Measuring up

Bunnah asks:

Where do girls with big "girls" go to get measured? I would love to go to a professional to be measured, but I don't think many of the boutique shops would carry my size? (I'm, at a minimum (I think) a 44D.) Help?! (FYI... I'm not sure where you're located, or if anyone will have any ideas for my local area, but I'm from the DC area.)

This is a good question, Bunnah. They (whoever they are) say you should be measured once a year, or whenever you lose or gain a significant amount of weight. You should also replace your bras every six months. Realistically, if you take good care of your bras and hand wash them, they should last a bit longer than that. It also helps to rotate your bras every day and give them at least a day to let the elastic rest.

Anyway, where to go? I just went this past weekend to my local Lane Bryant because my favorite bras felt a little off. I measured at the same size I have forever (44D, go figure) but I decided to try a few different styles in different sizes. I bought three styles of bras in two different sizes, 42 and 44 C. Your size can differ between styles, even from the same store. It's like clothes - figure out a baseline size and then go up and down from there depending on how each style fits.

Lane Bryant employees are all trained on how to properly measure bra size and help a customer select styles. Most major department stores also train the employees in their lingerie department on how to measure for bras. I don't know of specialty lingerie stores in the DC area but the Yellow Pages is a good place to start. I'd call ahead and tell them that you want a bra fitting. They might even make a special appointment for you so you get all the attention and time you need.

Wherever you go, it's unlikely that anyone will care if you have larger breasts. In fact, they're trained to help fit women of all sizes and bras now come in a huge array of sizes and shapes. Getting the right fit can be tricky, though so set aside some time, be patient, and be open to trying styles and sizes that you might not pick for yourself. Be honest about how each bra fits and don't settle for "ok." The right bra should support without being uncomfortable.

And one last tip - bring a bottle of water. Trust me.

Have a question? Ask me here!

Comments

[Ducky]

I've been thinking of getting a professional fitting for a while now. One problem...most stores don't carry my size (I'm usually a 38G) so after they measure me, they can't help me find a bra that will actually fit. For years now, I've been ordering bras online from Lane Bryant and I think I've sort of found the right size. Even then, I'm one cup size away from not being able to order from them at all so it's hard to mix and match for the right fit.

Another problem...the stays on the sides of the bras always poke me in the side. Hard. Like permanent bruise hard. But if I get a bigger chest size, the bra creeps up my back.

Argh!!!

[Pretty Pear]

Ducky, check out BiggerBras.com. They have several styles in 38G. Some of them are really old fashioned but it's a start. Your bra should not cause you physical pain.

[Kitty]

I have Ducky's problem, except I have been fitted and fitted and I am sick of it, every time I am fitted I get (1) measured over my shirt. (2) told a bigger band smaller cup because they otherwise don't have my size in store. I once wondered why I couldn't wear under wires, it was because of that practice.
Whenever I measured myself, it was always <41 inches around band. One lady had me as a 48. There was no under bust support. It took abit of trying myself, and I've come to the conclusion that yes-40 IS my band size. Now as for having the side support ouchie problem? I Have it, but only for the first wearings, and its better than actually getting blisters from poorly fitting under wires.(friends said, oh... you just have to get used to them, they can poke a bit...HAH! When a bra gives me closes to bleeding blister spots where the under wire rubs? I am -not- wearing it again. ....
The point of all this? Keep on trying and trucking until you find what you are.(and are comfortable with/ie firm support or little less than) With the proper band-40, my boobs do not do the downward creep that they do one band size up, the 3 inch 'perky' difference is amazing. I stand up straighter, and the feeling of those glances aren't too bad either.

[JoGeek]

I hate the underwire poke, and actually have a scar on one side from it. If the underwire is actually a wire it can be bent outwards to fit. Otherwise I often find myself sewing/glueing patches of matching felt (craft store) where the underwire ends to create padding. It works for me, and if you use a good fabric glue it lasts as long as the bra without stitches showing through the outside of the bra.

[Carrie]

Re: being poked by the underwire/sides of a bra-- I think it means we're short in the torso. I read an article when WonderBra (I think that was the brand) came out with "short" bras, for people that are short in the torso and it was like a lightbulb went off. I, too, have been poked and injured by underwire bras, they never fit properly and I think that's the reason why. I've tried every variation known to mankind and nothing worked... so, I've since switched to non-underwire, and although they aren't as sexy, they're wayyyy more comfortable and I don't have any bra-related injuries anymore. :)

[Becky]

It's probably worth trying a boutique. In my experience, bra boutiques carry a much wider range of sizes than department stores or stores like Victoria's Secret. Only problem is they're usually quite expensive... but once you have your size you can use it to check out the site Colleen posted, which is great.

[caffeine]

I'd been advised to go to Nordstrom's for my fitting, but when I went in none of the clothes or bras fit me (I ended up a 42D), so I wasn't enthusiastic about the treatment I might receive there. The LB staff are hit or miss in this area, so I went into an LB store with a friend and tried on bra after bra until one fit.

[Mimi Stratton]

The place to get fitted in Washington, D.C. is Sylene, 4407 South Park Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815. It is woman-owned lingerie shop. They have tons of fantastic lingerie, and even swimwear and sleepwear. They have 30 years of experience in fitting women. Phone number: 301.654.4200.

[joan]

I live nowhere near you, but there's a shop here in Tulsa, called the Bust Stop (www.buststop.com). All they do is sell bras, all shapes and sizes. They'll whisk you into a fitting room, measure you, and then bring you a ton of bras in all different styles to see which is right for you. When all is said and done, plan to spend at least an hour with the fit specialist. Hopefully they'll have a place like this in DC.

[Orodemniades]

Keep in mind, too,that if you do go up or down a band size, it's likely that the cup size will not remain the same. Also, I've found that the same measurements (38F, frex) will not hold true from bra to bra even within the same brand.

If the girls are DD's or bigger, I highly recommend Fantasie of England and Panache (the Tango Super-Bra? Heaven on earth), especially if you're pregnant.

[Ducky]

Colleen, I LOVE YOU!!!

I don't know why all my internet searches for bras never showed me that site but, WOW! And a lot of the bras were really, really cute and not frumpy at all. Four pages of bras in my size! I almost cried. Seriously. I can't wait to order some bras (come on, Christmas money!).

What Carrie said clicked too. I am pretty short in the torso with long long long legs. My clue to this being a problem, in addition to the side-poking action is probably also that the bottom edge of the band flips or rolls up CONSTANTLY. I think it just hits me lower than it's supposed to. I used to do the soft cup bra gig but stopped once I realized that I was getting underwires in a band size that were too big so the underwire would press into my tummy. Now I think I've got the band size thing down but everything else went to hell.

I will give that site a try. Hopefully, in addition to finding an awesomely comfortable everyday bra, I'll also find one I can use and decorate for belly dancing.

:)!!!

[Innisfree]

Um, I'm a 42F and have had great luck going to the local Nordstroms. The bras are much better quality than Lane Bryant's, more expensive too. I don't know about large cup size and small band size though.

[Allura]

One thing that I like at LB is that quite often the woman I'm talking to will say, "Oh, I'm that size, and I like that bra," or the same thing but with one of the other ladies that works there. It gives me a starting place, at least. :)