Bra Sizes......HELP!?

Question

Where is the best place to go to be measured for a bra???

I have been to M & S twice and have come out with different sizes both times. I have lost a bit of weight and I tried measuring myself and looking on the net and that said I was a 36A, I'm bigger than an A cup and I have asked people and they think I'm bigger than an A.

Any help on this would be welcome.

Answer 1

My G/friend say's debenhams were good

Answer 2

It doesn't matter where you get measured- bras are all different sizes, same as shoes and everything else. There are loads of different styles of bra- some you will fit in 'your size', others you will need a different size for. You will nearly always come out a different size because your breasts are not always the same, there is no such thing as a standard breast shape because we are all different, a sales assistant may measure in a slightly different way and because of the number of different styles, materials, designs, manufacturers etc of bras you are unlikely to be able to walk into a shop, pick up a random bra in what you believe to be your size and have it fit exactly every time.

Breasts are not a standard size- one of yours will be bigger than the other one. Bras are not static either- the hooks at the back mean you can enlarge or decrease the back size to a degree and the straps lengthen and shorten to help you get the right fit.

All they give you when they measure you is an approximation of your size. You may have a wide back and a flatter ribcage or vice versa and this will affect the size your breasts appear to be, so what you should do is take the size you are given as a guide, then choose a bra that you like and maybe move up or down a cup or back size to get the right fit. It doesn't matter what size you think you are, the point is to get a bra that is comfortable and supportive, and the fitter in the shop is interested in helping you acheive that. If they're not, you should shop elsewhere.

I have 32's and 34's in F cups and E cups and if you hold two up together they are not the same, not even two the same size.

I hope this helps.

Answer 3

Go to a professional seamstress who specializes in making and measuring for bras! DO NOT GO TO A STORE! Even the most beginner of a seamstress knows how to use her measuring tape and how to measure properly for what bra size you are. I'm one of 12 years and I have measured myself for my true size and it fits perfectly. A Sales Associate at a store is just that...A Sales Associate. It doesn't matter how long they've been working in a lingerie store. At the most they only have 1 hour of training when it comes to fitting someone properly. Trust me on this. You can either go to a seamstress and find your real size in about 1 minute (versus half and hour or more at lingerie stores), or you can try on a variety of sizes and find which one fits you best. When it fits properly, you will know.



**added details**

By the way...the website that one girl suggested to you, the kids health website...they are wrong. You don't just add 5" when measuring for your band size. You add 5" if the number is odd, but only 4" if the number is even. Makes sense why so many females are wearing the wrong bra, because most companies will tell you only to add 5" but they DO NOT factor in that each female has a different shape! So if you want to do it yourself here's how:

Measure snug under the breasts, make sure the tape is even all around you. Odd number, add 5", even number add 4".

Measure loose, but not snug over the fullest part of your breast. 3 ways you can do this. 1) with a non-padded, non-push-up bra. 2) take in a deep breath. 3) lean over so your back is parallel with the floor, this way you get ALL of your breast tissue in the measurement, not just half. This one is best if you are fuller rather than perky. Round up if it falls on a half inch. Now here's the math...

Subtract your added band measurement with your bust measurement. 1" in difference is A, 2" is B, 3" is C, 4" is D, 5" is DD, and so on.

So let's say you measured 29 inches for the band...+5= 34, this is your band size. Let's say your bust measurement was 38...38-34=4, which is a D cup. You are a 34D.

I think the website you went to was one of those "add 5 inches and no less" deals, therefore giving you the wrong size. So you may be a 34B or C, or a 36B, if my calculations are correct.


Hope this cleared up any confusion.

Answer 4

Well, I went to Victoria's Secret thinking that they knew what they were doing. After being measured, however, and after spending 80 dollars, it turned out to be a bust. No pun intended. My weight fluctuates as well as bra size. Not all brands fit the same way either. Just go to a store and try it on first before you buy. If you think you are bigger than an A, then get a B with very little padding just in case you are an in-between cup like I am. It also depends on the shape of your breasts too.

Answer 5

Get yourself a measuring tape. Place it right under your breast and measure it. If you look at the sizes indicated there's a number and an alphabet. The number shows the measurment of your under breast waist. The alphabet is the cup size. So like some have mensioned, the dfference between 36A and 34B is that 36A has smaller cup size than 34B whereas, it has bigger under breast size. Get it? To measure cup size, use one hand to hold the breast in proper shape and then another hand to measure in 90degrees. And I really encourage you to try them on before you buy it, and make sure you feel comfortable. They also say that bras with steel wire under the cups aren't very good for your health, so try the ones without it or those with soft/elastic wire to hold them in place. And, when I'm home by myself I usually don't wear one. It's more comfortable and good for you too.

Answer 6

Bra stores are a lot like clothing stores... the sizes are always just that much different. I suggest going to a few well known stores and getting your sizes done and trying on several different bras while you are there. You might be an A cup one day and a B another, or you could be on the border line of both. Also, on one day were you closer to your period? Your breasts could have a been a little swollen which would easily make the size differences.

Answer 7

M and S are usually good - so are contessa.

different manufacturers have slightly different sizes - you should always try a bra on before you buy and if your weight changes so will your size.

The cup size is the difference between your chest measurement and the measurement over your breasts so the A cup on a 36A and the A cup of a 38A is a different size.

Answer 8

Believe it or not, but a 36A is the equivalent to a 34B or a 32C. Make sure you're measuring properly for your band size. I've been measured by multiple people, and the thing I found to work best for me was to try on bras. Once your find a cup depth that fits properly, take note of the band size. For example, if you fit in the cup of a 34C bra, but the band is too tight, go down a cupsize and up a band size (36B). If it's too loose, go up a cupsize and down a band size (32D). There's no perfect way to measure yourself, and even if there was, there's no standard on the way bras are made. Failproof solution, try 'em on first! ;)

Answer 9

i don't think bra sizes are a fib, but it obviously depends on where you buy your bras.
with me for instance i can't go to la senza or buy a wonderbra cause their 32C bras don't fit me, on the other hand h&m always fit.

the advice i've read is that you should always get yourself measured when you buy a new bra, and that you're not supposed to keep a bra longer than 6 months.

what i'd do is: go to a few different places to get yourself measured. see what they come up with, and if they're not too different from one another (like 34B/32C for instance), then you have a rough idea of what your size is. then just try on as many bras as you can in those sizes, and see what fits best.

good places are: debenhams, john lewis, ann summers, house of fraser, la senza, or an independant retailer.

good luck!

Answer 10

Not sure where you are in the UK but Rigby and Peller in London are bra makers to the Queen and are meant to be the bees knees when it comes to measuring! They have a huge stock of every size of bra as well- so they will give you a few to try on for size once they have measured you too!
http://www.rigbyandpeller.com/

Answer 11

Sweetie, I strongly suggest that you go and get measured by staff in the lingerie department. I had been putting it off and just guessing my size for years, and was totally shocked when I realised I had been wearing a 36C when I was actually a 30E. I went to 3 different places to get second opinions coz I was so shocked! Wearing the wrong size bra can affect your posture and make you saggy.......! Thank god I got measured before it was too late! xx