If you are one of the people who waits years to buy a new bra, this may be the sign that it's time for a change.
While it can be a hushed topic, many bra wearers keep theirs for longer than they'd like to admit. One fitting expert has explained when you should swap the underwear for a newer model and how long each one should last.
Specialist Lois Siciliano of the luxury lingerie brand Pour Moi has shared her industry knowledge, as well as simple tips to make your bras last longer.
And what she has to say will be unwelcome news for those with the common habit. Speaking to the Mirror, the Lingerie Technologist said that bras need to be changed at least once a year and can even be dumped as soon as nine.
"We recommend replacing your bra every nine to twelve months, and as bodies change regularly you definitely shouldn't be wearing a bra from the previous decade," she explained.
Luckily, the lingerie expert has shared her top bra tips to to make them last a little longer - and they're all completely free.
She continued: "The best way to make your bra last longer is by looking after it properly, which can be done by handwashing – this really is the best way to wash bras and is the only fail-safe and environmentally friendly option.
"By excessively washing at high-temperatures or on a non-delicate cycle, the elastic fibres over time will stretch, shortening the lifespan of your bra. We recommend that you wash all your lingerie and swimwear by hand, to keep the original fit and support for much longer.
"But it's particularly vital to hand-wash any garments that contain a wire, because not only will you reduce the lifespan of the bra, you could also possibly damage the washing machine if the wire comes out.
"Hand-washing your bra can be even quicker than using a machine. No, really!"
While Lois urges us all to chuck out old underwear, we undoubtedly want to make sure that we're wearing the best bra suitable. She claims that people's main mistakes when buying bras lie with wearing the wrong band size, choosing the wrong cup size, and even overall fitting issues.
She added: "It's important to buy a bra with the correct band size. A lot of women make this mistake and purchase sizes that are too big for them. If the band size of the bra is much bigger then it will not support your breast properly or give the lift required.
"Most women purchase bras with the wrong cup sizes. You need to buy a bra with a cup size that fits all breast tissue, avoiding any overspill or gaping on the sides.
"It's important to check your bra fitting every six months. Our body constantly changes and for this reason you need to ensure you are wearing a correctly fitted bra. Especially for those who may be buying bras after pregnancy or weight changes."
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