A brassiere is a foundational undergarment for all women. While its primary purpose is to lift and support our breasts, it can also serve as a fashionable garment in and of itself. The design of bras which aim to be fashionable, rather than functional, has been driven by changing fashions in outerwear. This has often dictated what could be worn underneath which is why the bras shape has evolved through flat, round, pointed, conical, to “natural”.

Almost 2/3 of all woman do not wear the right bra size. Proper fit will provide support, maximize cleavage, and enhance clothing. The fullest measurement should be used for clothing size charts.

Use a flexible measuring tape, measure while either naked or in a loose slip/camisole. Don’t pull the tape tightly. Begin and end the tape measure along the side of your body, so you can glance down and be able to see the numbers. It is also helpful to have the tape measure upside down so that when you do look down, the numbers will be right side up.

1. BAND SIZE: Measure under the breasts along chest wall and straight across the back. Round up to the nearest whole number. Now add 5 to that measurement for the band size. Example, measure 29 + 5 = 34 band size. Measure 30.5 + 5 = 35.5 or 36 band size.

2. CUP SIZE: Measure the fullest part of the breast and across the back without compressing the breasts. 0″ difference = AAA, 1″ difference = AA, 2″ difference = A, 3″ difference = B, 4″ difference = C, 5″ difference = D, 6″ difference = DD

Correct bra size will help you buy other garments confidently, such as swimsuits, lingerie, gowns and formal dresses. Remember that bra size will change before and after a pregnancy, as well as with any sort of weight loss or gain over 10 pounds or so. Be sure to remeasure yourself for the best fit possible.

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Tags: Basics, bras, Brassiere, Brassiere measurements, Brassieres, Breast, Clothing, Fashion, Lingerie, Plus-Size, push up bras, Shopping, Undergarment, Women's

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 9th, 2008 at 7:04 am and is filed under Brassieres. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.