How to determine your bra size and avoid making mistakes when buying online

Sewing today still continues to gain wide popularity, and a large number of needlewomen know this business firsthand.

Everyone knows that each person has his own individual body characteristics, and therefore all measurements must be carried out extremely competently, since the level of quality and performance of the future wardrobe item will depend on this moment.

Nowadays, the trend of doing things yourself is very popular. If you wish and with a small investment, you can sew any item you like on your own. Sometimes, you don't even need to use a special sewing machine.

Taking measurements

To measure your chest circumference, you need to stand on a flat surface. The body position should be relaxed, not tense. If a person is uncomfortable, the measurement data will be distorted.

To avoid making mistakes, just adhere to the following rules:

• You should not inhale deeply before taking measurements, because this will make the chest enlarge and will not correspond to real indicators.

How to measure chest girth - first of all you need to stand on a flat surface

• The person from whom measurements are taken should keep his arms along his body in a relaxed position.
• The measuring tape is applied easily, without pressure - it should not be an obstacle to breathing.
• Measurements are taken on a naked body. If this is not possible, then measurements are taken over underwear. Any form-fitting tops or bras should be removed. If there is a push-up in your underwear, then you should take it out.
• The position of the body for taking measurements should be level, without bending the knees.
• For a reliable result, you should use the help of a person who will take measurements.

To calculate the size, you need to take 2 measurements: under the chest and along its protruding points.
To calculate the size, you need to take 2 measurements: under the chest and along its protruding points. After, knowing the difference in these indicators, the natural parameters of a person are determined.

To take measurements, you only need a soft measuring tape. If you take measurements yourself, you should use a mirror to be able to see the body from behind.

If you don’t have a measuring tape to take measurements, you can use a life hack. Any thick thread or long fabric belt, as well as a regular ruler or construction tape, are suitable for measurements. Using a handy tool, take a measurement, holding the area where it meets on the body with your finger. Then use a ruler to measure the resulting segment.

Underbust circumference standing

It is easiest to measure chest circumference while standing, because a person stands in a relaxed position, which means that the result of the indicators will be reliable.

Measurements are made following the following rules:

1. The tape is placed under the chest.
2. The measuring instrument is held tightly, but without squeezing the torso. There should be a feeling of wearing a bra (for women).
3. The centimeter should be in a horizontal position along the entire circumference of the torso.
4. Record readings on a shallow exhalation, focusing on the lowest points under the chest line.

This method is intermediate, because the chest girth still needs to be removed.

Chest circumference standing

Measuring chest circumference while standing is easy if the person being measured follows these brief recommendations:

• You should stand with a straight back.

You need to stand straight when taking measurements.

• The head is neither lowered nor raised.
• It is necessary to maintain natural posture when taking measurements.
• The hands are lowered down so that the outstretched fingers touch the hips on the outside.
• The feet are pressed against each other with the heels, and the toes are spread apart at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other.

Measuring algorithm:

1. Measurements are taken along the most prominent areas of the chest. Nipples are not always like this. It is worth taking into account individual body parameters.
2. The tape is passed from behind over the shoulder blades and then through the armpits.
3. Close the tape in front on the prominent area of ​​the chest.
4. Record the result.

Then, when the coverage under the bust and its protruding points is known, you should determine the size using the table. In order not to get confused in the readings, you should write everything down on a piece of paper. This will help you perform the subtraction correctly in the future. It is difficult to keep a large number of numbers in your head, and even a small error of 2-3 units can be critical.

Bent over chest circumference

You can measure your chest circumference while tilted, and this will not be an erroneous method. To do this, the person being measured bends his back at a right angle - it should be in a parallel position relative to the floor. For a reliable result, you need to use a mirror to track the location of the body or simply ask another person for help.

A measuring tape is passed along the back along the shoulder blades and closed at the protruding points of the chest. An important point is that women must use a bra to take measurements in this position. Without it, your breasts may sag, making it difficult to determine the correct size. At the same time, the breasts do not need to be tightened into a tight corset.

The bra is chosen correctly if:

• a well-fitting bra does not tighten, but fits snugly to the body (except for open models),
• a correctly selected cup will completely accommodate the breast. If there are bulges on the top or sides, then the size is chosen incorrectly and the cup is small.

Pay attention to the back part of the bra; ideally it should remain in a horizontal position and not “go” up. If this happens, either the straps are too tight or the size is chosen incorrectly (too large).

Do not forget that the bra is comfortable not only due to the correctly chosen size, but also due to the adjusted straps. If the latter do not allow you to make the bra comfortable, the size is chosen incorrectly.

Calculation

After all measurements have been taken, you can calculate your individual size. However, it is worth considering that the manufacturer can set its own parameters, and therefore it will be difficult to purchase something through an online store. Only trying on will help you choose the right size.

Measurements are a guideline by which a person does not examine the entire size range, but chooses the most suitable one. Knowing the size of the girth, you can significantly narrow the scope of your search. For calculations you will need a calculator.

Bust Measurement Tips

1. You can measure your breasts even in a bra that fits tightly on your chest, but does not deform it in any place, does not make it smaller, and does not leave space between the skin and the cup.
2. The underbust circumference is measured as you exhale, so that the measuring tape fits closely to the torso and runs parallel to the floor, without bevels or bends.
3. To measure the circumference of your chest using the protrusions, you need to keep your spine straight, pulling the tape tightly over your nipples and pressing it under your shoulder blades.
4. To ensure the accuracy of the experiment in the store, try on several models of what you think is your size. This will eliminate the possibility of error.

Evaluation of indicators

When a person has 2 results: measurements under the chest and at its protruding points, then a calculation is made that helps to find out the size of the chest. To do this, do the following: the girth data under the chest is subtracted from the protruding points.

For example:

1. The girth at the prominent points is 90 cm.
2. Under bust measurement is 75 cm.
3. We calculate: 90 – 75 = 15.
4. The difference between the indicators is 15 cm.
5. In the corresponding table, a difference of 15 cm corresponds to size 2 (B).

If these indicators do not agree according to the table, then they do it differently: take the size of the circumference under the chest and compare it according to the following table:

If a woman needs to know the volume of her bra cup, then it is necessary to measure her chest circumference in a standing position and in a tilted position. The difference is calculated again.

For example:

• Chest circumference, standing – 85 cm.
• Bent chest circumference – 91 cm.
• The difference is 5 cm.

If a woman’s difference exceeds 5 cm, then the average value is calculated and the result obtained is used to determine the cup size. Subtract the circumference under the chest in a standing position of the body from this number.

In order for the cup size to become known, the resulting digital difference is found in the table and the indicators are looked at. When the result is between two values, it is worth taking a closer look at each of them.

For clarity, you can do it using the following example.

Measurement data:

1. 79.3 cm was obtained as a result of measuring under the chest while standing.
2. 88.9 cm is the standing chest circumference.
3. In the tilt, a result of 93.3 cm was obtained.

It can be seen that the difference between the data from points No. 2 and No. 3 is less than 5.

This means that the chest girth in an inclined position is used in calculations:

1. 93.3 cm – 79.3 (circumference under the bust) = 14 cm.
2. Compare the results using the table. A difference value of 14 corresponds to 2 cup volumes: F and E.

Another example to get the calculation right:

1. 80 cm – circumference under the bust.
2. 94 cm measurement in a standing position.
3. 101.6 cm – girth when inclined.

The difference between indicators No. 2 and No. 3 exceeds 5 cm. For the calculation, take the average indicator between these values ​​- 97.8 cm.

After this they subtract:

1. 97.8 – 80 (indicator No. 1) = 17.8 cm.
2. Check the table. According to her, this number is suitable for the volume of a G cup.

Many people do not trust such calculations, relying on their feelings. This is a little wrong. After all, the volume of a bra cup is not static. It depends on the length of the belt and its size. In addition, breasts can change throughout life.

Combining the cup size and the length of the belt will help determine the final size, for example:

• The size of the belt is 80 cm.
• Cup size – E or F.
• Size: 80 E/F.

It may happen that the size is between two values. In order not to make a mistake, choose both for fitting and, through personal feelings, decide which of these 2 fits better.

Sizing chart

Of course, you need to be prepared for the fact that with the results obtained it will not always be possible to easily understand the sizes of imported bras. Many countries, in particular European ones, have their own size tables, which you have to rely on when placing an order.

Cup volume

To determine the volume of the cup, you need to divide the breast size at the two most protruding points by two . The following table will help you match the cup sizes of foreign manufacturers.

Parallel size

If the bra model you like is not available, you can use the selection of the so-called “parallel size”. It is quite possible that it will “fit” even better, emphasizing the advantages of the figure, but, as you understand, there is no guarantee.

Chest Width

The width of the chest is measured with a special tape, which can be passed in two ways.

1. Horizontally to the base of the breasts between the mentally drawn verticals of the chest (an invisible line is drawn from the outer corners of the armpits upward).
2. Horizontally along the line of the highest point of the chest between the chest vertical lines (mentally draw a line from the corners of the armpits down).

All the parameters sound quite complicated, but the need for them arises infrequently - for example, when sewing custom-made sets by a professional tailor.

Chest Width

Perfect option

Even if a woman loves a man, she probably sometimes compares him with others. I wonder what is missing from it. Scientists have asked themselves what constitutes the ideal chest circumference in men. What does the so-called ideal person look like? We learn this from a survey conducted in the UK.

Based on all available data, a portrait of a typical representative of the sex was created. In particular, average height, weight and several other important body indicators have been established. We can say that a portrait of the average European was drawn up. On this basis, an assessment is made of whether the body is within normal limits.

Research shows that men have changed significantly in their performance over the past few decades. The average chest circumference of a man today is almost 110 cm. And, as a rule, it’s not a matter of large muscles, but an excess of adipose tissue.

T-shirts, polos, sweatshirts

Men

Women

General rules

There are certain rules for measuring the chest wall. We invite you to familiarize yourself with them:

1. The measurement is taken in a standing position.
2. Girth is assessed during quiet breathing.
3. The difference in size between inhalation and exhalation reflects the respiratory mobility of the lungs.
4. In children, the circumference of the wrist in the area of ​​the wrist joint must be measured. If it is no more than 4 cm, there is a high probability of atrophy or underdevelopment of the muscular system.
5. Ideal weight according to Brocca's formula (height minus 100) requires an assessment of the patient's constitution and nationality.

First you need to measure volume, girth and other anthropometric indicators. Then compare them with average tables and exclude individual characteristics of a person.

In conclusion, it should be noted that ideality is different for each person.

Half chest

Half-girth measurements are taken in three ways.

1. The centimeter is placed along the back horizontally to the shoulder blades, the upper part of the tape ends at the armpits, passing through the armpits forward to the base of the mammary glands.
2. The measuring tape is placed horizontally to the shoulder blades, starting from the corner of the armpit, passing through the depressions and oblique section to the nipple.
3. The tape is located horizontally to the woman’s torso, ending at the most convex area of ​​the breast – the areola with the nipple.

Structure

The chest contains movable connections between the ribs and the spine and the ribs and the sternum. The chest skeleton includes three muscle groups. The first group is the superficial muscles, the second group is the deep muscles. The third group is one large muscle - the diaphragm, which separates the chest from the abdominal cavity and is the main respiratory muscle.

Mass and circumference

It is noteworthy that measuring the volume of the hips and chest can provide more reliable information about progress in training than daily weighings. This happens because muscle mass, which increases with exercise, weighs more than fat tissue. There are many beneficial changes that can occur in the body that the measurement of kilograms will not confirm. To notice them, it is advisable to regularly measure separately the shoulders, chest, biceps, chest, waist (belt), and hips. The results obtained should be recorded and then compared - the table created in this way will be the best evidence of the development of the body.

Determination of lung volume

To evaluate the obtained indicators, use the Ludwig formula:

• Calculation for men: vital capacity = 40*height (cm)+30*weight (kg) -4400;

• Calculation for women: vital capacity = 40*height (cm)+10*weight (kg) -3800.

For the formula, you can use the indicators from the table:

With age, deviations occur towards a decrease in lung volume, including due to a decrease in the level of activity compared to young people.