Ladies - get your boobs measured!

I knew it was a well known fact that many women actually wear the wrong bra size, and I (stupidly) thought that I was one of those women who actually was pretty close to the right size.

Boy was I wrong.

I went from wearing a 36D, to a 34D, to a 34C and today I got myself measured by a professional.

32 E. I couldn't believe it.

My bra fits perfectly well now and it gives me a reason to go buy new bras :D

Make sure you get yourself measured properly! There is nothing better than getting the right size and actually having breasts that look good in a bra!

Yes, many women think that the number part of the measurement is more important than the number AND the cup size.....

So, ladies, if you don't have to have SIX boobs.... (that's the two you are supposed to have, the two that bulge over the top and the two that bulge under your arms.... sometimes another two that bulge UNDER the cups...) GET YOURSELF MEASURED PROFESSIONALLY....

You will find not only do your boobs look good in a bra, but you will be WAY more comfortable....

Which places do that?

What store did you get yours measured at? The trouble is I can never find the 34 D's they always recommend me. I guess they only think D's are for 36+ women.

and I wouldn't be surprised to find out I am also a 32 E.

Original Post by peacecalilove:

What store did you get yours measured at? The trouble is I can never find the 34 D's they always recommend me. I guess they only think D's are for 36+ women.

and I wouldn't be surprised to find out I am also a 32 E.

I totally agree that most stores believe that once your cup size is D or higher that you can't possibly need a band smaller than a 36. They just don't carry them! The good thing is that once you know your size, you can order from anywhere. As a 34DD, I order bras online most of the time. They're less expensive usually and there's more selection. I can actually make color choices online. Gasp!

Original Post by peacecalilove:

What store did you get yours measured at? The trouble is I can never find the 34 D's they always recommend me. I guess they only think D's are for 36+ women.

and I wouldn't be surprised to find out I am also a 32 E.

I got measured at La Senza, but I live in the UK so I don't know if you guys have it over in the US. But I think most lingerie stores do fittings; make sure you ask them and they're usually really helpful!

I'm pretty sure most decent lingerie department will measure you, as will Victoria's Secret (did you ever notice the staff all walk around with tape measures?).  But if you are a little shy, you can ask a good friend or relative to do it (or yourself if you're very careful).  There are plenty of websites to tell you how.  This is the first one that came up in a google search http://www.implantinfo.com/inforesources/size .htm 

I don't know why the person photographed on that website is topless, by the way - you can wear a shirt as long as it isn't bulky!!

What Store?  Look in the phone book for a store that offers Masectomy products. Also your size may vary on the style of Bra. I found my store when I was pregnant and the Maternity stores didn't carry bra's as large as I needed. They refered me to the masectomy store which in my case is A Fitting Place. So I wear 34-38  DD-HH but there are a couple of nice things about the store. One I get a great fitting bra. Two, I get to select from a number of bras. I like to have one that supports me not the other way around so I give them the shimmy and jump test.  Three, the sales ladies bring me the bras to try on so I don't have to go wondering about the store in mid selection.  Four, when I return to the store, they've kept my measurements and style that I liked so the next fitting is easier. The bad news--the bras are more expensive with the cheaper ones being around $30.  Online is a great idea once you know your size and brand/style.

The lady at the store told me these tips

1. When trying on a bra, close the strap at the outermost hook. That way when the bra stretches due to wear and tear, you can just move it up a hook or two

2. Make sure the front of the strap is snug against your chest. If the chest size smaller than the one you tried is too tight, then that means you need to go up one more chest size and make sure you have the right cup. If it still has a space in between your chest and the bra, it means the cup is too small and your boobs are pushing against the bra and creating that gap.

3. Put your fingers on the underwire and push towards your back - if your fingers touch your ribs then its a good fit, if they touch your boob.. not good.

4. Make sure that you don't have 6 boobs as teeshah mentioned above. A good fit gives you excellent cleavage and gives you really good support.

I guess I really need to do this.  My only hope of having D sized boobs at this point is to spend a few thousand bucks.  I made it up to a DD when I was nursing my kids, but since I had my kids, righty over here thinks she's in a race with lefty and has outpaced her by at least 1/2 a cup size, I think.  Oh the joys of motherhood.  If I wear a B sized bra, righty gets squeezed out the top...but when I wear a C, lefty gets lost.  I prefer the lefty lost look to the 3 boob look so I usually go with a 36-C.  What to do...what to do.

For those who are in the UK and have larger boobs, nothing beats shopping at Bravissimo (Bravissimo.com). My size varies from 34FF to 32G...it can be really difficult to find bras that fit!

This is great.  I am going to bra shop as a reward for meeting a major fitness goal.  If I did this correctly, I would be a 30DD, definitely not what I am wearing now.  That might be why bras have seemed so uncomfortable.

Do it!  I promise it'll make you look 15 lbs lighter and cut down on your back pain. Spendy, but oh so worth it.

For those ladies that are in the U.S., Dilliards has a good selection of larger size bras in smaller band sizes.  They have alot of styles that come in a 32dd and 32ddd, and a few that go as large as 32h. 

Yes!  Dillard's has many sizes to choose from AND they are trained to measure you. 

Oh, how I miss bra shopping in the states.  German girls must all be fat and flat (yeah, yeah, I can see that's not true) because I have not yet, in two years, found a bra here that fits.  They all tell me to go up a number size and down a letter.  Uh, that isn't the right size then.  So, I leave enough room in my suitcase to stock up on 32DDs when I visit the states.

Huh!....I've just used the link that joyfulake posted and according to it I should be wearing a 38C but what I am wearing is a 36B which I think are comfortable, just bought new bras on monday and I was quite comfortable in it when I wore it?

Think I need to go get checked  because I don't feel like a C cup.

Original Post by ccrun4fun:

The good thing is that once you know your size, you can order from anywhere.

How come bras fit me differently depending on the store then? From my experience it's like clothing, sizes change based on where you buy, it's usually the cups I have a problem with (some are even different shapes, wider, pointy, etc).

anndjoe - those sites have never worked for me, they always say I'm an A cup (I wear a C), same as when I used joyfulake's link, however with step 4 it says I'm a D. You could always try on a 38C to see the difference - I have tried D's a couple times in the past and they didn't fit right, so I dunno I prefer to try on a couple sizes and pick what I think fits best.

This topic is wonderful to see!  And yes, different bras will fit differently just like clothes.  But you have to remember the wording on how a bra will fit.

Next time you shop... grab as many bra's as they will let you try on!!  Take them in the fitting room and try them all on!    Comfort is the most important thing.  Support is the second.   Put it on, stretch your arms up and out as far as you can and make sure that your "girls" stay put!  Then check all the other factors.  Is the center part up against your skin?  Are the straps snug but comfortable? Do the underwires fit correctly near the arm pit? 

I can wear anywhere between a 34 B  and a 40 C  depending on the bra.  But they say I'm supposed to wear a 40 B.   And I can't find those to save my life!  They also think that those of us blessed in the "itty bitty" department shouldn't have large rib cages or the layer of tissue over them!  ha ha.    

My advise is...  don't spend any money (unless you're forced to shop online) until you have tried it on and given it every test you can think of!  :)

 

I just have to add this, please wear the right bra with the right shirt, I HATE when I see women bra straps (unless they are clear). If you are wearing a low cut square neck tops, go with a DEMI cup. Low cut Deep V shirt, push up or sexy cut . Tank top wearers, are usually the worst offenders, RACER BACK or CRISSCROSS bra. Oooh and one more, if you are wearing a tube top or other strapless shirt or dress, it is NOT ok to wear a regular bra and just tuck the straps in GOD i hate that. One more none more thing lol, If you are wearing a WHITE shirt wear a flesh toned or close to flesh toned bra, not a leopard print that I can clearly see through your white shirt.

Ok I'm done ranting.

you got my point...

I'v need to do this so bad for so long. I go buy 36 D, then 38 C then 40 c or d, I just can't find any comfortable or feels right, or of different brands and styles require different sizes. It's funny I just watched a program last night on BBC about lg. busted women and wearing the correct bra and if they wanted reduction.  I'm going this week and getting measured at Dillards since someone suggected them. thanks.