Why do bra sizing guides tell you to add 5, when not every woman is built the same?

This takes absolutely no account that every woman is different. Surely not every woman witll be 5 inches bigger around her rib cage, than her under bust measurement. I am only about 2-3 inches bigger as my rib cage does not expand that much. Because of these inaccurate guides, I was wearing the wrong bra size for years.

Graham, I don't understand why they don't just tell you to use your over bust measurement as the band size, would be much more simple and accurate.

Although, the band size has nothing to do with the size of the actual breasts. I'm still a c cup, just have a small ribcage.

that's why some stores have ladies who measure for you, they know how to use them correctly and advise you which is the best bra for you.

Its due to some weird geometrical formula devised by men for women.


BAAAAHHH What do they know???

There are two parts of the bra size: the underbust measurement and the overbust measurement. For some obscure (at least to me) reason, the way that bra sizes are described is to add 4 or 5 inches to the underbust measurement to get a notional overbust measurement, and then to have a cup size which specifies how much more difference there is between the underbust and overbust measurements.

I assume that this came about because the vast majority of women were assumed to have a difference of at least 4 inches, so I guess anyone with less of a difference will indeed have difficulty with sizing. Since a bra was originally designed for a larger bust, it could be that they just assumed that women with smaller breasts wouldn't wear them.

I'm glad you've got your sizing problem fixed though - I find it amazing how many women I see in the UK wearing a bra which is so wrongly sized that it's obvious to the casual observer - don't they ever look in a mirror?

I think part of the problem is that the whole point of bras is to make all women the same. I know a lot of guys *and* girls who are shocked when they see lots of naked breasts in a movie or something, because the breasts often seem to sag, to fall towards the sides, to be of different sizes - in other words, to not be perfectly round, perfectly spaced globes sitting high on the chest. There's a long history of people both a) trying to make all women's bodies the same and b) acting as though they really are. You are so right to point this out - we really need a better measurement system (and better bras!).

absolutely

Because those guidelines are produced for basic department stores without assistance, based on the average or most common build that they tend to find in women. It's all just standardized for as close of a fit that can be found on your own because most people don't know how to measure their own band size precisely.

true

I wish i could offer you "support" for this problem. Ching! deux points.

It's not easy being a girl. (sometimes).

These guides don't apply to naturally petite women and genetically thin women. I've been experimenting with different bra sizes for a few years now and know which brand (with the specific size) suits me best even if they're not of the same size per brand.

Because they are selling CHEAP bras.. If you go to a high-end department store's "Lingerie Department" where you can buy a Wacoal brand, ask for a "fitter" and they will measure you and have you select (with their help) bras that you want to try on. Then, you'll go into a dressing room, and get their help IF YOU WANT IT...WHEN YOU WANT IT...and if you need something more...they will go get you more...so you don't have to keep getting dressed and undressed. THIS is the TRUE way to buy a bra. There is NO SET measurement like that.
Also, it's wrong to buy a bra that fits in the cups but not around the ribcage, and then just adjust the straps.
The shoulder-straps should always be pulled up LESS THAN 1/3 of the way, so the BACK of the ribcage circumferance is ON the rib cage...and NEVER 'hike' it up to make the cups higher.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE girls make with bras...is to buy the ribcage too big, and then adjust it by shortening the shoulder-straps. Get the ribcage SMALLER and let the shoulder-straps OUT.
Go to that 'fitter' if for no other reason than to find out your true bra size.
Sorry---with all due respect, but the clerks at Victoria Secret...are not professional bra fitters! NONE of them know much at all about sizing. You need to go where very high-end lingerie is sold!...where the fitter will hand you their PRINTED CARD provided by the department store!

True, but its an average measurement that they use as a guideline. Every woman is different, but I guess the garment industry figures the measurement using a shape that represents most (but not all) women.

That's why there are people trained in bra fitting that work in the lingere departments of major department stores and at boutiques like Victoria's Secret. Ask these ladies and they'll help you determine what may fit you best. Plus you should try on the bras before you buy them. They're all cut a little different and one style may fit you better than another, even if they're both made by the same manufacturer.