After stepping into Victoria's Secret today to do some bra size experimentation, I realized that her spiel about how their measuring system is way out of whack was totally right. In fact, before I even get into my experience, why the heck do they measure for the band around and ABOVE your boobs? Who the crap wears their bra like that? It makes no sense. Measuring around and UNDER your boobs makes sense, cause that's where the band is going around. But uh, okay, whatever.

Anyway, on to my experience. By way of measuring myself, my under-bust comes to around 34-35", and my bust measurement at 39", which would put me at EITHER a 34D/DD or a 36 D/DD. I had all intentions of going into Vicky S's to fit myself and not have to bother with a "bra specialist" because thanks to you guys and lots of extra research, quite frankly, I knew what I was doing. So, I grabbed the sizes I thought I would need, and to make a long story short -- I found that a 36DD is the perfect fit and made a mental note to buy that size the next time I go bra shopping.

And then the "bra specialist" found me and asked me how my bra was fitting. I told her what I was doing, and I told her, quite proudly, that the 36DD fit. She then suggested that I get measured just to compare sizes, and by using their wonky system, she came out to a 38D. Now, I knew already that this was wrong because the bra that I was wearing in the store was a 38DD, and it is too big, all around. And sure enough, so was the bra she made me try on. She pulled the 36DD of the same bra and had me try that one on, and once again, it fit perfectly.

So, in conclusion, I (we) win, Vicky S's bra measuring method is WRONG, and I just felt the need to confirm all of that with y'all. I will say, though, that Vicky's bras are very well-made and support me way better than Lane Bryant ever did -- so they still gained a customer. But please, girls, measure yourself before you go in there and don't let them measure you because you will end up with an ill-fitting bra.

The end.

Nordstrom gas amazing fitters if you're still looking.

exact same shpiel. i wear a 34 DD (when im skinny) and a 36DD when im in a "flux" such as now.

according to vs im a 38C.

they can 38C-THEMSELVES OUT THE FITTING ROOM ^%$%^$%#@$.

that is all// haha

I wish we had a Nordstrom; the closest one is 2-3 hours away from me.

all I know is that everybody tells me I'm "at least a D!!!" and yet still, all D cups are a little "saggy" on me. 36-C fits quite nicely, thanks. one stupid woman at a Belk store told me I was a 32-B, "she could tell by looking at me!" - yeah, wanted to b-slap her!!!

Oh gosh one of my irl friends and I were having a ranting session about this! She went into Manhattan and got fitted and it outside the "usual" range for bras. I told her that I am a 28F and have the same issue! We can't find bras outside of specialty shops or internet companies. We laughed at how VS tried to fit us: her in some DD bra that would not fit and me in a 34A.

We lamented about the cost, but when the right bra FITS it certainly makes a world of a difference!

I've got the tiny band problem too (broad chest *yay lifting* tiny waist/ribcage). I'm in a 30F now... sad news the last pound came off my boobs.

VS wants me in a 36C. I tried one on... my boobs literally fell out the bottom of the band. Yeah... that's working well.

I went to Fleet Feet to buy new walking shoes last weekend and checked out the sports bras while I was there. I know my underbust is just under 32" and their chart said a 32" underbust meant I should get a 36 - WTF? What does the "36" mean if not the circumference of the band? I just don't understand.

Then again, I'm wearing a 36D Bali bra that I got a few months (and 15 pounds) ago, and it feels okay, but I should probably be in a 34DD or F. It's just too annoying to shop for bras.

So glad to have new proper-bra-fitting converts! 36F here, former 38DD (with tissue spilling under, over and beside.)

Bras are oddly sized- the number portion does not equal the number of inches below your breast, but is often 1-3 numbers above the actual measurement. So you usually shouldn't be wearing a bra that is numbered the same size as your measurement.

Lauren: that's why the 36 fit you, even though you're 34" around.

Here's an example of bra sizing which is pretty standard:
http://www.herroom.com/bra-fitting-advice,901,30.html

This used to be the case. But now bras have stretch. I just measured the band of one of my 30G bras. The band is 30" stretched.

Actually, that does make sense for me. I measure 34" around, but the 34 band wouldn't even come together to fasten, even when stretched as far as it would go. The 36 went perfect.

There are a lot of contemporary sources saying that bras are still made in this way. Yours probably stretch to 30", but what are they before you stretch them? They should be 27" unstretched if they're a size 30 (28 if they're older/have lost some elasticity from washing, etc).

Well, I measure 28" tight and 29" loose around and I'm very happy in a 28FF or 30F bra. I have 32DD bras. They're way too loose around, even on the tightest hook.

I measure 34", My bra fitter loved me in the 34H, but after wearing it for a few hours it was slicing into my skin. I bought some 36Gs and they are much better. I will get an extender for the 34 to give me a little more room. I was wearing 38Gs but I guess the weight loss happened in my torse because those are all way too big now.