# Female Dopers (re: bra sizes) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 9, 2014, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727 "2014-04-09T16:12:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/61 "2014-04-10T20:32:34Z")
Well **CrazyCatLady** , you mentioned that your bust is supposed to be measured with your arms above your head, which makes it near impossible for people to do that properly alone, which then makes it difficult to make any accurate measurement of cup size alone. Their fitting guide has none of that problem from what I can see. I can do it at home, AND if I get one measurement wrong it won’t make the other one wrong. It’s pretty much exactly what I asked for. I think it’s an improvement and that I’d be more likely to get it right the first time. Too bad Jockey got rid of the staple bra style that I used to buy from them. Their new styles don’t meet the shape I need, but that is not a negative for the measurement system, just their fashion designers. It just seemed weird to me that she would call it a “more of a marketing plan than a service”. The first thing that went through my head was “Of course it’s all about marketing, they’re a business. All business services are marketing.” Then she mentioned that it was the “wrong approach” to make it only applicable to Jockey brand items, which just seems confusing. How could Jockey make other manufacturers conform to their measurement system? Why would they? They’d want all the business for themselves if this measurement system is the best approach. They’re not in the market to help other businesses out. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/62 "2014-04-10T20:35:36Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Woooosh Mr. Ducca, perhaps you are unaware that there are cultures that do not fetishize female breasts the way ours does. Some of those cultures do, in fact, reside in Asia. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/63 "2014-04-10T20:35:50Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > No, just being single male, haven’t needed to know this in awhile. What’s changed that you need to know it now? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/64 "2014-04-10T20:38:03Z")
Optimism? ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/65 "2014-04-10T21:08:45Z")
Mother’s Day is right around the corner! ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/66 "2014-04-10T21:26:13Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Mr. Ducca, perhaps you are unaware that there are cultures that do not fetishize female breasts the way ours does. Some of those cultures do, in fact, reside in Asia. Ms. Stick. Please re-read the thread and then read my “Asian Culture” question and get back to me if you still don’t get the joke. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/67 "2014-04-10T23:57:38Z")
See, that’s the thing - some of us are treating this as a serious topic. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/68 "2014-04-11T00:27:36Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > See, that’s the thing - some of us are treating this as a serious topic. Well, there’s your problem right there. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/69 "2014-04-11T00:33:35Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > The formula I (male, boomer) saw, all those years ago: > > Use a tape measure to get to diameters: > > 1. Around “fullest” part of breasts > 2. Around the ribcage immediately below breasts. > > The second was the number. > Subtracting the second from the first gave you an offset - each inch of offset corresponded to 1 increment of letter. > > Hence: > If 1 = 35, and 2 was 32, you wore a 32C (35- 32 = 3, counting A, B, C,… gets you to C). You know that statistic that says 75% of women wear the wrong bra size? More than half of that comes from bra sizing instructions that don’t use the above, but instead use the add 4" to the band size method that arose in the middle of the last century. Even wiki says that that method makes no sense. The unfortunate thing is almost all those online easy to figure out calculators on bra manufacturers websites do that instead of using **usedtobe** ’s sensible guidelines. So you have someone like me, with an underbust measurement of 34" and a mid-bust measurement of 37.5" being told to take a 38A. If I ever find a 38A I’m gonna try it on and laugh and laugh… ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/70 "2014-04-11T01:08:23Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Holdsworth: Which shape applies to Asians? They’re sideways. Seriously, WTF? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/71 "2014-04-11T11:48:40Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > See, that’s the thing - some of us are treating this as a serious topic. Seriously? ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/72 "2014-04-11T16:28:41Z")
Yes seriously. Jokes and hubba-hubba type comments need to stop right now. Any more and I’ll start handing out warnings. ---
**Author:** ![mage-girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@mage-girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mage-girl)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/73 "2014-04-11T16:44:00Z")
I can say this about bra sizing - Fellow ladies, if your weight changes more than 10-15lbs, you may want to get re-measured! Like 6-9 months ago I got a bra. (No, I’m not going to tell you what size. I’m a big girl, okay?) Fit all right. Excellent. Between September and now I lost 15-16lbs. The bra still fits around the band, though I think I’ve had to move in a hook or two. But I am positively swimming in the bra cups. Note on underwires: hate them as well. Possibly because I once heard an anecdote from a woman whose underwire pushed through the bra and lodged in her breast/torso. Ugh, nope. Nope, nope, nope. O\_O ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/74 "2014-04-11T19:14:51Z")
> [@mage-girl](#): > > Note on underwires: hate them as well. Possibly because I once heard an anecdote from a woman whose underwire pushed through the bra and lodged in her breast/torso. > > Ugh, nope. Nope, nope, nope. O\_O While I don’t undestand the deep dislike against underwires, stories such as the above only serve to highlight that many women are wearing the wrong size, for whatever reason. I’ve worn and tried many underwires, and while I’m sure that occasionally I got the wrong size, none have stabbed except: 1. When they snap or break. Thankfully this happened while I was still at home and I was able to change to another underwire that didn’t break. 2. Trying on bras that are yup, way too small for what I should be wearing. The underwire is not a magical encapsulating thing that will hold everything in shape with superpower. Trying to make it smaller will dig and cause marks, just like you would get marks around your waist if you try wearing a jean that is too tight. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/75 "2014-04-11T19:38:02Z")
> [@KarlGrenze](#): > > While I don’t undestand the deep dislike against underwires… 1. I have yet to find one that’s comfortable and NOT jabbing/poking me (granted, this could be a size problem but I was supposedly with a fitting professional) 2. When I was spending a lot of time around airports they were setting off the $#&\*! metal detectors. I’m told this is less of a problem than it used to be, but at the time that reason alone was enough to make me want to avoid them at all costs. 3. I have been able to find bras that fit/were comfortable that DID NOT have underwires, I don’t understand the great love for them. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/76 "2014-04-11T19:42:30Z")
Now see, I prefer underwires, because they offer more support. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/77 "2014-04-11T23:54:19Z")
I wear underwires exclusively, and all my bras are so comfortable I could sleep in them. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/78 "2014-04-12T03:42:44Z")
All I have to say about a 38DD bra, which Jesse Ventura said he wanted to be reincarnated as, is that it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Ask me how I know this. 😉 ETA: Hadn’t seen the moderator’s warning. Anyway, I was very surprised to find that this is indeed my actual bra size, because I am not big-busted by any stretch of the imagination. And I’m perfectly happy with that. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727/79 "2014-04-12T09:41:06Z")
From what I can tell women pretty much stick with maybe 2-3 stores for most of their clothing because of that stores fit, styles, and prices. It goes the same with underwear. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-re-bra-sizes/685727.md?page=3)