Allow me to start at the conclusion: Get fitted by a professional, it will be worth it. Take it from someone who was convinced she was a DD cup, and is actually a generous F.

Last year, I was professionally fitted for the first time and learnt that I had been wearing bras that were at least two sizes too small for far too long.  

I am the titular dummy (pun intended), but I am not alone. Four in five (80 per cent of) women wear the wrong sized bra. This could be explained by the horror stories I have heard about inexperienced changeroom attendants requesting customers “get their boobs out” to be fitted.

I lucked out with my gal at the bra store. Like any seasoned fitter, she was able to tell at a glance that my cups were too small and hand me the next two up to try.

Karen Swan, a professional with even more tenure as store manager at Colleen’s Lingerie and Swimwear in Garran, says that measuring clients with a tape measure is unnecessary since bras are not an exception to the clothing rule from hell: “There is no standardised sizing.”

“As someone who has been fitting for a long time, we can get a good estimate of your true size from looking at you. However, we will always have a conversation asking what you’re looking for, whilst looking at you discreetly,” she smiles.

Karen mentions that the most common claim she hears from customers is that they “have always been a 12B.”

“The truth is you are never going to be just one size.” Size doesn’t only vary from brand to brand, but also across different styles.

“It’s confusing. It’s overwhelming,” says Karen. “The sheer number of products that are available, plus the limited number of places that you can go for professional help.

“So, we wear the size we’ve always worn without considering how we fluctuate throughout different stages of our lives.

“If you’re noticing discomfort, or the wrong lines underneath your clothes, it’s time to have a fitting,” she says. “If you’ve started breastfeeding, finished breastfeeding, lost weight, gained weight, gone through menopause … Ideally, you should be fitted every time you buy a bra.”

When it comes to the number of bras the average woman owns, Karen puts it at about five.

“Most of us have a ‘capsule wardrobe’ consisting of a T-shirt bra, sports bra, strapless bra, black bra, and beige bra.”

Which brings us to Contestant #1.

The Back Appeal bra by Wacoal

“Oh, that’s beautiful!” Karen exclaims as I exit the changeroom. It’s their best-selling bra for good reason.

The Back Appeal is a T-shirt bra, which Karen explains simply means a bra without seams. On the Back Appeal, she demonstrates what a well-fitting bra should feel like.

“The band is your anchor point. If the band is too tight, it’s going to feel uncomfortable. If it’s too loose, the back will ride right up and throw everything forward. It needs to be firm, but comfortable.”

A brand-new bra should be worn on the loosest or middle hook and eye. “Never start a new bra on the tightest hook and eye because you want somewhere to go when it starts to stretch,” says Karen.

The straps’ only purpose is to sit squarely in the centre of your shoulders, holding the bra up “while the cup and band do all the work.” Meanwhile, the underwire should start just behind where your breast begins (underneath your arm) and be flush against your body.

“What you don’t want is a band so tight that it feels like it’s chafing or rubbing,” says Karen.

This Wacoal design has a traditional neckline, is low in the back, and buttery soft. I am not convinced of the visual appeal until I try it on under my blouse and notice how much higher my bust sits, as if I have had perfect posture my entire life.

“A well-fitting bra will bring in your waistline beautifully,” says Karen. “The band is wide around the sides, giving you a really lovely shape underneath your clothes.

“More definition,” she says, at the same time I say, “Less squashed.”

“The question you need to be asking yourself and the fitter is ‘Does this bra feel like something you would wear every day?’”

She suggests we try something “a little saucier” and brings out a lacy rose gold number.

The ‘saucier’ option: Priya Underwire Plunge Bra

Whereas I was an F in the Back Appeal, I am an FF in the Priya.

Despite being the same price as the Back Appeal ($99.95), Priya is far showier, and I find myself mentally reaching for my wallet. 

Karen notes that, “If a cheap bra fits you, it’s better than the most expensive bra in the world that doesn’t fit you.”

Priya is equally supportive, although the lace peeks through my blouse.

By now, it’s become clear that Colleen’s range accommodates those with fuller busts. They also have a reputation around town as a safe haven for clientele who have had or are scheduled for surgeries relating to breast augmentation, mastectomy, or gender affirming procedures.

There’s a sign above the door welcoming “Bosoms Great and Small, Uneven or None at All.”

“That’s where the bra fitting becomes quite a personal and private experience,” says Karen.

“People are sharing information with us which is very sensitive to them. What we offer them all comes down to their individual needs and where they are at on their journey.

“Bra fitting doesn’t have to be a nerve-racking experience. We offer a respectful and safe space … What happens in the changeroom stays in the changeroom.”

Canberra Daily would love to hear from you about a story idea in the Canberra and surrounding region. Click here to submit a news tip.