How to Get the Correct Bra Size

According to a survey, a staggering 70-80% of women are wearing the wrong bra size. This can lead to breast and shoulder pain and back ache so here’s a quick guide to making sure your best assets are well supported.

Supermodel Elle Macpherson says ‘It’s important to feel good about your body and lingerie is a great way of being in touch with it’. If you want to refresh your lingerie drawer, this first thing to do is to get measured.

Most stores’ lingerie departments offer a measuring service if you want professional advice and they’ll be able to show you which styles suit your figure.

If you’d rather do it at home, find a tape measure and a mirror. To get your back size, stand up straight and wrap the tape measure around your chest, just underneath the breasts. The tape should be snug, but not tight and check in the mirror to make sure it’s straight across your back.

Take that measurement and round it to the nearest even number in inches, then add 4 inches. This is your back size. For example: Your measurement is 34” add 4” so your back size is 38”.

Next, you need to measure your cup size, so wrap the tape measure snugly over the fullest part of your breasts. If you’re in-between inches on this measurement, round to the nearest inch. Now subtract your back size from your cup measurement to find your cup size.

1” difference = A Cup
2” difference = B Cup
3” difference = C Cup
4” difference = D Cup
5” difference = DD Cup
6” difference = E Cup
7” difference = F Cup
8” difference = FF Cup
9” difference = G Cup

The golden rule is try-before-you-buy. Or try before you take the labels out and commit yourself if you’re buying from the internet. The right sized bra and panties shouldn’t rub, ride, dig or tickle when you’re wearing them. Reach up and jump about a bit to make sure they give you enough day-to-day support.

The central section between the cups should lie flat against the breast bone and the breasts shouldn’t bulge from the cups. For underwired bras, the wire should rest against the bone of the ribcage not the breast tissue.

There are loads of high street brands to suit your taste and budget but, considering how much time we spend in our bras, it’s really worth finding somewhere that has a good reputation for underwear. On the internet, check a site’s returns policies; buy one bra in the size you want and then more if you’re happy with the shape, cut and feel. If what you’ve bought isn’t perfect for you send it back.

Look after your Girls and they will be your loyal and beautiful assets.

Getting a good fit with a sports bra is just as important. There's an article here about how to fit a sports bra.