Bra Fitting Method

Go to a lingerie store and they can help you. And I don't mean the Victoria secret mall store. The ladies at a real lingerie shop are very good - it's their profession, they do it everyday, and they will find you the perfect fit.

This a thousand times. I was floored when I found out my current size - 38G - I had been shoving myself into a 42DD. So. Much. Better. If you're concerned about cost, buy the first ONE from the lingerie shop and buy subsequent ones of the same style online. Just please don't take advantage of their knowledge and time and skill only to shaft them for the initial sale.

My sister got measured (I haven't yet) but she was measured in 3 places...

Under the breast (band) around the fullest part and above just under the underarms.

The difference between the last two are what gave her the cup size, under the breast gave her the band size.

She swears by it.

Are you in the UK or US?

Sizings differ between the two.

michikade has it right though.

Measure under band - say that is 32
Then measure around fullest part - say that is 37

You would be a 32 E (iirc)

Do NOT measure underband and then add 4 or 5" which is how some shops measure - Marks and Spencer, I mean you.

http://thebetterbracampaign.blogspot.co.uk/p/fitting-advice.html

Best bra fitting method is not to use a tape measure. When you go to a specialist store, my nearest being Bravissimo they never measure. They simply look at how the bra you are already wearing fits you. If it rides up at the back then the back size you are wearing is too big. If you are wearing an underwired bra the bit in the middle needs to be against your breast bone. If it isn't then your cup size is too small. Likewise if the cup is saggy then its too big. Don't buy bras online! You need to try them on before you buy. Not every style fits the same. Good luck hunting! Take plenty of different sizes when you try bras on.

I completely agree with the part I bolded - that's why I specifically and intentionally said that if you're concerned over cost to buy the initial one at the shop and subsequent ones OF THE SAME STYLE online (and I guess I should have specified "same brand, same style #" but I kind of thought that would go without saying)

Need some help?

I can tell you your cupsize..... Here ↓↓↓

It also depends on the brand.... VS's is probably different than say LB's

And then, the fitting method does always work - 2 different people "fitted" me twice in the last 6 months. They BOTH came up w/ me fitting a DDD? Huh? Yeah, to say I swimming in that was an understatement.

But I am an honestly to god(s) hunchback (scollois) and that effects the shape of me & how things like bras fit. I just kept trying on smaller sizes till I found the right size. When I showed both ladies, they were shocked their measuring method was so off.

Good luck

Best bra fitting method is not to use a tape measure. When you go to a specialist store, my nearest being Bravissimo they never measure. They simply look at how the bra you are already wearing fits you. If it rides up at the back then the back size you are wearing is too big. If you are wearing an underwired bra the bit in the middle needs to be against your breast bone. If it isn't then your cup size is too small. Likewise if the cup is saggy then its too big. Don't buy bras online! You need to try them on before you buy. Not every style fits the same. Good luck hunting! Take plenty of different sizes when you try bras on.

Totally agree with this. I went into Bravissimo a 36C and came out a 34FF. You cannot beat being fitted by an expert!

Go to a lingerie store and they can help you. And I don't mean the Victoria secret mall store. The ladies at a real lingerie shop are very good - it's their profession, they do it everyday, and they will find you the perfect fit.

Definitely a lingerie store. I went to Victoria's Secret. They were amazingly helpful.

When my local Victorias Secret didn't have the bra I wanted in stock in my size, they suggested that I get the "sister size", which was a bigger band with a smaller cup.
:noway:

I hope that's not a chain-wide policy.

Go to a professional lingerie shop and get sized. Try on a few different brands, sizes, etc. while you're there and order them online when you get home. I am a 36 GG and my personal favorites are Freya's balcony bras. I order them from Europe for $30-40 a piece. They are one of the only brands that don't fall off my shoulders and they have nice thick straps and 3 hook clasp in the back. Love them.

When my local Victorias Secret didn't have the bra I wanted in stock in my size, they suggested that I get the "sister size", which was a bigger band with a smaller cup.
:noway:

I hope that's not a chain-wide policy.

That is actually not a VS thing. That's supposedly the way it's supposed to work. It never has for me, though.

I used to work in a Lingerie shop. I got to the point where all I had to do was eyeball a woman in her clothes and I could get her the correct size. It was not uncommon for me to see a woman come in wearing a 38 D and have her leave in a 32GG. Most people really have no idea how a bra really should fit. You should be able to fit 2 fingers under the band, but no more. The center of the front should be against your breastbone, and there should be no gap or "double-boob" effect. If the back of the bra is up around your shoulder blades, it's much too big. And for a larger woman, the more hooks in the back, the better. Front hooks are better for women with smaller breasts.

Good luck in getting a good fit!

I'm asking you a question since you seem so informed, if the back rides up, and its too big. Does that mean its the 34 or the cup size thats too big? Since, it does that yet I have red marks all under the bra and it hurts around the sides of the cups.

I'm a 34 E and I know my size isn't perfect ( I was measured ) but I don't know if that is because of a bad bra, or because I'm still in a wrong measurement.

I used to work in a Lingerie shop. I got to the point where all I had to do was eyeball a woman in her clothes and I could get her the correct size. It was not uncommon for me to see a woman come in wearing a 38 D and have her leave in a 32GG. Most people really have no idea how a bra really should fit. You should be able to fit 2 fingers under the band, but no more. The center of the front should be against your breastbone, and there should be no gap or "double-boob" effect. If the back of the bra is up around your shoulder blades, it's much too big. And for a larger woman, the more hooks in the back, the better. Front hooks are better for women with smaller breasts.

Good luck in getting a good fit!

I'm asking you a question since you seem so informed, if the back rides up, and its too big. Does that mean its the 34 or the cup size thats too big? Since, it does that yet I have red marks all under the bra and it hurts around the sides of the cups.

I'm a 34 E and I know my size isn't perfect ( I was measured ) but I don't know if that is because of a bad bra, or because I'm still in a wrong measurement.

The band is too big and cups are too small for that issue.

The subreddit, /r/ABraThatFits, on reddit is a great resource.

Like jeans are cut for different bottom halves, so too are bras. You could find your right size, but not fit in a bra if it's the wrong shape.

Just like jeans have "curvy" or "slim" cuts, bras have distinctions of:
Narrow root vs. Wide root (essentially how wide the base of the breast is on the chest).
Degrees of shallowness and projection.
Etc.

If, like someone mentioned on here, someone is swimming in a bra, for instance, you might be more shallow and need a specific bra for that shape.

So what would be my logical bra size to try next? 32F?

I used to work in a Lingerie shop. I got to the point where all I had to do was eyeball a woman in her clothes and I could get her the correct size. It was not uncommon for me to see a woman come in wearing a 38 D and have her leave in a 32GG. Most people really have no idea how a bra really should fit. You should be able to fit 2 fingers under the band, but no more. The center of the front should be against your breastbone, and there should be no gap or "double-boob" effect. If the back of the bra is up around your shoulder blades, it's much too big. And for a larger woman, the more hooks in the back, the better. Front hooks are better for women with smaller breasts.

Good luck in getting a good fit!

I'm asking you a question since you seem so informed, if the back rides up, and its too big. Does that mean its the 34 or the cup size thats too big? Since, it does that yet I have red marks all under the bra and it hurts around the sides of the cups.

I'm a 34 E and I know my size isn't perfect ( I was measured ) but I don't know if that is because of a bad bra, or because I'm still in a wrong measurement.

The band is too big and cups are too small for that issue.

The subreddit, /r/ABraThatFits, on reddit is a great resource.

Like jeans are cut for different bottom halves, so too are bras. You could find your right size, but not fit in a bra if it's the wrong shape.

Just like jeans have "curvy" or "slim" cuts, bras have distinctions of:
Narrow root vs. Wide root (essentially how wide the base of the breast is on the chest).
Degrees of shallowness and projection.
Etc.

If, like someone mentioned on here, someone is swimming in a bra, for instance, you might be more shallow and need a specific bra for that shape.

So what would be my logical bra size to try next? 32F?

Yup! Or 32FF! In my experience (I'm a 30F/30FF), F/FF cups are different from each bra company, sometimes to a wide degree. Always make sure you're "scooping and swooping" into your bra, too!

Also re: measuring. Measuring with a measuring tape is fine. It's good to do to give yourself a ballpark, and then great to know when you go to a professional shop. Nordstrom has good fitters, too, who fit by the proper method (none of this "overbust" or "add four inches" business).

A very rare Victoria's Secret will have someone that knows how to properly fit, and will suggest "sister sizing" because they're trying to sell you a bra. VS has a pretty limited range.

Sister sizing *can* work until a certain point; if the band is too loose, it won't matter if the cups also fit, as your band should be the central support--not the straps.

omg! love it