How is a Bra Supposed to Fit?
A bra that fits correctly will stay in place when you move and stretch. You should be able to forget about its straps because they aren't cutting into or slipping off your shoulders. Your breasts should fit comfortably in the cups, with no excess bulging above or below the cups or under your arms. Does this Spark an idea?
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Band
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The band should be comfortable hooked at its loosest. If you're well-endowed but slender with a narrow back, you may need to have bands taken in because the larger the cup, the longer the band. Larger women may need a bra extender, a small piece of fabric with hooks. If your band rides up in back, the bra is too small, but when you increase band size, decrease a cup size. For example, go from a 38D to a 40C. The band is too large if breasts comes out the bottom.
Cup
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Few women's breasts are identical; sometimes they're off by a whole cup size. Go with the larger cup and pad the other half or wear a thicker molded cup. A too-small cup is unsightly and uncomfortable. If you choose cups with underwire, the wire should sit flat against your rib cage. If it pokes your breasts or under your arms, it's too large.
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Straps
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Slipping straps are likely if the straps angle outward in front and are set wide apart on the band in back. Secure straps should rise fairly straight up from the cups and be close-set in back. A guaranteed no-slip option is a racerback, found on many sports bras, where the straps almost meet in back over the hooks. Also, if you're large-breasted and straps dent your shoulders, consider bras with wider, padded straps.
Measurement
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Bra measurement combines band size (such as 36, 38, 40) and cup size (A, B, C, D). Measure while wearing a bra that's supportive enough to make your breasts sit roughly between your shoulder and elbow. Exhale deeply. Run a tape measure around your chest and back just below the bra, keeping it parallel to the floor. Round the result up or down to the closest inch. If the number is even, add 4 inches. If odd, add 5. For example, 35 inches means a 40-inch band. Still wearing a bra, measure cup size around the fullest part of both breasts. Hold the tape loosely; don't squeeze. Subtract the band size from this measurement. A difference of one inch is an A cup, two inches a B, three inches a C, and four inches a D.
Tip
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Putting bras in the dryer breaks down the elastic and eventually warps underwires. If you choose machine drying, put bras in a lingerie bag so the hooks won't snag your other clothing.
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