bra advice {{cringe}}
 

Okay, here's the thing. I usually buy bras at Target or somewhere like that. I am no longer one size fits all, or perky, or...anything that seems to come in a quick off the rack size. I try to stick to the lower price range and I think that's my problem. So I'm looking for a little advice for sizing and brands and where to find them!

I'm about a 36B-C. I'd like to find a 35.5 B1/2 but apparently they don't make those, lol. I need support. I think my chest adds about 10 bs to my frame with the saggy bras I have(ok, it's not the bras fault, I know that ;)). But, I also want something seemless that won't show through t-shirts. Comfort is great, but I don't want to feel like I have on an undershirt. I also feel like a lot of bras that I've tried tend to pull the girls to the side rather than keep them front and center.

Am I just too particular? Yes, I know I am :( I can't afford to buy 5 new $40 bras. But, if it's a great fit that will last then I would definitly be willing to invest.

Any advice is appreciated!

I love undies shopping! And there's nothing wrong with a $20ish target bra. I like their playtex t-shirt bras a lot for regular t-shirt wear. :)

To me you sound like you are in the wrong size both in the band and the cup with all the sag problems.

Measure yourself under the bust. Round to even. This is your band size. 80-90% of the bra support is in the band. Only 10-20% is in the straps.

DO NOT be adding extra inches even if things online tell you to. That's old advice from before modern elastic fabrics. If it rides up in the back you are in too big a band size or tightening up the straps too much trying to lift the girls.

When you put it on, it should be snug on the largest set of hooks. Then as the bra ages, you can hook it closer to make up for the elastic sag as the bra ages. Bras need to be changed every 6 mos or so. We wear these things daily -- they work hard!

For cup size, measure yourself around the fullest part of the bust and subtract band size.

0 diffrence = A cup
1 inch = B cup
2 inch = C cup
3 inch = D cup
4 inch = DD cup

(go here if you need more cups sizes. Towards middle of page) That ought to get you in the ball park for when you go try on.

Your breasts should fill out the cups nicely and smoothly with no extra fabric bunching (cup too big) or extra breast spilling out the sides or tops of the cups (cup too small). Bras are in so many cuts to accommodate cuts in clothes -- plunge, demi, full coverage, etc. So once you are in the ball park, take a close look at the cups actually ON your body. And if it is a special bra for a special outfit, bring the dress to try it all on together!

If you are a big C or D or larger, somewhere around there is time to consider underwire or rope or similar support. The wire shouldn't be poking you at the sides. It should lay flat on your ribs.

And you know how to put on a bra right? Bend over so the girls point to the floor. Put the bra on and fasten the hook and then straighten up. Then the girls are centered.

Or just put it on and then reach in there on each side to get the girls up and centered in each of their cups.

HTH!
A.

Go to a store that professionally measures you. SUCK IT UP and buy one bra. Then, buy others when on sale at department stores.

I go to a specialty shop every 12-18 months to be sized, buy one UPLIFTING bra, then buy others at Macys, Kohls, etc.

My boobs are not the best and most bras make them look even more bizarre.
The Maidenform Women's Feeling Sexy Ultimate Gel Push Up Bra however has done wonders for me. Not sure if any of the stores carry it but I got one on Amazon for $24 and it was worth every penny. Still wanna buy two more when I get the money.

Thanks! astrophe- Great info! I did measure the same way as the link you gave. But, you said don't add the extra inches to the band measurement...I was 31.5 around the band. If I add 4-5 that puts me in a 36. I do feel like that's where the fit fails me. Maybe I need to try a 34 B. The cup size seems to feel too big then, though. I know they are all relative to the band size which is why I feel like I'm in-between. I love the bra style you linked to. That's exactly what I usually get. Maybe I'll try it in a 34B and see how that goes.

MonicaM- Suck it up. That's what I've been thinking. If I get measured and have someone help me I might get a better selection. I should probably do that.

Go with a 32 for the band. You do get 3 rows of hooks to snug it up so I don't think 1/2 inch is a problem. :)

What was the measure around the bust?

My fav bra for dressing up kinds of dresses is the Cacique plunge one. Even if the dress neckline isn't a deep V to show off, the bra got a good lift. And if the dress DOES have a deep V, no bra peekies showing.

A.

Do beware at some places that size you as far as not thinking it's 100% perfect ... because after a few times being less than pleased with what I bought at V Secret, I went to three different ones in my area one week and got sized by each of them - you guessed it - three different sizes - all at the same chain. SO I aim for a range and check those out.

Good luck! Great info, Astrophe!

Oh my! Not sure a 32 would do. I know 34's are snug. The bust is 38.5-39. So if I add 4-5 to the band, subtract the bust, I get 2.5-3, which puts me at b-c. Right? I'll try lower band sizes but...Well, I am pair shaped but not that small :o

I know. It's happened to me too so I learned to measure myself!

I explained above that you never add. They USED to add before the invention of modern elastics and stretchy fabrics. And some of these bra calculators still are going by those old outdated things. Then poor women end up in wonky sizes. :(

So back to the OP...

What is your measure under bust then? Without adding extra on to it? 34?

It is supposed to be snug. It's not supposed to be killer, but it is supposed to be snug. It will probably feel weird if you'd been swimming in previous too-big-band-size bras.

What is around the fullest part of bust? 38.5? You could go up to an even 39 or down to an even 38. Try both on in person and see what is better. But your ball park is around here...

38-34 = 4 inches = DD cup
39-34 = 5 inches = DDD/E/F cup

So either a US size 34 DD or a US size 34 DDD/E/F.

My Target seems to max out at a D cup in person. Yours may vary. Or try a different store. But get a bunch and try them on in person to fine tune it from there. Remember -- smoothly filled cups.

If you need to remeasure everything and want me to ballpark you again I'd be glad to help.

GL!

A.

Under bust-31.5
Around bust-38.5

niafabo- that's how I feel. I don't have much to work with so I want to do the best I can. But my upper body is smallish so I don't know if a push up style would work well for me. I could try it though,?.

nationalparker- I thought about going to VS. Not suprised you got different sizes. But at least then you have something to work with, right? I guess that's a good starting point. Thanks!

Under bust-31.5 = 32 band size

Around bust-38.5 = 38 or 39.

38-32 = 6 inch = DDDD/F/G cup

39 - 32 = 7 inch = G/H/J cup

So ball park is a US size 32 DDDD/F/G or a US size 32 G/H/J

There you go! Again, that's ballpark. Check the cups out actually on and make sure it's all fitting smooth on the breast. (Imported bra cups sizes can be different.)

But you will find them and it's gonna be great! You'll be all "Aaaaaah! Feels so good!" and you'll rock those t-shirts! :)

GL!
A

Spend the $ and get some Victoria's Secret bras! Instead of getting 5 just get 2-3. They're around $45 but they're very good quality and so comfortable especially if your bigger chested. Im a 36D and couldn't imagine buying a cheap bra. I feel like they make your boobs weird shaped/pointy/sagging looking. Splurge a little. It's something you wear everyday so it's not going to waste and your lady friends deserve it! lol

31.5/38.5? You're most likely a 32 or 34 band size, and a scary large cup size. (At those measurements I'm a 32FF, and I do not look like a cartoon and I do not look all THAT busty, it's just the number on the label that's appalling.) Which makes you outside the size range of pretty much every chain store-- certainly VS and Target, and most department stores.

Nordstrom should be able to fit you, or look for an old lady indie bra store--they're mostly not really old lady and not as fusty as they look from the outside, I promise.

Basically you should be looking for a band that fits snugly (the smallest band that's not omigawd too tight is your size), and a cup that doesn't cut into you (quadra-boob) and doesn't have more room than you fill out.

(BTW, don't believe any "sister size" crap any sales person tells you to get you to buy--it's nonsense, and a bra that actually fits your body will be far more flattering.)

Not sure where I went wrong here, lol. No, I'm not scarey big or even big for that matter. Just around a 36C. I could be off on the size (which is where the problem lies) but I'm pretty average. The measurements that I gave --Under bust-31.5 Around bust-38.5 --are what I got when I measured myself, which I'm sure, was less than accurate.

I think part of my problem is weight fluctuation. Anyway, looks like I'm at least thinking along the right lines here. Fit is everything and I need to get fitted. I appreciate the help! I'll be doing some shopping, yay!

Arctic Mama posted this link to proper bra sizing that made me rethink my sizes too. The pictures that the author there links to are nothing short of jaw-dropping. If you want to take a look at the page linked to, it's in Polish, but pictures are worth a thousand words in any language.

I always thought that a D cup was a D cup was a D cup--it isn't. A 34D has considerably smaller cups than a 38D; that means as you go down in band size, you will likely need to go UP in cup size. It seems paradoxical, because you think that the "girls" are losing some weight (and they may be), yet they need a bigger cup as the band gets smaller.

I suspect that your band size is waaay big for your actual body size. The author at that site that Arctic Mama shared goes into detail about how the band should fit, but if you're 31 inches around, you're basically wearing the bra equivalent of panties wider than your hips. You aren't getting any support from too loose a band no matter how the cups and straps are constructed.

I'm not really able to bra-shop at the moment financially, so I definitely feel your pain there. However, I think that if you try on a few inexpensive models with smaller bands AND bigger cups, you'll find a better bra at any price.

Edited to add: Don't be afraid of "big" letters like G and H and J. Look at those pictures--few if any of those women have disproportionately large breasts even if they're wearing something other than the A,B,C,D we see in stores. Just like weight, bra size is only a number (well, or a letter in this case).

I'm with all the other ladies. With your under bust measurement, you probably need a 32 band. It will probably feel a bit uncomfortable the first few times you wear it, especially if you are used to bras that are too big. You want it to fit snugly on the loosest setting - you shouldn't be able to fasten it on the tightest setting. As you wear the bra, the elastic will stretch and you'll eventually be able to wear it on the middle and snuggest settings. Once you get the band size correct, you can try on a bunch of cup sizes and see what works for you. It could be different in different brands/styles/fabrics, but with your measurements, I'd be surprised if you're smaller than an F (or equivalent size in whatever brand.) Like a PP said, an F in a 32 is going to be smaller volume wise than an F in a 36 - It might be the equivalent of a 36C or D in volume of breast tissue.

I also would NOT recommend going to a place like Victoria's Secret to be sized. VS sells a VERY limited number of sizes, and they want to sell you a bra. They are very likely to do the "add 4 or 5 inches to the band size and go down on the cup size" trick to sell you a bra;. You might fit in it, but it won't make you look good. I would look for an independent lingerie store. Some of them specialize in wedding lingerie, others might be the place people in the sex industry get their lingerie. And, really, who would know better where to get a bra than someone with ginormous implants? :lol:. And, who cares? Get yourself a bra that fits great.

And just for you, I went and took my measurements. Over my bra, my band measurements is 35 - so I'll guess it's probably 34.5 if I could be bothered to take it off. My full bust measurement is 43 in. Right now, I'm wearing a 36 G. It's been a few months since I bought this bra, and I've lost more weight since then. I would probably go down to a 34 if I were shopping today, as I'm wearing this bra on the tightest setting. The cups of my bra feel like they have a little space in them, but if I buy a smaller band size, due to the volume changes between band sizes, I'd likely still need a G cup. I might even have to go up a cup size, because there's not a whole lot of extra space in them.

It's weird - that site says don't add inches to your under-bust measurement. Mine is the same as the OP - 31.5 inches. But when I entered my numbers (31.5/36) into her bra size calculator, it spit out 34C, which is what I wear now. (Except at VS, I had to go up to a 34D :dizzy:).

The OPs measurements generated 34DDD.

I've tried on enough bras to know that I wouldn't be able to breathe in most 32's. And I would have a huge roll of back fat. I just spent approximately 5 hours trying on bras to end up with one that fit (and it was a 34C, but there were plenty with that same size that didn't fit at all).

Anyway - once you figure out what size you are, stores like Kohl's have great sales on the name brands. And if you are up to the work, I found my last Maidenform bra at Ross (Marshall's/TJMaxx/etc) for $6.99.

Yes! That seems to be what happens when the extra inches are not added to the under-bust measurement. If I add 4 inches then I get a 34-36C, which sounds much more realistic. I could even see a 34D, that's very likely, but DDD? I'm pretty sure I'd have noticed that, or at least my husband would, lol.

I'm hoping to get to Target today. I will grab every size I can get to find a good starting point. And I WILL be open to D's and 32-34's. I think I've just had the same #'s in my head for so many years it never occured to me that I could be so far off in the sizing.

Do this right after you take the unicorn out for a walk. Above a DDD in small band sizes does not exist cheap. Not anywhere. 34DDD is hard to find--most DDD bras don't come smaller than 36. 32DDD and bigger? Good times.

Livejournal communities thirty_twod and bustingout might be worth looking into to get some sense of the market here.

I have to agree with everyone saying to get a professional sizing (Nordstrom is great, JCPenney has sizing events). You may find yourself quite surprised. Based on your measurements, and what you *thought* you wore, something isn't right.

Wow. According to these measurements (apostrophe's and nola's), I should be wearing a 40H. I've been wearing 42DD's and now that I've lost some weight I definitely believe my band size needs to be smaller (I've been hooking my old bras as tightly as they'll go, and they're still too big), but an H cup? It's not that I doubt the method of measurement, it's just that my breasts seem nowhere near that large. I need to go bra shopping though, and so will report back on how the cup sizes seemed in comparison to the measurement.

Thanks for the thread, and the informative/useful posts.

How tight have you taken your underbust measurement? Because the measurement that is meant to be used with this calculator is of your underbust with no air in your lungs and pulling the tape measure as tight as possible.

If you think a band size 32 might be much too tight, try any bra with that band size on, but with the cups on your back. The cup size of the bra does not matter for that little test, but a cup size that is too small would give false results. How far can you still pull the band away from your body? You shouldn't be able to pull it further than 2 inches max! You should also try that with the bras you own now. The site that is linked a few posts up has a very detailed guide to evaluate the fit of your bra and also shows you how to put your bra on correctly. I can say from my own experience that it really does matter how you put your bra on.

I also just measured myself, to give you some point of reference. I measure 31 inches with air in my lungs and 29 inches when I breath out and pull tight. My bust measurement (this has to be taken loosely!) is 35 inches. I wear a British size 30F or 28FF (The cup size is a function of the band size, so I have to go up one cup size when I wear a smaller band. Some women find they have to go up two sizes.). And yes, they are comfortable ;) . I do not have ginormous boobs, they actually run on the smaller side. I actually perceived them as very small all my life and wore a 32A most of the time. That is a whopping five sizes too small! And I did not notice for years!

Don't be scared of big letters and small numbers. You are very likely wearing too big a band size and to small a cup size. 90 percent of women do.

Okay Ladies, reporting back after a trip to Target. :hug: Thank you all for such great input! I know I was resistant to the idea of the new sizes but sure enough, I really was that far off! YOU knew it, I just needed to try the sizes to get it. I haven't had time to get to a department store for a measurement but I still plan to do that.

I went with an open mind and really decided I was starting from scratch. I absolutely fill a D cup. I started with 34D's (really hard to find btw) and realized that a 32 probably would have worked. However, the only 32's to be found were all A cups. Didn't think to try one in a smaller cup size just to get the band fit though, wish I had done that now. I know several of you pointed out that the cup size would probably increase as the band size goes down. So maybe a 32DD would have been a good fit but the only DD's they had started in 38 band size.

So I know from today's trip that I'm at a 32 or 34D or maybe DD. If I ever get my hands on a DDD I'll try that too! I found a couple 34D's on clearance :carrot: so I snapped those up to hold me over till I can get something even better. The girls and I thank you!

Oh, good. It def sounds like you are in right the ballpark and making progress! :bravo:
A.

When you're ready to buy more bras and are willing to spend a little money on them, look on line for a store that has a good/easy return policy. You can get practically any size on line (and you're right, it's hard to find large cup sizes in small band sizes in a store), and if the store has a good return policy, you can order several sizes that are in the ball park and return the ones that don't fit.

I absolutely love Lane Bryant bras (been in them since I was normal weight since I'm very ... busty :lol:), and they're having a BOGO 50% off sale right now. I just stocked up myself.

Their bras are fantastic. My favorites are the balconette. 36C is the smallest they have, but I'd say go try it on. With the sale you can get some great bras for about $25 a piece. Mine have lasted a long time. And they're cute, too — not "fat lady bras," hehe.

Wow..this is eye opening to me. For years I have worn 36C and even 38C. I just measured ....based on the chart I should wear an entirely different size. Never tried anything larger than a C cup and even thought my bras were as comfortable as they could get.
Now I want to go get measured for sure. (I am 62 years old, have never been measured.)

This thread has really got me thinking. I have been wearing a 38D for years, but according to the measurements I just took I should be a 38G!!!! WTF?

Measurements were 38 band and 45 bust. When I have some extra cash I'm definitely getting professionally measured.