[Elladorine]

I'm sure there's been a ton of threads on the subject, but here we go . . .

A few months back I'd decided enough was enough; I'd lost a good fifteen pounds and my bras were no longer fitting properly. Even though I've been told to not really trust the people that measure you for a fitting I took the plunge and headed on over to Lane Bryant.

I ended up going with a smaller band size and a larger cup than the lady who measured me suggested, and although the cup seemed a little on the small side (DDD) they didn't have any bands in the right size with cups larger than that. But now it's a few months later, and since I've lost another 10-15 pounds the ladies are starting to sag again since the back of my bras creep up my shoulder blades toward my neck. Rather than go through having someone measure me again and have me try on things that don't fit me properly, I've armed myself with a tape measure and tried using an online calculator, figuring I could go back and just pick selections off the shelf to try. I do have a basic idea of how this works, although I have to question why my underbust never gets measured for these things.

Here are my current measurements:

Underbust: 40 inches
Bust: 49 inches
Above-bust: 41 inches

Anyway, so when I use a calculator I'm told I need a 44G. Er . . . how does 40-41 inches translate into a 44 in the first place? I'm in a 44DDD right now and although the cups seem about right now that I've lost a few inches, the band is definitely not tight enough.

I thought I understood how this works (underbust = band size and cup size is based on how many more inches the actual bust is over the underbust) but now I'm all confused. And really, it's not a huge issue to me to have to try on different sizes to see what fits me best, but I have to wonder why the system seems so messed up. Or is it just me?

[Daki]

No, you are right, underbust = band size, that calculator is not correct. You have a 9 inch difference between your bust and your underbust which gives you a cup size of I/G according to Runfromfat's blog: http://www.bralessinbrasil.com/p/fin...-that-fit.html. There should be no 3rd measurement, just bust and underbust.

[Elladorine]

Originally Posted by Daki

No, you are right, underbust = band size, that calculator is not correct. You have a 9 inch difference between your bust and your underbust which gives you a cup size of I/G according to Runfromfat's blog: http://www.bralessinbrasil.com/p/fin...-that-fit.html. There should be no 3rd measurement, just bust and underbust.

Ah, thank you. I wonder why all the places seem to measure the overbust instead of the underbust.

[tubolard]

Lane Bryant hates to see me come in. Every time I go in I get measured, the bra they suggest doesn't fit right, so I try on, try on, try on. Every style fits differently than the next so it is not uncommon for me to try on at least 8 - 10 bras until I find one that fits, feels and looks good. I am a 38G but some bras in smaller cup sizes fit right and look good. It is just easier to try them all on and know what I have before i walk out.

[barnes298]

There are many size of bras available. Some bras contains standard sizes and are made of good quality fabrics and can be bought in a very low price also.

[amyk0202]

I just did the whole new bra thing as well. I've lost 73 lbs & I was still wearing the same bra which just did not fit anymore. I was wearing a 42C. I pulled out my measuring tape & measured carefully--which is hard because they all recommend you wear a well fitting, unpadded bra. If I had one of those, why would I need to measure. I'd just go buy the same size I already had! I tried a bunch of bra calculators & didn't believe any of them. The cup sizes I kept seeing were not what I saw myself in--I just don't have big boobs. So, I went to a local bra fitting shop & low & behold, this calculator: http://www.sophisticatedpair.com/bracalculator.htm hit it right on the head. They didn't have anything I actually liked locally, so I ended up buying a bra online from https://www.herroom.com/. I picked that site because it had a bra finder where you put in a bunch of stuff about you & your breasts & it gives you recommendations about the style you might want to look at. That being said, I didn't really like how the bra I bought online fit--it seemed to pull the girls to the outer edge of my chest & I'm used to more cleavage. I don't fault the site, I just didn't like the bra. So, I ended up going to Lane Bryant anyway. The girl measured me, got it all wrong, I told her the band & cup size I wanted but they didn't have it in the store so I ended up with one band size up from my correct size & a DD instead of H cup. I can squeeze it all in for now & I'm OK with that. I had WLS & am still losing rapidly so I know that I will be buying a new bra again shortly & in the meantime my girls will still be shrinking & soon won't be so squished. It has been a huge education for me though & I can't believe that stores don't carry correct sizing. If I am in an H cup, & really I consider myself a small to average busted woman, I don't think hardly anyone actually wears the typical A-D cup sizes in most stores. It was just a really frustrating experience.

[FunSize]

Measurements & calculators have never worked for me! I remember once at Victoria secret they measured me and said they had nothing in my size. Where in reality their 36D fit me perfectly! (At the time.. no idea if I'd fit into anything there now)..

Now I just grab stuff in a ton of different sizes and make a date of it! I think vanity sizing doesn't help, either..

[Steph7409]

My experience has been that I need to add 2" to my rib cage measurement to get the right band size. It makes no sense to me, but that seems to be how it works.

I got lucky with Bali - 36DD fits perfectly!

[InspiredBy]

Haha, I know your pain.

Here's how things work. I'm not sure about the fitting measurements, but from what you have right now and how it fits and doesn't fit, we can figure out what you will most likely need.

Bra's have "sister sizes". That means there are always two different size values that are very similar in outcome... so for example the last time my bras got too big I had a 34DDD.

The sister size for that which is almost the same is a 36DD (wearing the 34 on the smallest and the 36 on the widest setting). I had lost a band and also a cup size so now I'm wearing a 32DDD.

Because when you go down one band size, the cup that comes with that, even if it's the same 'letters' actually changes size too, it gets smaller.

So if you're saying the cups still fit pretty good, but your band is too wide, you will want to go DOWN one band size and then to keep the cups the same UP one cup size.

Makes sense?

So in your case that would be (assuming you lost one band size - that would look like you're on the smallest setting right now and things are kinda getting loose there) a 42G worn probably on the widest or medium setting for the band.

If you're not sure about the cups, do try a 42DDD also.

If you're down 2 band sizes (so you're on the smallest setting right now and still have significant room), but want to keep the same cup size as you have right now you'd be a 40H on the widest setting. If you'd like to try one cup size down with that, also try a 40G on the widest setting.


I know this is confusing but I hope that helps!

Let me know if you still need help

[cdcn13]

I measured my bra size and it said I am a 40G... I know I am not a G, if I put a G on, I am swimming. I am currently in a 38DD which fits great... makes no sense to me.