Determining bra size can be a tricky and complicated process. Bra sizes are not standardized and 85% of women wear the wrong bra size! A 34C in one brand may fit like a 34B in another brand. Full cup bras run fuller than demi bras. French bras are smaller in the cup than American bras. European bras are tighter in the band than American bras. Let’s try to make measuring simple. Here are different ways to get a general idea of your bra size.

When determining cup sizes, find out what fruit you are like. Are you a lime, lemon, orange, grapefruit, or melon? A lime is an A cup. A lemon is a B cup. An orange is a C cup. A grapefruit is a D cup. A melon depending on the type is a DD and up. Let’s look at celebrities. Kate Hudson and Keira Knightly are limes. They are A cup women. Cameron Diaz and Paris Hilton are lemons. They are B cup women. Madonna and Selma Hayek are oranges. They wear C cups. Carmen Electra and Jennifer Connely are grapefruits. They are D cups. Whoppi Goldberg and Dolly Parton are definitely melons, DD and up.

Upper Bust Measurements

Wear your best fitting bra that is unpadded and not a minimizer. Grab a soft measuring tape and a mirror. Place the tape measure around your body directly under your armpits. Make sure the tape is not drooping in the back. This is your band size. Write it down. Next, measure yourself around the fullest part of your bust. Write it down. Subtract your upper bust measurement from your full bust measure. Note the difference. Each inch difference is a cup size. For example, 2 inches equals a B, 3 inches equals a C cup, and 4 inches equals a D cup.

Under Bust Measurement

Wear your best fitting bra and grab a soft measuring tape and a mirror. Hold the tape (without drooping) snugly under your ribcage, directly under the bust. Note the measurement in inches. Add 4 inches if the number is even. Add 5 inches if the number is odd. This is your band size. Next, measure yourself around the fullest part of your bust. Write it down. Subtract your under bust measurement from your full bust measurement. Note the difference. Each inch difference is a cup size. For example, 3 inches equals a C cup, 4 inches equals a D cup, and 5 inches equals a DD or E cup.

Try on different bras in accordance with your bra size. If the bra seems tight, you may want to try an American brand or try the next band or cup size. If the bra seems loose, you may want to try a French bra or go down a band or cup size. Your goal is the perfect fit bra. A perfect fit bra has the following: breasts lie midway between shoulders and elbows, band fits snug with room for 2 fingers, back of band stays in place (no riding up), center panel lays flat against body, cups fit smoothly (no gaps, puckering, spillage), and bra feels both comfortable and supportive.

Whether you are a lime or a melon, your goal is to find perfect fit bras. Once you find this perfect bra, buy at least 3 or 4 and rotate them. If your style gets discontinued, try similar products from the brand you love. Bra manufacturers try to replace a discontinued bra with a similar fit bra. You may go through a lot of bras before you find your perfect brand, style, and bra size; however, the perfect fit will do wonders for your comfort level, love life, and overall health.

Happy Shopping!