Originally Posted by Alyssa Autopsy:
how do i measure? i've never done it before.

That is why I linked you the blog entry in my previous post because it tells you how to measure yourself. VS is horrible at measuring you. I was gonna post that but decided to wait until someone else chimed in so I wouldn't be the only one who thought that. Thanks, Daki!

Originally Posted by Silverfire:
Gravity has been unkind to me early in life, and I feel like if I am not wearing a bra, my boobs are sitting on my lap. It's not comfortable at all. Sometimes, I even catch a boob in my armpit... oh god, does that hurt. I would love to be able to go bra-less comfortably though. Topless. Nope, not going to happen. I barely like to be naked at home. Naked is for showering, sleeping and sexy-time :)

LOL...this! Ugh...what I wouldn't give for some perky girls. I'm super self conscious about my breasts. They were never perky but a big weight gain and loss has absolutely destroyed them. I wouldn't be caught dead without the support of a bra.

Originally Posted by :
To determine your cup size you measure your bust around the fullest part of your breasts. Personally, my boobs sag a bit so I bend at the waist, parallel to the floor, and measure across my nipples bent over so all of my breast tissue gets accounted for.

Oh man this made me giggle as I imagined myself trying to do this... with more than a bit of sag going on here, my tape measure would be somewhere near my knees!!! :rofl:

If you look at some of the ads that are on here, you'll see one for the Genie bra.

Has anyone tried that one?

Haha, love this thread. Glad I'm not alone in my bra loathing. I hate em', although, I've never been comfortable not wearing one as I've been a DD as long as I can remember, they get in the way. lol. I would encourage you to DO WHAT MAKES YOU COMFY! If you are comfortable going braless, do it! If not, don't. If it's fear of others opinions keeping you from doing it, do it anyway! :)

I'm turning 50 years old later this year. Just a few months ago, I got fitted at Macy's for a bra. I was shocked to find out that all this time, I've been wearing the wrong cup size. I've been wearing a C since high school and I'm actually a D!

I shared that to say this. I used to hate wearing bras. I found them to be uncomfortable and way too confining. However, now that I have bras that fit, I find that I don't mind them as much and I like the way I look in them.

Still, as soon as I come home, I strip my bra off.

As for going topless, heck ya! In the right and safe situation, I'd love to let my girls out in the air!

I've been fitted several times as weight changes. However, I still hate them. The only problem I have is going over speed bumps. I'm afraid I'm going to get a black eye one of these days.

Daki's right on the money - that's how I went from wearing a 40DDD to a 38H, and now I'm a 34J (32J, really, but my rib cage expanded with pregnancy and is just now going back down again!).

Originally Posted by amandie:
That is why I linked you the blog entry in my previous post because it tells you how to measure yourself. VS is horrible at measuring you. I was gonna post that but decided to wait until someone else chimed in so I wouldn't be the only one who thought that. Thanks, Daki!

ohhh didn't even realize sorry xD

Originally Posted by cbmare:
If you look at some of the ads that are on here, you'll see one for the Genie bra.

Has anyone tried that one?

yeah i have the genie bra. i wear it alllll the time. but it doesn't work well in the summer when you wear spaghetti straps and stuff, because the shoulder bands are wide.

Originally Posted by cbmare:
I've been fitted several times as weight changes. However, I still hate them. The only problem I have is going over speed bumps. I'm afraid I'm going to get a black eye one of these days.

LOL my friend Jess and her mother have ALWAYS been large-breasted (Jess was a DD at age 12) and her mom is way big (i think a K she said? all natural) but anyway, they were jogging together, and her moms boobs bounced at every step... then they bounced up in her face and she got a black eye xD i wish i could have seen it happening, Jess could NOT stop laughing when she told me about it!

Originally Posted by Daki:
To do your band size you measure your ribcage directly under your breasts tightly. I achieve this by measuring on an exhale instead of pulling the tape measure tight., it's not supposed to be TIGHT-tight. This is your band size. Do not add 4 inches like most directions will tell you. If you are wearing the wrong band size then wearing the correct one can be an adjustment. You are supposed to wear your bra on the last hook and as it stretches out over time you can move inward on the hooks.

To determine your cup size you measure your bust around the fullest part of your breasts. Personally, my boobs sag a bit so I bend at the waist, parallel to the floor, and measure across my nipples bent over so all of my breast tissue gets accounted for.

After you have these two measurements you subtract your underbust (band) from your bust and that number gives you your cup size.

For American sizing:
1" = A
2" = B
3" = C
4" = D
5" = DD
6" = DDD (In some brands like Freya and Panache this is an E cup)
7" = G (F cup in Freya and Panache)
8" = H (FF in Freya and Panache)
9" = I (G in Freya and Panache)
10" = J (GG in Freya and Panache)
11" = K (H in Freya and Panache)
12" = L (HH in Freya and Panache)

So for example. My underbust is 38" and my bust is 43" which leaves me with a 6" difference. So my band is a 38 and my cup is an E (I'm wearing a Freya bra).

Tip: Read reviews on a certain bra before you buy it if you are buying online (Which I could never do until I measured myself and found my real size). I also buy bras on eBay. You can find discontinued styles for $20. I've bought several $60 bras for $20 shipped with tags still on them. It's almost impossible for me to find a bra in my size in a store and not have it swallow me whole. I need a very specific cut of bra that doesn't usually get carried in my size in stores.

Sorry this was so lengthy. I like to be as clear as possible.

Oh no that was wonderful, thank you! i'll have to ask my grandmother for a tape measure.

I have a couple of genie bras and I love them. I actually just got a new one in the next size down at WM the other day. It has lace on the straps and edges, so it'sa little nicer than the older ones I had. They also have more color options now and sell them in singles for $10 instead of just pairs for $20.

I'm a 36 DD. I wear bras pretty much always. If it's not a full bra, at least a shelf bra. A properly fitting one isn't uncomfortable, and the girls are still quite perky. For me, it's worth it to wear bras. Plus I have extremely sensitive nipples, so wearing something loose fitting while braless is painful.

I need to back and read all the responses, but look what study just came out:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-...-wearing-bras/

"The 15-year study involved 330 volunteers between the ages 18 and 35. Researchers measured their breasts using a slide ruler and a caliper and recorded any changes throughout the study period.

Women who did not wear bras had a 7 millimeter lift as measured from their nipples each year. Their breasts were also firmer, and their stretch marks faded. There was also no evidence that the bras helped get rid of back pain.

The researchers believed that wearing bras prevented the growth of breast tissue, which lead to deterioration of the muscles that support the breasts. If you don't wear a bra, the muscles are worked-out more, the findings suggest."

That is really interesting. And I believe it. The same thing happens if you start running barefoot or use minimalist running shoes. Suddenly you are using muscles that never get used and things start changing, your form changes instantly and I've heard a lot of people say their shoe size winds up changing and some people with flat feet even gain arches. My shoe size didn't change but my form sure did and my feet are strong.

I fully believe that the things we wear nowadays are coddling our bodies. Huh. Maybe that's the same reason that bench pressing can perk you up a bit (Or so I've heard).

As I was getting my nails done, I saw this news clip about going braless. Supposingly we don't need them ;)

http://www.digtriad.com/news/waterco...-Not-Need-Bras

I think wearing bras is a cultural thing. We don't really need to wear shirts or pants, but it's not socially acceptable to go without (it's actually illegal). I don't wear a bra at home, but I never leave home without it! It also hurts me to do any sort of brisk movements without a bra on even though my breasts aren't large (34C). Good sports bras are important for high impact exercise because you can overstress the Cooper's ligaments (I feel like someone mentioned this already).

A note on measuring--I managed an intimate apparel department at Macy's for a couple of years and your breast shape is as important as your measurements. Different brands fit differently on different breasts, just like other kinds of clothing. I found the best fit was achieved by adding 2-3"; using the actual measurement as band size resulted in bras that were uncomfortable and left red marks. More important than learning to measure yourself is learning how a properly fitted bra should look. Lots of videos/websites online about it, but basically you shouldn't have excess flesh being squeezed out around your band or under your arms (unless you are very overweight in which case unfortunately it sometimes cannot be helped), the front center of your bra should lie flush with your skin, and your breast tissue should be completely enclosed by the cups (no leakage top, bottom, or under the arm). I also prefer to fit on the center hook as that gives you room to adjust both up or down (it's normal for breasts to swell at different times throughout the month).

Funny how all of us women obsess about bras--I just posted a very similar reply to a very similar thread on another forum :)