ARGH! How do I work out my bra size?

[DitaVonCheese]

I cannot find a reliable answer to this on the net. Under my bust is about 35 inches, over it is approx 38 inches. Apparently I should be in a size 40AA??? This seems laughably unlikely. Any suggestions?

[lljkk]

According to stuff on Internet it varies by manufacturer whether there's a difference, also the DD cup tends to push boobs forward than the E cup.

Talk about a loopy system. Why are there doubles for A, D, F, G, H & J but NOT for B C E K or L?

Check out this Wiki entry.

[MsElleTow]

Help me please Sorrel!

I measured myself today. I am a 33 underneath and 39 over the bust, where should I start? I am guessing a 32, but what cup size? Currently wearing an obviously wrong (thanks M&S) 34D!

Sorry for the hijack!

[StatisticallyChallenged]

MsElleTow, I would suggest trying a 32E and F to start with - most people who are in between sizes seem to fit better on the smaller back.

Lljkk, there shouldn't be a difference in how a DD or E shapes the breast - they are just different sizes. Some manufacturers so them, some don't. And god knows who came up with the wonky bra alphabet! I think there are double for K in most companies who go that far - there just are not very many! And to confuse matters more - an AA is smaller than an A, but a DD is bigger than a D.

[dishwashervodkaanddietirnbru]

32F maybe (does the 34 back ride up on you - if so try the 32, if not try the bigger cup size e.g 34E - do your breasts bulge out of the D cup size?)

[musttidyupBeforeSantaComes]

SorrelForbes when I read this thread title I was going to do a shout out to SF the bra fitting guru but I see you got here already!

[MsElleTow]

Thank you ladies.

Dishwasher, yes it does ride up a bit and my breasts do spill out of the cup, the wire digs in and I am not comfy which is why I measured!

I'll try a 32E and F and see how they feel.

[AViewfromtheFridge]

I have to say, since doing the whole "scooping" thing after reading Sorrel's advice on another thread, my boobs seem MUCH bigger - it's amazing! Now just need to go and try on some new bras - in 34A at the moment but suspect 32C might fit better. For a while I was actually wearing 36A, because of that stupid add 4 inches thing. No bloody wonder 80% of women are wearing the wrong-sized bra! It's probably a ploy to make us buy more bras, the bastards.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

AViewFromTheFridge, scooping also works much better in a smaller back size - when the back is a little loose the scooped bit can have a tendency to slide back out. Once you tighten the back up that stops happening :)

[BOFingSanta]

AViewFromTheFridge- fucking AWESOME name, I love it!

[Tgger]

I've found getting measured (if you have time and can bear it) incredibly useful. I've done it only twice in my life, once fairly recently when I decided to replace my stock of grey garments with white ones [grin[.

[AViewfromtheFridge]

Oh thank you BOF

[AViewfromtheFridge]

And StatisticallyChallenged, that does make sense. Cripes, I might even end up with cleavage at this rate!

[soundevenfruity]

I would get measured in Rigby and Peller. I know it is not a budget option but I got fed up with being uncomfortable in bras that were bought based on advice of Bravissimo, JL, M&S fitters. Being properly fitted for a bra is quite amazing - your breasts do not pull you forward, nothing rides up or down, you don't feel you wear a bra at all. Well worth the expense.

[DitaVonCheese]

Hijack away Elle

I have been measured in the past (when DC1 was tiny, so quite a long time in the past!) but was underwhelmed by the experience.

R&P is a nice idea but (1) nearest store is a couple of hundred miles away and (2) um I currently buy my underwear off ebay

[Clure]

wow intersting. I wear a 32A and have just measured underbust is 28 and across bust 31, what would you recommend I try? sorry to but in ,never been measured except for maternity bra 7 years ago!

[soundevenfruity]

Yes, it's a tough one. I lived in the middle of nowhere and wore pregnancy bras for the first 18 months of DS's life which didn't really hold the breasts in properly and gave me horrible backaches. I was fitted properly after DS's birth when I could drive to the (relatively) nearest Bravissimo shop and it was not a great experience - they didn't have anything for my huge breasts. Being properly fitted is great. There might be a small underwear shop around you with a knowledgeable owner. You don't need to buy all your bras there.

[brighthair]

Clure - I would try a 28C to start with

[RarelyUnreasonable]

Help me too! I'm in nursing bras 2 weeks since having DS. Can't get measured in RL as I would ruin stock through leakage!

Under bra was 33.5, around boobs 38.

I've been in mothercare drop cup 38D ones, and can't see how anything smaller than 38 will do up, but am ready to listen to your wisdom. Can I compromise with a 36 for now?

[dishwashervodkaanddietirnbru]

A 34 back would suit your measurements better but maybe maternity bras have funny sizing!? Are you sure of your under boob measurement? With the figures given I would gave suggested 34D or E.

[RarelyUnreasonable]

Thanks - am sitting much more pertly and comfortably in a 34D. Need to try an E too, but I now see why the 38 back was ridiculous. Pre-preg was a size 12.

[wewereherefirst]

Oh my word, I was going to write a very similar post, I'm a 33" underbust and 40" overbust- I've been in a 38"/40"bra for longer than I care to remember because of rubbish advice!

I can't begin to imagine I could be a D/E cup after all these years of being a AA-B cup

Thank you for posting this!

[Clure]

Can't believe I could be a c cup! i really have bordering on fried eggs! Think i may try a 30b though, thanks

[dishwashervodkaanddietirnbru]

wewereherefirst, I would try a 32 and a 34 back size and you would be round about an E/F/FF cup - try different styles to see what suits best.

[RarelyUnreasonable]

I'm enjoying feeling bustier I know it's just the milk.

[SorrelForbes]

Clure. I am fairly confident you will find the 30B too big in the band and too small in the cup. Be brave, try a 28C and remember to scoop!

BTW my teenage niece who has little bumps of breasts wears a 28DD.