Are You Wearing the Right Size Bra?

November 14, 2007 | Filed Under Fashion Tips, Lingerie

My roommate came home yesterday and told me that she’d heard about Oprah doing a show on how most women are wearing the wrong bra size. That got me thinking about if women really know how to find out what bra they should be wearing.

A few ways to know you’re bra size is incorrect:

Back fat falling over the edge of the bra
Breasts spilling over the cups (I know that wonder bras push them up, but they shouldn’t be falling out)
Pinching wires
Falling straps - or straps that pinch
Dimpling cups

Evidently, about 70-85 percent of women are wearing the wrong bra size. Your bra should be comfortable, sitting under your breast and resting on your chest. A bra that fits right will be comfortable - even if you have to go up (or down) a bra size.

So, how do you find the right bra size? It’s not really that hard. You only need two measurements

The underbust measurement (measuring under your bust)
The overbust measurement (measuring the fullest part of your bust)

Now, take your underbust measurement (UM) and, if it’s an even number of inches, add 4 to that number. If it’s an odd number of inches, add five to that number.

Now, take your Overbust Measurement (OM) to determine your bra size.

If the bra size is the same as the OM number, you’re an A. 1 inch more gives you a B, 2 inches more gives you a C, 3 inches more gives you a D, 4 inches more gives you a DD, 5 inches m ore gives you an F, and so on.

So, here’s an example:

UM=32 + 4inches = Bra size 36

OM=40. 40-36 = 4, so the correct bra size is 36DD.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but after checking it myself, I need to go bra shopping.

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