If "clothes maketh the man", as the saying goes, then the bra certainly must maketh the woman!

It is the one piece of apparel, explains Intimate Dreams owner Glenda Anthes, which has the greatest impact on how we look and feel. Eleven years ago, Ms Anthes opened Intimate Dreams, the only lingerie shop between Bathurst and Penrith.

"I couldn't get a bra in Lithgow which fit me,"  she said. "And I couldn't get fitted for a bra anywhere in town."

It is an uncomfortable position which, Ms Anthes believes, a great many woman find themselves in.

"I believe about 85 to 90 per cent of woman out there are not wearing the correct fitting bra," she said.  

A well-fitting bra is more comfortable, offers appropriate support, and makes you feel better because it helps your clothes to sit properly.

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For those reasons, Ms Anthes said, woman should take the time to be fitted properly and also be mindful that, like many things you buy, purchasing the cheapest garment may not be cost effective in the long run.

"You can buy a bra for $25 or $30 but you will have to replace that probably three to four times over, compared with what you'd have to do if you purchased a higher quality bra at around $55 to $70," she said. "A better quality bra is going to last longer than a cheaper one. At the end of the day you are going to pay three or four times as much as you would if you'd bought a quality bra in the first place."

Being fitted is not onerous, it is quick and simple: "Within 15 minutes you should be fitted. Measured and got a bra you are happy with."  

Intimate Dreams provide personal fittings and specialise in hard to fit sizes – both large and small cup sizes and diaphragm sizes. 

"We strive to provide a discreet personal service to all our clients, regardless of age or figure type," she said. "If you have a problem finding the correct fitting bra or have a special request, we do our best to help you. We can also supply bras and prosthetics for ladies who have had mastectomies."

And being fitted is something we should be encouraged to do from a young age, so girls understand the value of wearing a suitable bra. Ms Anthes also recommends that, as we age, replacing your bra is the ideal time to have a fitting, because women's body shape and size can change over time.