This post has been updated January, 27, 2020.
Note, I purchased all these bras myself, but this post does contain Amazon affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
All women know the look.
One second, everything is fine.
Then maybe it’s a boisterous laugh, bending over to grab something, or you know, literally any movement at all.
*snap*
Time stops.
You know those medical miracle news stories where they show x-rays of dudes with nails in their heads that somehow missed every vital area, one day, that will be me.
Except instead of a nail to the face, you’ll see an x-ray of my chest cavity on the screen with half a u-shaped bra wire narrowly missing my beating human heart.
Wire snaps happen to the best of us, even more so when our bras are cheap, old, or ill fitting.
From 1989 to 2014, I was in an abusive relationship with my breasts.
At 8 bound them down with bandages, at 17 they hung below the table during strip poker, and at 28 they began to rest adorably in my arm pits when I lay down. I’ve spent over two decades hating them, cursing them, and stuffing them into ill-fitting pretty things.
I have really big, heavy, and saggy boobs.
Halter tops and tube tops were never an option. Thin strapped tank tops weren’t really doable. Heck, walking into a store and leaving with a bra that actually fit me just wasn’t a thing that ever happened.
My life has been full of a lot of fashion scenarios that just didn’t work out.
I’ve been measured in brick and mortar stores numerous times, always getting a different number but the same result: me stuffing my boobs into bras that didn’t fit.
Spilling over, oozing out the side, snapping wires; I was a mess.
All of this changed when I learned how to properly measure my breasts and invest in properly sized bras, and the perks of this include that I end up spending less money on pricier, well constructed bras that actually fit and last, and I could DIY this whole entire thing myself, in my own house.
That’s right, not in a small, poorly lit dressing room over the stupid bra I walked in wearing while the instrumental version of Good As Hell serenaded the frustrated girl with a measuring tape trying to pressure me into an infinity D sized bra.
I measured myself in 5 minutes while eating pie and watching Riverdale, and then ordered my bras from the internet, the way God intended.
How-To
A few years ago, I shared a really great how-to video disputing everything you thought you knew about bra sizing, and I’m standing here years later confidently saying, it was totally right.
You can watch the video in length for great discussion about how to properly fit yourself for a bra, but I’m going to break it down real quick below in three easy steps.
Okay, take your bra off and throw it in the fire.
(Just kidding, wait until your new bras come, then burn them in a fire surrounded by your best friends while you curse all men and howl at the moon.)
- Take a fabric measuring tape, put it around your rib cage where your bra band would sit, and exhale. Write down that number, it’s your band size. Mine is 38.
- Bend over at a 90 degree angle. Yup, your boobs should be dangling and you suddenly remember why you always wear a bra during doggy style. Wrap the measuring tape loosely around your back and dangling bust, and write that number down. Mine is 49.
- Now it’s time for some math. Take those two numbers and subtract them. (i.e. 49-38 = 11) Now take that number and check out the chart to determine your cup size.
Tip: Most online ordering is done using UK Sizing, which is way more consistent than US Sizing, if you can believe it.
*stares at you in womens jean*
All reputable bra sellers should stipulate whether they use US or UK sizing on their websites, so you may need to look around for it to be sure.
I am a 38H. AAAAAAAAAAA-CH.
Your first time ordering your correct bra size is terrifying. I mean, the size sounds cartoonishly huge, and goes against everything we have all been told about normal boob sizes.
I’m a 38 year old mom in Ohio, not a fetish porn category, amirite?
Narrator: She was not right.
Finding bras and figuring out my size and breast type has been a journey, and it’s easy to get discouraged when the first one you order doesn’t fit. Return it and keep trying.
This is something you wear everyday. It should be comfortable and supportive, and this is me giving you the permission you need to prioritize this care and purchase.
Now I’m going to show you some of my absolutely favorite bras, one that’s a big hot mess, and leave you with some must-have tips to start you on this journey. I may not have the perfect answers for you, but this is a great place to start.
Everyday Bras
Freya Women’s Starlight Side Support
This is my current fave. I wear it with almost everything right now, because it provides enough coverage that I’m never spilling out of it, and you don’t see the outline of it in any of my shirts.
Also, If you find yourself spilling out of the sides of a bra, lean forward and scoop all of that “armpit fat” forward into the cup, because chances are, it’s not just fat, it’s breast tissue.
This is a UK sized bra, I am wearing a 38H.
Curvy Kate Victory Balcony Bra
Curvy Kate was the first big-girl bra brand that I fell in love with, because it just got me. The cups fit great, the wire didn’t come up so high it dug into my armpits, and it was cute as hell.
I get a lot of lift from this bra, and absolutely no spillage. Sexy full-coverage bra say what?
I also highly recommend their swimwear. The bikini tops are sized like bras, this the the smartest brand ever created, everyone else can just go home.
This is a UK sized bra, I am wearing a 38H.
Glamorise Women’s Plus Size Front Close T-Back
Alright, two amazing things are happening here. First, front clasp bras are the tits. I love them, they are so easy to put on, and actually really hot to undo during sex, so there’s that.
But this bra also has a t-back which makes it perfect for racerback shirts, sure. But it’s also a wide enough t-back that it actually smooths out all my back lumps and it so incredibly comfortable.
Guys, I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but sometimes wearing racerback bras turns me into the Hulk. It’s like the pressure between my shoulders hits some nerve that makes me want to crawl out of my skin and murder people. This bra does none of that, so you are welcome, all of humanity, you’re safe for now.
I find the bands of this brand to fit small on me, so with some trial and error, I’ve landed on 40G being my perfect fit.
Curvy Kate Dreamcatcher Balcony Bra
The Dreamcatcher is one of the very first bras I purchased, and it remains a staple in my wardrobe. it’s very light, nude, and you don’t see the lace through my shirt fabric.
This balcony bra is what I wear with all my low-cut shirts because it gives me the best separation and cleavage. These big girls can uniboob like no other and need to be tamed on the regular.
This is a UK sized bra, I am wearing a 38H.
Curvy Kate Lifestyle Plunge https://amzn.to/2RTslsK
Oh girl, you know what this bra is, don’t you?
It’s my Lizzo “baby, I’m the whole damn meal” bra.
This bra is sheer but stretchy. It’s low cut and perfect for my v-neck obsession, but also really, really comfy. And it gives me absolutely zero side boob attitude.
This is a UK sized bra, I am wearing a 38H.
Sports Bras
Glamorise Double Layer Custom Control Sports Bra
I am going to feature these sports bras from highest to lowest impact. This Glamorise Double layer bra is hands-down the most supportive sports bra I’ve ever owned. This bra is wireless, and you can actually adjust how high you want the top cover to fit and lift you.
The pros of the bra are that I get almost no bounce from it, and it’s really easy to adjust. I primarily mountain bike, so I lean forward a lot. I hate spilling out the top of the bra, and that is never an issue here.
The cons are that because it’s wireless, I don’t have much separation, and the pressure of the support cover binds my boobs down kinda low and flat. But again, I gladly accept all of that for the support this thing gives me.
Again, These bands are small on me, I am wearing a 42G.
Livi Active High-Impact Sports Bra
The best part of this bra is that the straps are entirely adjustable, giving me lots of lift, and while I might not be looking for that while biking, I do like it while running on the field while coaching my soccer team. Also, the underwires provide separation, which means no swamp boobs, and that’s a perk for the people who hang out with me after the game.
I found this bra in-store at Lane Bryant, and it’s always an exciting adventure when us big-boobied ladies get to shop in person!
The is a US sized bra, and with some fitting room work, I determined a 42G fits best.
Torrid Lightly Lined Sports Bra
Alright listen, I love Torrid. I find loads of really cute clothes there, and their leggings are life. But lord do I struggle with their bras. I want to include them here because I know lots of people love Torrid bras, and they always recommend them to me, and trust me when I say, I’ve tried tons of them. This sports bra is the only one I haven’t returned.
First, this is a comfortable bra in that it’s light, soft, and doesn’t poke me anywhere or anything. However, I can do zero sports in this bra, because the anti-bounce support just isn’t there for me.
I have very long, heavy boobs, and the majority of the fat sits at the bottom of them. Torrid bras and bathing suits have very shallow cups, so they don’t work as well for me, at all. Things get really jiggling really fast in their bras, and that’s great for sex, but bad for yoga.
However, I do enjoy this bra, and wear it when I need something a little more sturdy than an everyday bra, but not anything that’s going to help me climb a mountain. I love this bra for theme parks, in fact, I call it my Disney bra because it whisks away moisture and keeps me supported hiking around a park, but also gives me great lift and a cute look under my tank top.
This is a US sized bra, but Torrid only fits up to an H cup, so 40H seems to be the best fit I can get there.
Sleep Bras
I know there are millions of women in this world that come home, take their bras off, and exhale. I am not one of them.
As much as I sometimes loath bras, I hate the sweaty, skin on skin stickiness I get from going braless, especially when I sleep.
So, while I don’t ditch my bras the second I get home, I do often change into a way more comfortable version.
The Genie bra is my absolutely favorite sleep bra. Yeah, there is zero shame in my Made-For-TV game, y’all. I grabbed one of these from the shelf while checking out at Walmart, and I’ve kept a drawer full of them ever since.
As far as wireless bras go, I actually get a bit of separation from them, and they are really soft and breathable.
Bonus: These make the perfect starter bras for tweens and teens who don’t need cups or underwires yet, my daughter loves hers!
I am wearing a size XL.
I was completely unaware how fun and soft these Cacique wireless bras were until I came across one on the clearance rack in Lane Bryant. Since then, I always look for them on sale, because they are so nice to slip into when I’m just not having it anymore with my underwires.
Which is, admittedly, often.
Cacique uses US sizing, I am wearing a 40G.
Third Love is so confusing to my soul. Hands down, they make the most comfortable bras I’ve ever, ever worn.
Seriously, it’s like being motor-boated by an angel.
The fabric is soft, the straps are heavenly, even the band feels amazing.
But, I just cannot get the lift I need from them, no matter that I do. I think the problem lies in the fact that I can’t get the straps adjusted as much as I need to, because the strap just doesn’t allow for you to have full access to the whole thing.
So, while I wouldn’t wear this out of the house, it is one of my most favorite bras to be a homebody in.
I am wearing a 36H.
Strapless Bras
Wacoal Plus Size Red Carpet Strapless
Best strapless bra I’ve ever owned, period, end of story.
It stays up, like, for real.
It’s smooth and you can’t see it under your clothes.
It doesn’t make your boobs a weird shape.
I love it like no other.
I am wearing a size 38G.
Curvy Kate Women’s Luxe Strapless
This strapless bra gives me lots of lift, and when I am wearing something with a tight bodice and thin straps, this Luxe strapless works great. It also has a bit of padding, a nice round shape that comes up higher on my boob than the Wacoal, and does stay up relatively well.
It does, however, show in looser shirts, and sometimes makes my boobs look a little weird.
This is a UK sized bra, I am wearing a 38H.
Brassy Bra Size DD-DDDD/ European G
Um.
That Facebook ad is a liar.
I ordered the largest size available in this “bra” and it held these jugs up for exactly 5 minutes, and I wasn’t sweaty, no lotion, nothing. It was comical.
I wish these things worked guys, and I will say, they are very soft, stretchy and comfortable to put on and remove, but nah. They don’t work for me.
Perhaps if I used two on each side? But honestly, you get one use out of these stick-ons, and they’re expensive, so I wasn’t about to waste them. I figure I’ll pass them on to someone with lighter boobs than my own.
Tips
Check your band. When trying on a bra, if you are hooking the clasp on the innermost (tightest) hook size right off the bat, get a smaller bra. Bras stretch, not shrink, so it will only get looser as time goes on, and you’ll have no way to make that band fit snugger.
When in doubt, size down. Again, bras stretch, so if you find yourself between band sizes, I prefer to go with the smaller band size, knowing eventually, it will stretch to what I need it to do.
Keep the proportion. Bands and cups are typically sized proportionately. So if you need to buy a bigger band but the cup fit fine, try going up a band size, but down one cup size.
For example, if the 38H I ordered is too tight around the band, I’ll try a 40G, instead. If the 38H is too loose, I’d try a 36HH.
Check the goring. If your bra gaps, and doesn’t lay flat against your sternum in the front, it’s not the right size. The goring should be against your skin, keeping those boobs in their cups and supported.
You got this! Don’t get discouraged. Just because one brand doesn’t work for you, doesn’t mean you’re doomed to never having a great bra. Keep trying until you find the brand that fits your body.
Final Thoughts:
As women, we experience virtually zero standard of sizing across any other form of fashion, why on Earth do we assume bras would be any different?
This is why it’s so hard to accept our correct (and often larger) bra measurements, because the systems we are used to are not accurate, but rather, available.
We are being fit into what is available to us in stores based on what society thinks is an appropriate size to offer, and we’ve accepted it because we’re afraid of being abnormal or large or different… when the fact is, I am not any of those things, and neither are you.
Not wanting to be a certain bra size is not the same as not being that size. Give it a try. I promise you, people are not going to guess what your bra size is in a well fitting bra, but they can absolutely tell what size you aren’t in a bra that doesn’t fit.
I have got to do this when I get home!!
That is a gorgeous bra that your gorgeous boobs deserve.
I did the same thing – except I was in 36 C’s . Now my favorite bra is a 34 DD, my next favorite is a 32 DDD (which is really more accurately an F). I am not a huge boobed gal either. We all need to stop being afraid of what our ‘numbers’ are and wear what’s appropriate for our body! And yes, that applies to pants & bras. A good, well fitting bra is LIFE CHANGING.
YES!!! There’s a pin on Pinterest that was pinned by Real Simple about bras for large busts and this one bra went up to a DD. That’s not a large bust, but we Americans are taught that it is because they don’t sell it at VS.
This is so true. We are conditioned to think DD is huge, when its not.
Yes! I feel like I have finally found my people! LOL You all get it!
Thanks to you, I looked at this video the last time you talked about it and found out that I’m not a 38D that VS said I was. I’m a 34 F. Curvy Kate’s are really nice, so is Panache. Thank you for helping my boobies.
My struggle with bras? I tend to fluctuate WILDLY in weight. I’ve got size 14, 16, 18, 20 pants in my closet, all of which I’ve worn in the last year, and the year before that. I just can’t manage to convince myself I should own a corresponding array of bras. So when I’m at the top of that scale, I have days I look way worse than your before pic above, and when I’m near the bottom, days I look like a teenage girl trying that needs Kleenex to fill up her bra. (Or maybe I should just find a weight and stick to it. But I don’t see that happening anytime soon.)
that moment when you want to measure yourself, and you cant find the damn measuring tape!! this sucks.
I’m going to do this right now! The top picture looks like my bra now! This is not good.
I’ve tried that chart and it didn’t work for me. I’ve been wearing 40C for roughly 10 years but I’m always adjusting. So I finally decided to measure myself based on these similar instructions (I found them on reddit). I measured at a 36I.
Say what?
So I went out and tried on some DD and DDD just to see and I couldn’t fill the cups. How can I fill the cups on an I when I can’t fill the cups on a DDD?
I think my boobs are just wrong.
I know what you mean, but try measuring yourself with this method. I wore 44 B for the longest time and just dealt with the fact that the cups were baggy and ill-fitting. I used this method to measure and it said I was a 42 DD….needless to say I was very skeptical. Just on a whim I tried on a 42 DD at Cacique and it fit like a dream! It’s completely illogical that a B would be baggy and a DD wouldn’t, but do yourself a favor and try it!! It’s life changing to wear a well fitting bra!! :)
Thank you, Kristin. I was scouring through the comments wondering how this would work with a wide body (me) and small boobs (again me). I have never found a comfortable bra that doesn’t ride up or cut off my circulation or bag in the boobage. I will try this and hope it works!
There are a lot of styles out there for all types of breast shapes. Maybe the ones you tried just weren’t right for your shape! I find it much more sensible to think that if you measure 36I, it is impossible that your boobs need a cup smaller than DDD. Your boobs aren’t wrong. Your boobs are never wrong, they are your boobs. The manufacturers are wrong!!
PS: Also remember that cup size is dependent on band size! A 38C is the same cup size as a 36D and a 34DD!
I think I tried on over 3 dozen different bras. Different cups, styles, etc. But I’ll give it ONE more try. :)
Just remember it’s about volume. A 36I is equivalent to a 40 F. Now I’ve found that this method of bra sizing doesn’t work for me. It probably would if I did the reach around and scoop, but I don’t. I went from a 38 D to a 34 F.
AN F?????????????????????????? Ive been measured as a C, even a D BUT AN F?????????????????????????????? holy mother of pearl! I mean it explains EVERYTHING but WHAAAAAT?
I know it! It’s crazy! :) I’m an O or P depending on the band size I am able to get. :)
DUDE! same thing. i just ordered two in a hopefully correct size. so excited. F*&$ VS, Never again!!!
Brittany, omg this post is so right on! I spent a lifetime wearing a bra similar to your “boob spillage” photo that gave me no support and felt terrible. Then I went to Nordstrom and got a bra fitting and my life was changed. I had the same reaction as you – no way are my boobs that huge – but when I got it on…ahhhhhh! I always double check size when I buy new ones or when the ones I have start feeling a little off (once you wear a bra that fits, it’s easy to know when it’s a little off) and adjust size and style as necessary. This goes for swimsuits too – there are plenty out there that are sized by cup and they will change your life too! No more swimsuits where your boobs are hanging out or are basically just smashed to your chest.
What a pretty bra! I hate that I can’t ever find ones in my size that are pretty. Great post! Thank you for doing this research for us!
I LOVE the “new” way of bra measuring. I was feeling the same way- used to be a 40DDD lost some weight and thought I was a 38DD. Turns out I didn’t lose breast tissue
(go figure). I lost girth and I am now a 34GG. Bought a few Elomi bras online and I am in heaven! I’m gonna try the sites you suggested. Thanks!
Here’s my problem. I’m a 36-38, that I know. Before weight gain and children I was a C. Now, a C smashes my boobs and they are busting out of the top. A D is comfortable, but big, especially on the side. I always have that area where the end part of the underwire is sticking into my armpit fat/side boob. My boobs aren’t very full anymore, breastfeeding deflated them pretty bad. So it’s not that I have full D cups, it’s that I have to lift and scoop in that much boob. So what the hell does that mean?!
No i’ve never been fitted. I can’t always afford good bras, so i’m afraid if I get fitted I won’t be able to afford the bras that go with the fitting. I just go by myself, bring in thousands of bras, and end of sobbing on the floor topless before the store lady get’s worried and I just buy a random bra before she calls security.
A real issue is that what we know about bra sizing might be wrong. We have ZERO standard of sizing across clothing, why would we think bras would be any different?
Either use this video and fit yourself, or go get fitted. NEVER feel obligated to buy anything, and screw them for making you feel otherwise. A good salesperson would know that bras are an investment, and the more they earn your respect, the more likely you’ll eventually come back to them.
Don’t cry in the fitting room or buy useless bras anymore, okay?
If you are being poked in the underarm then you probably need to go down on the band size and up on the cup size.
Go to a store, try on bras until you find one that fits, write down the brand and style number (or better yet take a picture). Then! Go to http://www.freshpair.com, and buy your perfect bra for much, much cheaper. I’m a 36 F or G (boy was I shocked at that first fitting!) and have been for about 8 years. Even though I know my size I still have to try on a bazillion bras in my size range to find the right cup shape/style, the right shoulder strap placement etc etc. Brands vary so much! and big boobed bras are super expensive. Freshpair has been a lifesaver for me.
I am going to do this when I get home, but I’m worried about the accuracy.
You see, I don’t have boobs as much as I just have some skin. I get measured a D…but I really don’t even have boobs, it’s literally just a pile of skin. When I bend over, it resembles more of an utter than anything else.
When I get a push up style bra, my boobs literally pour out, like water. It isn’t that there isn’t room in the cup for them, it’s that they don’t stay in there.
I have the same issue. I’ve nursed 4 babies, each for around 18 months, and I have no breast tissue left. It’s just loose skin. When I do this, it says I am a 32 F, but I have no fullness to fill the tape measure. It’s just where I dangle too. :) I’m excited to try though, and see what happens.
I think what was interesting to me, was how much breast tissue was sitting under my arms, when I got the 38H in the mail, I was like NOPE. Then I put it on, and all that tissue came forward and filled it? Boom. Life changing.
Maybe we could find a way to move some belly tissue up there too. THAT would be awesome.
PREACH.
After you posted this video over the summer, I tucked it away in the back of my mind but never did anything with it. At the beginning of January, I made it a new year’s resolution to finally wear the right size bra and followed the instructions. I went from wearing a 36C to a 34DDD. It’s amazing how big the difference is. I was just telling my mom about this video last week and told her I’m sending it to her, too. Now I’m going to send her this post. Thanks for sharing!!
According to the chart, the math is off and you should be a K. That being said, I comfortably fit into a 36H and usually have to try on tons of bras before finding one that fits. Then I buy ERT one of them. They last until the underwire starts stabbing me in the chest because the seems can’t seem to hold the girls. No spillage b/c I don’t buy the bra if there’s spillage. Thanks, mom, for showing me how to fit a bra.
Caryl
I ordered bras using UK sizing, which is why I am an H. Haven’t tried out any US sizing yet, but I’m open to ANY bra that properly fits me:)
Brittany and other big boob-ed ladies, I am the bearer of good news. THE BEST PLACE TO BUY BRAS for big ta-tas is BRASTOP.CO.UK. This is a UK company selling a gigantic assortment of bras for larger knockers, including the bra Brittany is wearing in the picture above. It’s the most affordable option for these amazing bras. Check it out and be gleeful. Options about and they always have mega sales. I finally gave in a sized myself, spent a little while terrified of what my new bra size was (36G) and took the plunge on a new bra. I haven’t looked back and my boobs have never looked better.
Well I just gave in and spent hours trying on pants in bigger sizes than I wanted because I was tired of feeling squeezed in… I guess now I have to do it with my bras too… why is it so hard to get past the idea of wearing anything bigger than a DDD, even though I know I’m bigger… I have always had HUGE boobs… they are a giant inconvenience and I spend way too much time “adjusting” and feeling wires stick into my sides…
<3
I am balked at by saleswomen when I tell them I know my size but thanks for the offer.
42C is hard to come by. :/
That’s my size, too, although I admittedly haven’t tried this method. I was sized at a locally owned store years ago and buying a bra in the proper size was amazing. No riding up, no straps sliding down, no digging into my sides. Saleswomen also look at me like I’m an idiot when I tell them that I know what my size is.
42C is so tough to find…I just found a few on Amazon in Curvy Kate’s store.
Fabric tape measure ordered from Amazon!!
I have also had luck finding good bras (although most likely in the wrong size) on fullbeauty.com.
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! I bet you I’m somewhere between an E & H. Thanks for the tips.
How do you know govna? Do we speaka the same 2nd language?
I actually had the opposite problem, I didn’t want to admit I had gone down a size. After getting boobs at nine and reaching 38D by fourteen I had put in my time being embarrassed by them, and trying to stuff them into dresses made for 32Bs and was ready to enjoy them by college. Then I lost a bunch of weight (nobody congratulate me, I was sick for a year not really willpower-y) and they went down to a C and I didn’t want to accept that because they had defined me for so long. Plus, those awesome Ds never got any action and that is just a crime considering the stretch marks I had to endure for them.
I can really relate to this. As uncomfortable as there were, they fit my body. They really do. And I think I misinterpreted my uncomfortable-ness to my actual breasts, when in fact, it was the bras I was putting on them.
As much as I’d love a good tube top, they feel like a part of my identity right now, and balance out my crazy long torso.
It didn’t help that my mom was the one telling me to get a smaller bra right after she had new DDs bolted on.
Okay, so I took your advice and measured myself then scurried over to Amazon and bought a bra, it should be here my Friday (thank you prime shipping). So we’ll see if it fits then!
Keep me updated!
And it is so important to get that band size right. Because of you don’t you have the underwire poking you in the underarm and that is so freaking uncomfortable.
This is also why all women hate bra shopping. It sucks.
Soo, I’m curvy every where but my ta ta’s. Does anyone have a suggestions of places/websites for the girls who are members of the itty bitty titty committee?
There’s an amazing place here in Austin where you walk in and it feels like your own personal bridal experience (not that I’ve had one). It’s a softly-lit, luxurious dressing room with all sorts of frippery–and your dressing room isn’t a Den of Shame so much as a pampering treat. You’re assigned a “fitter” who does exactly what you did–measures and brings you bras based on your feedback (“I want something sexy”, “I need a nude bra that isn’t overly padded”, etc.). She never made me feel bad for spending 16 years in the wrong bras. The best part is it’s free and there’s not too much pressure to buy! They’re, of course, trying to sell you expensive bras, but they’re really super passionate about proper fit and loving your breasts. I walked out with 3 bras for $200, but it was the best $200 I’ve EVER spent. I went from a (painful) 36C/38D (depending on the week) but now I’m in a solid, comfortable 34G!! Thanks for putting this out there–so many women need to know that there’s nothing wrong with not fitting into the “standard” sizing–with as many body variations as there are, why on earth would we think we should fit into 6 band sizes or 5 cup sizes?? baffling.
Hah! I totally knew there was no way you were a 36DDD. Congratulations on your new, fitting size! And welcome to the internet bra world :-D
Ok…I’m really scared to do this when I get home…..what if I am like a Z!! Ok, that doesn’t exist but still! Sigh….
That said; your girls look awesome in that new H bra!!! Salute!!
I’m wearing a 34O today, it fits pretty good. I need a 32P, but there aren’t many choices. I joke that I should be a Z! Having a bra that fits makes such a huge difference. It’s a place I have only been close to the last few years.
I could never find bras that I wasn’t spilling out of, ever though I was wearing a 38DDD. I watched the video you put up last year, and found I was really a 38J! Try finding that in an american store! I go through a UK website call Brastop and have been very pleased with their prices and shipping. The brand that I have found that fits me well is Flirtelle. Jsut the right mix of support and stretch for comfort. Plus my hubby thinks they are sexy and I feel great wearing them.
Equally important for us smaller busted girls. I’ve tried 34A and B, but still get overflowing, but bigger sizes have cups that are way too wide. Just measured this way and I’m apparently a 24F! I didn’t really believe it, but I found http://www.brabandproject.com/ and they have photos of other women who measure that size, and they look just like me! Who knew? Still not sure where to buy 24 band bras though, any ideas?
Last time you shared that video, I checked my measurement – I was wearing a 34B, turns out I am a 32D (who knew?!). Buying bras in the right size had me echoing your exact sentiment: “I’ll take ten.”
Shut up, I am a 41I??? So that’s why my sports bra is so comfy – I think that is more or less the European size I’ve got.
Thanks Brit! Off to find a bra that actually fits!
This is phenomenal! I am still nursing and have had a ridiculously hard time finding bras because they keep sizing me and telling me that my boobs are smaller than they are. I have found few things quite as uncomfortable as wearing a too small bra that gets smaller as the day goes on and my boobs fill with milk. THANK YOU!!!!
Can we please be best friends? Is that too much for a first comment? I am a 32P, the best I have been able to find is a 34O and it’s pretty good. I have been wearing 34N’s for a long time but that results in quite a bit of breast tissue under my armpits filling out the band that is too big anyways. (Which does make my boobs look smaller, the better my bra fits the huger these puppies get!) Anyways I get my bras at ladygrace.com and they ship fast, free if you order enough, and they have sizes that fit me better than most. Hi, my name is Sarah and I have gigantic breasts that stores you can actually walk into do not carry, but they will try to sell you one anyways. SO BEEN THERE.
I found this out 4 years ago, and it was LIFECHANGING!!
My biggest frustration is that they aren’t really available anywhere but online. There are a few stores I have found but I want to be able to go to Kohl’s and use my coupon too!!! Or buy a bathing suit at Target for $20 just like everyone else.
Something needs to be done to fix this, it just isn’t fair!
Knowing your actual size does help with swimsuit shopping too. There are several available online and if you are confident in your size it’s not so scary to order one.
I was a 38H for most of my adult life. I got a reduction and now I’m a D. I am thrilled with the difference, but I wish I had known about these beautiful bras that fit right. I would have saved many years of fighting, tugging and adjusting inferior bras. Your new H looks heavenly on you!
I’m at work so, le sigh, no measuring until this evening. Is it weird that I’m actually a little scared? Vickies says I’m a 38D, but I don’t think I’ve even had a bra that I adored. There’s always some issue – the band digs in, the straps fall off …
Two signs that your bra doesn’t fit right. VS has a bad way of measuring. Good luck!
I went to a local store in Kearney, NE when I first got pregnant with my second baby. I knew my boobs had got bigger and heavier and I needed a good fitting bra. The owner is the only person working there. She measured me, pulled bras for me, then stood there while I tried each and every single one of them on. She put her fingers in the cups, had me bend over at the waist, jiggled my girls like jello, she even lifted them up to show me how the bra was supposed to fit. She was amazing! I spent over $100 on 2 bras but they got me through the whole pregnancy. I was so sad when I tried to put them back on after my 6 week maternity leave and they didn’t fit any more. The point of this story is to go to a good store where somebody who knows what they are doing will get in there with you and feel you up! It was uncomfortable at first but those bras were life changing. I will go back and spend the same amount this summer just for no back pain and no spillage.
You can also try fullbeauty.com. They carry curvy kate and as well as a bunch of other pretty and sexy bra’s that offer support for the fuller ladies and they always have coupons and offers as well!
I’m a 38G and damn proud! I found this out while being fitted in Nordstrom’s for my wedding bra. I haven’t looked back since.
even having small boobs can be problematic! i have a very broad back and small boobs. some goon at victorias secret told me a 34b is the same thing as a 36a so for years a pinched myself into those sizes thinking bras were just uncomfortable. i finally came to my senses, got remeasured and am very much a solid 36, and i still have to wear it on the last set of snaps! i’d probably go up to a 38 if 38a’s were easy to come by. 36a’s are hard enough to find, and whne you do they are always nude or black :(
She’s right. They are sister sizes. When you say the last set of hooks, do you mean the tightest or the loosest hooks?
http://WWW.fullbeauty.com and http://www.herroom.com are two sites that I know have 38A’s.
Brittany, you are my spirit animal. I have always been fitted as a C/D and always go home to find the Pit Pillow, the spillage and eventually, some really STELLAR stab wounds :-/ And I always wondered how VS could get an accurate size for me when I was WEARING A BRA?!?! Does that make sense? No. You’re just measuring whatever I’ve already stuffed the girls into. So excited to see the correct size ones arrive soon. UGH!
I definitely cried a little when I found out I was a FF (not a double D as I had thought) but once I tried on that bra and saw what a difference it made I didn’t care anymore. Ladies, if you haven’t gotten measured yet save yourself the back aches (literally) and just do it! So worth it!
Thanks for posting this Brittany!
I was ignoring some recent weight gain and constantly having to readjust for spillage and after getting properly fitted and realizing that this new size was not associated with my value as a human being… my life was changed…. i love your posts.
Changing the world…2 boobies at a time.
I follow you on Instagram and when you posted about the AE jeans you love, since we’re the same size, I immediately ordered me a pair online… and they fit perfectly! I ordered another pair and am in love. I’d been struggling with jeans for a long time and couldn’t be happier! So, thanks for that. Now I’m offer to measure and order me some new bras.
I’m so glad that this method worked for you and many others. I’m just commenting to let folks know that it doesn’t work for everyone. I tried it, went to a store, found some in my size on this chart – 38G. Unfortunately, my boobs were swimming in the cups. I had previously been fitted as 38DD and that does fit me.
I’m wondering if it has something to do with the individual’s breast tissue density. I’m 51 and mine aren’t as firm as they used to be….
Thanks a lot for your posts, Brittany, and especially for this one.
I can just add a great UK site I get my bras from- http://www.lingerie-heaven.com
There is this woman-Clare- who took me as a project and showed me that I’m wearing a totally wrong size.
The prices there are great and the personal care Clare gives is priceless.
My problem is that even if the cups fit perfect I usually have to adjust the straps a ton to get them to stay on my shoulders and once the elasticity starts go it’s a lost cause. I’m constantly battling falling straps.