The expert guide to buying lingerie

Want to know about lingerie? Ask the advice of a woman who can tell your bra size even before you've taken off your coat

We asked bra fitting experts from Evenden (manufacturer of top brands Rigby & Peller, Freya and Fantasie)and Triumph International to share their vast experience when it comes to buying lingerie.

Here are the tips we all need to know... 

It's easy to buy an off-the-peg bra without getting advice

But it's much better to get the help of a trained fitter. Save yourself £200 worth of unworn underwear by getting properly fitted. People think they can guess bra sizes but they can't, it's a complicated business.

You can instantly look five pounds lighter in the right bra

A well-fitting bra will improve your profile and outline. The difference in body shape can be amazing, that's why you have to have the right foundation - get the underneath right and your clothes will look so much better.

You're wearing the wrong-sized bra when...

a) The shoulder straps fall off the shoulders and the back of the bra rides up. The straps are in the wrong place and back of the bra should be in line with the front. This bra is too big

b) The under-wires are digging in and you're cleavage is spilling out. This bra is too small

These are telltale signs that a bra is the wrong fit. Getting properly fitted makes a huge difference to comfort and support

Every woman should have a 'wardrobe of bras'

Just as we have a selection of shoes for various uses - we need a good spectrum of bras too. After all, you wouldn't go for an afternoon stroll in a pair of stilettos would you, so why wear the wrong bra? A basic 'bra wardrobe' should include the following:

A plunge/cleavage bra

A strapless bra

A functional/everyday bra

A molded t-shirt bra

A pretty bra

Top tips

1. Get fitted! You don't have one bra size for life, having kids and dieting are body-changing experiences. Don't guess, get assessed!

2. Don't put up with uncomfortable underwear. No bra should be uncomfortable; if it is, it doesn't fit

3. Explore new shapes when you're putting together your bra wardrobe

Stockists of Rigby & Peller, Fantasie and Freya include Debenhams, House of Fraser, John Lewis, Bravissimo, Harvey Nichols, Fenwicks, Harrods and Selfridges.

Some women never get fitted for a bra

So they don't understand the sizing. They're under the illusion that the 32, 34, 36 measurement is the cup size. It's not. It's the bra size. So if a bra's too tight, they go up a size, from 34 to 36 say, when really they should be looking at the cup size (A, B, C. D etc).Like running shoes, bras have a relatively short lifespan

Age matters

A 20-year-old, 40-year-old and 70-year-old may all be the same size but they all have different needs. As we age, the breasts lose elasticity, so a 20-year-old can get away with a plunge padded bra but a 70-year-old will need a pre-formed built-up cup.

Different body shapes need different bras

If a woman has a long body, the length from the shoulder to the bust is greater so she needs more lift. She'd need a different bra to a woman with a shorter body shape.

The average woman only buys 2½ bras per year

Like running shoes, bras only have a relatively short lifespan. It's easy to hang onto something just because it's comfortable, but it's important to realise that, on average, a bra will last approximately three months, if you're washing and wearing it regularly. A bra is a delicately crafted piece of lingerie with lots of seams (the average bra has 30 seams) and because of the amount of Lycra, it will change shape and stretch with washing (although, hand-washed bras last longer). If you are going to machine wash your bras, place them in a special wash bag on a cool cycle.

More top tips

1. Always get fitted for a bra - it doesn't take long and it's important to find a bra that suits your shape

2. Wires should fit around the contour of the breast and not dig in. The shape of the wires will alter if you machine wash a bra at a high temp or leave it to dry on a radiator

3. Be adventurous. There are loads of pretty bras around; instead of sticking to black and white, go for colour

For further information call Triumph 01793 720 300 or visit www.triumph.com\uk