My girlfriend's bra size - how to calculate?

Question

I am going to buy my girlfriend a set of bras and panties for her birthday in October. However, I do not know where to start with those misleading size charts. I need a little help from somebody who knows. Here is the problem:

I asked her to measure the band size (the measurement of the ribcage) and I got 73 cm.

Also, the bust size measured 86 cm.

Here is my little calculation:

73 cm = 28.74 in, this rounds up to be 29 in.

Found on Victoria's Secret website, I should add 5 in more to this measurement to get the band size.

29 + 5 = 34 in.

Now, the bust size is:

86 cm = 33.85 in which rounds up to be 34 in.

Here is her cup size: 34 - 34 = 0 (size AA).

Her bra size should be 34AA.

This does not make any sense.

In my view, her cup size should be either a B or a C. The measurements and calculations came out to be misleading.

Could anyone suggest a more easy-to-follow method? Or else could you please suggest a different method of measuring? Is there anything I did wrong or is there any missed steps?

I will appreciate all answers.

Thank you very much for your time.

Answer 1

Why don't you just ask her now what size she is? October is a long way from now...she won't think you're asking her about her gift.  

Answer 2

I agree with the people on top- most size charts

DON'T work for every woman. They don't even work for me!

I suggest asking someone close to her (like her sister, or

someone that lives with her). Or when you're over her house

accidentally sneak into her pantie/ bra drawer and read the

size. But if you don't want to go through all that trouble then

buy her the 34 A and keep the receipt so if it fits her big or small

then she can go exchange it for her size. Hope I helped! :)  

Answer 3

umm.. may b the math section

Answer 4

Find her bra and look at the tag...obvious much? :) way easier than all that.........

Answer 5

just 1. ask her what size she wears for panties & bras

or

2. look at one wen shes not looking.

(:

Answer 6

Take her to Victoria Secret and have her get measured.  If shes already wearing bras she should know what size she is.  

Answer 7

its not that hard just grab one of her bras and under wears and look on the tab..simple then you dont have to go through those misleading charts!

Answer 8

I find that that measurement doesn't work.

Technically it says I should be an A and I am easily a good C.

Why don't you just ask her her size, save a lot of trouble.

Or peek at one of her bras.

Answer 9

Go find a bra she wears...and look at the size! Same with the underwear!  

Answer 10

i found this website: http://chilltown.weebly.com check it out! i emailed the author and he said more info like this is coming! I really liked the site! go check it out for yourself!

I hope this helps!  

Answer 11

for the band size Keeping the measuring tape parallel with the ground, measure around your bra directly under your bust after expelling all air from your lungs - you want this measurement to be as small as possible. Round all fractional measurements to the nearest whole number.

If the measurement is even, add 4"

if the measurement is odd, add 5"

for cup size measure bust

then subtract band size from cup

then the difference will determine the size on the list below.

Difference    Standard Cup Size

0"-1/2" (1.3 cm) AA

1/2"- 1" (2.6 cm) A

2" (5.1 cm) B

3" (7.6 cm) C

4" (10.2 cm) D

5" (12.7 cm) DD or E

6" (15.2 cm) DDD or F

7" (17.8 cm) G

8" (20.3 cm) H

9" (22.9 cm) I

10" (25.4 cm) J

it would honestly be a lot easier if you could find her bra

Answer 12

i have no idea how any of that works. october is a long way away so why dont you just ask her what her bra size is or look at the size of one of her bras

Answer 13

I have 2 ideas

1. Ask one of her friends, they always no

2. Look at some she wears often

(If you look at ones she doesnt wear often chances are they dont fit her)

Answer 14

AAA? If it's like batteries, those are among the smallest. : D

Answer 15

The steps you did in your calculation is correct. The only way it would be wrong is if you converted cm to inches wrong, your friend measured wrong, or your view on her breast size is wrong. Most likely your friend measured wrong (you can double check the conversion and most B or C cups can't be mistaken for AA cups =P)

Hope this helped!

Answer 16

I agree with the respondent who said that Victoria's Secret is not the best with fitting. The method you've used (adding 4-5" to under-bust to find band size) is very popular, as you can see from websites as well as people's responses here. It's also, unfortunately, pretty inaccurate. It's hard to change people's minds about this: they see everywhere to add 4-5" so they refuse to believe anything else (ever heard of a common misconception?), but you should add 3" at most!

There is no standardized (and accurate) formula for measuring bra size, despite what many websites and 'professional' fitters will tell you. There are many different methods that are used, but here's the most reliable one, in my experience:

1. Measure snugly and horizontally beneath your b*****s. Round up to the nearest even number. This is your band size. (Keep in mind: some brands have tighter bands than others. For some brands, I can simply round up to get my band size. For a few, I have to add 3", to the next biggest band size.)

2. Measure loosely around the fullest part of your chest (usually around nipple level), making sure you don't compress any breast tissue. Subtract your band size from this number.

3. A 1" difference = A cup, 2" = B, 3" = C, 4" = D, etc. This is your cup size.

In your example, your girlfriend measures 29" beneath the b*****s and 34" at the fullest part. This would be a 30 band size and D cup (34 - 30 = 4), so it makes sense that you'd estimate her to be a B or C (a 30D actually holds the same cup volume as a 32C, 34B, and 36A - see how it works?).  However, it's important to remember that this is an estimate and nothing more. Every woman is shaped differently, so no measuring system will work universally; similarly, every bra brand manufactures their bras slightly differently, so you will not be the same size in every bra style, let alone every bra brand. If you come out as 30D (as in this case), make sure to try on a range of sizes: perhaps 30C-DD as well as 32C-DD. (The method I posted works for both U.S. and U.K.  bra sizes, though I've found that U.S. bras tend to have smaller bands on average, so your girlfriend might fit well in a 30D in Freya, a British brand, but need a 32B/C in Wacoal, an American brand.)

(NB: When going up in the band, you need to go down in the cup to compensate and vice versa. For example, a 30DD holds the same cup volume as a 32D, 34C, and 36B.)

30s are hard to find in the U.S., but I've had success at Nordstrom (though I'm guessing that you don't live in the U.S., based on your use of centimeters). Great places to buy bras in 30s/32s: figleaves.com (free return policy), Bravissimo(.com), barenecessities.com. I've also posted some bra fitting links (figleaves and Bravissimo have great guides for how a bra should look and feel).

Answer 17

Unfortunately, the measuring method has its faults - I've always measured 2-4 cup sizes smaller than what I am. The best bet would be to take her somewhere that specializes in this solely (a "foundation" shop - usually these places are experts at sizing even the more difficult sizes and body shapes. I found mine from a website linked to off the Oprah website - see sources), or a local higher-end department store, such as Nordstrom's.

While Victoria's Secret is good for buying bras once you know your size, they're not terribly experienced or trained in fitting, so I really would avoid them until you know the right size. Keep in mind too, that size differs from brand name of bras.

Answer 18

Fashion And Design-http://fasiontv.info/