How to measure your bra size

No less than 80 percent of women wears the wrong bra size. This is because most women never take the time to measure their body to determine their right bra size. That’s a shame, because most lingerie shops offer this service for free. Does asking for it in a shop make you feel uncomfortable and do you prefer taking your measurements yourself in the comfort of your own home? We’ll explain how to correctly measure your own bra size. 

How important is the right bra size?

Pain in your back and shoulders, cups that are too small to hold your breasts, shoulder straps that keep falling down: these are just a couple of nuisances that come with wearing the wrong bra size. Sometimes the cups are too small or too large and sometimes the bra band is too tight or too loose. The right bra size not only makes you look slimmer, but also prevents pain in your neck by providing optimal support of your breasts. A good bra always stays in place. If your bra rides up the back or front of your body, it is too large and you should choose a smaller size next time.

The risk of wearing the wrong size bra

If you wear a bra that’s too large (wrinkled fabric is a good indicator for this), this contributes to the development of saggy breasts. It can also lead to shoulder pain and it puts a lot of pressure on your body. Underwire cups can restrict bloodflow to your breast tissue and can even cause damage to your breast tissue, which can lead to saggy breasts as well.

How do I measure my bra size?

The shape and volume of your breasts change over the years. Pregnancy, weight gain, weight loss, and menopause can all have an effect on your breasts. That’s why you should measure your bra size at least once a year. If you want to do it yourself, use these tips:

1. Measure your chest size, just below your breasts.
2. Measure your bust size.
3. Find both measurements in the chart below. The first measurement is your size. The second measurement is your cup size.

Signs you’re wearing the wrong bra size 

Bra rides up

Your bra rides up your back? This means the bra band is too large. It’s also possible that your bra is too worn out, since the elasticity of the bra band always decreases after a while. A right size bra always offers good support, even when you tighten or loosen the hook closure at the back. If your bra doesn’t feel comfortable, it’s time to replace it. Make sure the bra band doesn’t ride up your back. The band should form a straight line around your body.

Red marks and sideboobs

Is the bra band squeezing your body? Or is it difficult to close the bra? Then the bra band is too tight. When you suddenly have sideboobs, or if you see red marks on your shoulder, it means your bra is too small as well. Many women think that most of the support from a bra comes from the shoulder straps, but this is not true. Eighty percent of the support comes from the bra band around your body, so always make sure it fits perfectly.

Too small cups

When the cups of your bra are too small, your breasts can spill out at the top. This makes it look like you have four breasts! Throw that bra away, because it clearly doesn’t fit anymore. If the middle piece of your bra doesn’t touch your sternum, then it doesn’t offer enough support. A bra should separate your breasts for maximum support. If it doesn’t, the cups are probably too small.

Buying a bra online

You probably heard the saying ‘home is where the bra comes off’. Every woman knows that feeling of relief when you take off your bra at the end of a long day. However, you underwear isn’t supposed to feel uncomfortable. Do you prefer to try on new underwear in the comfort of your own home instead of in a fitting room with a nosy salesperson on the other side of the curtain? Order your new bras online!  You can try them all on and then send back the rest if you’re 100% satisfied with your choice.