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bra size
I decided recently that I wanted to be measured for a bra, mostly because I haven't been in a couple of years and body shapes do change. The Macy's web page told me mainly that it doesn't play well with Firefox; Nordstrom's explicitly said they provide this service. OK, Nordstrom's it is. (They're about a block from each other within the same mall in Bellevue.)
The process, as they do it, is pretty straightforward: I took my shirt off (keeping my bra on), the measurer wrapped a measuring tape around my chest just below my breasts, announced "36," and took her best guess at cup size.
I expressed surprise at that number, but said OK, get me a bra to try on. We had discussed my preferences, and it transpired that they had exactly one non-underwire style. So that simplified this stage of the process.
She handed me a 36D bra (I've been wearing 40C) and left so I could try it on. That didn't take long, because I couldn't fasten the strap closed. She seemed surprised, but agreed to go get me a 38. That sort of fit, in that I could fasten it, and it seems to provide more support than the 40, but it felt tight at the back, as if the muscles there were doing something they're not used to. She said that bras tend to stretch a little when worn; when I asked, that turned out to be after 5-7 wearings. When I asked, she said that yes, some bra straps have are stretchier than others, and offered to bring me a few underwire styles to try. One of those was slightly better across my back, but the cups fit wrong, even if I wanted an underwire.
As a side note, I picked up the measuring tape while I was waiting for bras to try on. Either the store's measuring tape has stretched by a lot, or the measurement of the circumference of that part of my torso was correct, but still not useful for fitting a bra.
After trying on a few bras, and giving the 38DD a second try, I explained that I wasn't spending $60 on a bra that I wasn't sure fit right, thanks anyhow. (Even if bras were returnable in general, I would feel weird about wearing something half a dozen times and then returning it for fit, and that feels like a high price anyhow.)
My next step, I think, is to try on 38D or 38DD bras at other stores, looking for a better fit and, ideally, a better price. Macy's and JC Penney are close enough to my apartment that I might be able to get there in the morning and avoid the Christmas rush; anything downtown will probably have to wait until January. Fortunately, the bras I have now will do for a bit longer, even if I do decide to replace them all.
I am also wondering whether the apparent change in bra size affects my shirt size: if I understand this correctly, my bust is the same size around as it was a few years ago, but it now sticks out more from my rib cage. I don't mind wearing my shirts loose, so I won't be throwing things away, but there's something to be said for wearing the right size. Assuming that the right size exists; I'm still dealing with the combination of broad shoulders, large breasts, and short arms.
The process, as they do it, is pretty straightforward: I took my shirt off (keeping my bra on), the measurer wrapped a measuring tape around my chest just below my breasts, announced "36," and took her best guess at cup size.
I expressed surprise at that number, but said OK, get me a bra to try on. We had discussed my preferences, and it transpired that they had exactly one non-underwire style. So that simplified this stage of the process.
She handed me a 36D bra (I've been wearing 40C) and left so I could try it on. That didn't take long, because I couldn't fasten the strap closed. She seemed surprised, but agreed to go get me a 38. That sort of fit, in that I could fasten it, and it seems to provide more support than the 40, but it felt tight at the back, as if the muscles there were doing something they're not used to. She said that bras tend to stretch a little when worn; when I asked, that turned out to be after 5-7 wearings. When I asked, she said that yes, some bra straps have are stretchier than others, and offered to bring me a few underwire styles to try. One of those was slightly better across my back, but the cups fit wrong, even if I wanted an underwire.
As a side note, I picked up the measuring tape while I was waiting for bras to try on. Either the store's measuring tape has stretched by a lot, or the measurement of the circumference of that part of my torso was correct, but still not useful for fitting a bra.
After trying on a few bras, and giving the 38DD a second try, I explained that I wasn't spending $60 on a bra that I wasn't sure fit right, thanks anyhow. (Even if bras were returnable in general, I would feel weird about wearing something half a dozen times and then returning it for fit, and that feels like a high price anyhow.)
My next step, I think, is to try on 38D or 38DD bras at other stores, looking for a better fit and, ideally, a better price. Macy's and JC Penney are close enough to my apartment that I might be able to get there in the morning and avoid the Christmas rush; anything downtown will probably have to wait until January. Fortunately, the bras I have now will do for a bit longer, even if I do decide to replace them all.
I am also wondering whether the apparent change in bra size affects my shirt size: if I understand this correctly, my bust is the same size around as it was a few years ago, but it now sticks out more from my rib cage. I don't mind wearing my shirts loose, so I won't be throwing things away, but there's something to be said for wearing the right size. Assuming that the right size exists; I'm still dealing with the combination of broad shoulders, large breasts, and short arms.