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    How to Find the Right Bra

    4 easy steps to find a bra that will do wonders for your girls.
    - Faye Brennan, BettyConfidential.com

    Back when I used to work at a lingerie store, women would always yell at me when I measured them for a new bra, saying, "You're wrong! There's no way I'm a D-cup!" But tape measures don't lie, and once these women tried on bras in their new size, they became believers.

    "The fact is, most women wear the wrong bra size," says Anna Shnir, Bra Fit Expert at Panache, a leading lingerie company. "Many women never update their size from when they were first fit as teenagers. They still believe they are a 34B, even though they were 16-years old when they were measured."

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    For the sake of your best assets, don't be the woman walking around in the wrong bra size. Instead, follow these steps to find a bra that fits you perfectly - your girls will thank you.

    Step 1: Evaluate the bras you already own.
    As a rule, you should be measured for your bra size at least once a year, according to Shnir. But, if you want to see if you really are wearing the wrong size first, here are Shnir's telltale signs it's time for a fitting:

    -Your breasts spill out of the top, sides or bottom of your bra cups

    - Your bra cups extend out away from your body

    - You can fit more than two fingers between your body and your bra band

    - The center wires of your bra don't lie flat against your sternum

    - Your bra straps ride up your back or are constantly falling off your shoulders

    Step 2: Get measured.
    Stores like Victoria's Secret, Nordstrom, or any lingerie store are great places to go for a bra fitting. The sales associate helping you will make two measurements: one for your band size (around your waist, right under your bust), and one for your cup size (around the fullest part of your breasts).

    Once the sales associate determines your new bra size, try your best not to scream, and remember: "Like any other clothing, bra sizes vary across brands," says Shnir. "Some run snug, while others are more generous. So, don't get too hung up on a band or letter size."

    Step 3: Find a great everyday bra.
    Now it's time to discover what a proper-fitting bra can do for you and your twins. As Shnir points out, for women who have been wearing the wrong size for quite some time, it may take a while to get used to, "but a right-size bra will feel perfectly delightful." Your first purchase should be a bra you can wear everyday underneath t-shirts and work clothes. Here are some excellent choices:

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    For AA-A Cups:

    Victoria's Secret Wear-Everywhere T-Shirt Demi Bra (2 for $32, victoriassecret.com)

    For B & C Cups:

    Affinitas Intimates Amanda T-Shirt Bra ($18.99, herroom.com)

    For D+ Cups:

    Panache Porcelain Underwire Bra ($56, nordstrom.com)

    For GG+ Cups:

    Panache Tango Pure Underwire Balconnet Bra ($29.40, biggerbras.com)

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    Step 4: Expand your bra collection.
    Have a little fun while bra shopping and pick up styles in funky colors, fabrics, and cuts (don't forget one with a little extra lift!). Shnir advises that every woman should have at least one convertible and/or strapless bra, one "go-to" little black bra, and one wild bra in her collection. Here are some of our favorite styles:

    Panache Evie Strapless Bra ($58, herroom.com)

    Blush Morning Glory Convertible Bra ($34, barenecessities.com)

    Amazing Lace Bra ($30, fredericks.com)

    Lejaby Capri Embroidered Spot Half Cup Push Up Bra ($47.35, asos.com)

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    And remember, when trying on different styles; give them the full comfort test. "Stretch your arms, and then lean front and forward," says Shnir. "Sit down and make sure nothing is poking or prodding, and bring a shirt to see the way the bra looks under clothing."

    But most importantly, have fun! Whether your girls are big or small, AA or DDs, be proud of what you have and enjoy shopping for your two best friends.

    Faye Brennan is assistant editor at BettyConfidential.


    To read more from BettyConfidential:

     

    27 comments

    • A Yahoo! User  •  2 years 0 months ago
      This was informative, but can someone please tell me why us less endowed women (A-B cup) have a heck of a time finding cute bras (lacy, sexy, colorful) that dont have a gazillion inches of padding??? Sure, its nice to have small enough "gurls" to just let them do their thing, but I like feeling secure and I like having lift. I am proud of my 34B bra size and dont want to look like a 34C thanks to excess padding. any suggestions??
    • meow  •  2 years 0 months ago
      Oh and they measure you in your bra because bras keep the breasts in place. Many women if they take off their bras, arent usually that perky. If they are less perky, they tend to flatten out, making for a wrong measurement.
    • Lynn  •  2 years 0 months ago
      im a victoria junkie but have that the straps aways hert will they ever learn we want function and fit wanted to by mom some pretty braws and she is an a cup but the onley thing they had was for yong girls there missing out on the sexxy senior
    • Trixie  •  2 years 0 months ago
      To Cat, you should try Lane Bryant!I highly recommend them to anyone and everyone who needs a good bra!It is a plus size store, but they will take the time to measure and fit you in a bra properly! and the good thing is if they don't have your size, style, or color instore they will order it online for you and you can pick it up at their store or have it delivered to your house! I used to be a 44F but I recently lost about 35 Pounds and went down to a 42DD,and the good thing is the bigger bra still held its shape and lifted and supported the twins!:)But they have all kinds of mstyles and colors! Hope this helps!
    • k8blujay  •  2 years 0 months ago
      Actually, Victoria Secret actually sucks at getting a bra fitting (at least the ones I have been to) they always tell me I'm a cup size smaller than I am...

      And my question is... why do you measure your bust with a bra already on? Because everytime I do it I get the measurement of the bra I'm wearing (which may or may not fit properly).
    • J  •  2 years 0 months ago
      i think target has THE best everyday bras, i think the brand is gillian or something like that, 10-16$ and they fit great. but if i need a pick me up, VS all the way!
    • Ocnlvr83  •  2 years 0 months ago
      I went for a bra fitting, only to have the associate tell me I was either a 34, 36, or 38C. So, my bra size never really changed.
    • tired mommy  •  2 years 0 months ago
      Victoria's sucks at measuring for bra sizes! and everything there is made to fit perky girl. im sorry, I've breast fed my kiddos.. i ain't perky anymore lol. I go to Aerie, they train their associates to measure correctly, and have a better selection for both everyday and special bras.
    • redheaddork  •  2 years 0 months ago
      I totally agree with the poster who said bras in larger sizes are ugly. I wear a 36DD and I can never find anything besides beige, white or black. Seriously! I'm young! I want to wear fun, funky colors!
    • k8blujay  •  2 years 0 months ago
      Guys, I wear a 34/36 DD and you can usually find pretty bras (even in the bigger sizes) at Kohl's... that is where I buy mine... I've got nice lacy ones and in different colors... and they fit just fine... I just tried a bunch on around the size I thought I was... because I know how it's 'supposed' to fit, I'm just not sure about the measuring system for it.
    • rachela  •  2 years 0 months ago
      Haha to each their own I guess... I am smallish (34B) and the "fun, funky colors" are so impractical that although i do own them, I rarely wear them due to just not being functional (white shirts, or they arent smooth and appear lumpy under stretch shirts) not easily matching underwear (hey, you never know!)so I usually default to my black VS and nude VS bras. Oh well.
    • daisy*kae  •  2 years 0 months ago
      bras are just like any other article of clothing, the size is going to vary by brand. i have bras in 3 different sizes: 38, 40 and 42D. i guess you just have to try different sizes in different brands so that you can find a size that fits right.
    • meow  •  2 years 0 months ago
      Hello ladies...
      You should have someone else measure you, because holding the measuring tape in those wierd angles will make the measurement wrong. My trick is to measure just above your cleavage, about at the armpits. That will give you the correct band. Then take the number you got (lets say 36) and put it where your nipple would be. Then hold the tape straight across your front and see what number is at your breastbone. Subtract the 36 from that number. A 1 is an a-cup, 2 is a b-cup, 3 is a c-cup, etc. If you got 39, then you are a 36C. Also, that is the average measurement. Some women like a very tight band, some like smaller cups, etc. If the band is tight but the cup is perfect, go higher in the band and LOWER in the cup. Or vice versa. The cup size is proportionate to the band guys, most women dont realize that. At least in my experience, working for the past 2 years in Vickies Herald Square.
    • Tamara  •  2 years 0 months ago
      Hate VS, poor quality, they always sag in the front. Love soma bras.
    • Tammy  •  2 years 0 months ago
      i got measured at victoria's secret and ended up with a 32A.
      THE BAND AND CUP WAS TOO TIGHT. I FELT LIKE SUFFOCATING.
      then i went up to a 34B and fit PERFECTLY.
      they measured me under the armpits for my band size, not my ribs.
      SMH
    • raevolutionary  •  2 years 0 months ago
      Thanks for including bras that are over D cup. I don't know why other "best bra" guides stop at D's like its the biggest size out there!
    • been there  •  2 years 0 months ago
      I've never understood why you are supposed to add 5 inces to the band measurement to get the band size; that has never worked for me! Then I end up with my band riding up my back and no support! I am a 34 DD and I have never had a bra lay against my sternum even when the fit is assisted at Nordstrom; I don't think it's possible with big girls. Last complaint; the bras in my size are UGLY! And no, I will not mail order a bra just to find out it doesn't fit because bras and particular bra models definiately don't fit the same!
    • A Yahoo! User  •  2 years 0 months ago
      Emily, I thought the same thing!

      I guess I'm just lucky in that I've never had a problem finding a bra that fits properly. I think one thing that we all do is (whether we're talking about bras or jeans) get a number stuck in our head and refuse to deviate from it. It helps sometimes to just pick something off the rack and eyeball it, without automatically checking the size. And I pretty much refuse to pay for bras at Victoria's Secret. I've always found better brands on sale for less at regular department stores, and one of my favorite bras ever is 10 bucks at TJ Maxx.
    • blah_blah_darling  •  2 years 0 months ago
      i just bought a bra earlier today! i love the gap favorite t shirt bra
    • Joy in Seattle  •  2 years 0 months ago
      I've found that "bra size" is misleading. Depending on the brand, I wear anywhere from a 36D to a 36DD to a 34DD to a 38D.

      Also, some brands, no matter what I try on, none of them fit quite right. Victoria's Secret is one of those. The 38's are just waaaaaay too big around even on the tightest setting, yet the 36's my breasts are either squished or rolling around loose. Never found a single VS style that fits my particular rib cage & cup anatomy.

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