Confusion on how to measure for a bra

[Raaaadley]

Trying to measure myself for a bra at home. I have googled it and many websites say the under band measurement is literally the measurement under the bust. My measurement is 33". If I try on a bra that is 34" under the bust, it is so unbearably tight. Do you need to add a few inches to your actual underbust measurement to give you the correct bra size?

The add 4 or 5 inches is the way that bras used to be measured before stretch fabrics became common. So from a 33" measurement you would be a 38 band size. But now with elastic and stretch fabrics you don't need to. If you have tried the 34" band and didn't like it you may have to size up the cups to give you more room. I went from a 34DD to a 30G for example. Generally a smaller band and bigger cups will give you a better shape and make you look slimmer than a sister size with a bigger band. But in the end go with what feels best on. Just as a size 10 might mean anything from an 8 to a 12 across different shops, so bra sizing won't be standard, even if it's literally giving a size in inches!

It does feel tight at first compared with the old way but it's a lot more supportive and you soon get used to it.

I concluded that bra sizes are some sort of dark mystical art a few years ago. I can’t figure it out at all and have resigned myself to shit looking tits and badly fitted bras. It was so easy when I was thin and didn’t change size but now I’ve had a baby, breast fed for a year and am now five stone heavier than when I had DS5, but have been up and down in the last five years. I have no clue how to size myself!

It feels tight as your wearing the wrong size now

34" doesn't mean much without the cup size. If the cups are too small it will feel tight all over. Try the backwards band test - put the bra on backwards, do it up on the loosest hook, and see how far you can pull the band out. Should be around 2-3cm.

www.booborbust.com/
There's a Facebook page and group too for more helpful advice.

@ssd

It feels tight as your wearing the wrong size now

Think you are probably right!

Boob or bust website or Facebook page is very useful

This site is really useful for measuring - better bra campaign

The band may feel tight as the cups maybe are too small they then steal the fabric from the band.

The best way to check that is put the bra on back to front so the cups are out of the way - how does the band feel now? - you shouldn't be able to pull it more than a few inches from your body. It should be tight, and it may leave a mark but only in the way a pair of socks would on your leg

Can you get to somewhere that does fittings by sight? Then they can give you a load to try on and you can judge how comfortable they are/how they look rather than guessing your size and trying on bras that are way off size-wise.

I tried but found the new way of measuring doesn't work for me - it gave me sore red marks across my ribs after only a few hours, even with bras with cups so big that there was spare fabric. But using that calculation as a starting point and experimenting with sister sizes (up a band, down a cup) did help.

What size are you wearing now @Raaaadley? And how does it feel on, is your breast right in the cup or does it spill over the top? Does the middle bit feel like its separating your chest and feels like its against the breastbone? What clasp do you fasten it with at the back eg first clasp or last? Are the straps tightened up? Is it underwired?

Also when you reach round the back can you pull the back bit at the clasps more than an inch or so from your back if you tug it out?

@ssd

What size are you wearing now *@Raaaadley*? And how does it feel on, is your breast right in the cup or does it spill over the top? Does the middle bit feel like its separating your chest and feels like its against the breastbone? What clasp do you fasten it with at the back eg first clasp or last? Are the straps tightened up? Is it underwired?

I currently own 38" bras, so 2 sizes too big! My overbust measurement is 41" so I have got size G. The cups fit ok. I have got the bra on the tightest clasp and it still rubs a bit. I go for non wired. The straps are tightened. Due to the extreme weight of my boobs, the straps dig in, but I assume this is normal for those of us who have to suffer large boobs!

@ssd

Also when you reach round the back can you pull the back bit at the clasps more than an inch or so from your back if you tug it out?

Yes, I can pull strap out about 3/4", so I am obviously wearing a bra with an underband far too big"

@Mumof1andacat

Boob or bust website or Facebook page is very useful

Thank you! I will look at this.

@AnotherEmma

34" doesn't mean much without the cup size. If the cups are too small it will feel tight all over. Try the backwards band test - put the bra on backwards, do it up on the loosest hook, and see how far you can pull the band out. Should be around 2-3cm.

www.booborbust.com/
There's a Facebook page and group too for more helpful advice.

I have used this to remeasure and it says 32H. Currently in 38G. No wonder my bras are so uncomfortable!

Indeed