(no subject)

[truelove]

Eeesh, it took long enough to dig this up. Archive.org's copy of The Pretty Year's really excellent dissection of bra sizes and *why* women are mostly wearing the wrong size: http://web.archive.org/web/20100527011922/http://theprettyyear.com/2009/06/size-chart-woes-the-naked-truth-about-bra-sizes/

ETA: Also, have the followup article: http://web.archive.org/web/20100623075920/http://theprettyyear.com/2009/07/size-chart-woes-fun-with-math/, which discusses the math/geometry of bra sizes.

Comments

[sharpiefan]

I think I love you.

I went from a 32C to 36D to 36DD... and when I got properly measured, I was told I'm actually 34F, which was about half a size bigger - IF THAT!! - in cup sizes. And a 34F bra does feel a lot more comfortable in everyday wear, as well - I'm finally getting the right support where I need it.

It really is a minefield out there. (FYI, I don't think my boobs look all that big, either. They could be smaller, certainly, but they're not OMG ENORMOUS!!)

I got CLEAVAGE in a corset, though. Funtimes. :D

[truelove]

Glad to have been of service digging up those links! I was so disappointed when I discovered the domain had gone down, so I'm really glad archive.org had a copy. :)

[sharpiefan]

I don't know what it's like where you are, but I was told, when I went for my bra fitting at a specialist lingerie shop, that big-name chain Marks and Spencer tend to measure too big round the back and too small in the cup when they do their fittings (I was told and Marks and Spencer that I was 36D when I'm actually 34F.)

And when you get that sort of information from people who supposedly know how to fit bras correctly, it's hardly surprising that so many women are wearing the wrong bra size.

[truelove]

Well, basically: chains that carry a limited range of sizes have an investment in sizing you into the wrong bra -- if they size you out of their range, then you likely won't be buying any bras from them.

Specialty stores are more invested in getting women into the actually right size for them, even if they don't carry the size, because they're generally run by people who care. Although that's no guarantee, either.

Basically: boobs are complicated and if I were rich I'd just wear bodices and/or corsets all the time. Because fuck modern fashion, the back support is fantastic.