Bra sizing.

[FFSCarrieBradshaw]

Can someone answer a question?

For no other reason than curiosity.

So!

I've never worn a bra, I have small and perky breasts, never through breastfeeding, puberty, menopause, they just are. All good.

I see the bra-size threads though and they always tell women that their band-size is too big and they can't possibly be a 34c or some such and they actually have to be a 26h.

I measured myself for interest and I am a 34b!

I have a tailor's dummy, that I bought in size 10 to sell clothes on Vinted, so I measured that too.

It's a 34b.

And then I looked at standardised clothes sizes. A 34 inch chest is a size 10.

Can someone explain to me what bra sizing's about then and why on bra-sizing threads it is an oft quoted line that 'you can't be a 34b' and that 34" is 'huge' for a back size.

TIA.

This is the measuring guide usually recommended on here
https://www.booborbust.com/bra-measuring-guide/

Start with what size you are round your ribcage where a bra would sit.

I don't think 34 is huge in a back size. I thought it was about a size 10? I am in UK. Maybe its different elsewhere

BOB is cult like... Never got along with their suggested size

I would say a size 34 is more a 14? A rough guide seems to be your dress size plus 20.

Does the dummy not measure 34 around the bust? The number part with bras is about the underbust measurement rather than the measurement around the bust. To be a 34b the dummy would measure 34 around the ‘ribcage’ and 36 around the bust.

34 inch chest for clothes size is 34 as an overbust measurement. Bra sizes are by underbust measurement. If those 2 are exactly the same then this means you have no boobs whatsoever, which would be unusual.

Bras have to hug your frame tightly...ifthag means fat hangs off the back then that what it is otherwise you have no support and are basically wearing a support less crop top

It's not huge but I'm a size 10 with a 30 inch back size. Remember it's the under bust ribcage measurement not round the bust.

Yup, that’s what I’d expect at a size 10. I know it’s underbust, I’d have thought 34B was actually quite an unusual size. I’m a 32 underbust at a size 12. We won’t go into my overbust measurements.

Size 14 and a 34 back - again lets not discuss the cup size!!

Hmm. But if it's tight, it's uncomfortable. When I wear a bra (to go out), it's the apparently dreaded (per this thread) 34B (well, so my bra says 34C on the label but was bought as 34B and had a 34B sticker on it when bought... who knows then what it is XD). The thing is that I wear a bra only because of the self-consciousness about the social expectation of doing so - I never wear a bra at home and am more comfortable without one. (Fat doesn't hang off the back though, either way!) If it's on the tightest setting I feel very conscious of the elastic, so I'm more comfortable with it looser.

@Precipice it's because you are thin/not over weight.... Once quite overweight your perception of what feels uncomfortsble drastically changes. You get used to wearing tight things before giving in and going up a size.

So I'm a size 16/18 tshirt...18 jeans...and a 38F if not 38G

If you are a 10, then I would say you are more of a 30 or 32 back size. You get so much support from the band, so it needs to feel on the tighter side.Use the boob and bust method to measure.

I’m a 12-14 and have a 29 inch underbust. I should wear around a 30G but tend to wear a 32 as I don’t have much padding on my ribs (plenty in other places though 🙄) and I find it uncomfortable.

I do find that slimmer women (not including myself in this 😂) tend to find tight backs more problematic - I assume because of the lack of subcutaneous fat. Also with small breasts you don’t really need the same level of support so a tight back isn’t really as important.

I couldn't breathe when I bought the bra size suggested by boob or bust. It also left painful red marks all over me. I'm sticking to my 34D thank you.

it's because you are thin/not over weight.... Once quite overweight your perception of what feels uncomfortsble drastically changes.

Or maybe it could be because bigger breast actually need support, and too loose bands will give you massive back and neck pain? I'm size 10 and almost booked a breast reduction due to constant pain in my 34DDs before I figured out that I have no issues if wearing 30G.

I'm very soft, so am a size 18 with a 34 band.

I'm a 16/18 with a 34 band. Any bigger band rides up and doesn't give me the support

I went from a 36aa to a 30e/32dd with BOB, bravissimo and John Lewis and then Debenhams (as was. The bra fitter told me I could fit two of me in to a 36 back). I was so shocked as thought that the gaping cups and huge room in the back I had were simply due to me lacking. In fairness the last time I was measured for a bra was in 1993 and I was a 34a. I can safely say that being in a well fitted bra changed so much for me - I feel so much better in myself and to be blunt slimmer and in proportion. I have no red marks at all.

I feel like bra sizing is just guess work now. I measure 32 around the ribs and 38/39 over the bust. I’m recommended 32F ffs. I bought a sports bra in 32DD, it’s not as tight as I want in the cup, the back is ok. The picture show the tiny model wearing 34. I can get away with bralets as, despite all this, I actually have small boobs. So I just do that now.

It's trial and error! I'm a size 8 and technically I think I'd measure at a 28" but that's obviously a difficult size to get. It's hard enough finding a 30" back. Also it's so uncomfortable! I generally wear a 30E or a 32DD or 32E. Occasionally I've had a 32F/30F but not since having kids I've lost some volume from the top.

Even on the 30" bands I don't wear on tightest setting as I start getting marks around the sides where it has been digging in and it's sore 🤷🏻‍♀️