Common Bra Sizing Mistakes

How to Know if You’ve Made a Common Bra Sizing Mistake

• Your breasts are overflowing your bra or not completely filling the cups.
• The back of your bra is riding up. The back of your bra should lie straight across your back. If you are looking for support, you may want to consider a bra that lays a little further down your back.
• Your underwire is digging in. If you wear an underwire bra, it should be comfortable. It should never leave a red mark.
• Your bra is causing bulges or cutting into the flesh.
• The front of your bra is not laying flat against your chest.
• Your shoulder straps are giving you too much support. Your shoulder straps need to be adjusted if they fall off your shoulder or dig into your shoulder. Again, your shoulder straps should never cause red marks.
• The edges of the cups aren't laying flat against your breast. If you are wearing a padded bra, there may be a gap. If this is the case, go down a cup size.

Getting Properly Measured

The most common bra sizing mistake is not getting measured. It would be best if you get measured by a professional salesperson, but if you’re shy, you can do it at home with a tape measure.

Start by measuring your chest just under your arms. This will help you find your band size. If you get an odd number, round up to the next even number. For example, you measure a 37, your band size is a 38.

To find your cup size, take your tape measure and measure across the fullest part of your breast, the area across your nipples. If the number is one inch more than your band size, you are an A cup. If the number is two inches more than your band size, you are a B cup and so on.

Finally, remember that as the band size of a bra increases, so does the actual cup size of a bra.

Trying on a Bra

While it may be awkward to try on a bra in the tiny fitting rooms with the ugly lighting, it's important to know if the bra will fit before you buy it.

• Give yourself plenty of time when you go bra shopping.
• Try on different kinds of bras, fiddle with different sizes (you may need to go up a cup and down a band size).
• Try on bras beneath your clothes. See how your bra looks beneath your favorite shirt.
• Move around in the fitting room to see how much support the bra gives you. If you are trying a push up bra or a demi bra, lean over to make sure you won’t fall out.

Get Resized if Your Body Changes

If you lose or gain weight your bra size will probably change. A common mistake is continuing to wear bras that don’t fit. If your body changes, get resized. Don’t try to squeeze into bras that don’t fit. While bras are expensive, if you want to look your best, buy new ones if your body changes.

If you go through a pregnancy and birth, expect your chest size to change up to a year after your delivery. Buy cheap bras until your chest size stabilizes, or expect to spend extra money on properly sized bras. If you are nursing, find a good nursing bra that will support breastfeeding.

A common bra sizing mistake is not replacing your bra on a regular basis. Bras should be replaced every six months to a year, as they their elasticity after some time or may shrink due to washing. In addition, bras can get sweat-stained or get little fabric balls on them after a period of time.

What if One of your Breasts is Larger than the Other?

Women don’t talk about this often, but it isn't uncommon for one breast to be slightly bigger than the other. Be sure to take this into account when buying a bra.

• If there’s only a little difference, wear a larger sized bra to fit your larger breast.
• If there is a substantial difference, look at getting a breast cup for the smaller sized breast. You can also make your own bra, or have one specially made for you.
• Take your problem to a lingerie specialist and see what suggestions they offer. Many places offer alterations so you can get the perfect fit.