How to Measure Guide | EASY AS 1-2-3

WHAT YOU NEED?
  1. Soft measuring tape
  2. Pen and paper
  3. Your best-fitting, non-padded bra
STEP 1: MEASURE FOR BAND SIZE
Standing upright, in front of a mirror, wrap a measuring tape around your back and bring to the front directly underneath your breasts. The tape measure should be comfortably snug, but not cut into your skin, and remain flat and parallel to the floor. Round fractional measurements up to the nearest whole number. So, if your underbust measurement is between two sizes, e.g., 31.25” then round up to the nearest EVEN whole number, i.e. 32”. This measurement is your starting point band size.

 

Note: If you’re wearing a poorly fitted bra and|or have a heavy bosom (i.e. breast tissue folds over underwire), be sure that the tape measure is underneath your breasts.

STEP 2: MEASURE FOR BUST SIZE

Next, measure around the fullest part of your breasts (generally across the nipples) keeping the tape flat and parallel to the floor. Keep the tape snug so that it does not slide off the skin but, do not compress the flesh! 

 

STEP 3: CALCULATE YOUR CUP SIZE

Subtract your band measurement (Step 1) from your cup measurement (Step 2). The difference in inches represents your cup size. So 1" = A, 2" = B, 3" = C... See our Cup Guide below.

Don’t be alarmed if this measurement is different then the bra you’re currently wearing. Most women are wearing bras that are

  1. too big in the band and|or
  2. too small in the cup

resulting in muffin boob, side and|or under wire spillage, bands that ride up the center of the back, or straps digging into the shoulders. Keep in mind that 80% of the support for your breasts should come from your band, not your straps! And because most of us wear bras with bands that are too big we try to compensate for the lack of lift and support by tightening the straps.

Now that we have a starting point, remember that as with our dresses and jeans NO TWO BRAS ARE ALIKE! Breast shape, personal preferences, babies and age can all affect the perfect fit. If you want to size up or down in band for a slightly looser or tighter fit, you must size down or up in cup, respectively.

If, for example, your calculated bra size is a 32D, then you could try a 30DD for a more snug fit, or a 34C for a slightly looser fit, as these 3 sizes are cup size equivalents - also known as, Sister Sizes. Most of us assume if you wear a 32D and find that the band of a particular bra is too tight, that you should go up to a 34D. This is incorrect! The woman who wears a 32D has less breast tissue than the woman who wears a 34D. Instead you should choose a 34C in order to achieve a more comfortable band with the same size cup because cup volume increases as band size increases. This is due to the inverse relationship between band and cup. For additional help on cup size equivalents check out our guide on How Bra Sizing Works. 

Keep in mind that with frequent wear bras lose their elasticity thus becoming less supportive.  Furthermore, we only recommend going up an extra band size if you have less body fat around your ribcage.

Finally, with strapless bras we recommend a snug fit to aid in avoiding the dreaded slippage.