Then you see it — just ahead of you. A maze of spandex and satin and flowered cotton. The lingerie department. Gulp. Looks quiet. A quick scan of the area shows there’s no one lurking behind the underwear bins. Why does the lingerie department have to be bordered by the aisle that looks like a superhighway? Do they plan it that way?

Here goes. You duck into the maze and your vision blurs. How in the world are you supposed to sort through all this? Cotton. Satin. Sports bras. Underwires. And the sizes! Large. Larger-than-life. And the “am-I-ever-going-to-develop?” size.

You take a deep breath and suddenly. . . .

“Can I help you?”

You freeze and break into a sweat at the same time. The lingerie lady!

“Do you need help finding a bra?”

The store must use this woman instead of a speaker system. Uh . . . what do you say?

Game Plan
Shopping for a bra doesn’t have to be a totallyembarrassing, totallyuncoolpainful experience. Approach it the same way you would if you were buying a pair of shoes. Know your size (or have a good idea), and think about what you like and about your lifestyle. Although you may think that a bra isn’t an important part of your wardrobe because it doesn’t “show,” a well-fitting bra will actually help your clothes look better.

Believe it or not, at one time when women shopped for a bra, they were measured right there in the store by the lingerie lady. Yikes! What if she measures you, clucks her tongue, smiles and says “not yet, dear”? Although there is greater accuracy if someone else does the measuring, you can still do it yourself and get pretty close results. Here’s how:

• Find a tape measure (check Mom’s sewing kit, not Dad’s tool box!). Don’t pull the tape measure tightly around yourself, but do keep it snug.

• To determine your bra size, measure around the chest, just under your arms and above your bust. Measurements that include a fraction should be rounded up. You can double check your bra size by measuring around your ribs — just below your bust — and adding five inches. Say you measure 31 inches around your ribs, then your bra size would be 36. If your measurement is 33 inches or more, add only three inches instead of five. And, if it turns out that your bra size is an odd number, round up to the next even number since bras come in even sizes: 32, 34, 36, etc.

• To find your cup size, measure around the fullest part of your bust, again not pulling the tape tight. The difference between the measurements (your bra size measurement taken earlier and the bust measurement you just took) equals the cup size. For example, if there is no difference, the cup size is AA. If there is a one-inch difference, the cup size is A. For a two-inch difference the size is B, and a three-inch difference would be C.

You Can Do It!
Now that you have a good idea of what size you’re looking for, you can take that information into the lingerie department armed with confidence. (No more guessing, grabbing a stash of bras and darting into the nearest dressing room!)

A bra that fits well shouldn’t feel tight or leave marks on your skin. But the straps shouldn’t end up down around your elbows, either! A well-fitting bra will lay flat between your breasts. There shouldn’t be any gaps between your skin and the center of the bra.

Although you could probably treat six friends to hot fudge sundaes for the price of some of the bras you’ll find, consider them a worthwhile investment. Don’t settle for “cheap” just because of the “no-show” factor.

And what about those six friends? Should they come with you? Hmm. Depends. Maybe you want some moral support but don’t really want anyone in the dressing room with you. That’s okay. Your mom, an older sister or a close friend makes a great “lookout” too!

So Many Choices
When you enter the lingerie maze, have an idea of what you want. Bras are generally displayed in groups by brand name; so you’ll likely find a mixture of types in the same area.

Sports bras are popular, although some salespeople will tell you they shouldn’t be worn every day. They’re designed to compress the bust in order to reduce movement during activities such as jogging, basketball or aerobic exercise. If you like the smooth look of a sports bra, there are seamless bras made with similar fabric that don’t compress.

Underwire bras are designed for added support.

Convertible bras have movable straps that are designed to hide under difficult dresses, like those with keyhole backs or off-the-shoulder styles (like the dress you wore for your cousin’s wedding).

You Go, Girl!
Consider wearing your favorite shirt when you go shopping for a bra. Don’t just try on the bra; put your shirt on over it. Do you like the way it looks? Maybe the straps show. You may want to pick one that has a narrower strap. Does it look and feel good?

There are many styles and fabrics available, and you may need to try on several to decide which one you like the best. Flesh-colored bras blend with skin tone and are less likely to show under sheer fabrics.

If the “lingerie lady” approaches (and she probably will), just give her a friendly smile and tell the truth. If you need assistance, simply say, “I’m looking for the sports bras. Can you show me where they are?” Or, if you’d rather be alone and browse, she’ll respect that, too. “I’m just looking now, but I’ll let you know if I need help” is enough.

Growing physically doesn’t happen by itself; it’s usually accompanied by emotional growth as well. Having to face challenging, embarrassing and even uncomfortable situations is part of life. If you still need psyching up, close your eyes and pretend the bra you’re holding in your hand is a pair of Nikes!