Subtle Signs That Scream Your Bra Is Too Small

Getting your bra size right is no mean feat. As Jenny Burbage, a sports biomechanist at the University of Portsmouth, wrote in a study titled "Evaluation of professional bra fitting criteria for bra selection and fitting in the UK" (via New York Times), "it has been suggested that 70 to 100 percent of women are wearing the wrong size bra." But luckily, there are a few signs you can look out for that may indicate you're wearing the wrong bra size, particularly if your bra size is too small.

According to Laura Franklin, Customer Services Manager at Bravissimo, per Woman & Home, when your bra is too small, "your wires may be digging into your breast tissue or armpit causing discomfort." She continued, "You may also notice the cups aren't fitting as they should be, resulting in your boobs spilling out of the bra." In terms of the back band, it should fit snuggly, but not be restrictive. "The band should rest at the bottom of your shoulder blades, and all of your breast tissue should fit in the cup, with no spillage in the front or back behind the wire," bra fitting expert Julia Mastalski told Bustle.

So what do you do if you've there are signs your bra is too small? Get a bra fitting of course. As Ra'el Cohen, vice president of design and product development at ThirdLove, told Refinery29, "I think the biggest mistake that women make is saying, 'I'm a 34C, and I've always been a 34C." The fact is, you're likely not the same size you were when you started wearing bras!

Cohen goes on to explain, "Your body changes on average six times in your life, so chances are, unless you've recently been fitted, you're going to be a different size — and that's okay." Getting a regular fitting, even once or twice a year, will ensure you're always wearing the right size. After all, "[a] bra that fits you correctly, and is the right size and shape, will allow the body to function at its maximum potential," chiropractor Dr. Rubina Tahir, DC told Bustle.