It's not a good idea to buy your bras online, as there are differences in sizes in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. It's best if you try on the bra to ensure the fit before you make the purchase. - File
It is a known fact that many Jamaican women are not wearing their correct brassiere sizes. To find yours, you will need to take two measurements. Your band size and bust size.
1 Wearing a bra (one that is not padded) - stand in front of a mirror to make sure the tape measure is level. If possible, have a friend take your measurement.
2 Band size - Measure your rib-cage, directly under your breasts, where the bottom of your bra would fit. The tape measure should be snug against you. Write down this number in inches. If it is a fraction, round it down if it's less than half, and up if it's more. So, if your measurement is 28 and a quarter, round it down to 28. If it is 28 and a half, round up to 29. Add five inches to your band number; if you end up with an odd number, round it up to next even number. Write down this number; this is your band size.
3 Bust size - Measure around your breasts at their fullest point, which is usually just over your nipples. Make sure that the measuring tape is straight all the way around, and that it isn't too tight. Write down this number. This is your bust number.
4 Subtract your band size from your bust size. The difference between the two is your cup size.
If it's half inch, your cup size is AA. One inch means your cup size is an A, and so on. Five inches means your cup size is DD.
Example: The band measurement is 28. Add 5 inches to equal 33. Round up to the next even number, so the band size is 34.
Your bust line is 37. The difference between the band size (34) and the bustline (37) is three inches. Your bra size, therefore, would be 34C.
Proper bra
After you have determined your bra size, the best test is to have a fitting.
It is correct if:
The cup holds the entire breast without any spillage or bulge.
There is no excess space in the front of the cup.
Support for your breasts remains in place even if the straps are slipped off the shoulders.
The bra is comfortable across the centre of your back and not high up on your back.
Now you can be comfortable and confident knowing that you are wearing the right size bra.
We want to hear from you. If you have any questions or concerns, email them to lifestyle@gleanerjm.com.