Wearing the Wrong Bra? Don't Ask Me - Ask the Mirror!
What does the wrong bra look like? Take a quiet moment and study yours in detail. Here's the catch, you must be wearing it at the time. The best way to see all the angles is by looking in the mirror. I know, women rank looking at themselves in their underwear right up there with bikini waxing, but it must be done. Here's what you need to look for. Check The Band Is it level all the way around? Most likely it pulls up in the back. This means that your band size (the number part) is too big. A band that is too large causes your shoulders to bear the burden of holding up your breasts, turning your bra into an 'over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder'. This is bad. It will lead to painful shoulder grooves, neck pain, and headaches. Ouch. The band is what should support your breasts, not the straps. (like a corset, it lifts from the bottom)
A band that is too big will also give you back fat. A common is misconception is that back fat rolls are caused by wearing a bra that is too small. This is false. Wearing a band that is too big causes your band to raise up in the back and push the fat down creating those lovely rolls. A bra with the right band size will almost eliminate the appearance of back fat. Also, slip your fingers under the shoulder straps and lift up. Do you 'plop' out the bottom? If so, that is another sign that your band size is too big and that you're wearing the wrong bra.The band should rest snugly on your skin. Does your cup runneth over? If you have a big bust most likely it does. There are several reasons for this. One, we are forced to buy smaller bras because department stores don't carry bigger sizes. Two, we don't know what our real size is, and three it can be somewhat embarrassing to buy a 36 F bra. So we mash ourselves into whatever we're 'comfortable' with instead of finding something that properly supports and flatters our shape. Frankly stated, if you have four boobs instead of two, your cup size (the letter part) is too small and you're wearing the wrong bra. This will make you look bumpy under your clothes and draw more attention to your chest. 
Check the sides for overflow. If the dam is flooding out the villages in the valley, your cup is too small and you're wearing the wrong bra. Check your underwire. Does all the wire lay flat against your skin? If it digs in or pops out (something my daughter refers to as 'pokies') then you're wearing the wrong size cup and you probably need to go up in letters. Is your bra in sorry shape? If your bra is in sorry shape how can it possibly flatter yours? It can't. Is it thread bare? Discolored? Stretched out? If so then you're wearing the wrong bra. The average lifespan of a bra is 6 months. I've heard of women wearing the same one for years! Ladies, it's good to be friends with your bra, but don't be friends with it forever. Your breast size can fluctuate depending on the time of year (Christmas cookies and turkey can lead to a larger chest). Weight loss can also affect your bustline, as well as pregnancy and nursing. Now you've learned how to spot the wrong bra, take a deep breath and head to the mirror. I don't mind waiting. Go check yourself out! Return from 'Wearing the Wrong Bra' to 'Big Bras 101'
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