Do you know how to fit a bra?
 

I worked for a lingerie store during my college years.

Measure underneath your bust first. The tape should be even all around you and a bit snug but not too tight, it should not rise up in the back at all. If this number is on a half mark, round up. Now comes the adding...If the number is even, add only 4. If the number is odd, add only 5. Whatever the outcome...this is your band size. You need to know your band size first before finding your correct cup size.

Now to measure for your cup. First place the measuring tape over the fullest part of your breasts, again make sure the tape is even all around you. Now lean over so your back is parallel with the floor. The reason for this (and no stores that I know of even know about this nor do this) is because you are measuring ALL of the breast tissue. And you want ALL of your breast tissue to be supported in the bra, not just part of it otherwise the cups will most likely be way too small for you. Try not to pull the tape too tightly. If the number lands on a half mark, round up.

The differences in inches for each cup size (difference between the added band measurement and full bust measurement) are as follows: (And they are in US sizes)

Less than 1/2" - AAA cup or training bra
1/2-less than 1" - AA
1" - A
2" - B
3" - C
4" - D

etc....

That's a good guideline to start with but I think it's really important to try on a LOT of bras in a range of sizes smaller and larger, cup and band size, than what you technically measure. By those measurements, I end up in a bra that is HUGE on me, no matter what style but it was a good place to start.

Also, styles fit differently. The perfect bra size for me in one style may not be the same in another style.

Patience also helps. I have tried on a LOT of wrong bras to find the one that lifts, doesn't dig into my shoulders, doesn't show under my clothes, doesn't cut me in half, create uniboob or that four boob spillage situation and no rolley back fat. Whew. That's a lot to ask of one garment. As I am constantly telling my mom (who is also a hard fit) - if it FEELS like you're not wearing a bra, it probably LOOKS like you're not wearing a bra so keep trying. You can ruin an outfit with a poorly fitted bra but you can look ten pounds thinner in the right one.

Nononono! This advice is not correct! Adding inches to the band size is an antiquated method of finding one's bra size and doesn't apply to modern bras! This is part of the reason so many women are wearing the wrong size.

Your underbust measurement IS your band size. So if you measure 34 inches, that's your band size! If you're in between you can go up or down.

If I follow your advice I end up with a 34C bra. There is NO WAY that would give me enough support! I NEED 30 band or I'll go nuts! Even my 32s drive me crazy!

My 30FFs (US 30H) fit me perfectly.

hum....I measure 32 and I take 36

If you were to put me in 32, it would not be a pretty sight. Plus I could not breathe.

If you've been wearing a too big band, then you're used to it that way. If you measure a 32 then you're a 32 band. It might feel tight, but once you get used to it you'll never want to go back to a looser band again.

Otherwise the advice is the same, the cup size is the difference from the band size. I measure 30 for my underbust, 37" for my bust. I need a G/H in US sizes, F/FF in UK sizes.

I agree -- the measure under the bust IS the measure in US bras. There is no longer a need to add with modern stretchy fabrics and given that 90% of the support comes from the band, you want that fitting right not loose.

A.

You must refer to this:
Bring the measuring tape around your back to the front, keeping it under the arms and bringing it up across to the middle of your chest. If you get an odd number, round up to the next even number to get your band size. This measure is on top of breast and usually comes to same as under breasts +4.

You don't add inches anywhere. You just measure underneath the breasts and that's your band size.

Here is a link to Victoria's site http://www.victoriassecret.com/bras/...asure-bra-size

I used to work for them and they spend a lot of time training their staff how to fit a bra.

Looks like you need to go bra shopping :D

This was the old advice and a lot of sites still say that but it is wrong. It was for when bras used to be a lot less elastic.

I have a 34" underbreast/rib cage and I wear a 34" band. There are some great sites that use modern measuring and all of them are more specialized for women with the bigger bra sizes.

What happens if you are chesty is that the loose band will feel OK for an hour or two and then the elastic/material will give and the the bra strap rides up the back and the boobs sag. I had SOOOOOO many fittings at bra shops that added inches (especially with nursing bras) that within 5 hours the bra strap was up between my shoulder blades and my breasts were to my belly button almost. Ridiculous.

Then I found an online site that told me how to measure (without adding inches) and finally, FINALLY my bras fit properly.

You want the weight of the breast to fall mainly on the chest strap, NOT the shoulders. Adding 4 inches to the band puts all the weight on the shoulders which is no good.

Look at these sites for sizing:

http://www.lindasonline.com/bra-school.html

http://www.breakoutbras.com/faq

And this shows in pictures:

http://www.breakoutbras.com/sizing

By doing more reading, it seems that companies actually now "add" the 4" into the measurements. So, a 34" now was a 38" back in the day.

Just for kicks, I just took my 34G bra and measured it. With measuring it flat, not stretching it, it measures 26" long. With pulling on the elastic (and not even pulling to the maximum stretch) it stretched to 36" long. So, it is amply stretch enough for my 34" rib cage.

Interesting, Melissa. I will check those out....

I am wearing 36 D bra at the moment, and it seems to fit perfect. I don't get any bulges on my back side and my girls fill the cup without a spill. -- I measure 32 around and I don't think I could not fit into 32 without some serious fat rolls hanging over. Nearly 20 pounds ago, my ribcage measured 37 or 38 and I tried wearing 38 bras ( I did not want to invest on new ones) and I bent all the hooks and I had permanent bra marks around my body.

I measure 36 if I measure from band to top of my breasts, and around the fullest part I measure 40. I buy my bras from Target and Victoria's. maybe those two companies size their bras the old fashioned way?

So if I were to take 32 and my fullest part is 40, what size would that give me? 32FF? -- I think I will go bra shopping and have myself measured and try on different sizes....

I will report back :D

I did. I got some nice 30FF bras ;)

No wonder why you're giving the wrong advice. Victoria's Secret measures people TOTALLY wrong. The way they measure people/give wrong advice is why I won't set foot in there again and it's also the reason why I tell people not to buy bras there unless (when measured the right away) they happen to fit into their narrow range of bras because their bras are pretty darn comfy. I don't really believe they're worth the price though...If you score some on clearance then hey, go crazy.

Chances are at your height/weight that the fat tissue you're talking about is really migrated breast tissue. If you wear the right band size/cup size then after time your breast tissue will go back and you may even go up a cup size! When I wore the right size my band size decreased and I wound up having to go up a cup size from what I measure because my breasts are fuller. If a 32 feels too tight, you can always use an extender until the band stretches out a bit.

Trust me, after getting used to a properly fitting band, I go nuts if my band is not tight because it rides up and does not support my breasts. when I wear the right size bra I literally do not have to adjust it the entire day (when I followed VS advice, I would have to adjust all the time!). I could run, jump and do cartwheels and the bra will not move--THATS when you know your bra fits right.

It sucks that VS and so many places stock such a small range of bras, but only by not shopping there and buying bras from places that stock your REAL size will things change.

There's rumors that VS may finally go above a DD (which isn't big at all), but I wouldn't hold my breath. People think sizes above DD are OMG HUGE but...just look at my pictures (I'm going to post some new ones of me at 117lbs). I'm an F or FF and my breasts are not huge at all.

Edit: Yes, your measurements should be a FF, but you might want to try F and G cups as well.

Those are UK sizes though. US size equivalents would be (if I have these right, please correct me if I'm wrong) F = G (or DDDD), FF = H (or DDDDD), G = I (or DDDDDD)

Depends on the manufacturer..stuff gets weird above a DD cup

I do think that trying different bras on really make a difference. Also, if you try to wear a smaller cup size, you are going to need a larger band - the 'stuff' has to go somewhere.

"If" you can, try to find a place where you can try a 32FF AND your usual 36D. Trying a 32D won't be the same comparison.

I wore a 40G at my heaviest and now wear a 34G. All loss came from the ribcage (so far) not the boobies.

That's where most of my loss came from too... I went from a 40D to a 30F/FF. 10" off the ribcage, 7" off the bust.

What's funny is that I lost 10+ inches everywhere else...except my chest. I certainly do miss the days when bra shopping was easy!

Yep, lost the least on my chest. Well, not my "real" begininning measurements as I have no idea what they were at 275, and I didn't take measurements for a few weeks after starting at 255, but since about 247 I've lost 6" off my chest and 11" off my waist and 9" off my hips. My waist is still where I need to lose the most fat too.

Are the modern bras being vanity sized? So if I were to be FF, I would be feeling pretty mighty about myself :D So basically no one takes AA or even A anymore? Is this another ploy to make women feel better about themselves?

This has turned my curious mind turning...lol

I've found that different brands make different sizes... And being top heavy was really embarassing until I discovered a store that caters to D cups and up :) While they don't have the store where I live now, I order online :D

I would suggest you try on a few bra's and see which ones fit best. Having said that, some bra styles just don't work on certain boobs.

I've found that most cheapr brands didn't even cater to my previous size (38E, UK sizing) and by boobs we always busting out. I've found that VS bra's were more sexy than practical and didn't really cater to the large, heavy breasted woman :)
I only realized a few years ago that it was actually possible to find a bra that has the wires sitting directly on the skin, under the boob! For several years I just thought the bra was supposed to sit "on the boob" :D
That and I'd get really bad shoulder pain from the straps. These days the band holds most of the load :carrot:

From what I read it's more that bra makers were being cheap and just wanted to get most women to wear a few sizes - cheaper for them to make 32-38 A-DD than to make 24A-40G, etc. And since you can "make yourself" fit into sizes that aren't quite right, they just convinced us all that it was OK. Women are finally smartening up and it's still so misunderstood.

And I agree - one bra and one brand is just a start. Not all body types and boob types look the same/feel the best in the same bra. Some people have more boobs to the side (fuller) and others are longer and skinnier.

Found this somewhat tongue in cheek photo, but it does show how we are all different. I'm most like a mailbag or hot water bottles and they have ALWAYS been that way. HATE THAT the point down, but what can I do? That's how they grew.... DH loves them, so that's my hangup.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g8...me-picture.jpg

Okee ladies... I am on a mission :rofl: I went to Vicky's and had myself sized. Perfect 36D....

I asked the associate if I possibly could be a 32 and she said no way...I asked her to bring me 32 band just to try on; and I nearly died how tight it was. There is no way I would wear a torture devise like that each and every day! BUT I am an open minded person, so I will keep looking for answer and if I am incorrect, I have no problem yielding :D I will do Nordstrom and MaidenForm later on this week, and perhaps JC Penny. I will report back.

To those who measure under bust; do you get marks? A bra is not supposed to leave an indentation.

But you were trying a 32D. You can't do that. That would be like trying a 36A. Catch my drift?

I was just trying the band not cup.

I put myself through college selling bras for Vicky's; so I know all about how the the band and cup size work....whole reason why I started this one...I am so tired of seeing the back fat that spills, when 80% of women wear wrong size bras, usually too small :(

But...If things have changed and they measure different now-a-days, I want to know :)

Ok, at Vicky's they measure wrong. Period. Do not go there to get sized. You might be lucky once and get someone who knows what they're doing but at VS they are in the business of selling bras. Your current measurements indicate that you do NOT fit into their size range. So what are they going to do? they're going to tell you that you're a different size so that you can buy something there.

Most of the time women are wearing bands that are too large. These bands ride up in the back (look around and you'll see women who's bands are riding up. I see it all the time--especially on slim women!) and do not support the breasts. Breast tissue migrates and can migrate to one's back! Most of the time armpit fat and back fat are lost breast tissue which can be fixed if you wear the correct bra.

Measure under your bust, TIGHTLY. That is your band size. Don't measure on top of your breasts, don't add inches. Your band size is your underbust measurement. The end.

Check out runningfromfat's blog: http://braslessinbrasil.blogspot.com/ because she has a wealth of information on the correct way to measure bras and places you can buy them.

Did you see my post...if I were to go by under breast size; I would CHOKE to death.

Vicky's is a big corporation and they want to sell bras, fitting bras; returning customers.

I DO NOT FIT INTO 32!!!!!

Can your bra be seen under your clothes?

I will hit other lingerie stores and see how they measure...you maybe one of those 80% who wear a wrong size bra

okay...take pictures and let me see how your bras fit (from behind)

I think that this post has been approached wrong. Even if you think that it's "outdated" we all know that things have changed, while some stay the same. So it may be that this works for particular companies.

I just don't understand the "I'm right, and you're wrong" attitude that I find on this forum.

Ok, let me try this again.

Sum, you said that you would then measure at a 32H (using Linda's guide I linked earlier). So, trying a 32D is equivalent to trying a 36A.

It's not just your band size that would be different. It's the difference between your bust size (fullest part) and underbust. ALL of it has to be taken into account.

Now, if you said that your underbust was 32 and across your bust was 36, that would make you a 32D. But if your underbust is a 32 and across the bust is 40 (going from the last update from the bathing suit challenge), that would make you a 32H. Trying to shove a H cup into a D cup is "maybe" possible, but to do that you have to have a larger band size to accomodate all the breast tissue that is being pushed outside the cup. If you were to wear a 32 band, the cup would be bigger and would hold the breast tissue.

You simple cannot just drop the band size and not do anything with the cup size when you are looking at a 8" difference between overbust and underbust measurement. Of course you will feel like you are choking to death as all that tissue is now being compressed - as if you were wearing a 36A.

I'm in a 42 band and I measure 42.5. I feel fine and I don't have any indents. In my case I would not be adding any inches to my band. But I did notice in the nordstrom chart that on the upper end of things (40 +) we do tend to just be more or less what we measure within an inch.

But on the smaller end there was a wider than an inch range going in the band vs what you measure. 2 inches, 3 inches and the worst was the 38 band that's supposed to cover people measuring 35- 39 inches. That's a 4 inch spread! So in smaller sizes there does seem to be some adding going on?

Maybe it is a regular vs plus size bra thing we're really talking about here and why we are all confused?

http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/womens-bras-fit

This is why I don't frequent lingerie shops that measure you in order to fit a bra. Tape measures are the devil of bra fitting. Throw away your tape measures, people!

I do, however, think it would be an interesting post to see 3FCers bras. I love bras. I continuously make people uncomfortable, most notably my sister, because I keep showing them my bras. And, I will make you all uncomfortable by posting me in my bra (later, I don't have pictures right now). :p So, come on, 3FC, show me your bras!!!

Sum38, I’m going to have to agree with the others and say do not add 4-5. But frankly, I can’t really comment on how your bra fits since I don’t know how it actually fits. However, a good rule as far as band size goes is that you should be able to put 2 fingers comfortably inside your bra at the back of your band. If you can’t fit any fingers, the bra is too small. If you can fit more than 2 fingers, your band is too big and isn’t supporting you properly.

Also, as you try on other band sizes, remember that not all D cups are created equal. Volumewise, the cup of a 36D bra is bigger than the cup of a 34D bra. In fact the cup volume of a 36D is equal to that of a 34DD or a 32DDD. So when you try on a smaller band size, the bra will be way too small if you don’t increase the cup size as well. So, if you measure and don’t add 4, you should be trying on 32H bras in order to determine whether or not the 32 band fits properly. If you try on a 32D or DD it will probably be too small for you (as the cup factors into the band size as well).

Just a couple things for you to think about when you continue to try on other bra sizes.


Now for me. I measure 34” around my underbust and 39” around my bust. From your guidelines, I should be wearing a 38A bra. Oh dear. If I tried to put myself into a 38A, it would not be pretty. Funnily enough, last time I went to Victoria’s Secret (I wore a 36DD at the time), 3 different girls measured me in 3 different sizes: 38DD, 38D and 36DD. Fortunately I had already measured myself and knew how a bra was supposed to fit. But their measuring is unfortunately inconsistent, even among people working in the same store, and is also different from your way of measuring (my measurements were 36/41, so by your way I should have been a 40A).

My proper bra size now is a 34DD/DDD. But I just tried on an old 38C and 36DD in order to compare them to my 34DD (thank the weight loss for the fact that I actually have multiple band sizes around :)).
-My 38C provided no support whatsoever and I could fit 2 whole hands at the back of my band. Not good.
-The 36DD was slightly better, but I could still fit an entire hand behind my band and it wasn’t supportive enough.
-Comparatively, my 34DDs are so comfortable. I actually sighed in relief when I took off the 38 – it’s not pleasant to wear. The 34 is so supportive and actually gave me the least amount of back fat.

That being said, not all people are equal and not all bras are equal either. The measuring is really just a guideline, and to find your proper size you do need to try bras on.

Totally agree with the comments not to add inches!!!

If only I could get my hands on a 28F bra, I'd be in business *grumble* none of my current bras fit correctly and they're all fitted per the old advice. I wanna burn them!

Here is a link to Nordstroms fitting

http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/womens-bras-fit

Happy bra hunting to all. :)

I don't understand why when several people try to correct you that you're dead set on giving women the wrong advice on bra fitting. Can you not accept that you were taught the wrong way?

From what I see Nordstrom's is also giving the wrong advice

It doesn't matter what you find comfortable, by all means wear the bra you want. Just don't give other women the same ill-gotten advice that the lazy bra companies (those that don't stock anything below a 32 band, for example) have given to women because they want to force them into their small ranges.

Are you always going to be the size you measure at? Well no. I measure at a 30F, but I bought 30FFs and they fit perfectly. At one point during my weight loss I measured at a 34DD and wore a 34D. It's all about what fits, after all but I was never too far off from the size I measured.

Since I looked at your link, I hope you will check these links out:
http://braslessinbrasil.blogspot.com...-that-fit.html
http://www.thinandcurvy.com/2010/10/...e-correct.html

And no, I'm not wearing the wrong bra size, but I'm not about to take a picture of myself in a bra to prove it to a stranger on the internet.

I also think that I really wouldn't have that much back fat at this weight anyway...

I yield, I am sorry; my intentions were good :( I did not expect to get my head bit off... I guess bra fitting is a sensitive issue.

.... but you better let these large companies know that they have no idea how to fit a bra ;)

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/guides/bra.ognc


http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/womens-bras-fit

http://www.victoriassecret.com/ss/Sa...der=Size+Chart

OK seriously, once again. No, they have no idea how to fit a bra. My underbust measures 27 and I am currently wearing a 32 bra that I think a small child could also fit under the band. Safety pins to the rescue, seriously.

Companies want to make $$$$$$$ if they can cram more women into fewer sizes it cuts down their production costs. If they had to add 30 additional sizes to their range they wouldn't make as much $$$$$$$$. It's horrible and it makes me hopping mad but, for them, it's simple economics.

Everything is a guide. Fitting a bra is an art form. I have fitted 100's maybe 1000's of women, I bet I am the ONLY one who has done fittings and seen that many boobies out of all these replies....sigh.

Have you? I am not denying that you may need smaller size. I have been denied my size.

I am ticked off. Just remember 80% wear wrong size...I did that for living....maybe 8 replied. Do the math.

End off topic. Wear what you wish. have your bra showing though your clothes. I will just sigh when I walk by you.

I worked at VS in High School, 10 years ago. I thought the fitting techniques were 'off' then too... to be perfectly honest.

I'm not sure what you mean by my bra showing through my clothes?

All of you say it is wrong, but no one shows any proof :(

I mean, I see fat rolls, back rolls, boob rolls all the time under people's clothing (panty lines...don't get me even started). Same way I see muffin tops... It breaks my heart, because USA has soooo many options and cheap ones to dress well. I am European, and we take a great pride how we look and how we dress. Unfortunately 80% of American women start off with wrong stuff; bra and panties and the rest just follows.

If you worked for Vicky's then you should know, bra fitting is an art form. You should not be closed minded. Many women walked in and said that they were 38B and walked out with FAB fitting 36D.

I don't understand this hostility. Maybe constructive posts, but "YOU ARE WRONG but I can't prove" it attitude is nasty and hurtful.

Nobody is being nasty. I wish American women had more choices! I just had to order bras from a store in the UK because as a pretty average sized woman, I cannot find a bra to fit me here!

Of course bra fitting is in art form.. it just seems counterproductive to keep handing out advice that leads to a bad fit.

I have no back fat to speak of... but if I wore a bra measured from conventional advice I'd have a band riding up my shoulder blades and boobs squishing out the sides of my cups. I'd post a picture but it'd be obscene!

80% of women wear the wrong size bra. Most of them because they follow the conventional advice and have a too big band and too small cup. It would solve a lot of frustration if women understood this. I spent years cursing in dressing rooms because I didn't realize that no bras fit me because I was "out of range" of the conventional sizing. It seems ridiculous to me because I'm so "medium" and average in every other way. I'm sure loads of women are coming up to the same problems... and understanding why might encourage the bra companies to give up their old way of doing things and help us out!