A few simple tips will help you find the perfect bra for your body. Consider this your personal plus size bra calculator.
The right bra is one that fits perfectly—but fit is no simple science in the bra world! The wrong bra can ruin an outfit while the right bra isn’t noticeable. It is really easy to wear the wrong bra size, but it can be difficult to realize the size is not the right fit for you. We may not have a plus size bra calculator, but we can break it down for you.
We recommend finding an expert to measure you instead of measuring yourself, but this is a great place to start if you don’t have the time or proximity to the lingerie section of a department store or if you’re wondering how to measure bra size at home. Shopping for bras online can be really tricky, so make sure you understand the return policy before you purchase! To figure out how to measure bra size for plus size women, you’ll need:
Using a soft measuring tape, measure the circumference of your band which is directly under your bust. Essentially, this is the circumference of your rib cage. When measuring, make sure the tape is parallel to the ground so that it is level. Round to the nearest whole number. If that number is odd, round up to the next even number.
Wearing a non-padded bra like the Elomi Matilda Plunge Bra, measure the circumference of your body around the fullest part of your bust. Using a mirror or a friend, make sure that the tape is level while you are measuring. Your arms should not be included in this measurement. Round to the nearest whole number. Remember your bust measurement, because here is where things can get tricky!
Using both your band and bust measurements, you can decipher your cup size. Take your bust measurement and subtract your band measurement to find the difference between the two. Once you determine the difference between bust and band, use the chart below to determine your cup size. For each inch, the cup size goes up by a letter.
Ex: If your band measurement is a 42 and your bust measurement is 45 inches, there’s a difference of 3 inches. That 3-inch difference determines your cup size is a C.
Check out this bra size chart to determine your cup size. Keep in mind, every bra manufacturer has its own unique size charts and not every brand uses this method to size their bras, but, this is generally accepted as the industry standard.
Just like how some pairs of jeans can fit differently—even pairs in the same size from the same brand—bras too are unique. Trying on is crucial! If you aren’t comfortable in the size that you’ve calculated, try on some bras in sister sizes. Your sister size is another bra size that is close to the size you measured.
Here’s how sister sizing works:
Want to see a bra fitting in action? Check out our episode of Dear Ashby on Facebook Live in which Dia Stylist Ashby talked with a bra expert to find her size and learned about the various forms of shapewear.
A few simple tips will help you find the perfect bra for your body. Consider this your personal plus size bra calculator.
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