Tutorial: How to measure yourself for a bra... correctly!

[babyslime]

I'm periodically asked to repost this for reference sake, so consider this your random educational moment of the day! Feel free to pass it on to anyone you know anyone with breasts (and I'm betting you know at least one person).

Where?I learned this method on a now-defunct site called "Plus size bras", which used to be a beautifully fantastic

Comments

[tastyanagram]

This is so wonderful! I agree, being fitted for a bra properly is essential! I just got fitted and found out that I needed to drop a band size (which, stupidly, made me feel vain), and I couldn't believe what a difference wearing a well-fitting, well-constructed bra makes. (If anyone is in the Boston area, go to Forty Winks in Harvard Square! The ladies there are amazing.)

And, I'm not sure if this was mentioned in the tutorial, but if you wear a well-fitting bra, your chest will actually look smaller. I was talking to a friend of a friend on a recent trip about the whole large-breasted bra issue and she had a hard time believing I was a DD. It's true!

[tastyanagram]

Oh, and the women there are good about actually looking at you in your bra and tugging on the band, et cetera, to see about fit. Of course, I am not modest about my body so I don't know if they were just going with the flow when I was standing there with my shirt off, or what. ;)

[babyslime]

That's totally true. Plus, it's a much more flattering shape.
Once you have your proper fit, you can go get yourself a nice padded push-up bra if you want uber cleavage... and not risk discomfort, modesty or pain. ;)

I have a fantastic cleavage bra that I love love love love. I also have an off-sized "34DDD" (it says that's the size, but the internal measurements put it more like a 32E/F... probably a factory reject) push-up from a mall store that I can 'wear' but not completely 'fit'. The band size is mostly alright but the cup size is about 1-2 cups too small - but I like the cleavage so much that I wear it for special occasions. Blasphemy! :-P I should probably ditch it for a proper fitting push up so I can get a nicer look though, I'm getting pretty annoyed with popping out of that one at dinner.

[tastyanagram]

Yesssss! ;)

[bluealoe]

Is it bad that I looked at this and thought, "I should totally do this with my mom and sister"? Family bonding time, woo!

I got kind of lost in the cup size section, though. When figuring out your cup size, your bra-on bustline measurement equals your cup size, unless your bra-on abovebust and bra-off abovebust measurements are different, in which case you add the difference to the bustline measurement? Did I get that right, or am I totally on the wrong track?

[babyslime]

LOL - I did the same thing.

Cup size: nope, you're confused!

Think of it this way. The direct measurement DOES NOT EQUAL your actual 'size' measurement. It's just a measurement. Kind of like the same way your waistline measurement does not equal your dress size. :) a 24" waistline may be a size 0, not a size 24.

You have it almost right though. Your bustline will not be corrected if those other measurements are the same, but then you need one more piece of math: subtracting your chestband size (not measurement) from your bustline measurement gets you that magic number. And that number is what you translate into letters of the alphabet, or cup sizes by brand. :)

So, my chestband is 32, and my corrected bustline is 41. 41 isn't my cup size (nor my band size)... the difference between them is. That's 9", and 9 = I. (A=1, B=2, C=3 ... G=7, H=8, I=9 and so on).
Clear as mud?

[bluealoe]

Oh, I understand that the difference between the two is a corresponds to a letter, and that's your cup size (A, B, etc.) What I don't understand is how to get that initial measurement-the corrected bustline (the 41 in your example). From the tutorial, it seems like it's just the bustline measurement, unless there's a difference in the bra-on and bra-off measurements. In that case, you add that number to your bustline measurement. I think?

[babyslime]

Yup, you've got it right. You only need to correct the bustline if there's extra tissue being shoved around. And it's not always accurate to measure without a bra on and just use that, because women's breasts are differently shaped and the mass of your breast is probably not going to sit in the same spot the way it would be in a bra cup. With that in mind, it's more accurate to measure in a well fitting bra and then double check by using the abovebust measurements to make sure you didn't miss anything.

[daveandmonika]

I'll have to try the alternative band measurement method....I got 29 underbust and 33 overbust...I had always just rejected bra measuring recommendations because they say that my A/B boobs have a negative band/cup difference. (29 round up plus 4 = '34 band size'....33 bustline - 34 band = -1 :-p and a band that floats about halfway up my boobs)

[babyslime]

That's probably why you've had trouble fitting bras in the past. :) Most fitters don't consider that sometimes women have chest taper that's significantly more than 2

[daveandmonika]

I think I'm going to have a hard time finding a 28 band in a non-online store....maybe in the little girl section....

[tastyanagram]

Just read through and wanted to point out that in Babs' comment above she recommended a 30 band size rather than a 28, in case that helps in your search! :)

[jenrose1]

Last I checked I was a K-sized cup. But I haven't bought new bras in ages. The last two I got were Jeunique, which are extremely well-fit, but blastedly uncomfortable for me because they're poly and the band pilled. I'd rather sag a little and wear cotton, y'know? I don't think you can get them online, the person I buy mine from is known as "the Bra lady" and she'll ship them to me only because we did a fitting in person.

[babyslime]

Oh hey I think I know that lady!! I have one of her bras, too.

[marbyco]

Greeaaat...I am totally mesmerized by that icon and am supposed to be getting ready for work. But I can't look away...