From your love of body-fitting underwear to your burgeoning sky-high stiletto collection, you might not realise what keeping up with the latest trends is doing to your health.
In fact, a recent study found that 73 per cent people have suffered back pain and associated problems caused by the clothes and accessories they wear.
Here, speaking to FEMAIL, skeletal therapist and leading posture expert, Dell-Maree Day, reveals how your love of fashion could be killing you.
‘If you already have poor posture, then ill-fitting, tight, uncomfortable clothing and footwear can really make things worse,’ Dell-Maree Day told Daily Mail Australia.
So what are the main culprits?
From your love of body-fitting underwear to a burgeoning sky-high stiletto collection, you might not realise what keeping up with the latest trends is doing to your health (stock image)

Here, speaking to FEMAIL, skeletal therapist and leading posture expert, Dell-Maree Day (pictured), reveals how your love of fashion could be killing you
BADLY-FITTING BRAS
When it comes to our underwear, while you might think what you’re wearing does the job, in fact 80 per cent of us are wearing the wrong-sized bra.
And the wrong-sized bra can put strain on your shoulders and cause lower back pain in the long run.
‘The most important thing with bras, apart from getting the right cup size, is getting a bra that fits you properly across the back,’ Dell-Maree said.
The expert added that bras that are too tight ‘tend to sit up high on the back pulling it forward’.
‘Straps that are too thin can also pull your shoulders forward,’ she added.
If you’re looking for the ideal bra, then look for something that fits you well across your back and features wide straps, ‘which will firmly support your upper body and ensure your spine is sitting in the correct position’.
The band should also sit tight against the body for a close and proper fit.
OVERSIZED HANDBAGS
Many of us are guilty of throwing everything we own into the bottom of our handbag.
But hauling around a giant bag filled with everything you own might cause health issues such as shoulder pain and discomfort down the track.
‘Carrying a heavy handbag constantly on one shoulder should really be avoided,’ Dell-Maree explained.
‘It will drag your shoulder downwards so it’s sitting low and out of alignment with the other shoulder.’
The first thing the posture expert recommends you do is ‘de-clutter your bag’.
‘No one needs to be carting around heaps of things,’ she said.
‘If you really do have a lot of stuff to carry around, then consider switching to a backpack, which won’t create as much shoulder strain as a bag that drags your shoulders down.’

Hauling around a giant bag filled with everything you own might cause health issues such as shoulder pain and discomfort down the track (stock image)
SKINNY JEANS
They’re a trend beloved by women the world over.
But any clothes that restrict your movement – in particular skinny jeans – can affect your posture and eventually cause problems in your neck or back.
‘I have a real bee in my bonnet about tight, low-rise skinny jeans,’ Dell-Maree said.
‘Low-rise jeans can drag your pelvis almost backwards, which is really bad for your sacroiliac joints – the hardworking joints of your sacrum that are connected to your ilium bones by strong ligaments.
‘Putting strain on this load-bearing area can potentially lead to lower back pain.’
If you must wear skinny jeans, the expert recommends you opt for a pair that sit higher up on the waist ‘and have a bit of spandex in them, so that the material is more stretchy than restrictive’.

Body-shaping underwear could also lead to acid reflux, heartburn and excess pressure on the stomach (stock image)
UNDERWEAR
They might flatten our stomachs and smoothe out any lumps and bumps.
But body-shaping underwear could also lead to acid reflux, heartburn and excess pressure on the stomach.
‘In terms of support briefs, while they should be firm, you still need to be able to breathe,’ Dell-Maree said.
‘Support garments that really restrict your breathing and compress your internal organs can cause strain and aches in all sorts of different areas of the body.’
Dell-Maree warned especially against support garments that compress the ribs.
‘By all means wear these undergarments now and then for a special occasion, but don’t make it an everyday thing.’

Dell-Maree (pictured) warned especially against support garments that compress the ribs, which, she said, should not be an everyday thing
SKY-HIGH STILETTOS
Last but not least, sky-high stilettos are doing your health and posture no favours.
‘In order to balance on stilettos, most people are a little hunched forward,’ Dell-Maree said.
‘Your head will also be pulled a little forward, which can create pressure in your neck muscles.’
If you swear by stilettos, then wear them seated as much as possible, the expert said.
‘Standing for hours on end at a cocktail party can create a lot of strain on your joints and muscles when your feet are not flat on the floor with your weight distributed easily.’
In addition to this, the expert warns about excessively wearing sliders or thongs (flip flops), which include little support and can affect your gait as you compensate by gripping the shoes while you walk.

The expert warns about excessively wearing sliders or thongs (flip flops), which include little support and can affect your gait as you compensate by gripping the shoes while you walk