Allura strives to guide women to find the best fit in lingerie. Below is one of the best fitting guides around and can be found at Plus Size Bras and is, in our opinion, the guide to follow for all shapes and sizes.
HOW TO MEASURE
For greatest accuracy, have someone help you take your measurements. Be sure to use a non-stretch, cloth-reinforced measuring tape. You'll find them in notions/sewing departments. When measuring, it's important to keep the tape level all the way around. Keep pencil and paper handy to write down the measurements. You'll need them to figure out your size later.
WHAT TO MEASURE
A total of five measurements are necessary, two with your bra off, and three with your bra on. The bra-off measurements are necessary to correct measurement errors caused by an improperly fitted bra worn during measuring. For example, if the bra worn during measuring has undersize cups, tissue is bulged at the tops and sides of the cups and is not accounted for in the bustline measurement. For the best results during measuring, wear your best fitting, non-padded, non-minimizing, non-sports bra during bra-on measuring. Measure the following:
- Abovebust with bra off
- Underbust with bra off
- Abovebust with bra on
- Bustline with bra on
- Underbust with bra on
ABOVEBUST & BUSTLINE MEASUREMENTS |
UNDERBUST MEASUREMENT |
BRA SIZES IN GENERAL
A bra size is actually two sizes, the chestband size and the cup size. The size "38G" denotes a size "38" chestband and a "G" cup size. Since bra manufacturers can't agree on cup size designations higher than D, we've defined our own cup size system to permit grading by size regardless of brand name or manufacturer. Our TRUSIZ™ system (formerly known as US "standard") is based on the inch system of measurement and the Latin alphabet. Cup sizes are determined by simple subtraction, the result of which is the cardinal number of the letter of the alphabet designating that cup size. For example, if the corrected bustline is 42 inches and the chestband size is 36, 42 minus 36 equals 6. The 6th letter of the Latin alphabet is F indicating F-cup. In this example, while the TRUE size is 34F, the label size might be 34DDD, 34E, or 34F depending on the manufacturer or brand name.
Our sizing formula has been designed, developed, and proven after thousands of trials to provide a competent fit. In most cases our formula recommends the best chestband size and the cup size will not be not more than one size low. Since all of us are unique, PlusSizeBras.info's size formula is not perfect, but it's been demonstrated to give excellent results. Please note that our system differentiates between bandeau bras with front or back closures as well as all-in-ones and longlines.
CHESTBAND SIZE
The chestband must be properly sized before even considering thinking about fitting cups. Cups CANNOT be properly fitted if the chestband is the wrong size. A properly fitted chestband will enable the bra to provide proper support to the bust while minimizing the load on the shoulder straps. Shoulder straps are primarily intended to adjust the height of the bosom, not carry it.
GENERAL NOTES
Chestband sizes are always even, whole numbers. When measuring, round up fractions of an inch greater than or equal to ½. For example, 35 ½" is rounded up to 36" but 34 3/8" is rounded down to 34".
CHESTBAND SIZE - BANDEAU - BACK CLOSURE
Round off your bra off underbust measurement and add 2. If the sum is an odd number, add 1 to that sum. The chestband size should be numerically the same or less than the bra-off abovebust measurement. It should never be greater. In the event that your bra off underbust measures 33" or less, you'll usually get a better fit with a band size approximately equal to your underbust measurement. For example, if your bra off abovebust measures 35" and your bra off underbust measures 33", we recommend a 32 instead of a 34. In the event that your bra off abovebust and underbust measurements are the same, we recommend the chestband size be numerically equal to but nor more than the measurement. For example, if your bra off abovebust and underbust measurements are each 39", we recommend a 38.
Note that the smaller band size bra must be 2 cup sizes larger to maintain the same cup volume. Cups are proportioned to the chestband and accordingly decrease in "diameter" at the chest wall with band size. For example a 34F bra's cups have less volume than a 36F bra because the cups are smaller "diameter". However, bras TRUE size 34H and 36F have equivalent cup volume.
This is your chestband size for only a BACK CLOSURE BANDEAU bra. Examples: 34" + 2 = 36, an even number. 33" + 2 = 35, an odd number, so add 1 to 35 to obtain 36. But since the measurement is less than or equal to 33, a 34 will likely be a better fit. A 36 could ride up in back.
CHESTBAND SIZE - BANDEAU - FRONT CLOSURE
Same as back closure above, but go UP one chestband size. For example, if your back closure bandeau chestband size is 36, your FRONT CLOSURE BANDEAU chestband size is the next even number, 38. Be sure to go DOWN two cup sizes too.
CHESTBAND SIZE - ALL-IN-ONE AND LONGLINE
Measure around the waist. After rounding off the measurement, add either 4 or 5 to obtain an even, whole number. This is your chestband size for only an ALL-IN-ONE or LONGLINE. Examples: 36" + 4 = 40, an even number. 35" + 4 = 39, an odd number, so add 1 to 39 to obtain 40.
CUP SIZE
In addition to the bustline measurement, two "abovebust" measurements are necessary: one taken without your bra and one taken with your bra.
If your present bra is the wrong size, breast tissue bulging from cup tops and sides isn't included in the bustline measurement. In this case the two abovebust measurements will be different. The difference between them is simply added to the bustline measurement to correct it. If the difference is zero or less, the bustline measurement is not corrected. If the difference is more than 1½", be sure to try on the exact same bra in the next higher cup size. An oversize cup is much more easily recognized than an undersize one since the cups will not be full and will wrinkle and pucker.
To determine your cup size, if your odd or even corrected bustline measurement includes a fraction greater than or equal to ½”, round up to the nearest whole number. Calculate the cardinal of the cup size letter by subtracting the chestband size from the corrected bustline measurement. A ½" to 1½" difference is an A cup. A 1½" to 2½" difference is a B cup, and so on, incrementing the cup size one letter for each additional inch of difference between the bustline measurement and the chestband size.
Following is an example where abovebust measurements differed:
With a bra, the abovebust measured 36", but without a bra, 34". The bustline measured 39½". The difference between the two abovebust measurements, 2", is added to the bustline, correcting it to 41½" and is rounded up to 42”. For a size 34 chestband, subtracting 34 from 42 gives 8 and the 8th letter of the alphabet is H. The complete TRUE size is 34H. Without the correction, the predicted cup size would have been F, two sizes too small.
Refer to the table below for PlusSizeBras' TRUSIZ™ cup sizes. As of this writing, cup sizes from L to N are available in ready-to-wear in chestband sizes only up to and including 38. Above 38 the highest cup size in ready-to-wear in a conventional or nursing bra is K.
| Difference (inches) |
4½ to 5½ |
5½ to 6½ |
6½ to 7½ |
7½ to 8½ |
8½ to 9½ |
9½ to 10½ |
10½ to 11½ |
11½ to 12½ |
12½ to 13½ |
13½ to 14½ |
14½ to 15½ |
15½ to 16½ |
16½ to 17½ |
... | 25½ to 26½ |
26½ to 27½ |
27½ to 28½ |
28½ to 29½ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cup Size | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | ... | Z | ZA | ZB | ZC |
PANTY SIZES
S = 2 (23-24 1/2" waist)
M = 4 (25-26 1/2" waist)
L = 6 (27-28 1/2" waist)
XL = 8 (29-30 1/2" waist)
2XL = 10 (31-32 1/2" waist)
3XL = 12 (33-34 1/2" waist)
4XL = 14 (35-36 1/2" waist)
