Tales From the BRABAR Studio: Finding Your Bra Size with the EZ-Fit Method and Bra Size Calculator

Finding your bra size is simple with BRABAR’s EZ-Fit Method and Bra Size Calculator.  You only need two measurements and subtraction to get your band and cup sizes.  

 

But let’s break down the other bra sizing methods and why they give you a size for a bra that doesn’t quite fit right. Bra shopping for so many women, teens, and tweens can seem so overwhelming and mystifying.  Teens and tweens looking to transition from starter bras or training bras to everyday bras with proper support especially have a hard time because there are so many misconceptions surrounding how to measure.  When you don’t know your bra size, you cannot find the right teenage bras or tween bralettes.

 

The first misconception in bra sizing starts with adding Plus 4.  What does Plus 4 even mean?  Simply put, it is adding 4 inches to your band size.  

 

Here is a real-life example of how a Plus 4 measurement can radically change someone’s size.  The example comes from a teen girl who came into BRABAR Studio looking for everyday bras and halter bralettes.  

 

When asked what her size was in the initial conversation, she said 32AA, which according to the bra size meant she had a 32 Band and 33-inches overbust to get an AA-Cup, as an AA-Cup is less than an inch difference between the band and the overbust.  As usual, I asked to measure her since I know that 8 out of 10 girls are wearing the wrong bra size.  

 

After measuring her, she was a 28DD or a 28E.  Her band was 28, and her overbust was 33 inches, which is a difference of 5 inches.  A 5-inch difference is a DD-Cup or an E-Cup.  From her size, I was able to suggest several great bras including the Everyday Bra, the Soft Cami Bra Top, the HUG Lace Halter Bralette, and the Soft V Crop.

 

As you can see, there is a sharp contrast in the band size, leading to a sharp contrast in cup size.  The difference between your band size and your overbust measurement determines your cup size!  

 

Adding Plus 4 to the Band Size was very typical, but Plus Zero is the standard around the world. One of the main reasons is that many brands do not carry below a 32 Band, which was always something I had to explain to the moms and teens who came into the store to be measured.

 

When the moms and teens hear “28DD” or “28E” they are shocked.  The reason for the shock is always the cup size.  “There’s no way she’s a DD Cup!”  For someone with a 28 Band Size, she is a DD-Cup, because everyone’s DD-Cup looks different depending on the band size.

 

So you can see why so many people are confused with bra shopping if this Plus 4 Method was used when it is completely unnecessary.

 

I will give you another example of why the Plus 4 method doesn’t work, even for bigger band women and girlies.  I had a mom come in curious about BRABAR for her daughter, and I offered to measure her so she could tell her daughter what to expect when she brought her back.  The mom told me she was a 40D, but she was curious about the ribcage method used.  Her true bra size was 36H.  This shook the mom.  “36! There’s no way I have a 36 band.”  Her measurements were 36 Band and 44-inch overbust.  For years she wore a 40D but to be a 40D, you need to have a 40 Band and a 44-inch overbust.  Are you starting to see the pattern?  The overbust remains the same, but four is added to the band.  The woman needs a smaller band and bigger cups.

 

Another misconception in bra measuring is the Armpit Method.  Instead of measuring the band size and the overbust size, the overbust size is measured, as well as the top of the breasts to get something close to a sister size.  This is wholly incorrect.  The correct band size is a key to a good-fitting bra.

 

Like the Plus 4 Method, the Armpit Method also changes the size drastically for someone in a similar fashion.  I will give you a quick example from a young adult woman who came in looking for a strapless bra.  She was looking for a 32AA strapless bra.  Of course, I offered to measure her to double-check so when she tried on the strapless bras, I gave her the correct size, especially for her band.  Her size was actually 28C.  When she had been measured elsewhere previously, she mentioned that she had been measured differently and what she described was the armpit method. It meant that when she had been measured she was measured under her armpits over the bust and not the band at all.  Thus the whole measurements were off.

 

Plus 4 and Armpit Methods are outdated.  At one time they may have been needed due to materials and designs of the bras of yesteryear, but times have changed.  With those times changed, the Plus Zero or the rib cage method is the go-to for all your bra sizing needs.

 

As mentioned repeatedly, the EZ-Fit Method, otherwise known as the rib cage method is the key to finding your perfect fitting bra with your correct bra size.  You can check the Bra Size Calculator for your ease but I will give you a step-by-step breakdown of how to size yourself here.

 

Step 1: Get a sewing measuring tape

 

Step 2: Measure your underbust AKA your ribcage with the measuring tape parallel to the floor.  Make sure the measuring tape is snug like a hug around there.  The support comes from your band size.  Round to the nearest even whole number to get your band size.

 

Step 3: Measure your overbust AKA the fullest part of your breasts over the nipple area.  The measuring tape needs to be parallel to the floor.  Do not tighten the measuring tape for this measuring tape, but do not hold it too slack.  Round to the nearest whole number.

 

Step 4:

YOUR OVERBUST MEASUREMENT - YOUR BAND SIZE = YOUR CUP SIZE

 

1 inch = A-cup

2 inch = B-cup

3 inch = C-cup

4 inch = D-cup

5 inch = DD-Cup or E-Cup

6 inch = DDD-Cup or F-Cup

7 inch = G-Cup

8 inch = H-cup

 

Step 5:

Take your band size and your cup size to get your bra size!

Very simple, no need to add anything anywhere.  Just two measurements in the correct spots and subtracting them to get the cup size.

 

Here are two real-life examples from a pair of sisters who came in specifically to get measured here at BRABAR.

 

The one sister measured 37 inches in the underbust/ribcage so her band size was 38.  Her overbust measurement was 44 inches.  The difference between her 38 Band and her 44-inch overbust measurement is 6 inches.  And when you look at our chart, you know that it is a DDD-Cup Size or an F-Cup.  Therefore, her bra size was 38DDD or 38F.  She didn’t get anything on this trip, but she was very happy to know what she was looking for the next time she went shopping for bras at BRABAR.

 

The second sister measurement was 34 inches in the underbust/ribcage so the band size was 34.  Her overbust measurement was 40 inches.  The difference between her 34 Band and her 40-inch overbust measurement is 6 inches.  Therefore, the cup size is a DDD-Cup or an F-Cup and it made her bra size a 34DDD or a 34F.  She got the Soft V Reversible Laceback Bra in several colors as it was very pretty to her.

 

So you can see from the sisters’ sizes that they had the same cup size, but different band sizes, which made their DDD-Cups/F-Cups not the same.  This is why so many people think DDD-Cup or F-Cups are so big when it’s just the relationship between your overbust to your band size!

 

With all this information about the misconceptions surrounding bra sizing in mind, remember to go with our handy Fit Guide and Bra Size Calculator to find your bra size with ease!