How to Feel Confident in Lingerie: Expert Tips from a Bra Expert

Lingerie shopping can feel a little daunting, but it doesn't have to be. We've teamed up with Bra Expert Katie Weir to share her top tips on feeling confident in your lingerie and ensuring you find the perfect fit for your body.
The foundation of confidence in lingerie is simple: fit. When your bra supports and enhances your shape from every angle, front, back and side, comfort and sexiness stop being a compromise. They become the same thing.
Ann Summers Bra Expert Katie Weir answers the questions she hears most often, covering everything from bust shape and bra style to fit problems and lingerie care. Whether you're shopping for the first time or rethinking your entire drawer, her advice will change how you see lingerie.

Key takeaway: Confidence in lingerie isn't about wearing the "sexiest" set. It's about wearing the right one for your body. When the fit is correct, you feel it instantly, mentally, physically and emotionally.

How to Choose the Right Bra for Your Bust Shape

Feeling confident and sexy in your lingerie comes down to choosing bra shapes that truly work for your bust. Whether you're looking for enhanced cleavage, natural uplift, or a supportive style for a fuller bust, there is a perfect option for you. It just depends on knowing where to look.
Katie breaks down the most common bust concerns she hears, and exactly which bra styles solve them.

"I have bottom-heavy boobs with less fullness in the top cup."

A non-padded balcony bra is your ride or die here. This shape lifts the breast tissue from the base of the cup and redistributes it upwards, creating a fuller, more rounded look. Think sexy, lifted, Bridgerton-esque volume with a natural push up.

Katie recommends: Dusk Til Dawn Non Padded Balcony Bra

"My boobs sit wide on my frame and I struggle to get cleavage."

A padded plunge bra is ideal for bringing the bust inward and creating that show-stopping cleavage. For the best results, focus on a firm back band and the correct cup size. A supportive band anchors the bra to your body, preventing gaping and maximising lift and shape.

Katie recommends: Sexy Lace Padded Plunge Bra

"I have a fuller bust but don't want to add extra volume."

A non-padded plunge is perfect for this. It offers a natural shape while still providing support and uplift, without adding extra bulk. It's an effortlessly sexy option that works with your natural shape rather than enhancing volume, because you are already a fuller bust baddie.

Katie recommends: Sexy Lace Fulled Bust Non Padded Plunge Bra

“I feel like bras above a DD cup are boring.”

They're really not, you just need to know where to look. Ann Summers offers over 40 styles above a DD cup, from stunning designs with chains and embellishments to beautifully detailed lace pieces. Fuller bust lingerie can be just as playful, sexy and fabulous as anything in a B cup.

Katie recommends: Sexy Lace Fulled Bust Non Padded Plunge Bra

How to Fix Common Bra Fit Problems

Fit issues are the single biggest barrier to feeling confident in lingerie. The good news: almost every common problem has a straightforward fix. Katie explains the two she gets asked about most.

"My boobs overflow in the cups and I don't feel confident."

Cup overflow is a clear sign that your cup size is too small, and it's an easy fix. Your bra should fully encapsulate your breast tissue, with the underwire sitting flat against your ribcage and extending to the back of your breast tissue near your underarm.

A key fit tip: your back band should feel firm and only pull away 1-2 inches on the loosest hook. This ensures proper support and keeps everything in place.

For a full breakdown of what to look for, refer to our guide on how to spot a bad bra fit.

"I feel like my bra ruins my outfit because my boobs are sitting low."

This is such a common concern, and the solution isn't tighter straps.
Many people instinctively tighten their straps to try and lift their bust, but over-tightening your sliders can cause digging into the shoulders and actually pulls the back band upwards. This reduces support and puts unnecessary strain on your shoulders.
In reality, around 80% of your support should come from your back band. A firm, well-fitting band anchors the bra to your body and does the lifting for you, comfortably and effectively.
When your bra fits correctly and lifts from the band, you'll notice an instant improvement in both your posture and how your clothes sit. Your outfit will fall more smoothly, your bust will appear more lifted, and your overall confidence will elevate too.

Expert tip from Katie: For the best results, visit an Ann Summers store for a professional bra fitting and experience what it truly feels like to take the weight off your shoulders.

Common fit problem	Likely cause	Katie's fix
Cup overflow / spillage	Cup size too small	Go up one cup size
Back band riding up	Band size too large	Go down a band size, up a cup
Straps digging in	Band not doing its job	Try a smaller band size
Bust sitting low	Over-tightened straps	Loosen straps, firm up band
Centre not sitting flat	Cup too small or band too loose	Size up in cup, down in band

How to Feel Confident in a Lingerie Set When You Don't Like Your Tummy

First of all, your body is beautiful exactly as it is. Confidence doesn't come from hiding your body. It comes from wearing pieces that make you feel incredible in your skin.
If you do prefer a little more coverage, a bodysuit is a perfect option. It smooths and contours your silhouette while naturally accentuating your bust and waist, creating a beautifully balanced shape.
Bodysuits are designed to hug your curves while offering that extra layer of confidence, making them a powerful choice when you want to feel both comfortable and undeniably sexy.

Katie recommends: Hold Me Tight Body

• Why bodysuits work: They create a smooth, continuous line from bust to hip, eliminating the visual break that can make you more aware of your tummy.
• How to style them: Wear alone as a lingerie set, or tuck into high-waisted trousers or a skirt for a day-to-night look that still makes you feel amazing underneath.
• What to look for: A bodysuit with a firm but stretchy fabric will contour without digging in. Look for adjustable straps for the perfect fit.

How to Care for Your Lingerie So It Keeps Its Fit

Caring for your lingerie is just as important as finding the right fit. As Katie always emphasises: how you care for your lingerie directly impacts how it fits and feels over time.
If you're throwing your bras into the washing machine with heavier items like jeans, they're not going to last or perform as they should. This can cause the fabric to stretch, the wires to distort, and the overall shape to lose its structure much more quickly.
To maintain the best fit for as long as possible, follow these care rules:

1. Hand wash your bras with a gentle detergent in cool or lukewarm water. Swish gently; never wring or twist.
2. Air dry flat, never in a tumble dryer. Heat damages elastic and distorts the cup shape.
3. Store bras cup-side up in a drawer, with cups nested inside each other rather than folded flat.
4. Rotate your bras so the elastic has time to recover between wears. Wearing the same bra two days running shortens its lifespan significantly.

Katie's rule: A well-cared-for bra will support your confidence every day. One that's been through the wash with your denim won't.

Finding Your Confidence: The Final Word from Katie

When you shop, choose pieces that make you feel incredible as you are wearing the lingerie. When you put yourself first in your lingerie buying decisions, that confidence will shine through, whether you're stepping into the boardroom or the bedroom, knowing that you look amazing from every angle.
Confidence in lingerie isn't about a particular size, shape, or style. It's about the moment you put something on and feel it, that instant "yes" that tells you the fit is right and the look is yours.
Ready to find your perfect fit?
Visit your nearest Ann Summers store for a free, no-appointment bra fitting with one of our trained experts. Or explore our full range of lingerie sets, bras, and bodysuits online.
Love,
AS and Katie xx