Life Hack: How to measure yourself to find your correct bra size
A Fitting Not Had Over 36% Bra In Over In Ireland Have Five Of Years Women
Wearing the wrong bra size can lead to issues like back pain, so it's surprising many women are wearing the wrong size, not getting measured regularly, or even avoiding a bra sizing altogether. Earlier this year, research commissioned by Marks and Spencer Ireland found that over 36% of women in Ireland have not had a bra fitting in over five years, and 21.5% have never been fitted at all.
The survey was part of the brand’s BraFit campaign, urging customers to get regular bra fittings. While many shops like M&S offer in-store fittings, many people would prefer to measure themselves at home for various reasons. With that in mind, here are some tips for finding your own bra size from the comfort of your home.
A soft measuring tape or tailor’s tape is the secret to the most accurate measure for this. If you don’t own one, measure yourself with a piece of string or ribbon and compare the length against a ruler.
Your first step is to find your band size. Run the measuring tape around your body where the bra band normally sits. It should feel snug but without digging in. You’ll get the most accurate reading if you don’t wear a bra for this. If the number is not whole, for example, 33 and a half inches, round it up to the next whole number, in this case, 34. If the number you get is even add four inches, if it’s odd, add five, this will give you the number for your band size (for example, a reading of 28 means your band size is 32).
Next, wrap the measuring tape somewhat loosely around the fullest part of your chest — this is at the same level as your nipple — and round to the nearest whole number. Subtract your band size from your bust measurement to find your cup size. The difference in inches will inform the cup size you need. One inch is an A cup, two is a B cup, three is a C cup, four is a D cup, five is a DD cup, six is an E cup, seven is an F cup, eight is an FF cup, nine is a G cup, and so on.
Once you determine your size, it’s time to try some on. In a changing room, try bras in the size you calculated as well as a size smaller and a size bigger: sometimes different style bras sit differently against the skin. Similarly, you may need to find the best bra style for the shape of your breasts. For fuller or rounder breasts, triangle or plunge bras can be more comfortable, while teardrop-shaped breasts that carry fullness on the bottom might be better suited to a sweetheart demi silhouette.
If you still struggle to find the perfect bra size, try calculating your size on the A Bra That Fits website ( abrathatfits.org/calculator.php). This asks you to measure yourself standing, leaning, lying down, and more to determine the best cup and band size for your needs.