Bra size measurement - which method is right?

LegacyUser

Hi, going unreg for this. Not sure if this is a Ladie's Lounge or Fashion/Appearance issue.

I've lost weight recently so went about measuring my bra size last night. I used the method which says that you measure band size then add four if it's an even number or five if it's an odd number. This put me at 34C which seems perfect in the band but a bit small in the cup. But I definitely did it right.

But I read elsewhere that that method is outdated, and by the modern measurement, I'd be 30E or 32D if 30 was too tight. Thing is, even 32 would cut off my circulation! But the cup size seems more accurate.

No wonder so many women wear the wrong bra size!

Ladies, what method do you use?

Malari

bra-confusion wrote: »

Hi, going unreg for this. Not sure if this is a Ladie's Lounge or Fashion/Appearance issue.

I've lost weight recently so went about measuring my bra size last night. I used the method which says that you measure band size then add four if it's an even number or five if it's an odd number. This put me at 34C which seems perfect in the band but a bit small in the cup. But I definitely did it right.

But I read elsewhere that that method is outdated, and by the modern measurement, I'd be 30E or 32D if 30 was too tight. Thing is, even 32 would cut off my circulation! But the cup size seems more accurate.

No wonder so many women wear the wrong bra size!

Ladies, what method do you use?

I use the "try on about 3 different cup and band combinations in the style you want and see what's comfortable" method :P

Seriously, I've been measured several times with varying results. I've had assistants trying to insist their measurement is correct, despite the bra giving me clear quatro-boob. :rolleyes:

rainbow kirby

Malari wrote: »

I use the "try on about 3 different cup and band combinations in the style you want and see what's comfortable" method :P

Same here. Can be any one of about 4-5 different sizes depending on store, style and time of the month so the only way to really know that I've got the right bra is to try on half the store.

LegacyUser

Malari wrote: »

I use the "try on about 3 different cup and band combinations in the style you want and see what's comfortable" method :P

Seriously, I've been measured several times with varying results. I've had assistants trying to insist their measurement is correct, despite the bra giving me clear quatro-boob. :rolleyes:

Quatro boob - excellent!

I tried a bra with a 32 band a few years ago because that was what I was measured at. There were tears in my eyes when I close it, it was so tight. But I was a 36 band so think I would be no less than a 34 now. Last time I was a 32 band, I was about 11 or 12.

I'M SO CONFUSED!!!

stargazer 68

Well I was measured a couple of years ago - not telling you my size - suffice to say that majority of stores dont stock it. Unless I head to Arnotts etc and pay 60/70 euro. I DONT THINK SO!! So I know Im wearing the wrong size! :eek:

KiLLeR CoUCh

I find that the add 4 or 5 thing never works. That would put me at a 36B, which fits in the cups but is horribly big on the back. The band should be tight. Not so tight it's uncomfortable but tight enough it doesn't ride up at the back. If I were you I'd just go into the shop, pick two or three different band sizes till you find a good one and then from there work out which cup size fits.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Faith

This has been bothering me recently too. I regularly measure myself all over, and according to the usual system of adding 4 or 5, I'm a 36D. However, I recently saw a video of how tight the band should be, and mine are all looser than that (with the exception of one). So I'm thinking I should try a 34 the next time - but can anyone confirm whether or not I would have to change my cup size by going down a back size? I know you just need to try bras on, but it's irritating. It's bad enough having to bring 3 sizes into the changing room for clothes! I enjoy just grabbing bras off the rack and trusting they'll fit me.

michelledoh

I had a horrifically embarressing experience in an underwear shop and will NEVER get measured again. What i do- it works brilliant for me, is measure my band size and stick to it... then i just try different cup sizes... it really does depend on the bra i don't honestly think sizes are uniformed. Compare balcony to padded to stuffed and you'll see what i mean!

rainbow kirby

Faith wrote: »

This has been bothering me recently too. I regularly measure myself all over, and according to the usual system of adding 4 or 5, I'm a 36D. However, I recently saw a video of how tight the band should be, and mine are all looser than that (with the exception of one). So I'm thinking I should try a 34 the next time - but can anyone confirm whether or not I would have to change my cup size by going down a back size? I know you just need to try bras on, but it's irritating. It's bad enough having to bring 3 sizes into the changing room for clothes! I enjoy just grabbing bras off the rack and trusting they'll fit me.

Try a 34DD if you want to go down a band size.

biscuiteater

getting measured in the shop can be good if it's a nice shop with a good assistant, m&s & brown thomas are good. but then i'm old and a bit tubby so perhaps they were kind and nice as they felt sorry for me, but got great fitting long lasting bra's from both

Malari

biscuiteater wrote: »

getting measured in the shop can be good if it's a nice shop with a good assistant, m&s & brown thomas are good. but then i'm old and a bit tubby so perhaps they were kind and nice as they felt sorry for me, but got great fitting long lasting bra's from both

BT, yeah, I got a nice enough woman.

M&S? I got a clucky, mother type who was not a little patronising and when I asked if she wanted me to take my tank top off to measure, she was a little rude, as if I had asked a ridiculous question.

You know M&S are actually taking appointments only now for bra measurements? About a week in advance! I overhead a woman in the changing room asking recently. You can't just go in and be measured!

dozydora

I agree with you about getting measured in Marks n Sparks and BT but why is it that wherever they have the facilities to measure you they charge an arm and a leg then for the actual article. Most of the time I just buy off the counter unless I am going somewhere special and need my bra to be perfect inside my clothes. Having said that I still always seem to have that other problem with bras - the strap falling off the shoulder !!!!
One more reasons to add to the already long list why I will be coming back as a man next time

Catari Jaguar

The band size is your ribs so say, 30.. then the letter is the difference between your ribs to the measurement around your bust .

So say your boobs measure 34 inches... 34 - 30 = 4 (AA, A, B, C)
You'd be a 30C. That's what I was told.

I'm 28 inches around under my breasts and 35 inches bust so it works out as 7 inches = F. The size they measured me for in Debenhams is 28 F.

Faith

cherub rock wrote: »

The band size is your ribs so say, 30.. then the letter is the difference between your ribs to the measurement around your bust .

So say your boobs measure 34 inches... 34 - 30 = 4 (AA, A, B, C)
You'd be a 30C. That's what I was told.

I'm 28 inches around under my breasts and 35 inches bust so it works out as 7 inches = F. The size they measured me for in Debenhams is 28 F.

So they never added 4 inches to your band size? That hardly makes any sense IMO .

rainbow kirby

Faith wrote: »

So they never added 4 inches to your band size? That hardly makes any sense IMO .

Surely it makes more sense to use your actual band size? I know that around my ribs is 33 inches - I am most comfortable in a 34 band in general. Most of the support from your bra should come from the band so having it too loose sounds counterproductive.

LegacyUser

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

Is it not if there's no difference, it's A-cup, 1 inch B-cup, 2 inches C-cup and so on? Because 2 inches for B-cup would have me at 34B and that is WAY too small.

LegacyUser

rainbow kirby wrote: »

Surely it makes more sense to use your actual band size? I know that around my ribs is 33 inches - I am most comfortable in a 34 band in general. Most of the support from your bra should come from the band so having it too loose sounds counterproductive.

I measured 30 inches under the boob - no way would that band fit me.

Oryx

I gave up being measured years ago. I had a partial mastectomy donkeys years ago and even though assistants were always told this, they never allowed for it, which meant a bra they said was my fit, was usually too tight on the 'good' side.

Now, because of a tonne of exercise my boobs have shrunk anyway. Measuring aint an issue when youve ittybittytittys. But the measure +4 method would have been a good gauge for me, maybe its more inaccurate for bigger girls.

Faith

rainbow kirby wrote: »

Surely it makes more sense to use your actual band size? I know that around my ribs is 33 inches - I am most comfortable in a 34 band in general. Most of the support from your bra should come from the band so having it too loose sounds counterproductive.

Sure, but it doesn't make sense to me. It means that an A/AA (depending who you're listening to) cup equals no breasts at all - i.e. no difference between your rib cage and fullest part of your bust. At least when you add on the 4 inches to the band size to make an A cup, say, it still means there's a 4 inch difference between your bust and rib cage circumference. Or am I misunderstanding?

If I just took the raw difference between my rib cage and bust size, I'd be a 32FF or something. There's no way a 32 band would fit me, and I really doubt a FF cup would sit well.

rainbow kirby

rainbow kirby wrote: »

Same here. Can be any one of about 4-5 different sizes depending on store, style and time of the month so the only way to really know that I've got the right bra is to try on half the store.

Me too. Pain in the backside since I have little patience for trying things on, but trying them on is the only way to know.


edit: I tried the measuring thing - I get 32 measure where I wear a 34 band. For cup I got 7 inches difference, but I'd be closer to an E

So in conclusion... try them on :pac:

Azureus

Trying em on is the only way imo.
By official measurements;
M&S im a 34b.
La Senza 34c
Change 32b.
BT 32c.

Im probably wearing the wrong size 99.9% of the time because I colld not be bothered trying every bra I buy on. That said, im gonna go on a lingerie overhaul soon and make sure to have the right sizer in everything, dedicating a whole day to it.
And Ill prob change size in 6 months...but sure itll be good while it lasts!

Cutie18Ireland

I got measured once in la senza she didnt seem to have a clue what she was doing. Then told me I was a 40B... completly wrong... I wore a 38DD?? I find back sizes in La Senza smaller than most so I get a 40DD in there now.

LegacyUser

I'm so confused.

I think trial and error will be the key! Gah, I'll have to try on a whole gamut of sizes - that won't be boring at all! :pac:

micayla

I'm so glad I'm not the only one that has this issue! My main problem is a 32 is a little too tight but a 34 would be too loose:(

LegacyUser

micayla wrote: »

I'm so glad I'm not the only one that has this issue! My main problem is a 32 is a little too tight but a 34 would be too loose:(

Yeah, I think realistically I'm probably a 35 band right now, if such a size existed!

Blush_01

I posted about this before in the LadyGarden. That sounds really wrong.

I'm a 40GG.

The "plus" method would have me in a 44-46.

Funnily enough, my back problems have been erased since I got measured properly by someone who knew what she was doing.

Talk to Brendan Courtney. Apparently he has amazing super boob-measuring eyes. (I really want to meet him for a chat.)

serenacat

Here's what you do,




Here are some tips on finding the right measurement.

1. Start by measuring under bust line twice. Once relaxed, and once after taking a normal breath. If there is a difference of more than 1 - 2 inches, opt for the larger measurement.

2 Next, measure the top bust. First bend at the waist and gather all breast tissue from the sides into the front. Then to measure the "top bust". This is the fullest part of the breast.

LegacyUser

Blush_01 wrote: »

The "plus" method would have me in a 44-46.

Update. Got some bras today. After much trying on of different sizes, I'm a 36C.

The "plus" method worked much better for me.

I measured 30 inches underneath, but even a 32 band in all that I tried was painfully tight.

I measured 34C by the "plus" method, but sometimes you've to go up a band size, so it worked pretty well for me.

The other method? No. Just no.

Cutie18Ireland

micayla wrote: »

I'm so glad I'm not the only one that has this issue! My main problem is a 32 is a little too tight but a 34 would be too loose:(

Have u tried the bra extenders? little piece u add to the back? I find em great

serenacat

Cutie18Ireland wrote: »

Have u tried the bra extenders? little piece u add to the back? I find em great

you're right these rock when you gain weight but don't have time to shop for new bras etc, recession bra!

perri winkles

I've always had the problem of not knowing what size I am, got measured in la senza and m&s over the years using the measuring tape and none of the sizes wOrked.

I went to Bramora on earlsfort terrace during the week after it came highly recommended in the LAdies Lounge.
ALl I can say is wow! The lady was lovely and measured me by just looking at me. She brought in 3 sizes and the first one was spot on. I was wearing a 38c and I am now a 34e! I had been told in m and s that I was a 40b :mad:

The size feels so much better my boobs stay put now and it doesn't even feel like I'm wearing a bra. It feels strange wearing such a tight band size but she was completely right, my old bras were riding up my back all the time. Its really made such a difference and Im really delighted! After years of forking out for bras that never fit properly I finally know my right size.

I really would recommend them the lady was lovely there was no pressure to buy and she really knew her stuff.

God I sound like an advertisement for them :pac: but honestly they were great

Jack B. Badd

I too was looking for a consistant method of measuring bra size a few months back and came across a few websites that reckon that the method that cosmetic surgeons use is very accurate. It involves measuring each individual breast to get the cup size. No idea if it actually works though - I got so annoyed at all the conflicting info, I just went for "try on half a dozen & see what fits" method. Bra sizes seem to vary depending on type & manufacturer anyway...

Blush_01

bra-confusion wrote: »

Update. Got some bras today. After much trying on of different sizes, I'm a 36C.

The "plus" method worked much better for me.

I measured 30 inches underneath, but even a 32 band in all that I tried was painfully tight.

I measured 34C by the "plus" method, but sometimes you've to go up a band size, so it worked pretty well for me.

The other method? No. Just no.

Is your bra underwired? Where does the wire end? I'd put money on it that your cup size is too small. You're putting breast tissue into your back band.

Your back is the size it is, adding inches is ludicrous. Your breasts don't make your back any bigger than it is, but your cup size being correct will ensure that you're wearing the right bra size on both the back and the breast.

Best of luck with them though.

LegacyUser

Blush_01 wrote: »

Is your bra underwired? Where does the wire end? I'd put money on it that your cup size is too small. You're putting breast tissue into your back band.

Your back is the size it is, adding inches is ludicrous. Your breasts don't make your back any bigger than it is, but your cup size being correct will ensure that you're wearing the right bra size on both the back and the breast.

Best of luck with them though.

No, sorry, I know what I was doing and what fit. It's not ludicrous. I bought 36C but tried many 34DDs and 32Es. Before I even put the boobs into the cups, I was in pain with the 32s and 34s. That's not how it should be, then band should be tight but not paining you.

I measured 30 inches around the bust. I couldn't even make ends meet on the 32 inch bra. So how is it ridiculous to add inches?

Kaffy

I worked in a lingerie shop for a while and to be honest its a bit like clothes - you can be a different size in different brands!
I think trying them on is the only way to go esp if you are anything over a C cup!
When your bra is on the most important things are
1) the bit in between the cups sits right on your breastbone - no gap between the bra and the skin between your breasts.
2) you can fit one finger between the strap and the top of your shoulder
3) two fingers at your back between the clasp and your back!
4) no double boobing - try a top on over the bra - sometimes its easier to see with clothes on
5) as little spillage over the sides as possible - this isnt always easy to achieve
It is easier if you have someone to shop with that you dont mind seeing you in your bra! You dont need to take your top or bra off to be measured if you feel uncomfortable (but to be honest i wouldnt bat an eyelid at boobs now because i got so used to seeing them)
I find the + 4 method works for me but i am only a 34B so it is quite easy for me to find underwear. And the 34 is a sizing method not actual measurement - i measure 30 aound my ribs and i wouldnt get near a bra with a 30 back!
My little sis is like a 38E and its next to near impossible to find bras to fit her.
Oh and for brands Curvy Kate is a lovely one if it suits your shape! I found that some bra styles suited one person and not the next even if they are the same "size".
Hope this helps

Faith

Blush_01 wrote: »

Is your bra underwired? Where does the wire end? I'd put money on it that your cup size is too small. You're putting breast tissue into your back band.

Your back is the size it is, adding inches is ludicrous. Your breasts don't make your back any bigger than it is, but your cup size being correct will ensure that you're wearing the right bra size on both the back and the breast.

Best of luck with them though.

Your back size is what it is - but we're talking band size. It's long been the way to add 4 inches to your back to get your band size, so bras are manufactured with that in mind. Adding inches is what's expected; it's not ludicrous in the slightest.

I could conceivably wear a 34 band size, with a back measurement of 32. Perhaps. But there's no physical way I could wear a 32. I can't squash in my bones. The only thing I can squash is the bit of fat around my back and rib cage.

micayla

Cutie18Ireland wrote: »

Have u tried the bra extenders? little piece u add to the back? I find em great

I was not aware these exsited! Where do you get them?

Jerrica

perri winkles wrote: »

I went to Bramora on earlsfort terrace during the week after it came highly recommended in the LAdies Lounge.
ALl I can say is wow! The lady was lovely and measured me by just looking at me. She brought in 3 sizes and the first one was spot on. I was wearing a 38c and I am now a 34e! I had been told in m and s that I was a 40b :mad:

Another +1 for Bramora, really nice girl in there and knew her stuff. It does come down to individual brands though, and I've found that the most comfortable and falttering bra sizes are generally not the one she told me about but it's still a great guideline.

Bra's are only marginally more irregular in size per brand than jeans and just as annoying to shop for

Aishae

ive given up on reading the bra sizes really. when i see a bra i like ill look for the size i USUALLY fluctuate around and see how that might fit the cups. but i cant seem to rely on sizes at all. ive a 36a thats perfect and ive 36b's that are too small. im not even a big busted girl. i prefer shaped slightly padded cups but i give really padded bras, gel padded bras and the like - the swerve. theyre even harder to gauge. you really do have to try those on to see which size will fit. at least in my case.

why cant shops - even the same shop - stick with measurements?! its the same with clothes and pants. the only thing you can be semi sure of are socks and even they arent a guarantee :pac:

fghijkl

I worked in a lingerie shop for a while and to be honest its a bit like clothes - you can be a different size in different brands!
I think trying them on is the only way to go esp if you are anything over a C cup!
When your bra is on the most important things are
1) the bit in between the cups sits right on your breastbone - no gap between the bra and the skin between your breasts.

This is what usually makes my bra shopping a pain, it's like looking for the holy grail:mad:....when that bit is raised is it because the band size is too big?? or the cup size is too small??, because usually the next cup size up is way too big and a smaller band size just hurts!:(:confused:

Aishae

im a smaller size so i can shop for bras in pennys with ease BUT how many will let you try on the bra? pennys is the one i have 34aa and 36b bras from (and all sizes in between) - ever seen a 34a bra where the cups seem huge?! - i dont even consider buying anywhere else as it often takes an hour or two's wear (like shoes) to see if the bra is ok. pennys bras are cheap enough for that. ive been measured for it and its always different too

TaraFoxglove

Going by this thread, it's no wonder most women don't wear the right bra size!

IME, the +4/5 inchs thing still holds, most bra manufacturers seem to take this into account.

I measure 30" under bust and always take a 34 band.

Cutie18Ireland

micayla wrote: »

I was not aware these exsited! Where do you get them?

LaSenza have a pack of 3 i think one white, one black and a nude for €7. Lingerie shops usually sell them loose aswell.

kingelmo

I got measured the other day in M&S, and she told me i was a 42 B:eek:, then she went on to tell me that you cant buy 42B Bras!! (Cheers lady - that doesnt exactly help me)...

So a wondered around the place for 3 hours like a bleddy muppet and shock shock she was right they CANT be got!!!

Went to Dunnes and got measured there and i was a 38 B which is what im already wearing..

Measured myself at home (well tryed) and i was a just under the 38 with a bit of give in it...

Where was she getting the 42 from.. i could fit a few more boobs on me to get 42"!!!:D

hunnymonster

being pregnant at the moment, I'm finding myself having to buy new bras every couple of weeks. Getting measured correctly is all well and good but not all bra's are made to the same specification. Just as I can be anything from a size 10 to 14 in dress sizes, depending on the shop the bra size changes. Some things I've noticed
-Dunnes measure pretty accurately
- debehnams - cup sizes are small so go up a letter
-M&S - completely variable, no standard, really need to try em on
- penneys - for fat days, they are generously sized for both band and cup sizes.