Quote from: Makalii on July 17, 2013, 01:14:01 AM
If you plan on doing anything that requires a lot of movement or physical activity I'd say anything above a large C is a little on the too much side. I mean I've just heard a lot of girls complaining about them getting in the way. Personally I think I'd be happy with a B, but granted I'm not very experienced with the whole measuring scale. x)
Measuring can be tough for a trans gal as some of us, though not all, have a broader chest. The simplest way to do it is to measure your underbust for your band size. You use a cloth measuring tape and measure right under your boobs. This will be your band size. Make sure it is tight. Then measure over your bust. Don't measure tightly, however. Give it some slack. But measure over both nipples. If you have an odd number, round up or down to the nearest even number. A measurement of 37 will be either a 36 or 38. Use whichever is comfy.
Then subtract your band size from this number. This will be your cup size. For example, if you have a 36 underbust and a 38 inch bust, you will be a 36 B. An A cup will yield a one. Then a B cup will be a two inch difference between the two measurements and a C cup would be a three inch difference. So on and so forth.
Now, some women use an outdated and down right anachronistic system which is adding four inches to the band measurement or five if it is odd number. The reason this is no longer accurate is because when bra manufacturers started making bras back in the early 20th century the cloth they used wasn't very elastic. And they generally used underwire. Ouch! But now, the bra industry has been revolutionized and most, if not all, bras are made with very elastic fibers that stretch and aren't so rigid like bras of old. Because of this there is no need to add four inches.
I mean say you have a band size of 36 and a bust measurement of 38. That would mean you have a negative two cup size. You will literally have negative boobs. That is ridiculous. Not every women is blessed with big old boobs. Far from it. I mean I have a band size of 32/33 and a bust size of 36/37. That would mean I am a zero cup size. I would be flat. Trust me I am not. I have to bind my breasts to pass as a guy. And even then...anyhoo there may be a reason to add a an inch or two because we unfortunately are MAAB and have a slightly different shaped chest that is broad or sometimes with extruding lower ribs, so it may be necessay in some cases.
Just go with whatever is comfy. I am technically a C cup. A 34 C to be exact. But I wear a 34 B and it fits perfectly. Basically get the measurement and go and try out a couple sized and pick what fits. Generally, you will want to be able to fit your index finger through the shoulder straps but it should fit tightly and shouldn't be too loose. Not all bras are equal and just like jeans or slacks different brands will have different meeasuremnts. It isn't like buying icky guy jeans and you can just grab a pair of 30 x 30 jeans and all will be equal. Being a girl is tough this way because it forces you to shop and try stuff on. The horror, the horror. Shopping! I only want to go shopping like once a day and use a get in and never get out approach lol I LOVE SHOPPING!
I hope this helps. But remember you are still growing so don't buy like 10 bras. Only buy a couple as you will outgrow them if you are lucky. But nothing is better then finding a super cute bra. Well except for finding a totally cute top. Or even better some killer red skinny jeans or jeggings!!!!
