Measuring Your Band Size:
1. Wrap a tape measure around your rib cage, under the base of your bust. Using a mirror, make sure the tape measure is level around your body.
2. Add 2 inches to this measurement. This number will be your band size. The number before your cup size like 34B. If it is an odd number, it may go up or down. So, if your measurement is 35 inches, try size 36 first.
3. Double-check your band size: Wrap the tape measure around your body, above your breasts, and directly under your arms. This measurement should be your actual bust size.
4. If you feel comfortable, it is better to have someone measure for you to get accurate numbers. If you would rather do it yourself that works too, just try on some bras with your numbers to make sure that is the right fit.
5. If you have large and/or sagging breasts, then when the person is taking your band measurement, you should pull up on your bra’s shoulder straps so that she can get the measuring tape under your breast for an accurate measurement.
Example: I had two different sale ladies “fit” me two years ago. One did not have me pull up on my straps and told me I was a 38D. The size seemed to work but I was messing with my bra all day long and the wire kept poking me. I went back and a second lady “fitted” me and had me pull up on my straps and came out with a 34 DD, which turned out to be my “true” size. The wire stopped hurting me and I stopped messing with my bra while I wore it.
6. If you decide to go get ‘fitted’ at the store with a woman doing the measuring for you, make sure you wear a bra without padding. I you wear a padded bra, your size will not be accurate.
Measuring Your Cup Size:
1. Measure loosely around the fullest part of your bust, with the tape straight across and around your back, bringing it to the front.
2. Subtract your band measurement (from step 1) from this bust measurement. The difference calculates your bra size- each inch represents a cup size. For example, if you measure a 34 inch band size, and a 36 inch cup size, the difference is 2: which would indicate a B cup.
How To Tell If Your Bra Fits Correctly:
1. Your bra should fit snugly around your body. You should to 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 throughout the day, then the band size (the # part of your bra size) is too big.
2. If the band can easily be pulled away from your body, or if the band rises up your back, then go down one in the band size.
3. If you are wearing an underwire bra, the wire that comes up between the breasts should lay flat (or as close as possible) to your breast bone.
4. If you are wearing a bra without an underwire, you should have two separate breasts, not just a “one big boob”.
That’s not the correct way to measure. Bands are elastic now, so if you add 2 inches, you end up with a band size that can be up to 4 inches too big. You’re supposed to pull on the measuring tape a bit, so it’s a little snug and that’s it. And for cup size, you bend over, so all the breast tissue goes back to the breasts and then you measure the difference and add a cup size for each breast. I’ve found british sizes to be easier to figure out, etc. I went from a 36DD to a 30GG and I can’t describe the difference. My breasts are even perkier and they’re slowly getting bigger.
Can u explain what you mean “for cup size, you bend over, so all the breast tissue goes back to the breasts and then you measure the difference and add a cup size for each breast.” Do you mean subtract the measurement of the breasts from the band size? And then what do you mean ADD a cup size?
Thanks!
Thanks)))
Getting the right band size has always been a struggle for me– as it’s one of my biggest issues when trying to get a bra to fit properly. Pulling up on your breasts while having the measurement double-checked is a great idea! Thank you for this truly educational post.