I got measured for a bra this weekend.

climbingsingle

And apparently for the last 20 years or so, I've been wearing a 34C when I should have been wearing a 34DD. *cry* So, I bought 3 new bras in my new size and honestly, my boobs feel pretty spectacular today! 

loro929

Same thing happened to me! I was wearing a 34B and apparently I was a 32D. When the saleswoman at VS told me this, I was truly shocked.

climbingsingle

I was really shocked too! For some reason, I thought she was going to tell me I needed a 36B. 

Swazzle

The right size bra can make SUCH a difference! I always just went to VS and got a 34DD and then in college I went to a specialty bra store and got measured properly. I'm actually a 32G and you'd never know it by looking at me because my bra fits perfectly. It's significantly more comfortable too.  

phira

I've honestly been dreading getting remeasured, since I can't afford to replace my bras right now anyways. I'd feel more motivated to get remeasured if I felt like my bras were the wrong size, but I feel pretty comfortable. Maybe I just don't know how comfortable I could be.

pumpkinsandturkeys

I always thought I was wearing the right size and was pretty comfortable, too. I got measured here and there and I was usually right -- until this past year, when I fell into the "band size too big, cup too small" trap that catches most women. I'm now a 32DD and not a 34D (the slipping strapless bras gave it away for me). In the summer, I can go up to a 32E/DDD because breast tissue swells in the heat and can affect your size.

climbingsingle

The woman at VS also suggested I try a DDD in some bras. I honestly didn't know they even had that size. 

Jells2dot0

ClimbingBrideNY said:

The woman at VS also suggested I try a DDD in some bras. I honestly didn't know they even had that size. 

I think it's a fairly new size. They had a few of the DDDs at select stores when I tried one on back in mid 2011. I just happened to visit one of their stores that had them and at that time, they only had them in white and nude.

This reminds me that I really should be re-measured.

JennyColada

I've been a 32DDD/F (E?) for years. A lot of VS bras run too small or have too much padding. But Fi is super handy, so often I can buy 32DD and he'll remove the padding and presto!

climbingsingle

I mean, really, why the fuck would a DDD even need padding? Am I missing something here? 

Awesome that your FI can do that! That's a good idea. 

pumpkinsandturkeys

Not all bras at VS come in DDD -- generally, most of the push-up ones stop at D or DD, with some exceptions (which bugs me because as a 32, it's not like I have ginormous boobs that don't need a little help saying hello during special occasions).

Almost all of the unlined ones (which are suuuuuper comfy!) come in the larger cup sizes.

Also, they will generally have more colours available online for these sizes than in-store.

lightningsnow

I'm sure I need to remeasure myself but I can't find my measuring tape since we moved into the new place. For years I thought I was a 34A or B. Then I remeasured myself and found out I was actually a 32B. I then went up to a 32C once I got on my BCP.

emmaaa

I always thought I was a 34 C and ten got measured and was told I was a 34 D. At first I was like, man this is so much more comfortable. But then I realized my bra was always riding up or just not right. So I got remeassured again and they said 34 DD and I told them there was no way I was that size because the 34 on my existing bras has been too loose. So she measured me again and said I was right and in fact was a 32 DD and sometimes a 32 DDD/E in the summer or when I gain a few pounds.

As far as bras that size having padding or pushup, I like it. Even hough a DD may seem like a big cup, it really isn't paired with a 32. So in certain tops/dresses, I like the extra oomph.

SBmini

This silly little Nordstrom video is actually really great at showing you how a bra fits. So many women underestimate the size of their boobs. And it's too bad, because you won't be as comfortable and the ladies won't look as nice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIA-2x5iRCM

HaileyDancingbear

Same here- I wore a 34 D for a while, then a 32 DD, and when I was completely fed up with quad boob and the girls trying to escape under the underwire, I went to nordstrom (and self-measured according to various reputable bra sites) and ended up in a 30FF. 

But seriously, you're lucky you're still in a size you can find in stores.  I got so sick of ordering online from a VERY tiny selection of bras (once the old lady bras, or the bras that are so THIN everyone can tell when it's a bit chilly were ruled out) I bought like 3 yards of bra foam and have been making my own bras.

pumpkinsandturkeys

@HaileyDancingbear -- have you tried ordering from Figleaves? I've gotten a lot of larger-sized bras there and they have more selection than the average physical store.

misscoffeeplease

Oh man! I need to do this! I'm in the itty bitty committee and I don't feel like it fits me properly. Do you have to specifically go to a bra boutique for this?

CMGragain

Most of you ladies know that I had a mastectomy, reconstruction and a reduction on my other breast.  Finally going bra shopping again was such a shock!  My bustline is so completely different, now.  It took me hours to find a bra that fit me.  I went from a 44 E to a 42 B.  My clothes look so much better.  I am not allowed to wear underwires any more.  I find that Playtex secrets works best for me, now that I am perky again.  I never used to wear that brand before - it never fit correctly.  How things do change!  Kudos to my plastic surgeon!

lc07

Now I know why I have small boobs. All of you took them all! 

climbingsingle

MrsLynn said:

Oh man! I need to do this! I'm in the itty bitty committee and I don't feel like it fits me properly. Do you have to specifically go to a bra boutique for this?

They were able to measure me at Victoria's Secret. She called herself a bra specialist..lol. 

JaniV123

MrsLynn said:

Oh man! I need to do this! I'm in the itty bitty committee and I don't feel like it fits me properly. Do you have to specifically go to a bra boutique for this?

Aerie does a LOT of training on their employees to correctly measure customers. I used to be a bad ass Bra Specialist, I used to train all the newcomers. Also they have super comfy bras!

HobokensFury

Something like 3/4 of women wear the wrong bra size.

pumpkinsandturkeys

HobokenBride2012 said:

Something like 3/4 of women wear the wrong bra size.

It's actually higher, surprisingly enough. A study done last year indicated that range of women wearing the wrong bra size (in the US, I believe) is between 80 - 85%.

Go find a Dept store, Aerie, VS, or other lingerie store and get fitted!

lightningsnow

Do not go to Victoria's Secret to get fitted. They do not do it correctly and you can easily get a false measure from them. It's easy enough to do on your own. Just google bra measuring and you will find some sites that will tell you the correct way.

climbingsingle

I went to VS and she did a great job. She was extremely knowledgeable. 

emmaaa

@lightningsnow Some associates at VS do it correctly and do a really good job, it's like any chain, some are good and some are bad. It's not fair to lump them all together.

And measuring yourself is not the best idea because when you are lifting your arms to measure, it actually changes the size you are when you are "resting" whch is what you should go by. Maybe look up how to do it and ask a friend or someone to help measure you.

ETA: my space bar hates me

lkristenj

I think another reason why so many people wear the wrong size is that bras last a long time with proper care and you may buy one in the right size for you when you were 18, but now that you're 27, you're not that size anymore. (Just using random numbers for examples). The bra still fits okay, so you keep wearing it, even though it may not fit correctly anymore. And, since you already have that bra, when you need new ones you continue buying in the size you know. I think it's important for people to continue to get remeasured throughout their lives rather than relying on the size they've always had. I think that's the trap that too many fall into. I know I did.

lightningsnow

@eg72 Yes, some do it correctly though majority of them do it wrong. Even the guide on their website tells you to do it wrong. I tried to do it myself last night but I had a difficult time so I have asked my BF to help me with it later on this week.

CMGragain

Men are so damn lucky!

climbingsingle

CMGragain said:

Men are so damn lucky!

I don't know about that. My FI went into a long explanation yesterday about finding the right pair of underwear that properly supports his parts specifically while exercising. He said a lot of movement during hiking or other exercising can occur making it really uncomfortable. 

To quote Elaine Benes: I don't know you guys walk around with those things. 

AllOnOneDay

VS and most US department stores put me in a 36DDD, 38DDD or 38G.

I measure as a 28J, wear a 30HH as 28 is just too tight for comfort since all the padding for my ribs is in my boobs. I am nothing near a US DDD cup.