How does bra sizing work??

[NewMum54321]

Yes genuine question!

I’ve been wearing a 34D since I was a teenager. In recent times my bras always seemed tighter and working out why was always on my to do list but never got round to it (it wasn’t that bad, just meant I was desperate to get my bra off at the end of the day.)

Pregnancy and breastfeeding seems to have tipped the situation into “desperately need to sort out” so yesterday I measured my boobs. The underneath was comfortably 33 inches and the bust comfortably 37. I asked my niece to google what that meant and she found a site that said I should add 4 inches to my underneath. But that’s news to me! And I can’t actually find anything that confirms whether that’s how it works or not.

I measured the 34D bra I was wearing and the band measured 27 inches.

Hence, I’m bloody confused!

And yes I should go and get measured and I will as soon as I get round to it... (I’m hoping someone in the world knows how these things work though!)

Nooo you do NOT need to add any inches. Try Boob or Bust on Facebook.

Search ‘bra intervention’ here on MN. Best way to measure.

Or, have a fitting at Bravissimo.

I wore a 34d/dd for years..... Done the boob or bust and now wear 32ff! Sounds huge but they aren't really! Just wish the manufacturers would hurry up and realise this and change the sizing

1. 34c which seems to be the average is actually more 32dd so double cups are not huge and

1. Double cups do not mean I need over the shoulder boulder holder straps 🤔

Ooo thanks ladies, I’ll give those a go! I honestly think most of these stores just make sizes up as they go along but who has time or inclination to stand and try anything on let along bras.

Join the club! I'm having a bit of a nightmare with bras at the mo. Measure 32 underbust, 38 round fullest part.

Old fashioned adding inches says 36 B or C (depending on site).

Sister sizes would be 34 C or D or 32 D or DD. Some newer methods get me to a 32 F!

However just bought a 34DD and 32DD both a little big in the cup. Wearable but I'm on a diet so don't know how long for. The 32DD most noticeably so! Which does not make sense.

To complicate things I've had a mastectomy and wear a prothesis so no bending over to observe fullness or whatever as that wouldn't work! Most bras I can get with pockets to hold prothesis are mail order. I've just been ordering the most bargains ordinary bras to sew a pocket in (cut from old too big bras). I think I'm going to have to try on some in Mataram which I noticed do a range of mastectomy bras. Annoying, though.

My old 36DD ride up at the front and gape in the cup...

I would try 32E silvery
You definitely don't need a 36 if you measure 32

Ah sorry I see you've tried that back size. No experience with prothesis, but maybe a different style would help? I can't wear full cups for example, they all pucker and gape in my correct size.

I don't have that much choice. I need full cups to hold in a prothesis. Otherwise it would stick out of the bra IYSWIM. I've looks quite good with a full cup bra, though.

32E in theory should perhaps fit. But the 32DD I ordered was a little big in the cup. I think I'll just have to try some different brands on. I can alter back straps quite easily (taking in or with extenders) but not cups.

can't wear full cups for example, they all pucker and gape in my correct size.

Now that is interesting. Maybe that is what is happening to me. I suppose there is more to fit and tailor with a full cup. Maybe I could experiment with sewing some padding in....

@silverystream you say old fashion sizes mean your 32 measurement would bring you out at a 36. So once upon a fine was there a rule about adding four?

Once upon a time

Yes. When I got my first bra in the 80s all bra measurements were done like this (add method), as far as I know. Maybe because when bras first became popular fabrics were less stretchy and it took time for fitting methodology to alter.

there was - several theories, one says you needed to add inches because bras didn't have elastic and you would not get one on otherwise. Another version is this:

Well, it’s actually a fun story about early marketing. Just after WWII when this system was created, the ideal hourglass figure of the day measured 36,24,36. Women wanted to think their measurements were close to this ideal. The manufacturers needed the under bust measurement to make the bra fit correctly since the actual bust measurement of say 36 wasn’t helpful. Thus they hatched the idea of adding the additional inches to make a woman’s bra size sound more desirable. A 36B certainly sounded more desirable than a 31B.

Oh and you couldn't get any smaller back size than a 32 or that with any larger cup sizes than a B. My first bra rode up at the back terribly. I remember Mum saying I would ideally have a bra with a smaller back strap but you just couldn't get them. I take them in now if they are two big on the back but fit on the cup. We didn't think of that then, though.

Interesting Katherine. So I suppose an 80s 36DD might be different to a current 36DD?

And now, as with dress sizes, there is quite a bit of variance between makes.