TA-DA! THE ONLY EXCUSE YOU NEED FOR CHUCKING OUT YOUR SAGGY KNICKERS AND GREYING BRAS…

By Lynne McKenna

CRAZY ABOUT COLOUR

Left to right: Red bra, £48, briefs, £24, both Simone Pérèle (020 8332 3060); blue bra, £20, shorts, £10, both J by Jasper Conran at Debenhams (0844 561 6161); green bra, £26, briefs, £12, both Freya at Bravissimo (01926 459859); pink bra, £14, briefs, £6, ASOS (Asos.com); orange bra, £30, briefs, £12, both Ultimo (0845 130 3232); purple bra, £21, briefs, £10, both Panache (0114 241 8888)

Buy this daisy bra and see more lingerie in the Fabulous Shop

Click here to get 20% off Ultimo lingerie

 

SUN HATS

Left to right: Peach bra, £20, briefs, £12, both Pour Moi (01625 612880); lilac bra, £8, briefs, £4, both Bhs (0845 196 0000); black bra, £30, briefs, £16, both Charnos (0115 850 8000); turquoise bra, £26, briefs, £12, both Gossard (0844 770 1222); antique-rose bra, £28, briefs, £12, both Masquerade (0114 241 8888); cream bra, £9, G-string, £9, both Rosy (07860 265389)

Click to buy this Provence bra from Figleaves in the Fabulous Shop

Click here to get 20% off Ultimo lingerie

 

COVER-UPS

Left to right: Floral bra, £14, briefs, £4, both Topshop (0845 121 4549); pink bra, £31.50, briefs, £14.50, both Livebylove (Livebylove.com); green bra, £14, briefs, £6, both Ceriso at Marks & Spencer (0845 302 1234); pink mesh bra, £12, briefs, £12, both TU at Sainsbury’s (0800 636262); flowery cami, £8.99, briefs, £4.99, both River Island (020 8991 4759); black floral bra, £14, briefs, £7, both New Look (0500 454094)

Explore the Fabulous Shop where you can buy this Ceriso padded bra

Click here to get 20% off Ultimo lingerie

 

BEACH ESSENTIALS

Left to right: Purple bra, £24, G-string, £12, both Odille at Oasis (01865 881986); black and white bra, £12.99, briefs, £3.99, both TK Maxx (Tkmaxx.com); basque, £47, briefs, £18, So Shei Sista (020 7629 3360); pink bra, £8, briefs, £3, Tesco for Cancer Research UK (0800 505555); black bra with ribbon, £6, briefs, £4, both Matalan (0845 330 3330) red bra and briefs, £100 for the set, Yes Master at So Shei Sista (as before)

Visit the Fabulous shop to buy this Oasis melba bra

Click here to get 20% off Ultimo lingerie

 

How to find the perfect bra

With surveys showing 70 per cent of women wear the wrong size bra, isn’t it time you checked how you measure up?
“Most women wear a bra that’s too baggy round the ribcage and too tight on the breasts,” says Melanie Bell from Simone Pérèle.

Does your bra fit properly?

If any of these apply, it’s time to get down to Marks & Spencer, pronto!

* If you’re seeing double when you look down at your bust, go up a cup size. Four boobs is not a good look.
* Push two fingers under the centre of your bra’s band. If there’s a little resistance, you’ve got a perfect fit. If it’s too loose, your bra is too big.
* The centre of your bra should lie flat against your body. If there’s a gap – one you could comfortably store a pencil in – your bra is too small.
* Underwire digging into your boobs at the side? It’s painful, yes. It also means the bra cup is too small.
* If your bra rides up at the back, the band is too big. Try going down a back size and up a cup size – for example, from a 36B to a 34C.
* The cup and band should be doing all the hard work, not the straps, so if they’re digging into your shoulders, your bra is too big.

 

Photography: studio21photo.com, capital pictures, landmark media, catwalking.com