Forget going under the knife and step away from the tissue paper, women can transform their breasts, making them look bigger simply by getting measured for a new bra.

According to underwear brand Curvy Kate, most women are wearing underwear two cup sizes too small for them - and this was bound to include FEMAIL writers.

I decided to put their bold claim to the test and put what I thought were 36Cs in the hands of the company's 'bra whisperers'... and was shocked by the results.

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Experts at Curvy Kate, which sells D-K bra sizes, are offering an exclusive 'size challenge' to FEMAIL readers, asking you to email a picture of yourself and they will judge the right bra size for you. Picture posed by model

It's not often I send a picture of myself to a stranger so she can check out my boobs, and yet this is what I found myself doing one afternoon. While I was at work. Sitting at my desk.

I was sending the snap - in which I was clothed, by the way - to one of Curvy Kate's specialists Chantelle Crab.

She was convinced that, like a reported 90 per cent of women in the UK, I was wearing the wrong bra size, and said just by looking at a picture of me she could tell me where I was going wrong.

'We find when bra fitting that almost all women have to go down at least two back sizes and up at least two cup sizes,' she said.

Caroline Garnar who usually wore a 36C sent her photo to Curvy Kate 'bra whisperer' Chantelle Crab and was diagnosed as a 30G. Pictured left in a 36C bra, right in Curvy Kate's 30G

'I felt as if my entire posture had lifted. My back felt straighter, my shoulders pulled back, and my chest expanded,' said Caroline, pictured left in a 36C bra, right in Curvy Kate's 30G

I admit to rolling my eyes at her - well at my computer screen.

Does this woman who's never even met me before really think she knows my body better than I do?

I have had it for 30 years you know - although granted the bits that need a bra came at about halfway.

I've never been measured as I have worn a 36C my entire adult life and been happy with it.

Admittedly my bra could dig my ribs from time to time - which I took as a sign that it was still too small - and my boobs do look like they could be more than a C - but, as they almost say, if the bra fits...

FEMAIL writer Caroline went down three back sizes, and up six cup sizes. Pictured left in a 36C bra, right in Curvy Kate's 30G

'We find when bra fitting that almost all women have to go down at least two back sizes and up at least two cup sizes,' said Curvy Kate's Chantelle Crab. Caroline pictured left in a 36C bra, right in Curvy Kate's 30G

But having told Chantelle I was a 'generous 10 or stingy 12' when it comes to buying pants, she was convinced I couldn't be a 36 back and so asked to see a photo.

'But I've got a broad back,' I protested, sending her the snap.

'If you've got a broad back then I'm the Queen of bloody England,' she proclaimed.

'I reckon you're a 30G.'

I literally scoffed, which I'm not sure I've ever done before. It appears to be somewhere between a laugh and a cough.

A G cup? A 30 back. You are having laugh.

But what about the digging? Surely I won't be able to breathe in a size 30?

'The digging is because the strap is too big and so not sitting in the right place,' she said.

I still wasn't convinced.

But then I tried on a 30G.

Caroline had never been measured as she had worn a 36C (pictured left) her entire adult life and 'been happy with it'. After sending her picture to Curvy Kate's 'bra whisperer' she now wears a 30G (pictured right)

And it fit.

I had to wrestle a little with the strap - being used to ones that practically touch when they're loose - and it felt a bit tight to begin with, but after wearing it for just five minutes I got used to it.

Generally, I felt as if my entire posture had lifted. My back felt straighter, my shoulders pulled back, and my chest expanded.

Looking in the mirror I couldn't notice a huge difference at first, but when I looked back at the 'before' pictures, I realised my breasts had been lifted and pushed together - and just generally looked neater.

I'm converted, and really happy I'm finally wearing a proper bra size.

My boyfriend's pretty pleased too.

ARE YOU WEARING THE WRONG SIZE BRA?

If the back band curves up at the back, this means it is too big. The band should lie horizontal from under your bust round your back

If the underwire doesn’t sit flat against your rib cage and doesn’t encase all your breast tissue, it is the wrong size. There should be no breast tissue bulging over the top and no gaping fabric

Strip off and check the following to see if you are in fact wearing the wrong bra size for you:

The back band curves up at the back – meaning it is too big.

The underwire doesn’t sit flat against your rib cage and doesn’t encase all your breast tissue.

The cups do not cover the entire breast with a smooth and uplifted appearance. There should be no tissue bulging over the top and no gaping fabric.

The wires dig-in or rub. Many people think this is because the band is too tight however it is quite the opposite. The reason the wires rub is because the band is too big and it is able to move and slip.

Visit www.curvykate.com/bra-whisperer and submit a picture of yourself and fill out the form. The experts will then diagnose your correct bra size just by looking at you. The underwire should be flat against your rib cage and the centre of the bra sitting flat right in between your breasts

The back band should be firm and lie horizontal all the way from under your bust round your back. The cups should encase all your breast tissue without any spilling or bulging, and give rounded and uplifted shape

Finding the right bra

To start visit www.curvykate.com/bra-whisperer and submit a picture of yourself in a bra or tight top from the front and side.

The experts will then diagnose your correct bra size just by looking at you.

To see if they're right pop to a shop and try the recommended size on (Curvy Kate is stocked in Debenhams, John Lewis, Evans and various online retailers).

This is what you should look for...

The back band should be firm and lie horizontal all the way from under your bust round your back.

The underwire should be flat again your rib cage and the centre of the bra sitting flat right in between your breasts.

The cups should encase all your breast tissue without and spilling or bulging and give rounded and uplifted shape.

Your bra should be comfortable. The band tight but not so tight that it restricts breathing or hurts you. It feels secure and can even improve posture and breathing.

Lastly your boobs will look amazing, lifted and shaped to accentuate those gorgeous curves.



