The most essential fashion creation in the history of womankind, the bra, was invented in 1913 by Mary Phelps Jacob, who found that her corset peeked through a sheer, plunging dress to unsightly effect. Two handkerchiefs, some pink ribbon, and an impromptu arts-and-crafts session later, Mary had brought the first bra to life—sparking the decline of the corset’s 350-year reign (and getting her new dress to fit better in the process).
Still, almost a hundred years later, not all women seem to have gotten the memo about how essential a great-fitting, outfit-appropriate bra is to the female wardrobe—a lot of ladies know nothing about bras at all! Knowing your correct bra size will prevent you from getting back pains, muscle tension, and surprisingly, even headaches!
The right bra size will make your clothes look better on your body. Therefore to find out your bra size is a MUST for every true-blue fashionista!
CALCULATING YOUR BRA SIZE
To calculate your bra size is very easy. Just follow the steps below:
1. First, put on your most comfortable bra.
2. To determine your bra size (the width around your bust), take a measuring tape and run it around your ribcage area, just below the breast.
3. If you clock in a measurement of 33 inches (83,82 centimeters) or less, your bra size is that number plus five inches (12,7 centimeters). If you clock in a measurement of more than 33 inches, your bra size is that number plus three inches (7,62 centimeters). Round off any odd numbered measurements to the closest even number.
4. To determine your cup size (the depth of the bra cup), take the measuring tape and run it around the fullest part, or “peak,” of the bust.
5. Subtract the measurement you clocked in for bra size from this new measurement for cup size. For instance, if you took a 34 inch measurement for bra size and a 36 inch measurement for cup size, your equation should be 36 minus 34.
6. The difference of your two measurements can be used as a code for your cup size, which you can find in the list below:
AA = ½
A = 1
B = 2
C = 3
D = 4
DD or E = 5
F = 6
G = 7
In the example, cup size minus bra size, or 36 minus 34, gives you a difference of two. Using the above code, two is equal to B—which means that you should be wearing a bra sized 34B.
