When You Should Get New Bras and Get Fitted Again

September 13, 2024

How Do You Know It’s Time to Get New Bras and How Do You Know It’s Time to Get Fitted Again?

These two questions are often the same. If your bra is not fitting correctly, it is time not only to get a new bra but also to get fitted for your bra size again.

Generally, it is recommended that you get fitted for a new bra size every six months or at least every year. Bodies are always changing even when you are out of puberty, so it is important to have good support with the correct bra size. Girls in puberty would be refitted more often.

You should have at least three bras you rotate between to get your use out of them and wash them as per the care directions. Ideally, you have at least seven bras, but to each their own.

Here are some ways you know it’s time for a new bra and a fitting:

● If your cup wrinkles, it is a tell-tale sign that your cup size is too large.

● If your cups gap, your band size is too large.

● If your breasts spill or overflow out of the sides, your cup size is too small.

● If your bra band rose up your back, your band is too loose/big.

● If your bra band pinches your skin, your band is too tight/small.

● If your bra straps pinch or dig into your skin even after adjusting them, it is a sign your band is too loose and your straps are doing all the heavy lifting, which is something you want to avoid as your support should come from your band.

● If your bra straps fall off even after adjusting them, your band size is too large/big.

● If your bra moves up whenever you raise your arms, your band is too loose/big.

● If anything is too tight or too loose it is time. If it had been years, then it is time. If you lost weight, gained weight, had a baby, or anything else affecting your body, it is time to get fitted for your correct bra size.

You can check our Fit Guide and Bra Size Calculator for more information, but I will give you a quick breakdown of how to size yourself at home if you don’t have a trusted place to get fitted.

How You Can Measure Yourself at Home

All you need is a soft measuring tape and a pen and paper to record your measurements.

Step 1 - Measure Your Ribcage to Find Your Band Size

Your Band Size is crucial to the proper fit. To get your Band Size, you measure your underbust or ribcage. Rounding to the nearest whole even number, you must make sure the measuring tape is parallel to the floor and snug around your ribcage. A Band Size will be 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, and so on.

Step 2 - Measure Your Overbust

Next, you need to measure your overbust. Your overbust is the fullest part of your breasts over the areola. The measuring tape needs to be parallel to the floor as well. Not too tight nor too loose. Round to the nearest whole number, so if you get a 32.5, round to 33.

Step 3 - Find Your Cup Size

Once you have your Band Size and Overbust Measurement, all you need to do is subtract them.

That’s it.

There’s no need to add four to the band size like the Plus Four Method asks.

It’s only this:

Overbust Measurement - Band Size = Cup Size

Each inch equals a 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 = DDDD-Cup or G-Cup

Take your Band Size and your Cup Size to get your Bra Size.

And now you have your Bra Size!

Real-Life Examples

In BRABAR Studio, we often had repeat guests come every year to get new bras for the start of a school year or for summer camp. Two sisters were brought in by their mom for the second year in a row.

The previous year, the older sister, a teen girl had been a 34C. This time, she was a 34DDD or a 34F. She went from a 34 underbust and a 37 overbust to a 34 underbust to a 40 overbust. She grew three whole inches in her overbust, but her band size did not change! She got her usual Soft Day Bras and also got the Soft V Reversible Laceback Bralette for the first time. The last time she had gotten an Everyday Bra and a Soft Day Bra. The Soft Collection bras like the Soft Day Bra and the Soft V Reversible Laceback Bralette tend to work better for a 34DDD in my experience.

The younger sister had been a 28A, but this time around she was a 30B. She had measured 28 underbust and 29 overbust, so she went to a 29 underbust, thus a 30 Band, and a 31 overbust. She got her usual Soft V Crop Bras and Soft Cami Bra Tops, which are both unlined and great starter bras for preteens/tweens. These were her favorites from the previous time which totally makes sense for her age group. The Soft Cami Bra Top is a fan favorite. The Soft V Crop Bra is our most comfortable bra.

So you can see the difference between one year! It was necessary to get resized for these girls, especially for the one teenager. It was necessary because of the jump in cup size, but not band size.

Still, it might not be that big of a difference for you, but it’s always good to double-check.

Therefore, if your band is too tight or too loose, or if your cups are wrinkled or gapping, or if you haven’t gotten a new bra in a couple of years, then it is time to get fitted and new bras.

You can check out BRABAR’s full collection of teen bras, tween bras, teen bralettes, tween bralettes, sports bras, lace bralettes, halter bralettes, cotton bras, everyday bras, strapless bras, comfy undies, and our library of sticky strapless solutions.