Bra Sizing Help

[SoShy]

Okay, I'm finally going to ask since I can't find anything telling me directly and I've searched.

Is there something special about MtF's and bra sizes? Is there a special math trick to getting the cup size right or something? It always seems to be off and I can't find a good fit. I measure 39/47/39.

I even checked out the calculator links posted by Tinkerbell and Karen in previous posts to no avail.

SoShy

[lizbeth]

are you sure that your measurements are correct? those seem more like hips, waist and chest measurements.   you'll want to measure under bust, full bust, and over bust for those calculators to work.

make sure the tape isn't going at an odd angle or anything that could add an inch or two.

if those measurements are correct, 44g is far from a common bra size and you always hear women complain about finding larger cup sized bras that fit. you're best bet is to get a fitting for bras that large (more than DD cups)

[Bombi]

Try to get the band size right first then work on the correct cup size. It's important to be comfortable.

[lizbeth]

Try to get the band size right first then work on the correct cup size. It's important to be comfortable.

for sure!! and when sizing the band, try to make sure it's comfortable on the end hooks since bras tend to stretch over time.

[SoShy]

First, I understand about the measurements and the places to measure (under, over and above) I've even had someone else measure me to make sure I wasn't doing something wrong (the sizes seemed big to me too) but perhaps you can see why I'm having so much trouble.

This is how I measure, under the bust measurement being snug without cutting in (but I can still breathe), over the bust so it isn't pressing into the bust itself and then above the bust (just under the arms) just slightly snug without cutting in.
(I use a cloth measuring tape and by snug, I mean the tape doesn't have slack but isn't doing the "muffin top" thing either, if you know what I mean).

Even if I err on the side of going too large for under and above and adjust the measurements to 40, I can't go any larger.. it's far too loose, the band size is almost the only thing I'm confident about being right and comfortable. 

Sometimes this size stuff is a headache.  As for a fitting, I haven't yet done that because of fear,etc but if I'm not doing this wrong, then I guess that I need to have one done.

SoShy

[lizbeth]

well, it sounds like you are measuring correctly, I think it might be a matter of being in that "hard to find a bra that fits right" size range.

if I may ask, what size(s) have you tried, and what was the problem with each one?

are you using breastforms or do you have breasts/implants? (sorry if that comes across as rude, it's just that you don't have a profile yet (need 15 posts! ) ).

[SoShy]

I understand about the profile, and I kinda assumed questions like that when I asked this, so, no offense taken

No implants and don't plan on any, my family has always been very busty, DD's are common place and I should note that I'm still at "the beginning" and not yet fully developed in the chest, hence my concerns.  If I can't learn this and figure it out, how will I manage later (and I hate the idea of going braless).

All the sizes I've tried are a 40 band (better to be a lil bigger than smaller for comfort).  I've tried C, D, but as I said in my first post, the problem is the cup size more than anything, I fill a C cup enough that I even have a little cleavage, but going to D and larger (as measurements suggest), I end up nowhere near what it would take to fill it, but the C cup also isn't completely comfortable, it digs in spots and causes "bulging" in others.

So, what value do the measurements have? how do you use them to find what will fit or not?  I'm truly at a loss, which is why I posted only measurements when I asked, because I figured I had to be doing something wrong to be having so much trouble.

SoShy

[lizbeth]

you said the 40 was a little bigger that it needed to be? sounds like a C cup is about right for you, maybe you should try a 36 or 38 band size worn on the far hooks? that lets the girls sit a bit more to the front instead of being pulled apart. it also allows room for the band to stretch.

you aren't spilling over the 40C are you? is it pinching up on the sides or under arms or pinching in the at the shoulders?

[SoShy]

Spilling over? I'm not sure the best way to explain it, but it is that the "extra" ends up on the outsides, not under the arm but it's like they're being pushed up and out too much, and I have to keep adjusting the outside edge or it pinches.

As for the band, the 40 is a bit big, I'm not positive on how snug it should be.  I haven't tried smaller sizes since all the stuff to read says you should round up the band size.

SoShy

[lizbeth]

now you've got me, because that makes it sounds like you need a larger cup size AND band size. if you do get a proper fitting i'd love to hear what the correct size turned out to be

[SoShy]

I'll do that, I guess a proper fitting is the only way to get this figured out.  I just kinda hoped to solve this without one since I've not found a friendly spot to get one done around here.

Thanks for your help even though we're both now confused and once I get it done, I'll let you know so the mystery is solved and maybe can help someone else.

[sd]

There are bra specialty shops you can call and setup a fitting for you. They often will do after hours specifically for TG people for added privacy.