KEN EXUM/The Register-Mail

Carrie Steuer, team leader for Essential Bodywear, LLC, answers a few questions before Monday night's bra-fitting session at The Kensington Ballroom. The event, hosted by Galesburg Cottage Hospital's Healthy Woman program also included information on benign breast diseases.

Women search for right bra

Experts say 85 percent wear wrong size

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

By CIGI ROSS

The Register-Mail

"Haven't we all been searching for the right bra?" Eileen Inness, director of marketing for Galesburg Cottage Hospital, asked the crowd. "We're here tonight because we're hoping to find it."

"If the Bra Fits, Wear It!" was part of Cottage Hospital's monthly Healthy Woman seminars. The event focused on women's breast health. While Barbara Clark from Knox OB GYN spoke about the importance of mammograms, Linda Jarnig-Stevens and her team of Essential Bodywear, LLC bra-fitting experts, armed with measuring tape and piles of bras, measured audience members.

According to the Essential Bodywear experts 85 percent of women are wearing the wrong size and style of bra for their body. The company's representatives take their message to shows, bra clinics and home parties. They also carry Oprah Winfrey's favorite bra, which was featured on her television show.

Carrie Steuer, an Essential Bodywear team leader, said that by wearing the right bra, women can look 10 or 15 pounds lighter.

"Most women are hiding the narrowest part of our bodies," she said. "If you uplift the breasts off of the rib cage, you can see the womanly hourglass figure.

"We try to give women the uplift they had in their youth."

Jarnig-Stevens spoke to the crowd of women and told them the signs for a poorly fitted bra. If it rides up your back, the straps dig into your shoulders or fall down, if you spill out of your bra or if you need to wear two sports bras to get the support you need you are wearing the wrong bra.

"If your bra is older than your car you need to get rid of it," Steuer added.

Jarnig-Stevens said that in a woman's lifetime she'll change her bra size an average of six times. This can occur because of pregnancy, weight gain or loss, and menopause.

"Gravity is doing its number on you," Jarnig-Stevens said.

During her presentation Jarnig-Stevens and Steuer demonstrated how to measure for the right fit. First you measure around your rib cage. If the number is even, add four; if it's odd, add five. That is the band size. Then you measure the fullest part of your bust. Take the difference of that measurement and your final band size. If the difference is one you're an A, two a B, three a C and so on.

Dona Frazier attended the event to get information on breast cancer but also saw the bra fitting episode of Oprah.

"I think everybody wears their bra wrong," Frazier said. "When you get my age you want a good fit."

Inness said the Healthy Woman program began in May to provide health information to women.

"It's the women who are making health care decisions in the family," Inness said.

Next month the Healthy Women seminar at 7 p.m. on Sept. 18 at the Cottage Hospital Auditorium will deal with Sunlight Affliction Disorder. Katie Perez of Cooks and Company will show women how to create a fall centerpiece and hear tips on avoiding SAD.

To sign up for a free membership with Healthy Woman call Inness at (309) 345-4563 or register online at www.cottagehospital.com.