This website requires the Adobe Flash plug-in. Please click here to download the plug-in for free.
At Kim Louise we take a lot of time on a professional one-to-one service to make sure that you are fitted properly in the most comfortably designed bra.
Finding the right size bra is often a problem for many women; estimates are that about 80% of women wear the wrong bra size. This is not healthy for your breasts - especially if breasts are in too tight a bra.
Try on different styles of bras. Every style fits and feels different and can "shape" your breast differently.
Finding the band size
Have someone measure around your chest with a tape measure, just under your breasts, and around the back. Make sure the tape measure rests flat on the skin and goes straight across your back. The most common advice is to add 5 inches to this measurement - and then that is your band size (also called chest size).
BUT adding only 2-3 inches (instead of 5) can work better for many women - if you need the support to come more from below, rather than hanging off the shoulders. The above breast chest measure can also be a guide.
If you end up with an odd number, go up to the next even number, since bras usually only come in even-numbered band sizes.
Finding the cup size
Measuring the cup size is trickier; even with a measurement it is better to try on different bras and find out experimentally which one fits.
Have someone measure you again, this time the measuring tape goes on top of the fullest part of your breasts. If you already own a well-fitting non-padded bra, you can wear it while taking this measurement as long a sit doesn't 'flatten' your breasts (which would make an illusion of a smaller cup size). Record this number, and find the difference between that and the band number. The difference tells you the correct cup size as follows:
| Same as bra size |
A cup |
| 1" more | B cup |
| 2" more | C cup |
| 3" more | D cup |
| 4" more | DD cup |
| 5" more | E cup etc. |
Remember again, bra measuring is not an exact science, how could it be when women's breasts come in so many different shapes and sizes? Usually one breast is bigger than the other, they might sag, etc. So the fitting room tells you the truth; not the tape measure. You have to try the bra on. If it fits right, that's your bra size even if the tape measure told you different.