Monday, October 8, 2012

International Bra Size Calculator

There are two elements to your bra size; the band size (ie. 32, 34, 36) and cup size (ie. A, B, C). You will need a measuring tape to determine your bra size.
1. Band size:
Using a soft tape-measure, measure around the ribcage directly under the bust. Be sure the tape is smooth across the back and level with the front.

Add 5 to this measurement to obtain your band size.

For example: If your ribcage measurement is 29" + (5) = 34" band size. If the resulting band size is an odd number like 33", you can usually go to the next even band size (34").

2. Cup size:
Measure loosely around the fullest part of your bust, holding the tape measure straight but not tight. Subtract your band size from this measurement.

The result would be YOUR REGULAR BRA SIZE. If the difference is
less than 1 inch to 1 inch =  A cup
2 inches = B cup
3 inches = C cup
4 inches = D cup
5 inches = DD cup
For example: If your band size is 34" and your bust measurement is 35", you wear an "A" cup.
3. Evolution Bra Size:
Because the Bra will provide you with built-in graduated padding and the option of extra push up in the cups, you should go to the next cup size in order to obtain the best fitting.

For example:
If you are a size 34(A), you may go to the 34(B) cup size.
The band size (34) should stay the same.

While this method is generally reliable, every woman's figure is different and results may vary slightly. We recommend that you try several sizes and styles to find the fit that works best for you.
Tips:
You should take your measurements while you are wearing a non-padded underwire bra or a tight-fitting seamless T.

Because standard band sizes are even numbers only, if you have an odd-numbered band size, you may need to go up or down a size depending on how you like your bra to fit.

Size chart
Don't have a measuring tape? Use our quick and easy reference charts below to find your approximate bra size.

ENSURE THE RIGHT FIT
Now that you have your measurements, knowing how the bra should be positioned on your body will also help you find your perfect bra.

Here are a few key questions to keep in mind when you're trying on bras to ensure that you get the right fit:

Band
Q. Can you fit two fingers under the band comfortably?
A. The band should be fitted, but not cutting into your skin. It should sit lower on the back than in the front and sit comfortably below the shoulder blades. The back of the bra should not ride up above the bra line. If it does, adjust the straps. If the bra still rides up, try a smaller band size.

Bra Straps
Q. Are the straps adjusted for individual comfort?
A. Straps should be adjusted to give support to the bust without cutting into the shoulders. If the straps are falling down, you may not be filling up the cups. Try a smaller cup size.

Cups
Q. Do the cups fit smoothly?
A. The cups should be filled out so they fit smoothly. If there are wrinkles, you may need a smaller cup size. In the case of cotton/spandex underwire bras, there should be a little excess fabric in the cups to allow for shrinkage. If there is overflow at the top, under the arms, you should try a larger cup size.
Tip: 34D, 36C, and 38B are the same cup size. If the band is not snug enough, try a smaller band size and larger cup.
Underwires
Q. Do the underwires completely surround the breast tissue?
A. All pressure should lie on the underwires to support the breasts without digging in at the sides. Underwires lie flat against the chest. If the underwire is standing away from the body, suggest a bigger cup size. Underwires should completely surround the breast tissue to provide support.

Types Of Bra Designs And Their Functions

The degree of which the bra frames the breasts varies between style, functionality, fashion and fabric. Most of the bras today fall into more than 1 category mentioned below.
It is important to know the types of bras available so that you can pick the right one for the right time so as to protect the general health of your breasts.
Which one is sexier? Which one is pushing up? Which one is better for evening dinner or ordinary party? How much you should know about bra? Which kinds of bras are available? But at first, don't forget to check how to choose the correct size of bra.

  1. Adhesive Bra

  2. A bra which adheres to the breasts. It has no straps or bands of any sort and provide little support to the breasts. This type of bra is intended for backless and strapless fashions. There are two types. There is the disposable paper ones that use a strong adhesive and the reusable ones that use silicone that can be washed and reused.

  3. Bandeau Bra

  4. A simple band of cloth worn across the breasts, providing little support or shaping.

  5. Belly Dance Bra

  6. It is commonly assumed that a belly dancing bra size is the same as normal bra size. This is not necessarily so. For instance if you normally use a size 32C you may well find that a 34B will fit quite comfortably with a few minor adjustments to latch settings since most belly dancing bras are designed to cover very well.

  7. Bridal Bra/Corset

  8. A bridal bra/corset mold and shape the upper body into a desired shape to fit the wedding dress. In addition to that, it promotes good posture and can be more comfortable as the weight of the breasts is carried by the whole corset rather than the brassiere’s shoulder straps.

  9. Built-in Bra

  10. Supportive brassiere-like structures on the inside of another garment, such as a swimsuit or tank top, which provide support for the bust without the need for a separate bra. In most such garments, these built-ins consist of a horizontal elastic strip, although some do have cups and underwires as with other bra types. In some cases these may easily be removed, if desired.

  11. Convertible Bra

  12. It has straps which may be detached and rearranged in different ways depending on the outfit. Alternatives to regular straps for strapless bras are beaded bra straps or clear plastic bra straps that provide support and style.

  13. Cupless Bra

  14. Consists of a brassiere frame with no support cups. They expose the nipples with notched or contoured support cups. Usually worn as erotic lingerie, a cupless bra can cause the shape of the nipples to be prominently visible on an outer garment.

  15. Demi Bra

  16. A half-cup bra style with wide-set straps and a horizontal bust line. Often seamed or boned, they give great cleavage and a frame-like effect. These offer less support, but enable low cut garments to be worn without the bra being seen. Demi bras may be designed to provide lift as do push-up bras.

  17. Front Closure Bra

  18. Bras that have closures, usually hooks and eyes, on the front rather than at the back. These bras lie completely flat at the back under clothing. Some feature a racerback style back which is great for wear with tank tops and for lending a no-slip effect to the straps.

  19. Full Support Bra

  20. A type of bra designed to offer good support for the whole of the breasts and, as such, are a typical, practical bra for everyday wear.

  21. Hand Bra

  22. A modeling technique where a topless woman conceals her nipples by covering both breasts with her hands or fingers.

  23. Mastectomy Bra

  24. Designed so that a prosthesis may be held in place and are intended for individuals who have lost one or both breasts in mastectomy treatment for breast cancer.

  25. Male Bra

  26. Bras worn by men with Gynecomastia, usually to flatten and conceal rather than lift and support.

  27. Maternity Bra

  28. Designed such that they can be expanded to adjust as the breasts increase in size over the course of a pregnancy.

  29. Minimizer Bra

  30. Designed to play down the bust, in particular for women with cups of 34C and above. Minimizers, by compressing and shaping the breasts, help to create the illusion of being a cup size or two smaller, and are often more comfortable.

  31. Novelty Bra

  32. Designed more for show and sensuality than for function. They may include unusual materials, such as leather, coconuts or be unusual in design.

  33. Nursing Bra

  34. Designed to help make breastfeeding simpler by allowing the baby easy access to the nipple. Traditionally, the cups of nursing bras are covered with flaps of fabric that can be unclasped at the top and pulled down to expose the breast.

  35. Padded Bra

  36. Bras with padding inside the lining. They are designed to provide a fuller shape for small breasts and are an alternative to bra stuffing, a practice among teenage girls in which ‘falsies’ like tissues, sugar packets, cotton balls, or socks are placed inside a bra to simulate larger breasts. Unlike push-up bras, however, most padded bras support the breasts but do not significantly lift them.

  37. Peephole Bras

  38. The type of bra that has cups loosely covering the breasts, which also includes holes around the nipples.

  39. Push-up Bra

  40. Structured so that the breasts are lifted and placed closer together to enhance the cleavage. The best known brand of push-up bra is the Wonderbra. Many push-up bras contain padding, typically made of foam or rubber, but some contain gel-filled pads. The main distinction between padded bras and push-up bras that incorporate padding is whether the padding is centred under each breast to simply lift them, or is centred outside the centre of each breast such that the padding pushes the breasts inwards.

  41. Racerback Bra

  42. Has shoulder straps that come over the shouder in a V pattern very close to the neck. This design is sometimes worn under strapless dresses or tops where traditional straps would be very obviously exposed. Many Sport bras use the racerback.

  43. Shelf Bra

  44. Essentially a rigid band, usually underwires, along the inframammary line that pushes up while covering none, or only a narrow strip, of the breast.

  45. Softcup Bra

  46. Has no underwire support in the cups. Rather they rely on the strength of the underband to provide support to the bust.

  47. Sport Bra

  48. Provides firm support for the breasts, and are meant to prevent discomfort or embarrassment during vigorous exercise.

  49. Strapless Bra

  50. With no shoulder straps, they are designed for wearing with clothes that reveal the shoulders, such as halterneck tops.

  51. T-shirt Bra

  52. Designed without raised seams, so that a tight t-shirt may be worn without the bra being visible. These often have padded cups to conceal nipples and to provide a smooth line under t-shirts.

  53. Trainer Bra

  54. Designed for young girls who have begun to develop breasts but have yet to be considered ‘developed’ enough to allow for a standard-sized bra to fit properly. They are of simple construction and offer very little support.

  55. U-plunge Bra

  56. Allows you to wear clothes that have a deep plunging neckline.

  57. Underwire Bra

  58. Designed to give extra support and endurance. They have a wire, metal or plastic, running under each cup to provide rigid support to the bust.

  59. Vintage Bra

  60. A type of full support bra with cups in the shape of a paraboloid of revolution with its axis perpendicular to the breast. Invented in the late 1940s, they were still being sold well into the 1960s.

  61. Water Bra

  62. Bras which have water or silicon gel-filled cups to make your breasts look larger.
    Source :
    http://odyb.net/