Bra-fitting basics: 8 signs you're wearing the wrong bra

You might've heard that eight out of 10 women are wearing the wrong bra size -- Oprah even said so -- and odds are good that you've got bras in your wardrobe that need to be replaced.

But whether it's because of invasive salespeople or just the personal nature of a fitting, a lot of women don't get a professional bra fitting. Well, it's time to stop spending your money on poorly fitted undergarments and find out your actual bra size -- your back, neck and shoulders will thank you for it. Plus, a well-fitted bra flatters your figure, eliminating sagging and unsightly bulges.

8 signs your bra doesn't fit well
Product manager for intimate apparel store Linea Intima, Pam Gallinger says there are some tricks to tell if your bra fits properly. For starters, you should be able to fit two fingers between the band of the bra and your skin. The cups should fit smoothly at the top, and the middle should touch the breast bone, with no gap.Fashion Intimates buyer for The Bay, Shelley Thompson offers these eight signs of an ill-fitting bra:

1. Back of the bra rides up
2. Centre lifts away from the breastbone
3. Sagging breasts
4. Straps dig into shoulders
5. Band pinches in at sides
6. Discomfort
7. Breast spillage (when breasts push up, over cups)
8. Uni-boob (when breasts are squished in so tight that two appear as one -- bad sports bras are common culprits)

Common bra shopping mistakes
It's easy to get lured into shops that display bins of discount bras, but Gallinger warns that these bras tend to have life spans of about four months; higher quality bras last up to two years, giving you more bang for your buck.

"Don't compromise the fabric of the bra for a good price because the skin around your bust is more sensitive than the rest of the body and a cheap fabric can become itchy and uncomfortable," says Gallinger. For example, lace is something you shouldn't skimp on. Cheaper varieties tend to scratch skin and can make you itchy throughout the day, but good quality lace is comfortable and feels smooth.

However, there are times when spending less on a bra is a smart move. For instance, if you're in the process of losing weight, your bust size may change sizes a few times so invest in cheaper bras to make the transition as comfortable as possible.

Click to continue for a list of 5 bras every woman should own...

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According to Gallinger, another common mistake women make is wearing a band that is too big because they think it should be loose. It's important to wear a proper fitting band so it can help give the cups more lift. "Support should come from the band, not the straps, so if you are feeling discomfort check your band size first," recommends Thompson.

Before buying, try on a bra and set the hook on a middle clasp: that way, you can adjust its tension according to whether you need more or less room and it can allow for some weight loss or gain over time.