Do you know your actual bra size?
You may be surprised, but 80% of women wear the wrong bra size. Why is that? Firstly, it is due to the industry. In different parts of the world, the sizes are labelled differently.
Here is an overview by underbust measurement worldwide:
After that it gets even more complicated.
Here is an overview of the cup size accordingly:
To understand it, let us first clarify how bra sizes are constructed.
Bra size is composed of two measurements:
- Underbust measurement or underbust circumference. The measurement is taken directly under the breast, in the breast fold parallel to the floor. Breathe in and breathe out - and remember the number.
- Chest width is measured across the fullest part of the chest, parallel to the floor. Write down the number.
Now we have calculated that for a woman with a bust measurement of 92 cm and an underbust measurement of 77 cm, the starting bra size is 75C.
But why the initial size? Didn't we just calculate the size?
There is something else to consider here. Every label has its own philosophy and size chart. One company sees only slim women as a customer segment, another focuses on larger sizes. In addition, women in Latin America and women in Northern Europe, for example, differ in terms of their body type.
Therefore, it makes sense to try on the respective cross sizes when you are already in the fitting process.
The cross sizes have the same cup volume, but will differ in the length of the underbust band. If your size is not available or cups orIf your measurements are a bit too tight or too loose for a particular model, you should try on one of the sister sizes.
It can also happen that bras from the same brand run smaller or larger.
In bra fitting it is recommended to only go up or down one size. With cross sizes, the breast volume remains the same, but the underbust band length changes.
And that is the key factor when choosing a bra, as it is crucial for the support effect. A good bra should be able to hold everything in place without straps. An underbust band should hug the body tightly and parallel to the floor. When buying a bra, fasten it at the outermost hook so that two fingers can fit between the underbust band and the back.
If the underbust band pulls upwards, it is too big. The chest tilts forward and the support effect is no longer guaranteed.
Some people mistakenly think that the straps are primarily responsible for supporting the breasts. No, this function is due to the underbust band. If the underbust band is tight to the body, the bridge of the bra is pressed against the breast and provides support.
The straps should not cut into the shoulder or fall off the shoulder. The breasts should fill the cup and not spill out over the front or sides of the cup. If this is the case, then the cup is too small.
The underwire should sit firmly in the breast fold and hug the breast, but not poke into the chest. If the underwire sits too high or does not lie flat, the bra cups are too small.
And last but not least, it is important to mention that many women have different sized breasts. When choosing, focus on the larger breast.