Every woman knows the frustration of bra shopping. It sucks. No one teaches us how bras should fit and sizing is incredibly complicated. You've got band width and cup size, but neither are constants; cup size depends on band width, hence the cup size on a 34 B would be the same as a 32 C and equivalent to a 36 A. The actual measurements, fit and shaping vary depending on brand. It is little wonder some women give up and stick with sports bras.

I puzzled over bra sizing for some time. I went with 36 A for a long time, then was advised to try a 34 B. I stuck with this for a while, coping with the annoyance of bands riding up my back and strap slippage. Just over a year ago a friend convinced me to invest in a bra fitting and, after much convincing, I relented.

If you live in Edmonton and have breasts, please, at some point, take time out of your busy life to visit Dawn's Bra-tique. Sure, I agree, she could have gone with a better name, but don't let that dissuade you. My first fitting yielded a multitude of bra fitting secrets: most women are wearing a cup size that is too small. The cup size, while it does relate to the actual projection or girth of the breast is most importantly about the width of the breast. A relatively flat woman might still require a C cup if she is broadchested. The shoulder straps should do almost no work. What holds you in place is the band. Buy a bra that fits on the loosest hooks and, as it stretches, as the shoulder straps start to slip, move inward clasp by clasp. And alterations, alterations, alterations.

Unfortunately, in addition to being effing complicated, bras cost a lot of money. This, of course, depends on how large your breasts are (the larger the pricier) and how "normal" you are, according to industry standards. Being big-ish and not so normal, I am hard-pressed to find a bra under 75 dollars. If you're the bra-wearing type, it's a necessary and a worthwhile investment, but, when broke, one has little choice but to go braless or buy cheap, ill-fitted bras... or this is what I thought until a few days ago when a friend suggested I check out eBay. I basically missed the eBay craze. I had never, before yesterday, ventured into the cyber marketplace, but I figured it was worth a peak. I was right. I found two of my current favourite bras both of which I purchased on auction for a total cost (with taxes and shipping in Canadian dollars) of just over 40 dollars. I'll need to have them altered separately, but still. Wow.

So today I like eBay. If you are of the female persuasion, I think you should consider sending some love eBay's way. If you include a bit of money, they'll send you awesome bras in exchange!