Bra sizing insanity...

[sd]

There has been a few threads bout this topic lately, and figured I would share a little something.


Just for giggles I fed my measurements (36 and 40, I'm closer to 37, but for this we'll say 36) into 16 online bra calculators to see what they claimed my size was. Note, all sizes are American, and I actually have a 36C and 38B bra that I wear with enhancers (they add 1-1.5 cup) that fit me quite well. Thus just shows how much confusion there really is in this stuff.

These are the results
1x 36D  (Wishful thinking on their part and mine)
1x 38B
3x 40AA
1x 40 Nearly A
1x 40B
5x 42AA
1x 42B
2x 42C (no way in hell!)

Notes:
Some sites were just random sites, some were stores, some were manufacturers. Some manufacturers seem to be trying to establish a new way of measuring. Some use the old method of adding inches, some don't. All I see, is a mess. I suspect the 42AA's were using the same calculator script, if not owned by the same company, so I wouldn't put much faith in that number being correct either.


Some silly quotes I got.
One site told me I was "Not in a range our system uses" I later determined they thought I was a 40AA. Which was added to the results.

Another simply said:
"Your bra size is 42
But no bra is needed if these measurements are correct." (What, no cup size?)

[Janet_Girl]

I can understand the confusion.  I go anyway from 38B to 42A.  But like most women, I think, I go with what feels and looks the best.  And that is a 38B.

I wonder, do Bios Have this same problem?


Janet

[sd]

That is why I posted in in this forum instead of the mtf forum. The guys could probably chime in on this, and get a kick out of it.

[V M]

I've noticed quite a variance in sizing with bra calculators and bra makers. But I notice this with almost all woman's clothing to some degree. With one brand I'm one size, with another brand I'm another.

It's a craps shoot. Roll the dice, what ever numbers come up, that's your bra size 

[Jeatyn]

Bra sizing, just like womens clothing (a size 8 can mean absolutely anything depending on the store) is bloody horrible.

In mens clothing if it says it's 36 inches, that generally means - wait for it - it's 36 inches

I only wear sports bra's nowadays and they tend to be a lot more ambiguous seeing as they have no shape to them or anything, I got a couple from the same place and they're a 34DD (oh lucky me) and fit perfectly

Last time I was too lazy to do laundry I decided I'd steal one of my sisters bra's, 36D, I thought eh...might be a little small but whatever

It was MASSIVE, far too big for me and useless for any kind of support.

I put my measurements into a site just now for giggles...came out as a 40B, wtf?

[Alex_C]

Yes women's sizing sucks at least in the US,

When I'm clothes shopping, I know a boys' 16 will fit me, no questions asked. No need to even try it on. When I was buying women's sizes it was nuts.

[Keroppi]

That's why (typically speaking) girls try on clothes in changing room before buying, whereas boys don't.

[tekla]

I always try on all clothes before buying them, no matter what kind of clothing it is - its also the best way to check the (highly varying) quality of manufacture.

[Bellaon7]

I always try on all clothes before buying them, no matter what kind of clothing it is - its also the best way to check the (highly varying) quality of manufacture.

I totally agree w/this! The funny/strange thing to me w/bras was finding out that the cup size actually increases as bandsize increases, even though it's the same letter. 

[FairyGirl]

I noticed that about the cup/band sizes as well. Generally a 36 A has been working for me but the cups are becoming more and more uncomfortably tight, so I guess I'm graduating to a B cup. Like many girls before me, I've found that trying on anything is the only way to ensure that something fits and looks good too.

Something I think is funny about cup sizes- an AA is more like a "half an A" but a DD is definitely a "double D" lol

[Bellaon7]

The biggest(little) promblem for me was, besides never getting larger than an a-cup, was that when finally had enough growth to fit in any kind of cup, the cups were always to far apart. I was actually considering having my fav. $20 bras altered(cut between the cups & expanded), which probably would have cost more than the original purchase price! 

[JonasCarminis]

i wore either a 32D, 34D, or 32DD depending on the bra.  it was annoying.  >_<

now that thats written down, i noticed what nice proportions i had and kindof feel bad that i had them chopped off.  >_>

[V M]

Dude! The past is the past. We all gotta live in the here and now. No regrets.

Sometimes I wish I could still go topless. No chance of that with this gal any more. I get harassed enough for going bra-less.

You can run about in just a pair of shorts if you like. I'm getting schooled on being more lady like

I like the star tat.

[Chrissty]

Like Virginia, it's a little difficult for me to go topless these days..

The bra's I wear vary in UK size from 38 to 40 band, and from A to C cup.

My actual measurements are currently ~ band 38in and bust 43in.

I find the size I require varies dramatically even with a similar style from the same manufacturer... 

Most bra's I buy are stretchy microfibre to be more comfortable, and the hardest bra's to find the correct size in are the formed-cup "T-shirt" and balconette styles...

..and I always thought the reasons girls spent so much time trying clothes on, was because they couldn't make their minds up...*sigh* 

Chrissty

[sarahb]

I guess the only lucky thing about not having much development in the breasts is that I pretty much can always just go with the smallest size anywhere and it works, lol (depending on their smallest size).

I agree with the guys here, when I used to buy guys clothing it was no guessing game like things are now. If I wore a 32 at one place, it would always be 32 everywhere else. Now, sometimes I'm a 6, sometimes a 9, sometimes a 7. I wonder why women's clothing doesn't just use the same type of measurement men's clothing does, in straight inches instead of, whatever those numbers stand for.

~Sarah

[placeholdername]

The biggest(little) promblem for me was, besides never getting larger than an a-cup, was that when finally had enough growth to fit in any kind of cup, the cups were always to far apart. I was actually considering having my fav. $20 bras altered(cut between the cups & expanded), which probably would have cost more than the original purchase price!

I think this is due to getting a higher band size than you need...  Most measuring advice I found said to take the actual measurement and add 4 inches, for example:

http://www.herroom.com/bra-fitting-advice,901,30.html

This is a mistake!  A good breakdown of bra-sizing myths is here:

http://www.knickersblog.com/top-five-bra-sizing-myths/699

The important one being:
"This is the single biggest bra-sizing myth out there — women who wear the wrong bra size almost always have their back size too large, and their cup size too small."

And 'cup size' (the letter after the number) isn't a meaningful indicator of 'actual breast size', meaning people aren't really 'B cup women' or 'C cup women' or 'D cup women', it's just a proportion of band vs bust, meaning that a 36B and a 34C and a 32D will all mostly fit the same person, with varying amounts of support vs 'roundedness'.

[FairyGirl]

And 'cup size' (the letter after the number) isn't a meaningful indicator of 'actual breast size', meaning people aren't really 'B cup women' or 'C cup women' or 'D cup women', it's just a proportion of band vs bust, meaning that a 36B and a 34C and a 32D will all mostly fit the same person, with varying amounts of support vs 'roundedness'.

hmm that's interesting, I'll have to go try on new bras now (good excuse to go shopping, as if I ever needed one)

[Arch]

I always try on all clothes before buying them, no matter what kind of clothing it is - its also the best way to check the (highly varying) quality of manufacture.

This is exactly why I hate shopping for clothes. On, off, on, off, on, off...it's maddening. And then they wear out and you have to do it all over again.

P.S. I would weigh in with some brassiere wisdom, but I stopped wearing the things a LONG time ago.

[Stephanie]

I am glad that I won't need a bra for a few years.  I bought my one and only bra last year, it was a 40B.  I bought this size because I really liked the style of the bra and they only had size 40s left.  So knowing that I would probably find it a very tight fit I went home tried it on and to my great surprise it fitted me.  My chest measurement is 44".
I didn't notice any of the tell tale signs that my bra was too tight. 

[Maddie Secutura]

To properly fit a bra use the Victoria's Secret method; they get it right every time.
While wearing a non padded bra:

Measure just above the bust (this also gives you your band size)
Measure around the fullest part of the bust

Now take the second measurement and subtract the first
0" AA
1" A
2" B
3" C
4" D
5" DD

I'll use myself as an example:
First measurement: 34"
Second measurement: 36"
36 - 34 = 2

34B

A few pointers:
1. For strapless go a band size lower and go up a cup size. This is because there are no straps for that extra 10% lift so
    you need to get it from the snugness of the band.
2. Start on the outer hooks and as the bra stretches (which it will) move farther inwards. 
3. Don't skimp on quality.  A poor quality bra won't support as well and will wear out much faster.