A poor bra experience can not only leave you with aches and pains, but also an unflattering figure! Making sure you have the correct bra size is something of an art, leaving many women confused and disappointed with how their bra is fitting.
Around 80% of women are wearing the wrong sized bra which causes problems not only with the appearance of the bust, but can lead to long term issues such as back and neck pain.
Here at Camille we won’t stand for it! We’ve put together some top tips for making sure you have the right bra size for a comfortable bra fitting experience.
What Is A Bra Size?
Simply, a bra size is comprised of a letter and a number. The letter represents your cup size, while the number represents your back size. To get the right bra size, you need to find the correct letter and number that relates to your unique bust.
What many people don’t realise is that the cup size actually changes depending on the back size, so for example there is no such thing as a standard C cup; the cup size will change according to how small or large the back size is.
The correct bra size can also be dependent upon your frame. Women with a smaller frame might find that a 32D fits them best, but a woman with a larger frame will find a 36B is the better fitting despite both sizes actually being the same to the eye!
We know that it call all seem very confusing, but we’ll guide you through the process!
First, Find Your Band Size
The area that determines your band size is exactly where the base of the bra would sit; take a tape measure and run it all the way around the underneath your breasts and around your back. Make sure that the tape is lying flat against you, and that it doesn’t rise or dip around your back.
Measure your back size in inches – don’t worry if you’re faced with an odd number! Try on bras that are sized both above and below that number to see which fits best. For example, if you measured a 29 back, try both a 28 and a 30.
Next, Find Your Cup Size
Determining your cup size can be a bit more difficult as all breasts are different, even your left and right breasts can differ in size! To start off, we recommend using the cup size you’re already wearing along with your newly-measured band size.
If you’ve dropped a back size since re-measuring, you should increase your cup size; the general rule is one larger cup size for every back size you’ve dropped. For example, if you were a 36C previously, but now you measure as a 32inch back size, try a 32E bra instead.
Find Your Style
Just because you have the right measurements doesn’t mean you’ve found the right bra for you. Once you’ve got the right size measurements, you’ll need to consider which style is right for you. Here at Camille we have a large selection of bras available including push up bras for an extra boost, t shirt bras for a smooth finish underneath tightly fitted clothes and even specialist bras such as nursing bras and mastectomy bras to suit all kinds of women.
Once you’ve found the basic back and cup size, you’ll need to check a few areas to make sure that your bra is fitting correctly and that it is the right bra size…
Fit The Straps
If the straps are too slack or too tight, you’re going to be in for a painful or annoying bra fitting. Make sure the straps are firmly tightened without being too tight across the shoulders, or so slack that they are always slipping down your arms. If you can’t manage yourself, get someone else to help you adjust them.
Fit The Cups
This may feel a little silly, but once you have your bra on, bend over slightly so that your breasts fall naturally into the cups. Slowly stand up, making sure the bra doesn’t slip out of place.
Next, our favourite technique – The Swoop & Scoop! Insert your hand into the bra from the side nearest your underarm and swoop it round to the round, scooping your breast inwards and upwards. This allows you to gather the full breast into the bra cup where it can do the most work!
Check all along the line of each cup – are your breasts spilling over the top? Are the cups pressing down and giving a four-boob-effect? You should consider a larger cup size.
Take a look at the appearance of the cup. It should be smooth in appearance and not have any wrinkles on the surface if you’ve got the right bra size.
Check The Front
The centre piece of your bra should lie flat against the breastbone. If it’s digging in from any angle, or if there’s a gap, then the bra isn’t fitting properly. Chances are that either the band is too big, the cups are too small, or the cup style simply doesn’t suit your breasts. If it’s the latter, look for designs with a narrower or shorter panel to find the best bra style for you.
We hope that this guide has helped you to find the right bra size for you! Take a look at our full collection of women’s bras online at Camille today to browse plenty of bra designs waiting to be discovered!
