Lingerie to die for

About £2, according to Marks & Spencer..

The company are charging women buying bra’s in DD cup or higher £2 extra and Beckie Williams and Becky Mount have decided that enough is enough and started a campaign against it. Busts 4 Justice as they call themselves, are campaigning for retailers to charge the same for each cup size as well as for high street stores to sell higher cup sizes. Busts 4 Justice argue that the price equality that rules our outer-garments should apply to our undergarments too. The latest research shows that the average bra size is around 34DD and many high street stores do not offer cup sizes higher than D or E cup bra.

So why do M&S feel like they need to charge £2 extra for the bigger cup sizes? In a statement responding to this campaign M&S said this charge was needed ‘for the specialist work to ensure suitable level of support, innovation and technology that goes into the bras’. Busts 4 Justice find this to be discriminating and have set up a Facebook campaign in order to tell M&S how they feel. Nearly 8,000 women have signed up so far and growing. M&S have reclined to respond to the questions asked and everyone is anxiously waiting what they’ll say if they respond. Case continues…

Also read Erin Kelly’s column about this at DailyMail.co.uk.

At the moment, between 70-80% of women are wearing the wrong bra size. This has usually got something to do with the fact that most women feel like they can’t be bigger than a D-cup bra, as this is usually the biggest size to be found in high street stores. The reality is that the average cup size in the UK lays around D-DD cup so it seems that many women need to learn a thing or two! In order to help you, we’ve compiled a list of things you could do in order to help you find your right bra size.

First of all, just have a look at yourself in your bra in the mirror and see if any of the following relates to you:

• If the fabric that creases around the nipple area, try going down a back size for a more snug fit. The middle bit in the front of the bra should sit flat against your body, if it doesn’t then your cup size is probably too small and you need to try a bigger cup size, so for example if you have a DD cup, try an E cup bra. If the fabric is baggy on the cups, the bra cups are too big for your size and you need to go down a cup size as well.
• If you see red marks around your straps, then the straps are too tight and you will have to adjust them. The ‘rule’ is that you should be able to comfortably fit a finger between your shoulder and strap. Make sure your bra straps are long enough for the bra to be fastened low, at the point where your back narrows. When you try a bra on, get the straps at the longest length and then adjust them for the perfect fit. Your straps are an important support for the breasts, but should not carry all the weight and therefore should not be too tight on you.
• If you experience itching or red marks around the band, the band size is too small or tight. If the band size is too small, go up to the next band size. When you go up a band size, you will need to go down a bra size.
• If your breasts spill over your bra cups, then you need a bigger cup size. Your breasts should sit comfortably in the bra cups and not show the sides of your breasts bulging outside of the bra cups.
• You need to go for a smaller back size if your bra rides up your back. Check in the mirror that your bra band is the same level all the way round. Going down a back size means that you should go up a cup size.
• Your bra band should feel tight and firm, with enough space to insert two fingers under the back band and one under the centre at the front. Your dress size is a good indicator of the band size you need, ie. if you are a size 12, then you are unlikely to need a 36-38 bra band size but most likely a 34 band size or a size 8-10 dress size would normally mean a 30-34 back/band size.
• Underwired bras should sit directly under the breast, there should be no gap between the breast and the underwire of the bra cup. The underwire should not be digging into the breast as this is bad for your breast tissue. If it does, go up a cup size.
• When buying a new bra, fit it on the loosest hook, as you might need to tighten it after wearing it for a while.
• Remember that bra sizes can change throughout a woman’s life: when pregnant or gaining weight, make sure to get an appointment at a lingerie store to check your bra size as it’s very important to wear the right bra!