Women (and men!) are getting bigger. In the biggest survey carried out in the USA since 1941, only 38% of women were happy with their size. This could be, in part, due to how difficult it is to get clothes to fit. The results don’t just apply to America. Studies in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and the UK have come up with the same ample figures.

Facts on figures…

Let’s take a look at the American study. 10,000 people in 13 cities were scanned with a high tech scanner. The result that we are interested in showed that 66% of American ladies are pear shaped and very few would now fit into what was considered the ‘standard clothing size’ – a size 8.

To fit into a size 8, a woman would have to have a 35 inch bust, 27 inch waist and 37.5 inch hips. The reality is that the average 18 – 25 year old American woman has a 38 inch bust, 32 inch waist and 41 inch hips…and that’s the young age bracket!

Once we hit our late thirties the vital statistics go up to a 41 inch bust, 34 inch waist and 43 inch hips. And if you are a woman of color, it’s a 43 inch bust, 37 inch waist and 46 inch hips.

The overall rise in size of women means that breast sizes have also gone up. In under 10 years, the average bra size in the UK has risen from 34B to 36C. This can make it hard to find lingerie to even fit…never mind attractive, lacy pieces.

So why have we become more buxom?

Many ladies are choosing to become larger with surgical help. In 2007, over 10,000 women had breast implants inserted.

Dieticians and Gynecologists say that our breasts are getting larger due to hormones. Many ladies go up an entire cup size after starting to take HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) which is prescribed to help with the symptoms of the menopause.

It’s also down to what we eat. Some pesticides contain xeno-estrogens, which mimic the effect of estrogen and are fat soluble so they can be stored in our bodies. Xeno-estrogens aren’t just in the food chain, they are also used in the production of many cosmetics.

How the right lingerie can improve your health…

Wearing good fitting, pretty lingerie doesn’t just give you a psychological (and sexual!) boost. Ladies with large breasts are prone to back problems and back pain is no fun. The perfectly fitting bra should have a firm band at the back which lifts and supports your breasts. The cups should hold each breast properly with no ‘spillage’ over the top or wires digging into your flesh.

A guide to the most common problems and how to fix them:

Back Band Issues

• If the back band rides up then it’s too big and isn’t giving you the proper support. Try going down a back size but remember that you must increase your cup size by as many band sizes as you go down.

• If your shoulder straps dig in, try making them looser. This could also mean that your back band is too loose, which makes your shoulders take the weight of your breasts instead of the back band of your bra. Try a smaller back size to help with this (but remember to increase your cup size).

• Your back band needs to be a firm fit firm to lift your breasts but if it’s uncomfortable then it’s too tight. Increase your back band size and don’t forget to reduce your cup size.

Cup Size Problems

• If under wires lift away from your body then your cup size is too small. Go up as many cups sizes as it takes for the wires to sit flat and firm on your body.

• If wires dig in at your sides or under your arms, your cup size is too small. The wires should always sit behind you breast tissue at the side of your body. When your wires hurt, it’s because they are sitting on your breast tissue. Again go up as many cup sizes as necessary to make the wires sit just behind the breast tissue and sit flat on your body with no bulging.

• If your breasts bulge over the top of the cup, the cups are too small. The top of the bra should sit smoothly on your breasts with no ‘overspill’. Try as many cup sizes as it takes to achieve this.

• Don’t worry if your breasts are different sizes. Everyone has one side bigger than the other. If you’re wearing a properly fitted bra, it’s almost impossible to spot the difference.

Don’t forget – if you are going up a cup size you may need to go down a back size, and vice versa.

5 Top tips for the perfectly fitting bra

1. The wires at the front center of the bra should sit flat against your body.
2. They should sit against your rib-cage, with no lifting away.
3. Breasts should be encased completely by the wire. The wire should sit behind the breasts and in the crease of  your breasts, not below. Cups should fit with no flesh bulging over – or gaping at the top.
4. The back-band should sit horizontally in line with the wires at the front of your bra. Your back-band should be snug enough that you shouldn’t be able to pull it more than 2” from your back.
5. Strap length should be adjusted to give support to the cup but also be comfortable.

How the retailers are responding…

UK Retailers Marks and Spencer have announced that a quarter of all the bras they sell are now a D cup or higher. Their range used to extend to a G cup but they how now introduced a J. The UK company, Bravissimo, who specialize in lingerie for larger ladies, now have K cup bras on offer. With a K size, the difference between the ‘under bust’ band and the full bust measurement is 15 inches!

A Google search for ‘Plus Size Lingerie’ brings up a staggering 31,600,000 results! So there is help available…however, some ‘plus size’ vendors only offer lingerie up to a DD cup so they still have a long way to go!

Tips for Shopping online

The answer really is to shop around and if you’re buying online, be sure to check out the returns policy of the company. This is especially important with underwear as some sites (understandably) won’t accept returns on panties.

If you are buying online, measure your bra size according to the instructions on that site. Instructions and sizings vary from site to site and manufacturer to manufacturer so it’s worth spending the extra time to avoid disappointment and the hassle of returning the item.

This also applies to buying lingerie in shops. Try and find one that offers a fitting service…it might feel embarrassing but getting the perfectly fitting bra is such a delight that it’s worth it. Your back will feel better, your clothes will hang better and we’re sure there are other advantages…!