Only 38% of British men know their partner’s bra size, according to a survey carried out by Prima magazine. However, this is nothing compared to that of women, as around 60% of ladies don’t actually know their correct bra size and up to 85% are not wearing the right bra. These statistics are drawn from a number of surveys including Bravissimo, and "If Your Bra Doesn't Fit, Go Shopping," (June 27, 2006) on Time.com.
Even when a woman knows her bra size, many bra brands tend to vary in measurements regarding fit and styles. A chain store may sell its own brand label which can come from many different manufacturers, so no 2 bras will ever be exactly the same.
Why do Women Wear the Wrong-sized Bra?
The most common reason is that many women are simply not aware of their current correct size. Just like her figure a woman’s breasts change over time, at least 6 different bra sizes according to lingerie manufacturer La Senza. Therefore she needs to be re-measured every few years as she may be wearing a bra that is either too big or too small.
- According to Stephanie Pendersen in her book Bra: A thousand Years of Style, Support and Seduction (David & Charles 2004), bra-fitting experts recommend re-evaluating your measurements once every 2 years, or more often if you have gained weight, lost weight or had a baby.
- In Twiggy, A Guide to Looking and Feeling Fabulous at 40 (Michael Joseph 2008), June Kenton, personal corsetiere to Queen Elizabeth II and owner of Rigby & Peller is quoted as saying “when you are a teenager, your breasts are full in the cup….if you go on the pill, they increase in size again.” When pregnant, according to Kenton, “your breasts go wild and might not go back down to their original size." It s also worth noting that during the menopause, breasts can also increase by up to 2 bust sizes or may reduce, depending on whether a woman is receiving HRT treatment.
- A woman who needs super-sized bra cups which are not typically stocked in most commercial stores may try and squeeze into an easily available size. On their website, UK bra retailer, Bravissimo (who undertake regular surveys and offer fittings within their stores) have found around 60% of women wearing a C cup should actually be at least a D.
- Well-endowed Western women living in Asia, find it very difficult to find correclty fitting bras. In Thailand for example anything above a C cup is as rare as hen’s teeth! Even if a local store stocks a recognizable Western brand, the fit is different as bras are produced for an Asian market are made (understandably) to an Asian fit. i.e. a different body shape. Conversely, though, for women with small busts, Asia offers a great choice of styles from 30A cups.
The Signs of a Bad Bra
A good fitting bra can transform a woman's figure. Unfortunately so can a bad one — negatively. The following signs are likely to be indications of a badly-fitting bra.
- Breasts are touching – giving you that uniboob look.
- Breasts spill over the top or the sides of a bra.
- The back of the bra is riding up and is not level with the underwiring at the front.
- There is no gap between the breast and underwiring.
- Indentations of bra straps on the shoulders.
- The wearer is overly-conscious of a bra when wearing it.
- The bra chafes the skin, causes skin abrasions, or digs into the breast itself.
- There is wrinkling in the cup, due ot excess fabric — bra is too big
- There is wrinkling in the cup at the very tip — bra is too small
- The bra moves when arms are raised
How to Find the Perfect Fitting Bra
There are a number of methods to find the correct bra size. One of which involves taking body measurements under the ribcage and across the bust. Bratherapy.com has a useful bra calculator, just type in the ribcage and bust measurement. It is always best to get a professional fitting at a reputable store but by paying attention to the tips above, this is a good guideline for blitzing the bras in your current wardrobe.
Finding the perfect fit not only means taking into account the sizing but also the brand, bra style (underwire, balcony, push-up full-coverage) and strap width. When it comes to larger than a D cup, cup sizes vary slightly between the UK, USA and the rest of Europe. Breasttalk.co.uk is a useful site for converting international sizes. For example, the U.S.A has a DDD cup, the UK and Europe does not.
 |
 |
