[Lotus]

Unsure, measurements (via standard measuring method & cup size calculation formula) suggest a C, but I don't even halfway fill an A....

I've always found this to be the best tool:

Bra sizing for men growing breasts

This topic has been kicked around quite a bit. Men have a generally different ribcage shape from women and so the usual methods of measuring for women just don't work out for men. In following a link to an older board this morning, I happened to notice a thread from 2003 on that board mentioning an alternate way of figuring out cup size for women. It got me thinking. The meanderings of my mind are here for your enjoyment and comment.

It said use the standard method of finding your band size, but for cup size, measure from the outside of the breast where it ends on the side of your body over the nipple to where it ends in the middle of the chest. Then it gave a list of cup size versus breast size.

7" = A
8" = B
9" = C

I thought this was actually a good way to find cup size except that it didn't allow for the idea that an 8" boob on a 28" chest is relatively bigger than an 8" boob on a 32" chest. So I got thinking about how to find a cup size using the chest size versus breast size. A quick measurement of a couple of the bras I have shows that a 38B is between 8" and 9.5" depending on brand and style. A 40C I have measures 10". I have a couple of 38A bras that are 7.5", and two that are 8.5"! No wonder there's no such thing as just measuring your size...

Then I got to wondering, does anyone on this board happen to work for a bra manufacturer or know someone who does? I wonder who decides what size to make a cup, and how they decide that. In the interests of standardizing for automated production, you'd think they would have this kind of measurement rather well known. Or are bras mostly still hand-made?

So, back to my musing about how this applies to male bodies like mine. I firmly believe that the underbust measurement for a male is the band size. Round to an even number, and hold the tape as snugly as you want the band to fit. If it helps your mindset like it does mine, take note of the idea that if you go with a lycra/spandex/elastane etc. band then you can go down one band size and still be comfortable as long as the band isn't reinforced or narrow. Going down in band size also gives a lot more choices in styles and such, unless you are already above a 40. Going down in size isn't advisable if you will be wearing it all day long.

For the cup size, if a 38B is typically 8.75" (an average based on my much too simple testing), and a 38B is roughly the same as a 40A or a 36C or a 34D for breast size, then the ratios are 4.6, 4.3, 4.1, and 3.9 for the A, B, C, and D cups.

If we turn these ratios into a chart, it comes out roughly like this:

____|_7 3/4_|_8 1/4_|_8 3/4_|_9 1/4_|_9 3/4_|
_36_|___A___|___B___|___C___|_______|_______|
_38_|_______|___A___|___B___|___C___|_______|
_40_|_______|_______|___A___|___B___|___C___|

Convert to cms if you think in cms. I live in a sort of metric country (Canada) but I'm old enough that I think in imperial measures.

This jives fairly well with the bras I have (I only have them in 36, 38, and 40 band sizes).

Relating this to the usual measurement for overbust, the main difference I see is that the usual measurement ignores the fullness of the boobies because it doesn't know how much air is under the tape and how much flesh. And as we all know filling your cups with air doesn't work unless they are inflatable.

So if you have been wanting to get a second opinion on what size might be right for you, maybe you should try this method. I can't say if it scales outside of the range I showed above, but since there is so much variability in the brand and styles anyway it is still only a starting point. Dealing with the spread between your breasts is best handled by selecting a style that has more or less space allowed for between them IMHO.

Maybe next time I shop, I should take my tape measure and measure the cups in the bras I am considering. Unfortunately my left boob is bigger than my right. In my case, the difference is about an inch. And my measurements are between those on my chart. So I need a bra that is a 38aB on the right and a 38Bc on the left. Anyone know where to order of those? Apparently most women face this problem too. I read somewhere that the majority of women are bigger of the let than the right. I'd guess it is related to the majority also being right-handed and therefore having different muscle tone from left to right. Like me.