Bras are probably one of the most underrated pieces of clothing out there, because after all, you wear it under your clothes, so why would you need to give them so much attention? However, it is that notion that leads to over 80% of all women in the world investing in a bra that is the wrong size for them. Usually, the straps are too large, and the cups of the bra are too small to accommodate the breasts properly and give them the adequate amount of support. In order to ensure that you wear the right size, you have to know how to measure your bra size absolutely accurately.
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Before we can launch into a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to measure your bra size, we should look at some of the disadvantages and adverse effects of wearing the wrong size, so that you understand the seriousness of the situation, and you never invest in an under-sized or over-sized bra ever again. Some of the problems that you may face are:
- It makes your outfits look weird and out of shape
- You get muffin tops when your bra is too tight for you
- If you have been wearing the wrong size forever, your breasts go out of shape
- If you don’t get the right support from your bra, your breasts may start to sag
- Again, without the right support, you may develop serious back problems
- You may develop rashes and redness in areas under your bust
…and many, many more. It is best to avoid such problems altogether by measuring your bra size the right way this time, and investing in a bra that should feel like it was made for your body.
1. Knowing what a bra-that-fits should feel like
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The first step is to evaluate the size of the bra that you had been wearing all this while. This will give you a fair idea on whether you have been wearing a bra too big or too small or slightly big or slightly small. The most effective way of doing this is by checking for some of the signs of a bra that is essentially a misfit. For example:
- If you are wearing a non-padded bra, then your cup should sit smoothly on your breast. If it has wrinkles in any part, then that means that it is too big for you
- Also, your bra should not move with your body movement. For example, if you lift up your hands, your bra should not ride up your midriff
- The straps should not slide off your shoulders constantly
- Your breasts should not be spilling out of your cups
- When you open your bra, there should not be red marks and impressions all over your bust area
These are some of the things that should not be happening when you are wearing a bra. A good bra is one which contains all of your breasts, fat and all, whether you are an A cup or a D cup. One trick to ensure that is to check the underwire of your bra. If the end of the underwire points towards the middle of your armpits, then the bra fits well.
2. How bra sizes are measured in relation to different breast sizes
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One of the things that you have to keep in mind before you start measuring your bra size is that everyone has a body that is differently shaped, and similarly, there are different kinds of breasts as well. The shapes go right up to F, but the standard sizes include A-D. One misconception that people suffer from is that it is the cup size that matters when you are picking out the right size. However, the truth of the matter is that the same cup size might hold different volumes of breast, and the basis for measurement is actually the band, and the cups are just proportional to the band.
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3. Understanding sister sizes
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You might have been wearing a bra that is not exactly the right size, but just a few notches short of being so. However, it might so happen that you have a bra that is almost perfect and there is just a slight difference in your size and the perfect size. In order to get the right size without going to too much trouble, you can try out the concept of “sister sizes” where you tweak your bra size just a little to get the perfect size (as demonstrated in the table above).
- In order to get a bra that is just slightly bigger, increase your band size by 2 points, and reduce your cup size by one degree. For example, if you have been wearing a 36C, try out a 38B instead
- If you want a bra that is slightly smaller, decrease your band size by 2 and increase your cup size by one degree. For example, if you have been wearing 34B, try out a 32C instead
After all, your bra size depends on the band and not the cup, as I mentioned before.
4. Measuring your band size
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This is the most important step, when you need to figure out how to measure your bra size. For this, you need to use a tape measurement, with inches that have been clearly marked out. Ideally, when you are measuring, you should not be wearing anything, or you could be wearing a bra. This is because the clothes can add several inches to your measurement, giving you an inaccurate measurement. This is why professional measurement in departmental stores should not be held as the benchmark for your bra size.
- Wrap the measuring tape around your midriff, right under your breasts, which should be fairly easy
- Ensure that the tape measure lies flat against your skin, without any twists. Make sure your hands are lying beside your body.
- Check the measurement, and if your band size is an even number, then you can easily find a bra with the number (example, 30, 32, 36, 38, 40, etc.,)
- If you have an odd number, then your band size is either the even number before, or after your measurement, so it is best if you try out both.
5. Measuring your cup size
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Measuring your bra size not only includes measuring your band, but also your cup size. Measuring your cup is slightly more complicated than measuring your bust. Here are the steps:
- Bend down so that your body forms a right angle to the ground, and torso is parallel to the ground
- This way, your breasts will hang towards the ground and you have to wrap the measuring tape around the part that protrudes the most.
- Make sure that the tape does not press into your breasts, but is firmly wrapped so that nothing really moves around
- Write down the inches on a sheet of paper
- Subtract your band measurement from the cup measurement that you just got, and the result will determine your actual cup size
The difference may range from 0 inches to 12 inches, and you can check out your cup size based on the table given below:
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6. Try out different sizes
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Just because you have found out the correct bra size for your breasts does not mean that that is the absolute measurement. You have to remember that all women have different bodies, which are shaped differently, and consequently, their breasts are also shaped in different ways. Some are pear-shaped, some are narrow, some are round and perky, some have gaps between their breasts while others have a prominent cleavage. Therefore, even though you have found out how to measure your bra size, you need to try out different sizes to see which one adapts to your body shape in the best manner possible. Here are some more pointers:
- Your band should fit absolutely snugly around your midriff, and give you complete support, so that even if your slouch, your breasts don’t sag with you
- If you are not comfortable with adjusting the size of your bra, try adjusting the straps, because oftentimes, the right size is unable to give the right support because of wrongly adjusted straps
- Try wearing fitting clothes over your new bra. A good bra is one which doesn’t show lines even when you are wearing the tightest of clothes over it, because it fits your body like second skin
- Another problem that people face is the back fat bulging out when you are wearing a bra. This either means that your strap has ridden up, or is too tight, which means it has to be replaced, or the straps need to be adjusted.
These are just some of the pointers that you will hopefully find helpful the next time you step out of the house with your new bra on. As for measuring your bra size, it is a time-consuming, careful process, whose step-by-step instructions have been given here, so that you can give your breasts the care and attention they deserve.
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