Tired of being pinched by your bra? Do you constantly look in the mirror and notice an unsightly bulge just above your bra line? You are most definitely wearing the wrong bra size if you suffer from either of these problems. Learn how to quickly measure for a perfect fit for your next undergarment purchase.
Wearing a bra should be like second nature to any woman, so getting one that fits perfectly is the key to sporting a perfect look while almost being unaware that you are wearing one. When measuring yourself for a bra, you will need a flexible tape measure that will neatly wrap around your body. It has been argued that women should measure while wearing a bra already, but my thought is that if you are wearing a size that is too small for you while you measure, then your sizing is going to be inaccurate. My suggestion is to measure topless, starting with the band size (the band size is the number that appears on a bra size, not the letter). Hold the measuring tape firmly in place just under your sternum, and completely but snugly under your breasts. Wrap it all of the way around your body, front to back, then around to the front again. When the measuring tape meets the point where you began (which, by the way, you should still be holding the measuring tape in that spot with one hand) record that number. If your measurement falls in between numbers, round up or down to the nearest whole number. For example, if your measurement topped out at 30 and 3/4 inches, round up to 31. It is best to round up to the next whole number if your measurement falls anywhere within the range of the 1/2 inch mark. If your number was an even number (30 inches), you will then add 4 to it, an end result in this case of 34. This will be your band size. If your measurement was an odd number, such as 31, you will then add 5 for a final number of 36, your band size.
Now to move onto cup measurement. Cup measurement is identified by the letter that falls after the number on a bra size, such as A, B, C, D, and so on. Using the tape measure again, I suggest holding the very end over your nipple, wrap it around you as you did earlier (front to back, then to front), until you reach the part of the tape that you are holding with your other hand. Round the number up or down as you did earlier. Now, take this new number, and subtract it from your band size. In the previous example for the band size, one of the numbers used was 36, which is a very common band size for women. Hypothetically, if you came up with 36 as your band size, and 39 inches after measuring your bust for the cup size, you would subtract the band size from the cup size. Your end result will be the number 3, which will correspond to a lettered cup size. Cup sizes in relation to numbers are as follows; A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4, and so on. Anything over those numbers will start landing you in the double letter cup sizes.
Not all manufacturers produce their bras using the same process. The best way to be sure to get a good fit is to try the bra on before purchasing it. You might find that with some styles your band size is larger, while your cup size decreases. I recommend purchasing a bra that you know is a perfect fit, then sticking with that same brand. A lot of Lingerie stores refuse to use the measurements listed above, and prefer to “eye” what size you are, and go from there. Be certain that when you shop these places, that they allow you to try the bra on before you purchase it. Never leave the fate of your bra size up to someone who prefers to guesstimate by looking at your chest. You may look the same size that they think you are, but bra size also depends on the firmness, or lack of, of your breasts.
With these tools in hand, you may be able to find the happy medium that your have been lacking when it comes to perfect bra support. Being knowledgeable about your intimate apparel sizes will make shopping easier on your part, with a better end result.
