Love them or hate them, breasts are a part of a woman's feminine identity and wearing a correctly fitted bra is important if they're to look their best and be properly supported.
With so many styles available to choose from, knowing which bra is right for you and how to measure for the correct size isn't easy. Get it right and your bra can dramatically change the way you look, giving you increased self-confidence and a far more attractive profile.
Breasts! Either they're too big, too small, too floppy or too... well, I don't
know but ask any plastic surgeon and he'll tell you just how many women are dissatisfied
with the size and shape of their breasts.
It isn't always necessary to resort to drastic measures to improve the breast
shape, though. Simply wearing a properly fitted bra can dramatically enhance a
woman's breasts.
As unbelievable as it may sound, manufacturer research has shown that about
70 percent of women wear the wrong bra size. That's 7 out of every 10 women! Hardly
surprising that so many of us aren't happy with the way our breasts look!
The size and shape of breasts change as we age. Diet can have an unexpected
affect on them, as can lifestyle. If your bra straps dig into your flesh, the
back isn't level with the front, your breasts are bulging out of the cups or there's
a gap between the bra and your breastbone then you're undoubtedly wearing the
wrong size.
When a woman's happy with what she has "out front" her posture will most likely
improve. By standing tall with shoulders back and chest pushed out, women not
only look better but enjoy a greater lung capacity which will lead to heightened
physical well-being.
Don't be one of those who stick with the same size year in and year out -- measure
up and make sure you're wearing a bra that fits your breasts perfectly.
HOW TO MEASURE
First of all, wear a soft, unpadded bra. Yes, that's right - you DO need to
wear a bra while taking the measurements. The best type is a soft sports bra that
supports without molding your breasts into an unnatural shape or size.
You'll need to have a flexible tape measure, a piece of paper and a pencil
handy.
It's important that you stand up straight whilst taking the measurements but
don't tense up. Shoulders back but nice and relaxed, please.
Remember that you should never pull your measuring tape tight when taking measurements
but neither should you let it hang loosely. A nice snug fit is what you're aiming
for.
Now -- let the measuring begin:
Step 1 - Bra Size
Measure around your body directly below your breasts. There should be no breast
tissue measured here -- your ribcage is what's being measured. Write down your
results.
To determine your bra size, add 5 to the number you noted. If the number you
get is odd you'll need to round up to an even number. Why? Because bras are only
made in even numbered sizes.
The number you now have is your "bra size."
Step 2 - Breast Size
In order to find your "cup size" you'll first need to know your "breast
size."
To do this, measure around the fullest part of your bust. This is usually level
with the nipples although that's a guide rather than a hard and fast rule.
If you have particularly sagging breasts (and believe me, you won't be alone
if you have) and your bra isn't a perfect fit, you might need to pull them up
by the bra straps in order to measure them at their fullest. If you find this
difficult, ask a friend or your partner to help out.
Once you've taken the measurement, make a note of it. This is your "breast
size."
Step 3 - Cup Size
And so to the "cup size."
Take your "breast size" and subtract your "bra size." Each
inch of difference is equal to one cup size. If the difference is less than an
inch your cup size will be AA - 1 inch and the cup size will be A - 2 inches and
it'll be B - 3 inches for a C cup -- and so it continues.