Bra Sizing

Bra sizing, honestly, I can’t think of anything more frustrating or complicated. As someone who has been wearing bras since around middle school, I can finally say I somewhat have a better grasp on what actual bra size I am, something I thought I’d never be able to say. Although this is just a basic guide to finding your right size, it is a great starting point because most bra wearers are wearing the wrong size bra. Once you become more comfortable with sizing and finding a brand you enjoy, you can also explore sister-sizing and become more familiar with what sizes you are in certain brands.

Bulges, puckering, loose straps, too tight straps, back pain, and overflow are all things most bra wearers have been familiar with, all symptoms of an ill fitting bra. Whether it be too big or too small, an ill fitting bra can cause real pain, not limited to headaches, back pain, chest pain, shoulder pain, etc. An ill fitting bra can not only cause physical pain, but can lead to clothes not fitting properly, and an overwhelming feeling of stress every time you have to put a bra on. While not all bra wearers experience such trials and tribulations when it comes to finding your proper bra size, it is not always a walk in the park. Some people resort to ditching underwire bras completely, opting for bralettes, sports bras, or going au natural, all of which are great options, if they work for you, but not everyone is as comfortable sticking to those options.

Now to the important part: how to size yourself and start your journey towards finding the proper fitting bra. The actual sizing part is fairly simple, all you will need is a measuring tape and about 5 minutes of your time. Following this simple guide by Playtex:

Step 1: Measure your band size, do this by wrapping the tape measure above your bust, under your under arm. Round up to the nearest even number.

Step 2: Now find the fullest part of your bust and wrap the tape measure around this part, rounding up if it falls in between 2 numbers.

Step 3: Subtract the measurement you found in step 1, from the measurement you found in step 2, this will help you determine your cup size.

Example:

Step 1: 34”

Step 2: 38”

Step 3: 38-34=4, 4” difference is approx. a D, therefore you would be a 34D.

It’s important to note that although this measurement is a good starting point, not all bras are made the same and depending on the brand and style, you may have to play a little with the band and cup size, but this measurement is a great starting point!

Bra sizes can change with weight gain, loss, age, pregnancy, etc so be sure to measure yourself at least every 6 months so you can have the most accurate bra size. Now that you have been given all this knowledge, go out there and find some awesome bras in the right size, and promptly throw out those old, improper fitting bras! Good Luck!

Some helpful sites: 

http://www.playtexfits.com/fit/find-your-bra-size/#

http://www.herroom.com/bra-fitting-advice,901,30.html