14-02-2018, 08:15 AM
I've done quite a bit of experimentation on bra sizing, and I'm happy to share my own experience.
PantyWearerOK's recommendation of ABTF is excellent. That is the only place you should go to read about bra sizing. All other sites, lingerie sites included, and calculators, are likely wrong! Anything that tells you to add some number of inches to your underbust measurement is wrong! ABTF calculator: http://www.abrathatfits.org/brasizecalculator.php
The short of it is, your underbust measurement is your band size. Each inch of the different between overbust and underbust is a cup size. BUT for the male frame, you then need to take one or two cup sizes off. Also, different bras (even from the same brand) are all made differently, and have varying band sizes and stretch. Some bras may be too tight, and you may need to go up a band size. Unfortunately, and this is the really sucky part, it really comes down to trial and error to find ABraThatFits.
Sister size: You'll see this a lot on ABTF, and you need to know this if you're trying for size. Basically, a sister size means a bra size that has the same cup volume, with a different band size. If you go down a band size, you'll go up a cup size. If you go up a band size, you'll go down a cup size. Example: 34C has sister size of 32D, 36B, 38A. Why is this important? Suppose you tried a bra size of 34C. The cups fit you well, but the band is too tight. Then, you'll try the sister size of 36B. This will give you a looser band, with the same fit of the cups. If you had tried 36C, the cups would be too big.
Example:
ramannab68 - Underbust 33, overbust 36. ABTF size for female is 34C. I would suggest trying 34A (which may be hard to find) or 34B. If band size of 34 is too loose, then you can try 32B or 32C.
Shirazmn - Underbust 39, overbust 42.5. ABTF size for female is 38D. I would suggest trying 38B or 38C.
myself - Underbust 34, overbust 39. My tried-and-tested size is 34C. However, for some brands, especially French/European, I've found their band to be too tight, and 36B fits better.
Note that your underbust measurement should be pulled tight.
As you can see, there are so many permutations to try. So, what I did for myself was to order from retailers with free returns, in various sizes, and return those that don't fit.
PantyWearerOK's recommendation of ABTF is excellent. That is the only place you should go to read about bra sizing. All other sites, lingerie sites included, and calculators, are likely wrong! Anything that tells you to add some number of inches to your underbust measurement is wrong! ABTF calculator: http://www.abrathatfits.org/brasizecalculator.php
The short of it is, your underbust measurement is your band size. Each inch of the different between overbust and underbust is a cup size. BUT for the male frame, you then need to take one or two cup sizes off. Also, different bras (even from the same brand) are all made differently, and have varying band sizes and stretch. Some bras may be too tight, and you may need to go up a band size. Unfortunately, and this is the really sucky part, it really comes down to trial and error to find ABraThatFits.
Sister size: You'll see this a lot on ABTF, and you need to know this if you're trying for size. Basically, a sister size means a bra size that has the same cup volume, with a different band size. If you go down a band size, you'll go up a cup size. If you go up a band size, you'll go down a cup size. Example: 34C has sister size of 32D, 36B, 38A. Why is this important? Suppose you tried a bra size of 34C. The cups fit you well, but the band is too tight. Then, you'll try the sister size of 36B. This will give you a looser band, with the same fit of the cups. If you had tried 36C, the cups would be too big.
Example:
ramannab68 - Underbust 33, overbust 36. ABTF size for female is 34C. I would suggest trying 34A (which may be hard to find) or 34B. If band size of 34 is too loose, then you can try 32B or 32C.
Shirazmn - Underbust 39, overbust 42.5. ABTF size for female is 38D. I would suggest trying 38B or 38C.
myself - Underbust 34, overbust 39. My tried-and-tested size is 34C. However, for some brands, especially French/European, I've found their band to be too tight, and 36B fits better.
Note that your underbust measurement should be pulled tight.
As you can see, there are so many permutations to try. So, what I did for myself was to order from retailers with free returns, in various sizes, and return those that don't fit.