If the breasts bulge above the cup or out of the sides near the armpits, creating lumps under clothes, chances are the cup is too small. If the cup material puckers or the breast doesn't entirely fill a molded cup, the cup may be too large. If the band rides up in the back and is higher than the front and the breasts seem to droop, the band size probably is too big. If there is a gap between the center panel and the breastbone that is large enough to slide two fingers through, the cup or band is a poor fit. Bras should never feel tight or leave red marks on the skin after they are taken off.
Style can be as much a hurdle as size.
Women with smaller breasts don't need the same support as women who are larger, and all women need more support as they age. If you're 35, a triangle bra is not the way to go. Larger sizes Finding the right bra is especially difficult for women who have larger breasts, retailers say. Many women visit their doctors and complain of back and shoulder pain only to learn they aren't wearing bras with enough support. It happened to Charlene Copeland.