Bra Fit Guidelines from Just Underthings

Wearing the right bra size is just as important as choosing the right bra style. It truly is about fit, and not size, so don’t compromise you health and comfort with a size that sounds good.

 

Did you know the average woman wears six different bra sizes throughout her life?  Considering that most of us, 85 percent according to several research studies, are wearing the wrong size bra, it will be worth your while to grab a tape measure and check your size.  Discover why size matters and get the right bra size.  Do your breasts hang too low?  Do they wobble back and forth?  Chances are they do since 8 out of 10 women wear the wrong bra size.  Not only is the correct size more comfortable but it also will correct any sagging which will make you appear slimmer, take years off your looks, and make your clothing fit better.  The right foundation is critical to your outer garment looks. 

The perfect position for your breasts is midway between your shoulders and your elbows. And your bra should be level front to back.  Most women tend to increase their band size instead of getting a deeper cup.  The idea is to keep the back lean and small so we can lift the bust.  The band in a properly designed bra should hold over eighty five percent of the weight of the breasts not the straps.

 

How long has it been since you've checked your bra size?  There are many life situations affect a woman's bust measurement, particularly, pregnancy, weight fluctuations and modification surgeries. The average woman will wear many bra sizes throughout her life.

Considering this, if you are like me, I bet it has been a while since the last time you have checked you size.

The first place to start is with a bra you own that fits you perfectly. If it isn't too constrictive, and the band doesn't ride up in the back, then order that size.  The cups should fully contain the breast tissue. There should be no spilling out at top (too small) and no excess fabric in the cup (too big). The center front should rest close to the chest bone. The size around your chest should feel comfortably snug. Not too tight where the back would bind, and not too loose where the back would ride up. The straps should be adjusted to support and align the breasts evenly. Everyone is smaller on one side and this strap is pulled a little tighter. The bra should stay in place as you bend and stretch.

 

There are certain rules to keep in mind when trying to determine when your size is changing.

 

·        It's time to go up a cup size, if your cups runneth over.

·        It's time to go down a cup size if your cups dimple,.

·        If you have the dreaded back fat, you probably think your bra is too tight, but you're wrong—your bra is too big. Wearing the bra lower on your back with a smaller band size will completely eliminate the back fat.

·        If your strap falls down, that means your bra band is riding up and you probably need to go down a band size.

 

Before you can measure for a bra, you need to know how to put one on correctly.

 

Bend deeply at the waist before fastening your bra—this automatically centers it and distributes the volume evenly. Straps should neither fall down nor dig into your shoulders (they ought to provide only 10 percent of your support—the rest comes from the band).

 

Buy a size that fits you very closely—it may even feel a bit tight at first—when fastened on the first (loosest) hook. This will enable you to tighten the bra over time as the material stretches out. Make sure that the band is perfectly horizontal on your body.

 

Fix minor puckering in the cups by smoothing down and "tucking in" your breasts. Fit check: If there's a major gap between bra and body, the cup's too big; if you're overflowing the top or sides, it's too shallow

 

Measuring for a Bra Size

 

Finding Your Personal Bra Size

A bra size is made up of two measurement components:

• band size (i.e. 34, 36, 38, etc.)
• cup size (i.e. A, B, C, etc.)

Band Size

 

Holding the measuring tape gently but firmly, measure around your body directly under your arms. Look in a mirror to assure the tape is parallel to the floor. Note: When you take these measurements, round to the closest whole inch, either up or down. (For example, if your measurement is 29 3/8" or less, round down to 29". If your measurement is 29 1/2" or more, round up to 30".)

If the rounded measurement you come up with is an odd number, add 1 inch.

The result is your band size.

Cup Size

Standing straight, with your arms at your side, measure around your body at the fullest part of your bust. Wrap the tape measure around you so that it is just touching, but not binding. Make sure the tape is parallel to the floor. Round up or down to the nearest inch as you did to find your band size.

 

Please note, with each measurement, it is important that your tape remain parallel to the floor.

 

Your cup size can be determined by subtracting measurement number 2 from measurement number 1.  The difference will give you your cup size.

 

1” difference = A cup

2” difference = B cup

3” difference = C cup

4” difference = D cup

5” diffenence + DD cup

6” difference = F cup

7” difference = G cup

8” difference = H cup

9” difference =  I cup

10” difference = J cup

 

Note, if not exact, round down for half inch or less and up for more than half inch.

 

Checking the Fit

 

The cups should fully contain the breast tissue.

 

·        No spilling out at top (too small).

·        No excess fabric in the cup (too big).

 

The center front should rest close to the chest bone.

 

·        Not too tight where the back would bind

·        Not too loose where the back would ride up

 

The straps should be adjusted to support and align the breasts evenly.

 

·        Everyone is smaller on one side.  This strap should be pulled a little tighter.

·        The bra should stay in place as you bend and stretch.

 

Things to keep in mind

 

Try a Smaller Band
Most women wear their bras too big—they think "comfortable" means "loose." What they actually need is a firmer band to keep the bra level across the front and back.

 

…And a Larger Cup Size
Cup size doesn't remain constant—it increases and decreases proportionally with band size—so if you go to a smaller band you may need a bigger cup. (Example: You think you're a 36B, but your bra isn't fully supportive? Consider a 34C or D.)

 

Breasts Fluctuate
The average woman's bra size changes six times during her life—weight loss or gain, pregnancy, and age are all factors.

 

Asymmetry Isn't Weird
Most of us have breasts that don't match perfectly. If that's true for you, take your bras to be altered by a tailor.

 

It Pays to Upgrade
Buy three top-quality bras rather than a lot of cheapies. You need only one to wear, one to wash, and one in the drawer.

 

Machine Washing is Safe
Put bras—even fancy, lacy ones—in a net bag, use mild soap, and run on the delicate cycle.

 

Putting a Bra On Correctly

 

Bend deeply at the waist before fastening your bra—this automatically centers it and distributes the volume evenly. Straps should neither fall down nor dig into your shoulders (they ought to provide only 10 percent of your support—the rest comes from the band).

 

Buy a size that fits you very closely—it may even feel a bit tight at first—when fastened on the first (loosest) hook. This will enable you to tighten the bra over time as the material stretches out. Make sure that the band is perfectly horizontal on your body.

 

Fix minor puckering in the cups by smoothing down and "tucking in" your breasts. Fit check: If there's a major gap between bra and body, the cup's too big; if you're overflowing the top or sides, it's too shallow

 

Measuring for a Bra Size