The term brassiere, from the French word for "bodice," did not appear until 1904, when it was printed here in Vogue. It was shortened to "bra" in the 1930s. The bras available today are not much different from the design for a "Breast Supporter" patented by Marie Tucek in 1893. Tucek's design was the first to support the chest from the shoulders down.

The typical woman wants comfort and support and does not want to spend more than $30 for it. Her bust line is 36C, typically seven ounces on each side, and she needs a good bra for support.

That's why the construction of even a basic bra is so complicated that the factory workers who make them go through a training program to learn the assembly of each specific style. The Wonderbra, with its removable padded "cookies," has 56 or more tiny components. No wonder that wearing a bra demands some skills too.

Every time you put on a bra, you should slip the straps over your shoulders and while holding both ends of bra, lean forward at the waist and allow the breasts to fall naturally into the cups. As you straighten up, hook the bra in the middle adjustment.

In the front the bra should be snug, but not tight. If it's tight, you need a larger band size, or a looser hook placement.

In the back, the lower edge of the band should anchor below the blades. The lower the back fits, the more support you get.

If the cup is not filled out, you may need a smaller size. Cups should completely contain each breast. If there is overflow at the top or underarms, you may want to try a larger cup size (unless you are wearing a push-up).

If you bulge over the top and sides of your bra then you're probably wearing the wrong size. You may need a larger cup size. Check the bra size. You may also want to hook the back closure less tightly or try the next larger band size.

All women have one breast that is larger than the other. Sometimes the difference is noticeable, most often is isn't. If the difference is significant, try a bra with stretch foam in the cup inflating the pad to even your cup out. Also, you can adjust the strap so the larger breast is looser than the smaller breast strap. Always fit the cup size to the fuller breast first.

The common problem is when the bra rides up in the back. This may indicate the cups are too small or the cups are pulled too high. Check the shoulder straps and adjust to a comfortable length, ensuring straps do not cut into the shoulders. The band may be too big, therefore not anchoring the bra properly. Try hooking your bra more snugly. If neither works, try the next smaller size.

If your straps keep falling off my shoulders, that means that either the straps are too long, or the cups may be too big. Since you're not filling out the top of the cup, your straps will slide down your shoulder. Try a smaller cup size.

When you gain or loose weight you may notice stretch marks running up and down your bust. Those stretch marks can be caused by not wearing a bra or wearing one with loose support. The bust tissue is breaking down and the bust is dangling - hence, the stretch marks. The remedy is to wear a well constructed, supportive bra. And note that even a smaller bust can get stretch marks if the right bra isn't worn.