ladies - bra size measurements ?

Go someplace where you can be properly fitted! I love Nordstrom, they are trained to do it and it is free. Getting properly fitted by a professional is the best decision you can make! A good fitting bra makes all the difference

Go to a nice department store or lingerie shop and be professionally measured - they say that 80% of women are wearing the wrong size.

My understanding is that the band size is the circumference around the chest under the breasts (i.e. 34, 36, 38, 40) and then the cup size is determined by measuring the circumference including the breasts and subtracting the band size. Then it's one letter for each inch over the band size. So 1 inch would be an A cup, 2 inches a B, 3 inches a C, 4 inches a D, 5 inches a DD or E, etc.

My chest measures 38" and my boobs measure 43" and I am indeed a 38DD. But different brands fit differently too...I like Olga and Vanity Fair and can predict their fit well enough to order online. Other brands have to be tried on before buying because there might be spillage.

Online. I agree, a shop would be best to measure urself. I know m&s do bra fittings

I've found the most accurate way is to measure the ribcage directly beneath the breasts. The tape should be parallel and snug, but not cutting into you. Then, while wearing your best fitting bra measure around the fullest part of the bust.

This is the calculator I prefer http://www.butterflycollection.ca/bra-size-calculator/ . When I put in my measurements it came back with 44HH...which I found out once I went into a proper lingerie store, was right on the money.

Edit: The old measure and add inches to the band size left me with a bra that had no bust support and road up in the back.

Holy cow--by that calculator I'm a 30G or 32DDD. I'm wearing a 36C right now, admittedly on the tightest hooks, but the band feels snug enough, it's just the cups that I'm not filling out. I did try bra shopping the other day, and couldn't find anything that fit, but didn't expect the measurement to be that far off!

The other ladies are correct. The measurement around you chest just under your boobs is your band size. DO NOT add any inches to it like some sizing charts will tell you. The difference between your bust measurement and your chest measurement corresponds to your cup size.
34" bust - 30" chest = 4 = D cup.
I was highly skeptical that my new size was 30D as I had been wearing 34B before. I went to Nordstrom's to be helped buy an attendant who knew what she was doing and walked out with 30D and 30DD bras. My BF is thrilled I'm a D cup!
Most women wear the wrong size and are shocked when they find the right one. There will still be some trial and error with how the various bra brands and styles fit, but that's a pretty good place to start.

I agree with the recommendation to go to Nordstrom's. They do an excellent job fitting bras. If you are looking online, I like the http://www.sophisticatedpair.com/bracalculator.htm calculator. I was fitted at Nordstrom's & at a local specialty shop (as I lost weight) & they both matched up with what the calculator gave me. I had definitely been doing what most women do---going up in the band size in order to get a cup size I could fit. It was a shock for me to find out my proper size because I have never considered myself large chested & would never have considered a G or H cup. A properly fitted bra should be very snug in the band because that is what gives you support, not the straps.

Measure your under bust( example: Im 36 inches around and under my bust)
The measure your bust (example : 40.5 inches at the bust. )
Each inch is a cup size (i wear 36D )

Works for me.

The best thing I ever, ever did for myself was go to a specialty shop and get sized. I'm more comfortable and I have no more problems with constant skin folding in my bra cups (translation=skin infections; not awesome). Before I went to the shop, I was wearing a 38C; after sizing I was a 34DD and then a 30E after losing 60lbs. Adoreme.com sells specialty sizing for really, really cheap--a third of what I normally pay for a bra, usually.

go to a bra store that provides a fitting service

Also, bras should be replaced every six months or so. You should also make sure that you're putting your boobs up where they belong. When you're putting it on, bend down at the waist and lift the breast from the bottom up into the cup of the bra. The bra should be snug, without gaping and your boobs should not touch the skin (abdomen) below the breast. Best of luck and keep the sisters high and supported! :-)

Definitely go to a specialised shop for bra fitting, most dept stores aren't correctly trained. Mom9198 is right in describing how to fit into your bra. I was wearing a 36E but was fitted recently and am a 36GG, I am just praying that when I lose my weight, it is lost from my bust. From a young adult who had a sunken chest a pirates dream, as I was teased to carrying around a large bust, mainly due to my weight I want to be able to buy bras from normal dept shops and not pay $80Aus for my bras.

I've been measured a few times in the past but it never translates to a bra that properly fits. Best bet is to work down from your current size trying on lots in different styles and sizes until you find one that adequately cups you but supports properly from the band rather than from the straps. Try leaning forward, back, side to side and if nothing moves too much and you're comfortable you'll be fine!

ladies, how do you measure for bra size? I've tried all sorts of online calculators and so far I have been a 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D, 40E and a 38C .... i'm not convinced they work lol .... but my 38C it literally hanging off me ... it may be due to its age (its an oldy) any help is much appreciated

I measure myself.

I wrap the tape measure snugly around the underbust where the band would go. That number is your band size. If you measure an odd number, try on both size band at the store just to be sure.

Then I measure across the fullest part of my chest with the tape measure straight across the back. I subtract the number for the band from this number to find the corresponding cup size (A-1, B-2, C-3, etc).

Then I go to the store and try them on. I never trust store employees, especially those at Victoria's Secret or any other store that does this weird "add 4" thing to your band size or that stupid "hold the measuring tape around the top of the bust" thing to find a band size. Those are wrong and VS employees use those measurements.

Most women are wearing too large a band and too small a cup, and many women do not realize that cup sizes vary with band sizes...meaning, an A cup on a 32 band is much different than an A cup on a 38 band! The 38A is a huge cup compared to the 32A cup.

That being said, I just wanted to reiterate to try them on in the store! I can wear 30FF, 32F (DDD), or 34E (DD) bras depending on the style and brand. I have a couple of 34DD bras that give the same support and shape as the smaller bands, but I am about to retire one of my 34DD bras because on the tightest hooks, it is loose. And, go figure, these bras were all bought on the same day. So, measure yourself and try on that size as well as a couple of sister sizes just in case. It is VERY common for women to have different sized bras that fit the same! Just like I have size 5 jeans that feel no different than a pair of size 9's that I wore yesterday. If I bought that particular style in size 5, I would have assumed I gained weight.

This is the calculator I prefer http://www.butterflycollection.ca/bra-size-calculator/ . When I put in my measurements it came back with 44HH...which I found out once I went into a proper lingerie store, was right on the money.

This calculator was pretty accurate for me as well. I just used it, and it said that my best size to start with was 30FF, but I might also feel comfortable in a 32F. (It also said something about trying a 28H, but I think I need to lose a little more weight before a 28 band would fit me at all, lol).

When I reach my goal I'm going to Rigby and Peller- if they're good enough for the Queen..... But £200 for a bra means I won't be getting many:ohwell:

They don't just do custom bras, I went there and ended up with a couple of off-the shelf ones for £80 total. Well worth it! They fit you by eye, but there's some man-handling involved. Who knew I didn't know how to put my own bra on? Turns out all that back fat was just misplaced boob :laugh: