Do you feel uncomfortable when you wear your bra? Do you feel the wires poking into your breasts or the back band riding up? Are the shoulder straps painfully digging into your skin? Do your breasts look like they'd want to pop out of the cups?
If so, then you might be wearing a bra with the wrong fit.
And you're probably not the only one, because a lot of women today are wearing bras of the wrong size. If you feel pains in the neck, shoulder or back area, experience headaches or see red marks on your breasts when you remove your bra, then chances are you are wearing the wrong sized bra. By wearing an ill-fitting bra, you are compromising the comfort and support your breasts need.
So how do you find a bra that's true to your size? Here's a quick and basic step-by-step guide on how to measure your bra size. Before looking into the style you like, take your measurements first - this way you will end up buying a style that not only looks good, but also feels good on you.
Step 1: Measure your band size. You'll need a tape measure, a pen and paper for this. Make sure you're wearing a supportive - but not too tight - bra. To measure your band size, give your tape measure a snug swing around your ribcage, just right under your breasts. If the measurement is an even number, add 4 inches to the result. If it's an odd number, add 5 inches. That's your band size.
Step 2: Measure your cup size. Again, take your tape measure and swing around the fullest part of your breasts, at the nipple area. Make sure to round off the half inches or odd digits to the nearest even digit. Then subtract the result from your band size.
If the difference is: Z
0 inch, your cup size is AA
1 inch, your cup size is A
2 inches, your cup size is B
3 inches, your cup size is C
4 inches, your cup size is D
So, for example, the size around your ribcage is 29 add 5 inches to get the band size, which is 34. Then, if your cup size is 32, subtract it from your band size. With a difference of 2 inches, you are a cup B. So your bra size is 34B.
For cup sizes above D, there is usually a slight variation in the results. Manufacturers may label the larger cup sizes differently - like a size DD as E, the FF as G, and so on. So it's best to check your favorite lingerie brand for their cup sizing.
The guide above is just an approximation. Factors like breast shape, body size, fat distribution and height can also affect your bra size. Different manufacturers and varying styles may also give different bra sizing. So it's important to try on the bras before buying. Just remember that, more than how it looks, your bra should offer a great fit and ample breast support so you feel comfortable wearing them everyday under your clothes.
By Cassandra Haley