In this thread, we talk about bra sizing
 

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The cup size is a ratio based off of the chest circumference, or at leadt that's what I thought.

Isn't that because women have different breast shapes: full, slack, perky, etc?

I have changed my bra cup size by purchasing a different number size (whatever that is called)
I was always under the understanding the cup was a ratio between your "rib" measurement and "boob" measirement (for lack of a better term. I think it is for each 2" difference between the two numbers equals one cup.
Example: rib measurement = 34 and boob measurement = 38 would equal a 34B.
So if you purchased a bigger number on your bra say 36 and your boobs measure the 38 that is 2 inches difference so that would be a 36A. And to go the opposite direction and bought a tighter rib fit of 32 and boob measurement equal 38 then you would need a 32C.

Hope this makes sense-- and I didn't check out the website so if it says the same-- sorry!

Oh my goodness. Don't get me started with the breast cup size thing. On top of that, they also have these "almost" sizes where you can get an "Almost A", "Almost B", etc. It's a little nuts out there in bra-world.

A saleslady at VS told me that they have "sister sizes" and you can wear one band sizes larger as long as the cup is one size smaller. So if you're a 34D, you can also wear a 36C. I tried doing this once, and frankly, the bra fit me horribly.

Buying bras are a pain in the ass!

I have to try them all on because the styles fit differently

This is a bunch of CRAP.

If this holds true, I would have been able to wear my mom's bras, and I guarantee you, I've tried them and they didn't fit AT ALL.

This is just trying to get you to buy more product...in case they don't have the bra you want in your size, so you don't walk out without buying. It's like the makeup companies who based things on your colors and then said you could wear different color families for a more "natural" or "dramatic" look. That was crap too.

This is at least true for me. VS is notorious for having screwy sizes though, and their salesladies admit that what size you are in their store you may not be in other stores.

I usually have to try on VS bras, I take different sizes depending on the style. Some bras I have are 34D (what I take in non-VS bras), some are 36C. I think I have more 36C from there.

But women's sizes in general are such a pain in the ass

There are many places I can't get a fit because my size just doesn't exist. (Hello Victoria's Secret, I am looking at you.)

The best thing I ever did was be properly measured fro a bra. I went to this nice little boutique at Yonge and Eglington in Toronto. The woman was fabulous. I still had to try on a ton of bras to find the right one but I finally found some. I ended up spending over a hundred bucks on 2 bras but it was totally worth it. They fit properly and they are so comfortable. I don't even like shopping at the "mall" lingerie stores anymore because they rarely every carry my size

Well, I'm normally 36D, and when I try for a 38C, it just doesn't work. My right breast (the bigger one) spills out of the cup. However, when I bought my long-line bra for under the wedding dress, it was a 34D and fit perfectly - I guess because it wrapped all the way around my midsection and I have a pretty narrow waist. But when I tried a 34D regular bra it was too tight around my ribs. UGH! :rolleyes:

co-sign!!!
And they definitely have tried to tell me about "sister sizing" to try to get me to purchase something, but that has never fit me

This would explain why some bras that are the same size fit me either perfectly or just weird & I have to change bras.

Believe it or not, the best-fitting bra I ever got was at the Agent Provacateur in SoHo NYC. I'm going to Vegas in a few weeks and plan to pop into their new shop there to get a few more. They're not known for making comfy bras, but I love my AP bra!

Shopping for bras is a pain in the butt. I know what size I normaly wear but I decided to get fitted. Two times I was fitted, two times they told me I was a bra and cup size smaller then what I normally pick out. When the first chick told me I decided that I would play along with her and try the bra on. I got that sucker on and it was digging into my ribs and I came out and showed her how wrong the measurements were. I've just given up on being properly fitted and just try on a bunch of bras until I find one that fits well.

This is a great thread but it would be even better with pictures.

-Rudey

I think getting properly fitted is a good idea, but you have to go to the right place. I would never get fitted at a place like VS or La Senza/La Vie En Rose (shops in Toronto). Most of the time the staff have no idea what they are talking about. They only want to make a sale. I like these little independent boutiques because they employ professionals who know what they are talking about. Yes, they are a little more expensive but it's worth the money to find a bra that fits properly.

I think you mean "pain in the boobs". :)

Ok.

http://www.agentprovocateur.com/images/34.jpg

What she said!

One of the best places I have been for bras (besides a specialty bra shop) is Nordstrom.

I went up a cup size when I had my daughter, and I finally found a bra that fits perfectly, Playtex 18hour, I got a rack of em.

I've never been fitted to my knowledge. Thinking about it, I don't know how I know my bra size lol.

Naw that's PMS. LOL

The absolute best bra I have ever bought (and I had to drive up to Atlanta to Phipps Plaza to do it) was last year from the store Intimacy. Now, these babies are going to cost you at least $70.00 and up per bra, but after looking at a friend who was wearing one, and who looked like she had lost about 10 pounds, another friend and I hopped in the car and were on our way! These bras are made completely differently from most bras, they "wear" differently, and they are guaranteed for life. We both bought two, one flesh colored and one black. These things make you look like you have a completely different shape. By the way, if you are modest at all, get over it, because the saleswomen are going to walk right in, guess what you are, still measure you (and yes, it's not the same formula), and no matter what size you THINK you are, or what you've always worn, these ladies are going to give you something different, and it's going to FIT-and fit well! You'd have to google to find out where these stores are, and I don't think there are very many, but this is a bra that is WELL WORTH THE MONEY!! And, the drive! :D

I totally agree on spending the money for a GOOD bra!! I hate bra shopping, and I am a bit larger chested, so I cant even buy bras in most places(like VS) I actually just bought 2 from Fredericks of Hollywood(although I was leery at first) and they fit FANTASTIC. As my grandmother(creepy) puts it "You need to put them where they belong!" Meaning a good bra should hold them in the right spot on your chest, w/o digging in to your shoulders or breaking any ribs.

The sizing thing is weird. Plus, VS doesn't help by making their bras a size smaller...if you wear a 34C you have to buy a 34D at VS, etc. Though, I must say, they are smart about it trying to make women feel good...haha, love going to VS and buying a 34C instead of a 34B.

The ratio thing is true though. 36B = 34C = 32D...of course the bands will all fit different, but the cups themselves are very, very close to the same.

Yeah, I think VS is a scam as far as bra sizing goes.

I've had a lot of luck with Gap's bras, believe it or not. At first, I thought it was for girls who are A and B cups, but they do have a good selection of C and D cups. :D

Once you find a bra you like and that fits well, I can guaran-damn-tee you they will stop making that style immediately!:mad:

Of course they will, it's Murphy's Law.

HUUUUUGE amen to that! I was extremely PO'ed when our chapter's recruitment chairs picked a strapless dress for Pref Day because I'd searched and searched all during high school for a strapless in my size, but I always failed and had to get dresses with a strap or sleeves to cover the strap up. Every. Single. Freaking. Time. But, guess what I found at Nordstrom's? Le Mystere (also my favorite t-shirt bra of all time because it comes in big sizes, huzzah!) started making a non-padded strapless in an F-cup. OMG, I actually get to look at dresses with tiny/nonexistant straps for formals, yay!!!

Another sizing complaint: why do they make padded anything in big cup sizes? Just because you're an itty-bitty person with...a lot...doesn't mean you're trying to outdo Dolly Parton. Usually, if there's a push-up anything I'm trying on, it doesn't work and it's too small because there's padding in where boobs should be. What the?!

And about Victoria's Secret...a huge co-sign to what's been said--those salesgirls are clueless. 36C is not a 32F. Auuuughh.

OMG yes! I don't udnerstand why they have to put padding in big bra sizes. My boobs are big enough thankyou, the extra padding is not needed, unless it's there to oiffer extra protection when someone accidently whacks you in the chest, but it's not working for that either.

I've been meaning to go there! The owner of the store was on Oprah a while back and she fitted O. O also said she was a different size than she thought.

Ick, I know plenty of people who hate wearing strapless dresses, and many people who think it's totally inappropriate pin wear. At convention when some of the collegiates have on strapless dresses, the alumnae do whisper at how inappropriate it is, especially during business sessions when it's supposed to be whites.

People can hate wearing them b/c they have no chest, or as in your case, have a LOT of chest. Honestly, why show off cleavage to PNMs? Especially if you're sitting on the floor and they're in a chair. Lol.

Hahaha, yeah, I fell in love with the Body By Victoria Translucent bra (that is what is was called...it was a BBV bra with no padding and no underwire...just very light lining for shaping). TWO weeks after I bought my first one, they were discontinued!!!! So I went back and bought all of the 34C's they had...which was only 2. :-(

I really like lightly padded ones because it makes the bra a lot more comfortable to wear.

Lately it seems that whenever I go shopping, the only bras in my size are all gel bras or water bras that are designed to make you look one cup size bigger. Mind you I'm already a DD. How much bigger do they honestly expect me to go?

Plus it keeps your headlights underwraps if you get a bit chilly

Did anyone see that Oprah show with the bra designer person? The whole sizing thing was explained. Cup sizes aren't standard at all. You get measured around the rib cage and that's the number. Then, you get measured around the fullest part of the breast - you take that number and subtract it from the first number. I can't remember what exactly it was but it was like a 1 inch difference is an A, a 2 inch difference is a B and so on.

Like I said, I don't remember exactly but they did say that some crazy number of women (like 90%) are wearing the wrong bra size - and most bra fitters really have no idea what they're doing.

I'm a full-figured gal and I've found that Lane Bryant has excellent underwire bras that restrain me quite well!! I get the lightly padded ones to achieve that nice smooth look.

Woops! Didn't read this until after I posted. That's who I'm talking about.

Bless you, child. I just went to Nordstroms.com and bought 2 Le Mystere bras (T-shirt and strapless). w00t.