Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Part 1: The basics of measuring
• Method 2 of 3: Part 2: Measure yourself
• Method 3 of 3: Part 3: Try out different bras
• Tips
• Necessities

Believe it or not, over 80% of women wear bra in the wrong size. Most of them have the size too wide and the cup size too small. Although the sizes may vary a little by brand, they all follow the same measurement method. Determine your bra size at home and you will never have to go into the fitting room with a mountain of bras again.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Part 1: The basics of measuring

1. Know that your cup size is not fixed. Many women think that cup D is always the same size and that with small breasts you need cup A anyway, but that is not true. Your cup size is always related to your back size (also called under width). A bra in size 70D has a smaller cup than in size 80D, even though they both fall into the D category.
   
   
2. Experience what a well-fitting bra looks and feels like. There are a few indicators by which you can tell whether a bra fits well or not. They are:
   • The back must be tight: most of the support should come from the back and not from the shoulder straps. Make sure there are no more than two fingers between them.
   • The sides must be well covered: make sure that your bra does not protrude under your armpits. The end of the underwire should be past your chest and point toward the center of your armpit.
   • The cutout must fit snugly. The bra insert should lie flat against your sternum without cutting into your skin. If not, you've got the wrong bra.
   • A nice, even curve. Make sure the top of the bra does not divide your chest in half. The bra should provide an even curve without stray bumps and bumps.
3. Remember that breasts are different in shape. Sometimes a bra in the right size is not right. How is that possible? The bra shape probably doesn't suit your breasts. These solutions help with the most common shape problems:
   • Flaccid breasts: if the breast covers a large area, but is not that full, a balconette or half cup model looks best. The cup is cut low and horizontally streamlined. Avoid bras with a deep V or U shape, the so-called plunge shape.
   • Sagging or Drop Shaped Breasts: Don't despair if your breasts are narrow at the base and slightly drooping. Go for bras with underwire and well-defined cups that cover your breasts a little more. Avoid half cups and the plunge cut.
4. Know the sister sizes. If you've found a bra that fits perfectly, but not quite, it's a good idea to try on a sister size.
   • A larger sister size: opt for a smaller size and a larger cup. For example 70D instead of 75C.
   • A smaller sister size: or choose a smaller cup with a wider size. For example 85B instead of 80C.
   • If you order online, choose a webshop that is not difficult about returning.
5. Points for attention during a professional measurement session. If you have little bra experience, it is a good idea to have a professional measure you. She will probably be able to advise you on which shape and style will suit your breasts best. There are, however, a number of important caveats:
   • Avoid stores that only sell a limited number of sizes. Chances are the salesperson is trying to talk you into a size they have, when that's not your real size. Before getting measured, check whether the store also sells bras with a small size (such as 60 and 65) and large cups (DD and larger).
   • Take off your own bra first. If the salesperson wants to take your measurements with your bra still on, the outcome will likely be wrong. If you don't like to bare your upper body, put on a thin, tight-fitting camisole and just pull your bra out of it.

Method 2 of 3: Part 2: Measure yourself

1. Determine your size measure. This is the easiest part - it produces a clear number that is almost always the same.
   • Measure just below your breasts with a tape measure. Make sure that the ribbon is horizontal and fairly tight, with your arms down. Write down the number of centimeters.
   • If an awkward number comes out, try bras that are just the same size as it is just a bit smaller. For example, if you arrive at 78 cm, your girth size can be 75 or 80.
   • Even if you end up with a regular size, you may still need a slightly larger or smaller size, depending on your physique.
2. Determine your cup size. Remember: your cup size is not fixed, but depends on your size size.
   • Hang over so that your breasts are parallel to the floor. This way you can be sure that you measure your entire breasts, not just the part that protrudes when you stand up straight.
   • Make sure the tape measure is around the fullest part of your breasts. Do not pull the tape measure too tight. It should stay put, but not cut into your breasts. Write down the number of centimeters. This is your bust size or chest size.
   • Make sure the tape measure is horizontal, so not too low or too high on your back, otherwise the measurement will not be correct. Do it in front of the mirror or ask your partner or a good friend to help you.
   • Calculate your cup size. You do this by subtracting the back circumference (bottom width) from the bust size (top width). The difference between these two numbers determines your cup size.
     • Less than 3 cm = AA
     • 10 - 12 cm: AA
     • 12-14 cm: A.
     • 14 - 16 cm: B.
     • 16-18 cm: C
     • 18 - 20 cm: D
     • 20 - 22 cm: E (or DD)
     • 22 - 24 cm: F.
     • 24 - 26 cm: G
     • 26 - 28 cm: H
     • 28 - 30 cm: J

Method 3 of 3: Part 3: Try out different bras

1. Try on a bra in the size you just determined. This is not necessarily really your size, you only know it when you have tried on different bras. And even then, you sometimes need a different size, depending on the brand or shape of the bra.
2. Put on the bra correctly.
   • After you have removed the bra from the hanger, the shoulder straps should be enlarged. Then put your arms through it and lean forward so that your breasts fall into the cups. Shake them a bit back and forth in the cup:
   • Fasten the bra on the widest hook. That can be a bit difficult. The size is only too small if you really have to stretch the back to get the hook into the eye.
   • Pull the underwire around your chest while still leaning forward, so that the cup fits properly.
   • Put your hand in the cup and move your breasts slightly up and towards the center.
   • You will probably have to adjust the shoulder straps a bit.Let them slide off your shoulder and adjust them so that they stay in place without cutting your skin.
3. Check the girth measure. The bra should still sit comfortably on the tightest hook. (this may be a smaller size than the size you measured, especially if you are 42+). The back must be tight enough that the support mainly comes from there and not from the shoulder straps.
   • You should be able to move a finger back and forth between the back and your back, but not much more than that. No more than one fist should fit between the back and your spine.
   • The bra should fit in the widest position, but it is probably too tight on the furthest hook. Bras are made in such a way that they still fit well when they have become less elastic.
   • If you can close it very easily on the widest hook, try a bigger sister size. For example 65 DD instead of 70 D. Keep in mind that your cup size also changes if you choose a different bottom size. For every smaller size you need one more cup and vice versa.
   • Is the back painfully tight? Try on a bra with a large cup size. If the cup is too small, the back is often too tight, even though you have the correct size size. If this does not work, try a bra with a larger bottom width and a smaller cup. For example 80F instead of 75E. Only try this method if the former doesn't work.
4. Check the cup size. A cup in the right size is completely filled without bending or being empty. If something protrudes or a double breast develops, the cup is too small. This also applies to a low-cut or push-up model.
   • Go through the cup to make sure your breast is not bulging anywhere. Not only on the front, but also on the sides.
   • Make sure that the underwire encloses the entire chest and fits snugly against your chest.
   • Check under your arms whether the underwire is also against your ribs there and not against your chest. If the underwire cuts into the side of your chest, you need a larger cup. If you've worn a bra with a cup that is too small or too wide, your breast tissue may have moved a bit and look more like an underarm or back roll. This will be fine if you start wearing a bra in the right size.
   • If the middle part is pushing painfully against your sternum, you need either a smaller cup size or a plunge model with a low middle part (it's more often a cup problem than a back panel problem). It could also be that your rib cage is just formed. In that case, wait until the middle part has become less stiff or go for the low plunge version.
   • If you are unsure whether the cup size might be too small, try one size up. If the smaller size is better, you are sure of yourself.
5. See what it looks like with your top on. You have found a bra that fits well, but maybe in a different size or style than you are used to. Now it's time to see what the bra actually does for your figure. And if you try on a T-shirt bra, it's important to check that the lines look nice and smooth under tight clothing.
   • When you look at yourself and profile in the mirror, your chest should be about halfway between your elbow and shoulder.
   • A well-fitting bra should support your breasts in the right place. Many women discover that their clothes are much nicer because they suddenly have a lot more waist! If your breasts used to be rather low because you wore the wrong bra size, you may now fit in a smaller dress size.
   • If the cups are too small, you will see bulges in a tight shirt and with molded cups that are not properly padded, you will see the cup edges sticking out. Also make sure that you can't see through your clothes what color your bra is - if that's not the intention. If you don't want anyone to see your bra, choose a seamless and skin-colored one instead of a bra that matches your top.
   • Many women fear rolls of back when the band is tight. But these rolls are created when the tape is too wide and shifts upwards. If the belt is lower and offers a lot of strength, it stays in place without pushing the skin up in a roll.

Tips

• If you want your bras to keep their fit for a long time, never wear the same one for two days in a row, even if you wash the bra in between. Make sure you have at least three good bras that you wear alternately, so that the elasticity can always fully recover.
• Don't be tempted to buy a bra in the wrong size or of poor quality. Cheap is usually expensive. Better a bra that fits perfectly than three that are just like that.
• Ignore anyone who claims that you can measure your size by measuring alone - especially if you are advised to choose a size larger than you actually have. As with other clothing, bra sizes can change over the years. So always keep fitting carefully.
• Don't expect to have exactly the same sizes with every bra type or to be able to buy a bra in the right size without fitting. It depends on the shape of the breast and the type of bra. Two women can therefore have the same size on one bra and not on the other.
• With a bra that fits well, 90% of the support comes from the back and 10% from the shoulder straps.
• The sizes on the label give you an idea of ​​which one to try on first. But in the end it is not about the size, but whether the bra fits properly. Because all curves are different, women with roughly the same measurement results may turn out to have a completely different bra size.
• Especially with cups larger than D, there are many differences between the various manufacturers. Check this at the point of sale or read the experiences of other customers before buying a bra online.
• Is one breast bigger than the other? Go for the largest size and make the shoulder straps slightly shorter at the smallest chest. If the difference is very large, you can consider a silicone filling or a removable pad.
• Manufacturers pretend that there are no women with a size of 65 or smaller, while that is of course not true. Because don't forget that the back stretches over time. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to find a bra with a small girth size. You can have your bras adjusted, but that often does not work because the underwire is no longer in the right place and cuts into your body. If you are having a bra fitted, choose one that is one size too big and the cups two sizes. Because the back and the cups are related, a cup with a wider size also has larger underwire. That is why it is smarter to choose a smaller cup, then underwires are not that big.
• Remember that you can end up with back problems if your bra does not provide enough support.
• D-cups and larger benefit from bras with stitching. Reinforced sides also make your breasts narrower, making you look slimmer.

Necessities

• Measuring tape
• Bras to fit