Plus size bras | Imamother

amother

Jetblack ↓

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 9:57 am

What makes a bra good is a good fit.

It's a mistake to get fitted at a regular store or measure your size solely according to the standard charts.

A lot of plus size women don't realize their actual band size is smaller than measured, and the cup size might be larger. This is because bra bands are supposed to fit snug, and body fat has more give than your actual rib cage. The correct band size will compress the fat a little bit, while the measured size would (if the cup size is correct) be too loose to provide support.

If the cup size is too small, it can affect how the band fits, because the sides of the breast then press against the band, not the cup. Some women even end up thinking their bra cups are too big, because they're not filling the cup, because their breast tissue is migrating to the side because the ill-fitting bra moves it out of place.

So in short (relative to the article I could write) here's my guide to bra fitting for plus-sized women:

Try on some bras backward and upside down to find your band size. You can start with one you already have, but keep in mind that your old bras are probably stretched out compared to new ones. The backward fit test ensures that the fit of the cups doesn't affect the fit of the band.

Once you know your band size from trying on, then you measure the widest part of your bust and calculate bust minus band. Try on that size and go up and down as needed. One inch = one letter, but sizing systems are different. In the US, the cup sizes are A, B, C, D, DD, DDD, G, H, I, J, K, and so on. In the UK, the cup sizes are A, B, C, D, DD, E, F, FF, G, GG, H, HH, J, JJ, K, KK, and so on.

(But to complicate matters, some US brands have an E and/or and F, and some of them treat E as synonymous with DD while others make it the next size. Whichever brand you shop, look at their size chart and confirm that their sizes go in order.)

If you're plus size your real cup size is higher than a straight size person with your exact proportions. This is because cup size is measured in absolute inches of difference between band and bust, not in percentages. In the context of plus size bra sizes, D is a small cup size.

Unfortunately, stores are terrible at fitting plus size (even Lane Bryant, who specialize in it, though their bras are fine and if you don't ask the sales person for help, you can probably find your size) and most manufacturers produce a very limited size range. So I don't have any specific brand recommendations because you won't know who has your size until you know what your size is.

A properly fitting bra, other than a minimizer, will be snug against your ribcage, but it will neither compress your breasts nor have extra room (unless you're asymmetrical, which is normal, which means there will be extra room in one cup). A minimizer compresses slightly to flatten a little bit. I wouldn't recommend a minimizer until you've at least tried on a non-minimizer in your size; a lot of women squeeze into minimizers that don't fit, and they don't realize how much of the discomfort is avoidable. (Also, often, minimizers don't have a natural shape, and they make you look flatter but wider.)

Also, when putting on a bra, you're supposed to lean forward and "scoop" your breasts into the cups, to ensure that all of the breast tissue is in the cup and none is in the band area. If your bra is the right size, skipping this step can lead to pinching. If it's the wrong size, it might make it seem like it "fits" but lead to discomfort in the long term and not look good.