Firstly, the wires at the centre front - also called the gore, should be sitting flush against your body. Think your maternity needs can only be met by regular bras? Apart from being way more comfortable to wear, having a well-fitted bra is also a matter of health. Secondly, and imperative to your health, the wire at the side towards your underarm should be behind all of your breast tissue. Theres no exact date but most lingerie brands tend to suggest getting measured around the 6-month mark or when youre looking to buy a new bra. While you can engage the help of a professional fitter (and where possible this is always a great idea), you can also learn how to measure bra size yourself, at home - and it's surprisingly easy. Aim to have the strap sliders sit in the middle of your back - any higher and youll create too much tension; lower and youll be missing out on support. Subtract your band size from your cup size. "Keep in mind, as with all clothing, different brands will fit you differently," says Lexie Sachs, executive director at the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab. Intro The Bra Fitting Guide : How to measure your bra size? The difference denotes your cup size. If you feel that you arent getting a gentle hug from your band, it probably means that it isnt firm enough and you should go down a back size. The overall fit should be snug but not too tight. Now measure your bust. Measure your underbust using a tape measure, making sure the tape is parallel with the ground. In a nutshell? "Choose a sister size instead with a larger band for a better fit." We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Then adjust the straps individually. And Katie of Curvy Kate believes, particularly with bigger boobs that using a tape measure can cause inaccuracies and suggests that virtual fittings - something that largely emerged because of the pandemic is a better option. That's a 34C. Once youve fully adjusted the garment, you really shouldnt feel like youre wearing anything, explains Miryha Fantegrossi, vice president of merchandising and design at lingerie brand Wacoal. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Suzanne Pentland, a fit specialist at Freya, kindly abandoned her supernatural sizing-up abilities and broke it down for us mere mortals. Size Does matter. in cm. Bra size shouldn't be a guessing game. Yes. This article has 32 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. "Not all 34Bs are created equal," points out Iserlis. Never wear the wrong bra size again!See how you can measure yourself at home to find your perfect bra size with the easiest tutorial on the web!Bra Size Chart: https://bit.ly/2IGkHgI Bra Guide : https://www.lavieenrose.com/en/bra-guide Subscribe for more tips: https://bit.ly/2HRMop6 Find us also on:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lavieenrose/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lavieenrose/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/laVieenRose/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/lavieenrose/ 80%of women are looking for more comfortable and perfectly fitted bra. Watch and learn how to correctly measure your bra size! Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 7,753,576 times. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. We Asked Experts, This Is How Your Perfect Bra Should Fit, According to Experts, The 11 Best Strapless Bras of 2023, Tested and Reviewed, The 12 Most Comfortable Bras of 2023, Tested and Reviewed, 7 Simple Steps to Finding a Bra That Fits You Perfectly, This Is What Happens When You Wear the Wrong Sports Bra (and How to Choose the Right One), Underwire poking the sides of your breasts, Bra that hikes up when you lift your arms. If the band of the bra you're trying in your usual bra size feels loose, try the size to the left of your current one, and if the band feels tight try the size to the right of your current one. If the color of your bra shows through a thin or light colored top, purchase a bra with seamless cups that match your skin color. Place the measuring tape around your ribcage, right underneath the band of your bra. This calculator provides results for the United States, the United Kingdom, European Union, France, Belgium, Spain, Australia, and New Zealand. The one on my bust which is 38 inches. We hear you. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. "You should opt for a sister size when the cups fit but the band doesnt," she advises. As you wear and wash your bra, the fit will become looser, so youll want to move to the second hook to get a better fit and then finally to the tightest hook. Try plunge over balconette, as the wire finishes much lower down the cup. A well-fitting sports bra wont mark your skin, cut off your circulation, or restrict your breathing. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. In this case, move towards a racer-back style. First measure the underband: (where the wire of your bra normally sits) straight around, as tight as possible. If you prefer not to do this yourself, the service is offered free of charge in many stores, from bra specialists to retail and department stores including M&S, Boux Avenue and John Lewis, and online through Bravissimo, Curvy Kate and Panache. The straps should be tight enough to avoid them slipping off but not so tight that they feel uncomfortable or dig into your skin. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Its not always as straightforward as that. While we're all familiar with the feeling of whipping a bra off at the end of the day, comfortable, well-fitting bras shouldn't actually hurt you. A beauty obsessive, Jess has tried everything from cryotherapy to chemical peels (minus the Samantha in Sex and The City-worthy redness) and interviewed experts including Jo Malone and Trinny Woodall. Measure your band With your bra on and tape measure ready, tightly wrap a tape measure just below your bra band keeping it level. You may have to adjust the length of the shoulder straps. With statistics indicating that the majority of bra wearers are wearing the wrong size, its clear a little help could benefit us all. Instead, you should have all of your breast tissue scooped in, in front of the wire.. Measure around the bra's bottom band, just under the breast. FYI: You should be measuring your bra size yearly! A good rule of thumb is to be refitted every six months. That being said, if you want to avoid it, consider increasing the width of the band at the back. If the band is painfully tight, try going up a cup size: for instance, go from a 28G to a 30FF. What do I do about gaping cups or spillage? "This can help you celebrate the body you have and ensure full comfort in your underpinnings," says Danielle Iserlis, former associate marketing manager at Journelle. Type in your band size. Put on your slinkiest T-shirt: If you can see any lines or bulging skin, you know its not the right size, explains Emilie Moraes, resident expert at Harvey Nichols. Kpoene Kofi-Bruce is a tailor, couture wedding gown designer, and the Creative Director of Mignonette Bridal and Ette the Wedding Tailor in Chicago, Illinois. Another sign of a badly fitting bra is that the wires under your arms are pressing on your breast tissue. Fit is dictated as much by size as it is by breast shape, so you shouldn't be afraid to try additional sizes from various brands to find the bra that looks the most flattering and feels the most comfortable. Determine your cup size by measuring your torso and subtracting that number from your band size. Not Necessarily. The bridge, sometimes called the gore, is the centerpiece of the bra where the two cups join. The band should be horizontal all the way around and should fit you properly when secured on the last hook. So, if I follow the bra size calculator, my ideal bra fitting is 36C.Here are few extra tips:-If your bust spills out in front or on the sides, it's not the right bra cup size.-Also, if the band is too tight around your ribcage, it's too small.-And if the band prevents your from breathing, it's too small.-But if you feel that there is too much space, I suggest you to adjust the straps. I have learned quite a lot from this article, even at my age! ThirdLove shares an easy two-step method: If you don't have any of these tools available, ThirdLove also has a virtual Fitting Room using expert bra fitting knowledge and data points from millions of real customers. Your band rides high at the back. Thanks. 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