Lingerie Size Guide

Finding the right size bra

When it comes to finding the right size bra guesswork is not good enough. Comfort, the way you look and feel and ultimately your health are all issues determined by your bra size, or rather the correct bra size for you. It is estimated that around 75% of women in any country wear the wrong bra size.

There are many reasons for that: Embarrassment, not enough time to get fitted properly and habit are just three. Lifestyle also plays a role. Many women will see a change in their breast size with time. Weight loss or weight gain. Having children and even increasing the level of physical activity are all factors which influence the size of bra that’s right for you.

Because your breasts change size it is important that you get measured frequently rather than rely on the bra size you had when you were eighteen or just getting by buying a size up or a size down. To make matters even more complicated different manufacturers use slightly different bra sizes so even if you have been lucky enough to find a bra size that’s perfect for you the odds are that the moment you change brands you will need to get measured again.

So how do you know if your bra is not the right size?

Common problems which indicate the wrong size include:

A perfect fitting bra provides both comfort and support.

Most High Street shops provide an expert bra measuring service that is free. If time or temperament make this a difficult option to take there is a way for you to measure your bust size yourself.

For best results take actual body measurements, or wear a lined or lightly lined bra, and use a soft tape measure. You will need to take two measurements – band size and cup size.

a) Band size/underbust

Measure directly under the bust around the rib cage. The tape should be snug and smooth and only as tight as a bra would be. You can find the band size using the table below.

Bra band size 30 32 34 36 38 40 42

b) Cup size/overbust

Measure around the fullest part of the bust. The tape should be straight but not too tight.

The difference between the overbust measurement and the underbust measurement is a guide to the cup size.

Finding the right brief size

Manufacturers size briefs in several ways.

These relate approximately as follows:

Every woman’s figure is different and sizes may vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer so make sure you either get measured again when you change manufacturers or find the exact corresponding size.