Felix Ker's blog

What’s the first thing you do when you get home? If you find yourself taking off your bra before kicking off your shoes, then it’s time to look for something more comfortable. Your bra size is very likely to vary over time. It’s obvious enough when you’re pregnant or nursing, but did you know that gaining or losing a few pounds can also affect your bra size?

There’s no great mystery to finding a great-fitting bra, but you might have to try on a fair number before you strike gold. Don’t get hung up on what the tape measure says: remember that sizes vary from brand to brand (you might, for example, need a 32C in one brand but a 34B in another) and be guided instead by whether or not a bra fits you comfortably. How will you know if you’ve found the perfect fit? Check out our top ten tips below.

Top ten bra fitting tips

1. Fill your cups …
   Baggy cups are not a good look. Try going down a cup size. If your cups are creasing around the nipple, however, that’s a different matter. Try going down a back size to pull the fabric taut.
2. … but don’t overflow
   Spilling out over the tops or sides of your cups won’t make your breasts look bigger (there are padded and gel-filled push-up bras to do that). It just means that you’re wearing too small a cup size: try the next one up.
3. Don’t let the straps take the strain
   A bra’s main support comes from the band, not the straps. So make sure that you’re wearing the correct band size: too big, and your straps will end up taking the weight, which will cause them to dig in.
4. Think horizontal
   Look in the mirror side-on. Is your bra band at the same level all the way round? If it’s riding up at the back, you probably need a smaller band size.
5. Finger rules
   Never mind a rule of thumb; here’s what you need to know about fingers. Your bra band should feel tight and firm, but with enough space to insert two fingers under the back band, and one under the centre front.
6. Fasten a new bra on the loosest hook
   Fascinating bra fact: a bra can grow up to 4″ due to wash and wear. So when you buy a new bra, make sure that it fits properly on the loosest hook; you might need to tighten it with wear.
7. Underwiring should lie flat at the front
   The centre front of your bra should lie flat against the breastbone. If it doesn’t, it’s telling you to go up a cup size.
8. Underwiring sits on the bone
   And while we’re talking about underwiring, check the wire at the side of the bra. It should sit on the ribcage, without digging into any of the breast.
9. Bring a t-shirt
   The best way to see what shape a new bra will give you is to try it on under a tight fitting t-shirt. Look at yourself from all angles and make sure that you get a smooth line with no unwanted bulges.
10. Get moving!

Bra Size

As many as 8 in 10 women wear the wrong size bra, so chances are the bra you’re wearing at this very moment isn’t your correct size. A properly fitting bra is not only comfortable- it’s truly flattering. The perfect bra can lift, separate, accentuate, minimize or maximize – all you have to do is find the right one.

There are two important measurements you’ll need to know to figure out your correct size – the Band measurement, and the Cup measurement. The Band measurement represents the numeric portion of your bra size – the 36 in a 36c. The cup measurement will be used to determine your cup size – the letter C in the size 36c.

Measure under your arms, high on your back, around the top of your chest. If this measurement is an even number, then this is your band size. If this measurement is an odd number, then add 1″ to determine your band size. Record that number, you’ll need it for step 3.

While wearing your favorite supportive, comfortable bra, measure loosely around the fullest part of your bust. Record that number, you’ll need it in a sec.

Subtract your band measurement from your cup measurement; each inch represents a cup size. For example: if your band measurement is 34″ and your cup measurement is 36″, then the difference between these measurements is two inches, and you’d wear a B-cup.

EUROPEAN SIZE CONVERSIONS

Please be aware that European sizing runs slightly smaller than American sizes. In Singapore, we follow the European sizing.