Wear A Bra That Fits!

How do you know your bra doesnt fit you properly? Because its a fact that thousands of women, all over the world are wearing the wrong size bra.

Your bust size can change over time due to lifestyle, pregnancy, age and monthly cycle. If you swim a lot or take other upper body activity your bust will be affected. Changes in size are due to natural variations but many women dont consider changes and continue buying and wearing the same bra for years.

The bra itself can also stretch by as much as 4 inches across the back over as little time as 9-12 months, so at the time of puchase your bra was the perfect fit, but now, may well be no-where near that perfect fit. So its good to purchase a new bra and get re-measured every so often or at least check your bra fits you as well as when it was new.

OK, for those unsure of how to measure their bust size, grab yourself a tape measure, of the flexible variety, and a pencil.

Two variables are required to determine your bra and cup size. They are your frame size and your breast size. Bear in mind though, that determining your bra and cup size is not an exact science, if you find you are a 34C, but a 32B fits you better, obviously get the more comfortable one!

1. Determine Frame & Bra Size

The frame size is the measurement around your chest right under your breasts. Use the tape measure and measure around your ribcage directly under your breasts. There should be no breast tissue measured while determining your frame size. Using the figures in inches, note down the figure you get.

To determine the bra size, add 5 to this number. If the number you get is odd, round up to the next even number. For example, if your frame sizeis 26 inches, when you add 5 to this you get 31 inches. You should therefore round up to the next even number which is 32 inches, bras only come in even numbers. This is your bra size, 32 inches.

2. Determine Breast Size

The next measurement goes around the chest over and including the fullest part of your bust, this usually involves measuring at the nipple level. This is the measurement of your chest+breast. Note this number down, also in inches.

3. Calculate Cup Size

Now, take the chest+breast size number, and subtract your bra size number. Then use the table below to determine your cup size.

Difference          Cup Size

0 – .5 inch               AA

.5 – 1 inch                A

1 – 2.5 inch              B

2.5 – 3.5 inch         C

3.5 – 4.5 inch         D

4.5 – 6 inch             DD (E)

6 – 7 inch                 DDD (F)

7 – 8 inch                 G

etc                              etc

4. Example

Lets assume your frame size is 33 inches, your bra size is therefore 38 inches (33 + 5 = 38 inches). Also, assume you measured your chest + breast size at 42 inches. Now, take your chest + breast size of 42, and subtract your bra size of 38. You get 4 inches as the difference. Using the table above, you can see that with a difference between 3.5 – 4.5 inches has a cup size of D. So your correct bra and cup size you should be wearing is 36D.

Things to consider:

Your bra should fit you snugly.

You should be able to fit one or two fingers under the band comfortably.

If you are pulling down the back strap or pulling up on the shoulder straps then it is too big.

If you are wearing an underwired bra, the wire that comes up between the breasts should lay flat, or as close as possible, to your breast bone.

You dont want to be spilling out of the cup either, not from the top, bottom or sides.

If you raise your arms up, the bra should stay against your body, not lifting up or off..

Try on different styles of bra, each style fits differently and can shape your breast differently.

If your bra fits correctly, it should not be painful or uncomfortable to wear.