Is Your Bra Size Right?
When you’re about to sport some fly and flashy gear, everything has to perfect from the hairstyle to the shoes. But nothing can ruin an outfit more than an ill-fitting bra. In fact, 80 percent of women wear the wrong bra size. Is your size right? If you answer “yes” to one or more of these questions, you’re wearing the wrong bra size.
- Have you recently gained or lost 10 or more pounds?
- Do your breasts spill out of your bra cups? (You know, the “three-breast” syndrome?)
- Do the buttons at your bustline gap on your blouse?
- Do your bra straps dig into or slide off your shoulders?
- Does your bra ride up your back?
- Does the underwire dig into your skin?
- Do your breasts sag under your clothing?
- Do you feel relieved when you take your bra off at the end of the day?
Now that you know if you’re in the majority, let’s find the right bra size for you.
- Get to know the band: Using some measuring tape, measure your ribcage under your breasts. Add five inches to the measurement and that will equal your band size. To double-check the band size, wrap the tape measure tightly around your back, under your arms and across your upper chest.
- That’s my cup: Loosely measure around the fullest part of your bust. Subtract your band measurement from this measurement. Find your cup size here:
1 inch = A 4 inches = D
2 inches = B 5 inches = DD
3 inches = C 6 inches = DDD or E
Here are some tips for the perfect fit.
* Cups: The cups should be filled out and fit smoothly. If your cup wrinkles, you may need to try a smaller bra size. If there is overflow at the top or under the arms, you should try a larger cup size or a cup with more coverage on the sides or top.
* Security: Your breasts should be held tightly in place, even when you lift your arms, bend over, run or jump. If your breasts spill out of your bra, try a larger cup size.
* Band: The band should be fitted, but not cutting into your skin. It should sit lower on the back than in the front and sit comfortably below the shoulder blades. The back of the bra should not ride up. If it does, adjust the straps. If the bra still rides up, try a smaller band size.
* Bra Straps: Straps should be adjusted to give support to the bust without digging into the shoulders. If the straps are slipping down, you may not be filling up the cups. Consider trying a smaller cup size.
* Underwire: The underwiring of your bra should absorb all the pressure to support the breasts without digging in at the sides. The underwire should lie flat against the chest. If it’s standing away from the body, try a bigger cup size. The wiring should completely surround the breast to provide support. Underwired bras are ideal for large-busted women.
