

• Try half cups bras since these flatter the smaller bust

• Go for bras padded at the sides and under the bust to give maximum lift

• Avoid bras that have square-cut bust lines - they’ll flatten you even more

How to deal with a large bust :

• Wider shoulder and back straps give firm support

• Full cups contain the breast better, giving a better appearance

• Underwired bras provide better support under the bust

• Smooth, plain bra styles, without too much lace, help to make your bust appear smaller

Just as you don’t have one pair of shoes which goes with all your clothes, similarly you will need at least a couple of different styles of lingerie for your clothes to look good ( Our 'Find Your Style' questionnaire helps you find the best underwear to match your wardrobe ). Tailored outfits like suits and shirts look best with a bit of uplift and firmer control, but when you’re wearing jeans and a T-shirt you may just want a soft, seamless bra to shape you and to go with clingy tops. Wear flesh coloured bras to avoid show through, and backless bras with a low-cut party dress or sun top. Wear a dark-coloured bra under dark tops - there’s nothing worse than showing a glimpse of a white bra under a black top.

Furthermore, if you are losing weight or your weight varies slightly over the course of the month, a bra with a little lycra or stretch is more accomodating and won’t crease under clothing. Remember, your breast will change with diet, pregnancy, exercise, age and taking the Pill. Women whose breasts ‘inflate’ pre-period should have a special bra for these days as their size can go up premenstrually. During pregnancy, hormonal changes mean that a woman can rise one full size in a week. However, during pregnancy underwires are to be avoided as breasts become too fragile and sensitive.

2005 © Damart