Find the Right Bra Fit and Own Your Size

Thursday, March 19, 2009

It is time to have an extra girly moment (not uncommon on this blog) – let’s talk about bras. 80% of women wear the wrong bra size, so I wanted to take some time to discuss the importance of finding the right bra size. In my last blog post, I celebrated the beauty of curves, and one of the things that helps accentuate curves on a woman is the right bra. You should consider both fit and style: you should be able to move around in it and feel comfortable, and your bra should help accentuate the fit of your clothes, rather than diminish your look. You should also consider the fact that not all bras are made for all occasions. For example, you will not catch me wearing a Victoria’s Secret "Very Sexy" bra while I go for a jog – I instead opt for my black Nike’s sports bra that provides amazing support and absolutely no need for “adjustment” during the run. However, I am a huge fan of Victoria’s Secret bras overall (particularly the “Very Sexy” and “Body By Victoria” collections).

My Victoria's Secret (VS) addiction began around my junior year in college, when I visited a nearby VS store, and was approached by a friendly salesperson who asked if I wanted to be measured so I could find the right bra size. Lo and behold, she revealed a completely different number than I had in my head, and I have to admit – I was incredibly happy to take ownership of my new size number, and of course, went on a bra-buying frenzy, eventually amassing a major VS bra collection in my wardrobe.

If you don’t plan on visiting a VS store soon, you can still find out if you are wearing the right bra size on your own. First, here is some bra lingo to get straight (courtesy of BraSizeInfo.com):

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Cup:
-The cup of the bra should fully encase each breast.
-There should not be any spillage out of the top or the sides of the cup. There should not be any wrinkling on the cup. The cup should support each breast.

Band:
-The band should fit very snugly and be straight all the way around the rib cage.
-The band should not move if you were to do trunk twists for example. The band should not ride up your back or make it difficult to breathe.

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With your current bra collection, make sure that they fit the following basic criteria: (courtesy of BraSizeInfo.com):

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->Top of the bra cup should completely contain the breast. If bulging exists, the cup is too small. 
->If wrinkling, the cup is too big.
->Bra band should fit very snugly around the rib cage.
->Back of the bra should stay down on the body. If the back rides up the band may be too large. 

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To measure your bra size: (courtesy of BraSizeInfo.com):
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Step 1. Band Size: While standing straight and wearing a regular bra, wrap the tape measure around your chest, above the bust. Make sure the tape is straight all the way around you. Pull the tape until it is taut but not restrictive or pinching.
Now, round the measurement to the nearest even number. That's your band size or rib cage measurement.
Example
Band size: 33 ½ = 34 band

Step 2. Cup Size: While still standing and wearing a regular bra, wrap the tape measure around the fullest part of your bust. Again, pull the tape until it is taut but not pinching or digging into your bust.
Make sure the tape is straight and around the fullest part of your bust. If you are in between whole numbers for this measurement, round to the nearest whole number. If you're directly in between two whole numbers, round to the next largest whole number. Example
: 38 ½ = 39

Now, subtract your even-numbered band size (step #1) from the whole-numbered measurement in step #2 and convert the difference to your cup size according to the [provided] chart (the first chart found on Brasizeinfo.com).
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Note: Brasizeinfo.com also offers other alternative methods to measure your bra size, so I encourage you to check out their site for more information. 

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Here are some great tips I found in another article, "How To Measure Your Bra Size":
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Cup sizes above D tend to vary much less reliably between manufacturers. Some brands go to the next letter of the alphabet for every added inch, while other brands may simply add on the same letter for every inch.

A well-fitted bra should provide support from the band, not the straps. You should be able to take off the straps and still feel supported by the bra.

Always try on a bra before you buy, and keep an open mind about your size.

It is possible to find out your bra size without a tape measure. If you already wear a bra which seems to fit well in the cup, but is roomy around the band, you can go down a band size and up a cup size until you get to a size you can only just fasten - this is the right size. (e.g. 36C -> 34D -> 32DD)

If you have uneven cup sizes, go with the bigger side. You can support the smaller breast by making that shoulder strap slightly shorter, or alternatively you can pad out the cup.

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So, whether you are small, medium or large-chested, it is incredibly important to understand your body, to know your size, and wear the right bra that makes you feel comfortable and looks great under your outfits. Also, note that you should consider getting re-measured if your weight has changed, if you haven't been measured in a few years, or if your bras overall do not seem to be fitting the way they used to in the past.

Here is a great Youtube video on how to measure your bra size. It also offers some valuable tips on finding the right bra:



I will be writing a blog post about how to coordinate the right bra with the right outfit at some point in the near future, so stay tuned!