girls, please assist!

ok gals... when i was young my mom never told me how to size a bra - and well, the girls have become a little.... smaller if ya know what i mean. so, shoot - i dunno what size to get or even how to measure... can anyone give me a heads up on this nonsense? being me, i prefer to go solo, if ya know what i mean, but in the interest of society and manners, well, i guess i gotta wear em..... please help! nan

First you measure around your bustline...underneath the girls (I flip mine over my shoulder for this ). Then add 5 inches to that measurement. Round up to an even number. That is your band size. Mine is 36+5=41", rounded up to 42 but I am buying 40's now. Then you measure straight across the fullest part of your twins. (mine is 43") If the difference between that and your band size is 1", you're an A cup; 2 inches, B cup, and so on. So I wear a 40B.

Thank you very much! I am now confident I can go buy a bra and know what the heck I'm doing!

Why do you have to add 5 inches??? I was so proud of myself that I was probably getting into a 38! Lisa

Good Morning Nan, Google in Bra Measurements.. I keep trying to cut and paste a few on here for you but it dosen't allow me to... I guess it's a big copy-righted mystery on boobs... Okay.. Okay I got it! here it is: Before you begin:..this is a bit lengthy.... So for everybody else if you are reading this and you have no intrest in boobs skip it... Happy fitting Nan Honey!!! Love Ya Mo Try to get someone to take the measurements for you - your posture will be more relaxed and natural. The measurements should be more accurate. Stand up straight and breathe normally Don't measure over the top of clothing Wear the bra you feel most comfortable in Use a cloth tape measure if possible. Note: Older flexible tape measures can sometimes stretch and distort over time. Traditional measurement method: Determining your Bra/Band size (ribcage circumference measurement) 1. Measure around the chest directly under the breast at a constant height with the cloth measuring tape. Add 5 inches to that measurement. This dimension is your bra/band size (If the bra size works out to an ODD number go up one inch to the next EVEN number.) This should equal the circumference around the chest, directly above the breasts/under the arms. 2. Now measure around the chest at the height of the fullest part of the breast. The measuring tape should be held horizontal, flat on your back, and your arms should be down. Make a note of that measurement (only used for comparison) and compare it to the Bra Size from step 1. Determining your Cup size (projection of breasts from chest wall) 3. To determine the proper Cup Size, find the difference between step 2 and step 1 (step 2 - step 1.) Use the chart below to determine your Cup Size. Chart to Determine Bra Cup Size Example: Difference Cup Size Step 1: Underbust measurement is 37". Add 5 inches. Bra Size is 42. Step 2: Full bust measurement is 45". Step 3: 45 - 42 = 3" difference. Cup size is C. Result: Buy a 42C bra. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Half inch One inch Two inches Three inches Four inches Five inches Six inches Seven inches AA cup A cup B cup C cup D cup DD or E cup F cup G cup -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 inch ~= 2.5 centimeters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The usual bra measuring system may not work: Some people have written to me suggesting that the previous measurement scheme does not work at ALL for them. Why? The previous measurement guide is an approximation. Each person is unique, and all busts differ in volume, shape and spacing, just as each person's unique body size, height, and weight can affect a bra's fit; a tape measure and simple formula may not always tell the whole story. Plus, even if the measurements ARE accurate, there are no real "standards" for bra sizing, so differences between manufacturers is common. An alternate bra measuring scheme: (from Tanya Brown at Tanya Brown's Breast Prosthesis Emporium) Determining your Bra/Band Size: (ribcage circumference measurement) Measure around the chest directly under the breast. Measure around the chest, directly above the breasts/under the arms. If the difference between the two measurements is two inches or less, use the Step 1 measurement. If the difference is over two inches, you may want to try one bra/band size larger for comfort. This will be your bra/band size. If the under-breast measurement is an odd number, add one to reach the next even numbered bra band size. Now measure around the chest at the height of the fullest part of the breast. The measuring tape should be held horizontal, and your arms should be down. Make a note of that measurement (only used for comparison.) Determining your Cup Size: (projection of breasts from chest wall) To determine the proper Cup Size, find the difference between step 5 and your bra band size. Use the chart above to determine your Cup Size. Notes: The previous measurement instructions are most applicable if you are taking bra measurement with an existing set of breasts. If you have only one breast due possibly to surgery, or have an uneven breast cup sizes, you should probably equalize the cups (with some form of padding) to the existing or largest breast when measuring to maintain measurement symmetry. If you do not have breasts due to whatever the reason, you will take the bra band measurements listed above, but you can pretty much be whatever cup size you wish, depending on what your plans are. Remember that choosing a cup size proportional to your body frame will look the most "natural." Suggestions on choosing a cup size (from Tanya Brown at Tanya Brown's Breast Prosthesis Emporium): Bra band sizes 32-28: "Slender" build: A cup "Average" build: B cup "Heavier" build: C cup Bra band sizes 40-42: "Average" build: B cup "Heavier" build: C-D cup Bra band sizes 44-46: "Average" build: C cup "Heavier" build: D-DD cup If you are in between sizes or you are having difficulty finding a good fit, when you go up a cup size, you should go down a band size. If you go down a cup size, you should go up a band size (ex: if you have a 36C and it is not fitting quite properly, you would probably want to try a 38B or a 34D next.) When sizes are DD and above, great care must be taken to be properly fitted. Some bra manufacturers make their Bra Size slightly large. (e.g. a bra marked 38 will probably fit a 40 woman.) For sizes above D, cup sizing is not well defined. It can keep increasing by an inch for each successive letter, or it can repeat letters for new cup sizes above D. So, a DD cup is the same as an E cup. A DDD=EE=F cup, a DDDD=EEE=FF=G cup and so on. Long line and 3/4 bras should only be considered if their length is LESS than the distance from the under-bust to the natural waist line. If either of the bra sizes given here is very different than what you are currently wearing, go with your current size. When ordering a mail order garment where a proper fit is important, make sure that the return policy of the company is well understood. If you are taking these measurements without wearing a breast form on for only a single prosthesis, determining the bra cup size can be more difficult. Some experimentation may be necessary. If you are taking these measurements for two prostheses, you can simply take the bra size measurement (Step 1) and then choose the cup size that is right for you. These are guidelines only. Proper sizing may vary for different body sizes, heights, and weights. When sizes are DD and above, great care must be taken to be properly fitted. Some bra manufacturers make their Bra Size slightly large. (e.g. a bra marked 38 will probably fit a 40 woman.) Someone sent me mail asking about how to properly measure for a bra when the breasts have sagged significantly due to gravity. The truth is, I'm not sure because you probably then need to be wearing a bra to get a proper measurement. Catch-22. I would suggest that seeing a bra fitter in this case would probably be best.

Mo, honey, now I am confident I can write a dissertation on the meaurement of bras for various subtypes of breasts and probably put together an anthology of related verse. Nan

I get a little carried away... It's my huge BRAIN!! ... okay.. time to go measure my head.... peace Mo

LMAO!

WOW MO......I am glad all you did was cut and paste that!!!!. Mandie

Once again I would like to volunteer to help out in this area also.