This is how often you should get a bra fitting

how often to get a bra fitting
(Image credit: Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.)

Do you know how often to get bra fitting? Do you even remember the last time you measured your bra size? Chances are, it was more than a year ago, if not longer - and that’s why you’re probably wearing the wrong bra size.

According to lingerie experts, if you're not getting fitted at least every six months, you're doing something wrong, because even if you swear your breasts don't change in size or shape, they do.

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Sharon Bell, Head of Product & Design at Ultimo, a quintessentially British lingerie brand, told us: ‘We recommend that you get professionally fitted every six months’.

Why? Because your breasts, like the rest of your body, fluctuate with weight changes. 'Breasts can alter in size due to hormonal changes, or through weight gain or loss,’ she says.

How often to change bras

Debby Duckett, Buying Director at Boux Avenue adds that you should also be looking at how the fabric of the bra ages.

She says, 'Colour and shape are the two main areas that tell you when it’s time to replace a bra. If the underband is too loose on the tightest hook or the straps are no longer staying in place, your bra is no longer giving you the support you need. If the colour has started to fade and the fabric has gone a little frayed, you have the perfect excuse to treat yourself to some new lingerie!'

How to calculate bra size

The easiest way to get your bra measurements is by going in for a bra fitting, however if you don’t have time, or would rather do it at home, then you can do it by standing in front of a mirror with the centimetre side of a measuring tape facing outwards. And keeping the tape measure straight, level and tight, measure the circumference of your body, just underneath your bust.

Then compare it to the conversion chart on any lingerie brand site to see what size you need to order from them.

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.

Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).

Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.

However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.

Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.