| A bra is a bra, right? Wrong!
A bra is an undergarment that not only has the ability to make you look great, but it can
make you feel (mentally and physically!) terrific as well. Yet 8 out of 10 women
wear the wrong size bras. Take the quiz below to find out if you are one of these
women. |
These pictures will help you determine if
your bra is too big or too small.
| Too small |
|
|
To begin with if the band is too small the weight of the
breast tissue will cause the bra to ride up in the back. This will also be uncomfortable
for the wearer. |
The breast tissue will spill over the cups, the straps will
dig into the shoulders, and the wings will collapse under the weight of the breast tissue. |
Finally, a bra that is too small might cause discomfort in
other ways as well because the underwire will poke the breast tissue and cause irritation. |
| Too Big |
|
|
As this photo shows, If the bra band is too big it will ride
up in the back. |
The cups are likely to gap because they are not filled out
completely. |
Also, the breasts will sag because they have no lift or
support. |
How to find your
bra size:
You can try this on your own. It’s pretty simple.
Here are a few suggestions when
measuring yourself:
- Make sure you are wearing a bra, only a bra.
- Stand up when taking the measurements.
|
- Relax and don’t hold your breath.
- Follow the directions below.
|
Measurement
#1
Take a snug measurement around your rib cage directly under your bust. To get the most
accurate reading, make sure the tape measure rests flat on the skin and goes straight
across your back. (inches)
Measurement #2
Measure around the fullest part of your bust, making sure the tape measure lies flat
against your body.
How to measure and fit
a bra in three easy steps
STEP 1: Measure for band size:
Keeping the measuring tape parallel with the ground, measure around your bra directly
under your bust after expelling all air from your lungs - you want this measurement to be
as small as possible. Round all fractional measurements to the nearest whole number.
If the measurement is even, add 4"
If the measurement is odd, add 5"
STEP 2: Measure for cup size:
Standing straight, with your arms at your side, measure at the fullest part of your bust
(while wearing a non-padded bra) making sure the measuring tape is parallel with the
ground and not binding.
Round all fractional measurements to the nearest whole number.
STEP 3: Calculate your bra size:
Subtract your band measurement (step 1) from your cup measurement (step 2). Generally, for
each inch in difference, the cup goes up by one size. See the cup size conversion chart
here.
Example:
Step 1: 34" under measurement +4" = 38" band
Step 2: 40" over measurement
Step 3: 40" - 38" = 2" or Cup "B"
Your size would be 38B
| If the difference
is: |
Your standard cup
size is: |
| 0"-1/2" (1.3 cm) |
AA |
| 1/2"- 1" (2.6 cm) |
A |
| 2" (5.1 cm) |
B |
| 3" (7.6 cm) |
C |
| 4" (10.2 cm) |
D |
| 5" (12.7 cm) |
DD or E |
| 6" (15.2 cm) |
DDD or F |
| 7" (17.8 cm) |
G |
| 8" (20.3 cm) |
H |
| 9" (22.9 cm) |
I |
| 10" (25.4 cm) |
J |
Important Note: this measuring system tends
to become less accurate as the cup sizes go above a D. Additionally, some manufacturers
name larger cup sizes differently. See "The Proper Bra Measuring Techniques for
Plus-Size Women". |
|
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