Bra size confusion

[Nezhul]

Ok, I'm officially confused completely as a man now. I can't figure it out, and hope someone more knowledgeable can explain this to me.

So Bra size is a combination of a number and letter (or letters).
- Where number stands for band size, i.e. how many inches the girl has around her chest just under her breasts.
- And the letters stand for cup size. And here obviously A<B<C<D etc.

What throws me off is when they start adding double letters and triple letters. For example DDD cup size is actually larger than E cup size, but something like M cup size is MUCH larger than DDD. Like, a lot larger, as M stands for Melons, apparently.
At the same time AA is smaller than A. Which is even more confusing.

Is there a clear logic to it, or a clear progression?

I am completely lost. I feel like I'm reading something like a magical formula guide here. Help?

 

[Handley_Page]

Ok, I'm officially confused completely as a man now. I can't figure it out, and hope someone more knowledgeable can explain this to me.

So Bra size is a combination of a number and letter (or letters).
- Where number stands for band size, i.e. how many inches the girl has around her chest just under her breasts.
- And the letters stand for cup size. And here obviously A<B<C<D etc.

What throws me off is when they start adding double letters and triple letters. For example DDD cup size is actually larger than E cup size, but something like M cup size is MUCH larger than DDD. Like, a lot larger, as M stands for Melons, apparently.
At the same time AA is smaller than A. Which is even more confusing.

I am completely lost. I feel like I'm reading something like a magical formula guide here. Help?

I suggest you write to a manufacturer

 

[Nezhul]

I'm not picking up a bra or anything. It's theoretical and for writing. And yea, I know that goind "she had 38DD breasts" in a story is unprofessional, and I'm not going for that, no need to comment

 

[Handley_Page]

I'm not picking up a bra or anything. It's theoretical and for writing. And yea, I know that goind "she had 38DD breasts" in a story is unprofessional, and I'm not going for that, no need to comment

I was serious. THe makers would know what they mean by AA or whatever. It used to be nice and simple, one size = thins, the next size code is that plus a centimetre or so.

 

[J_R_Ashunwhy]

If you're not using the knowledge as a specific descriptor in a story, and are just looking to expand your own understanding, CutieMouse has a whole lingerie question and answer thread on the BDSM Cafe forum that you could check out.

http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=971583

 

[oggbashan]

A complication is that US and UK sizes aren't the same.

European sizes are metric.

Here is a conversion chart, starting with Australian sizes:

http://www.brasnthings.com/sizing-guide/international-bra-size-conversion

And here is how to calculate a bra size:

https://www.marksandspencer.com/s/lingerie/be-inspired/bra-fitting-tool

Many women get it wrong for their own bodies, so a male author can easily err.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

The cup size is actually a numeric...I don't know where to find the table, there are sites that will have them...bra are now sold online so look there.

The letter size corresponds to the number of inches of the band size just under the breasts and the measurement around at the widest part including the breasts. Whatever that difference is converted to a cup size.

45 years of marriage...you do actually learn some things.

For American sizes, try Adoreme.com size calculator...http://www.adoreme.com/size-guide

 

[CoffeeWithMonkeys]

I found this chart which seems to be pretty thorough in explaining it all.
http://www.brasizesinorder.com/

And yeah I'm a woman and I have trouble with bra sizes. It's really a mess. One brand fits so much different than another brand, or even a different style within the same brand. Like a demi fits so different than a full coverage that you might need different sizes within the same brand!

 

[BuckyDuckman]

Personally, I describe breasts relative to hand size, since more than handful is always a waste and since we all have the exact same size hands. right?

 

[oggbashan]

Personally, I describe breasts relative to hand size, since more than handful is always a waste and since we all have the exact same size hands. right?

You're being sarcastic. I once shook hands with the boxer Henry Cooper. I have large hands and yet his hands were significantly larger than mine.

My handful and his handful would be very different.

 

[jezzaz]

The number is the width around the chest - measured the same was you would a waist.

The Cup size (ie A to DDDD) is the size of the boob.

They two are not the same. You can have huge saggy boobs, with a big cupsize, but a narrow ribcage - or a very wide ribcage and small boobs.

Finding some bras of either end of the spectrum can be hard.

And what bras are rated as, and what they _actually_ are, are not the same thing. There's generally a variance of +/- half a cup size or 2 inches of circumference.

The wife was recently augmented and it was a major PIA to find new bras that actually fit her correctly - different manufacturers have different standards apparently (and never more so than bras made in China, where EVERYTHING is usually one size smaller than reported).

 

[BuckyDuckman]

You're being sarcastic. I once shook hands with the boxer Henry Cooper. I have large hands and yet his hands were significantly larger than mine.

My handful and his handful would be very different.

I am having a bit of good-natured fun with the OPs original question. I believe it may qualify as an unanswerable question.

According to this article, 80% of women wear the wrong bra size. Then there is this more recent article that claims, " . . . international survey of 10,000 women found that 64 percent are wearing the wrong size bra."

 

[Erotically_Yours]

I am having a bit of good-natured fun with the OPs original question. I believe it may qualify as an unanswerable question.

According to this article, 80% of women wear the wrong bra size. Then there is this more recent article that claims, " . . . international survey of 10,000 women found that 64 percent are wearing the wrong size bra."

What defines the "wrong" size? What may be the wrong size by numbers (or letters) may be the right size by comfort.

 

[PervOtaku]

The number is the band size, going around the body. The letter is the cup size, which relates to a ratio with the band size somehow. Identical sized boobs get different cup sizes with different band sizes. Keeping the band size the same, higher letters mean bigger tits. Standards vary beyond D, for the most part DD=E, DDD=F, etc., but some manufacturers do their own thing. Sizes mean different things in the USA, Europe, Japan, etc.

If you google you can find places that explain it in better detail.

 

[legerdemer]

What defines the "wrong" size? What may be the wrong size by numbers (or letters) may be the right size by comfort.

I recently went to have a bra fitting. I had not done it in years, had lost some weight since, and - truthfully - a shopkeeper helping me buy clothes suggested it, very apologetically. Her shop didn't sell bras, so this was not a self serving act.

I finally got around to it - went from a 40D to a 36F. Left to my own devices, I liked a little extra leeway in the band, but that has a downside. Literally. Let's just say I wasn't doing myself any favors, and getting properly fitted made me look better, and feel great. A nice psychic side effect - and cheaper than a therapist, I'd guess.

I've seen CutieMouse's thread on bra fitting - it's great. It was in the back of my mind, along with that shopkeeper with chutzpah. Thanks, ladies.