Ladies: In need of some help :)

I worked at Lane Bryant for 2 years and was a bra fit wizard. You need another person's help...but try this:

Use a soft measuring tape. It helps to be braless when you do the measurement, so that you are measuring ALL of your breast tissue, and not having to try and take into account any spillage or squish-age you've got going on from ill-fitting bras. The person should stand behind you and wrap the tape measure around you that way.

1. Measure directly under your bust. Pull tight, but not so much as to welt your skin. This will be your rib measurement. Generally, round down to the nearest whole inch. For example, if your measurement is 34.5, then you should round down to 34. This is also your BAND SIZE for your bra.

2. Measure the fullest part of your breasts. Usually, this can mean placing the tape measure directly over both of your nipples. Pull tight, but again, not too tight. Keep this number in mind. This is your BUST MEASUREMENT

3. To find your cup size, subtract your rib size from your bust measurement. For example, if your rib size is 34" and your bust measurement is 38", you have a difference of 4" - this is how you find your cup size.

The following is a representation of inches - cup size conversion

1 " = A cup
2" = B Cup
3" = C cup
4" = D cup
5" = DD cup
6" = DDD or E cup
7" = F cup
8" = G cup
9" = H cup

and so on. So for the example of the rib 34" and bust 38", the person should be wearing a 34D bra.

Keep in mind that not all bras are created equal. Demi bras are great for busts under a D cup; full coverage is good for anyone, and so on. If you have a lot of fit issues and usually wear molded cup (with some padding) bras, try a bra with no molding or padding and you might be surprised by fit!!

Normal fit issues:

Band riding up = your band is too big! Go down a size
Gaps in the cups of your bra = cup size is too big. Go down a size
Straps are sliding off your shoulders, even when tightened = Band is too big. Go down a band size.
Underwire pokes you under arm = cup size is too small, trying going up a cup size.

In addition, your bra should fit snugly against your body. 90% of the support in a bra should come from the band, NOT the straps on your bra. You really shouldn't need to tighten shoulder straps on a bra. The bridge of the bra (part in the front middle) should sit flush against your chest, with no gapping or poking.

Hope that helps!! :-)

Nordstrom's, Intimacy, and Lane Bryant all make very great quality bras.

I just try everything on and make no assumption based on the tag size. That goes for bras, dresses, shoes, jeans... Even if I'm buying multiples of the same item, if the fit needs to be exact, I try it on. There's been too many times I bought something because it was the size I'm supposed to be and not had it fit right.

Thanks everyone! Some great information. I will look into getting properly fitted! and I'll try Nordstroms. You all are very helpful

Here's why I also love Nordstrom.

They give their employees Thanksgiving off (rare in the retail world because everyone's getting ready for Black Friday) and they do not decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving. They believe in one holiday at a time.