We get it- there are a lot of reasons people don't want to go to a fitting boutique and get a bra fitting. Could be time, distance, bravery (there's nothing scary we promise!) or some other personal reason. And that's fine. We're still here to help you feel amazing.
Now, while we can't do much about distance, we will say the fastest way to get to sizes that work for you is to go see a professional bra fitter (like us!). We cut through the clutter and bring things that are highly likely to work for you. If you're going to measure yourself, let me give you a few hints.
Get a soft measuring tape and pull it tighter than you think right under where you breasts meet your body. This is probably not where you current bra is sitting (which is part of why you are trying new things). Keep the tape parallel to the ground and tight.
You are likely much smaller around than you think you are. The even inch the closest to what you measure is your starting band size. If you are full busted or measure more than 38", you should probably round down.
This is the most important measurement.
Next up, put on your best fitting bra (the one that gathers your tissue the most) and measure around the fullest part of your bust. That number minus your band represents a starting point for your cup size. Each inch of difference is a letter of cup size. This number is probably much larger than you're used to. Remember, what you've been getting doesn't work. Try something new. People also usually under measure this- it can be tricky to judge the fullest part of your bust, especially in a bra that's not telling the whole story.
Pay attention to the type of sizing the bras you try use- a UK H and a US H are three cup sizes different. This chart has AA which is basically less than an inch difference. If you measured 32" underbust at 36" overbust, that difference of 4" would be a 32D. "I can't be a D!" Yes. Yes you can. Most people are more than a D. The letter also means nothing without the number- a 30D and a 40D are very different volumes of tissue.
Now a little side story. A woman came in the other day who had measured herself at home. She very confidently told me she measured herself at 37"/ 42". That would be a 38DD/E or a 36DDD/F. So we started in a 36F (knowing that she probably measured too low and not tight enough. Sure enough, the 36 was comfortably snug but not too tight. However, the F was too small because her breast tissue that was previously hiding under her armpits was now located in the cup. She ended up in a 36H bra- two cups larger than she "measured."
You aren't a size, you wear sizes.
Need more help? Leave a comment or better yet book a fitting. We're here to help you.