Bra sizing

Bare Basics Lingerie Now Offer Expert Fitting for Nursing Bras

August 5, 2013 by Press Release

Vancouver-based lingerie provider Bare Basics Lingerie has recently announced that the company is providing a new fitting service for clients searching for the ideal nursing bra. Bare Basics Lingerie’s new fitting service for nursing bras, sports bras and all other in-store pieces are offered at both their locations by their expert fitters.

For new moms it can be exceptionally difficult to find nursing bras that fit comfortably. The changing shape and size of the breast during pregnancy means that a custom fit bra is recommended to ensure optimal support. This is important during the nursing stage as a great bra will provide optimal neck and shoulder comfort for the new mom as well as providing convenient access for breast feeding. And now new moms across Vancouver, North Vancouver, Richmond, and White Rock can find that stylish, great-fitting bra through the team at Bare Basics Lingerie.

With their fitting services and great selection of nursing bras, Bare Basics Lingerie is now the ideal resource for new moms looking for comfortable, stylish undergarments. The fitters at Bare Basics Lingerie have been trained so well that they’re able to take a quick glance at the client’s body to determine their exact bra size. They communicate directly with the client to determine their preferred style, whether it’s that elegant lace bra or a comfortable molded piece that rests smoothly against the skin. Then, utilizing their experience and fitting knowledge, they determine the size of bra the client should be wearing and bring in a selection of styles to suit their unique wearing needs. The expert in-house fitting specialist will then adjust the straps to meet the client’s comfort level. With the company’s exceptionally varied style selection, the perfect bra is ready and waiting to be discovered at Bare Basics Lingerie.

iPhone App Helps You Find the Right Bra

December 11, 2009 by Kelly

I really hope you are all in the right size bra – I think that comes as no surprise by now. 😉 We have a bra sizing guide here on TLP, but there is now a new app for your iPhone to help you if you don’t want to go it alone and can’t find a good fitter in your area. The Bra-Fitter app guides you to help you measure yourself correctly, then gives you the size your measurements would predict you wear – as well as a range of bra sizes that may fit you. Because as we know, bra sizing is not an exact science! It will help you convert your size into another country’s standards if you’re buying a foreign brand, and also demonstrates how a well-fitting bra should look. This sounds like a great tool to bring into the fitting room when you’re lingerie shopping!

Learn more about this app and find purchasing information on the Bra-Fitter website. I don’t have an iPhone so I haven’t had a chance to play with this yet myself – do any of you have it? Is it helpful?

Bra Sizing on The Doctors

September 16, 2009 by Kelly

On Friday morning, Natori was featured on the US morning talk show The Doctors during a segment on the importance of a well-fitting bra, especially a sports bra. A volunteer wore her regular sports bra while jogging and then switched to a better Natori sports bra, and the movement of her chest was measured and compared with sensors. The difference was significant and the runner said she could feel “a complete difference.” The proper fit reduced her up-and-down bounce by half, and her side-to-side motion by 80%! See the video by clicking here to go to The Doctors’ website.

Then a bra fitting specialist was brought on stage to discuss bra sizing. Carly Gomez from Natori said that the number of women wearing the wrong size has climbed to 85% and that has to stop – she said that a correctly fitting bra changes how you look and how you feel. You can see the video by clicking here to go to The Doctors’ website.

Obviously, I am all for women wearing correctly fitting bras and I’m glad any time the importance of a good fit is publicized. But I have one huge problem with this video: when Gomez is measuring the volunteer, she says, “I measure at a 30 band, so she’s definitely going to be a 32 because that’s where your bra size starts at.” That simply isn’t true. There are plenty of bras with a size 30 band that this women could be wearing. I wear a 30 band and I never have to settle for a 32. Figleaves UK alone has 166 styles in a size 30D (which is what I suspect this woman should be wearing). HerRoom has 90 styles in a 30D. BareNecessities has 62. Bravissmio has 38. They all also have bras with even smaller 28 bands. Even 26 bands are out there if you look hard enough (I found the largest selection from Bita Saviss). Bra sizes don’t start with a 32 band, but Natori’s size range does. So that’s the size the Natori fitter told this woman that she should be wearing. This is why it is very important to be properly fitted by a store with a huge size range available. You don’t want them sticking you in the wrong size bra just because it’s a bra size that they have. If the bra fitters themselves don’t put you in the correct size, they’re only adding to the staggering percentage of women who are in the wrong bra.

Bra Sizes as Explained by The Pretty Year

July 12, 2009 by Kelly

Michelle, fashion blogger of The Pretty Year, has recently written some excellent explanations of the relationship between bra band sizes and cup letters – I just had to share them with you! We have touched on this topic in our bra sizing guide, but Michelle discusses this specific aspect in-depth. First, she tackled the basics and started her readers out with a quiz.

Question #1: Which of these bras is bigger in cup size?

Bra Set #1

Question #2: Okay, which of these bras has the bigger cup size?

Bra Set #2

Question #3: How about these bad boys?

Bra Set #3

Think you know the answers? You may be surprised! Head on over to The Pretty Year’s post Size Chart Woes: The Naked Truth About Bra Sizes to check your answers and to learn more about the band/cup relationship, the myth of “sister sizing,” and cup size illusions.

Then, in a follow-up post, she said,

…there seems to be a major discrepancy between What We Were All Taught about bra sizing and Bra Reality.

Basically, we were told that cup size is determined by the number of inches difference between our underbust and bust measurements– 1 inch = A cup, 2 inches = B cup, and so on. Based on this, many of us assumed this meant that all A cups were the same size/volume (i.e., “1 cubic inch” or some such), all B cups were the same size/volume, etc., and that the only difference between, say, a 32D and a 36D was in the band. But nay, as our own photographic evidence suggests, this is not true. Your 36D has significantly more volume in the cup than your 32D, in addition to being wider in the band itself.

A dramatic reenactment:

To learn why a 1 inch difference in perimiter equals more than a 1 inch difference in cup volume (with more helpful visualizations) go to Size Chart Woes: Fun With Math!

Maternity Bra Fitting Guide

June 8, 2009 by Kelly

We hope you are already following our bra sizing guide to ensure that you’re in the correct bra size. But if you’ve become pregnant lately (or plan to), you’re entering a whole new world of bra fitting! There are unique aspects and challenges to determining your bra size when you are pregnant or nursing, and our friends at HOTmilk have shared some maternity bra sizing information with us.

A well-fitting bra is incredibly important during pregnancy and nursing. During these times in a woman’s life, there are noticeable changes in your breasts – they will become heavier, may be become fuller during pregnancy, and

more sensitive during nursing. You need more support during this time, and it’s important that you are fitted by a trained professional. Most traditional lingerie rules don’t apply to maternity or nursing bras and you need a professional bra fitter to help you make an appropriate choice – do NOT just buy your old style in a bigger size! It is recommended that you see a bra fitter 3-4 months into your pregnancy, and again at 7 months (as well as any time you feel that your bra is restrictive or doesn’t fit well).

When choosing a bra, look for one that provides excellent support and flexibility (to allow for fluctuations in breast size). Slide your hand into the upper cup section to guage whether there is enough room for you to expand and/or insert breast pads. The cups should be comfortable and provide good coverage. The cup lining should be cotton, and seams should not irritate your nipples. Be sure that you can undo the maternity clip easily and with one hand. The A-frame should sit comfortably across the top of the breasts. The opening should be large enough to expand, and should not cut in to your skin. Make sure that there is enough overlap between the top of the cup and the A-frame cutout. If there is a gap, this may mean that the cup is too small and the breast is straining the cup. Look for a bra whose cup drops down far enough for feeding. The cup should sit lower than the A-frame at the center front so it drops down further.

Just like any bra, your breast tissue should not be bulging over the top of the cup or at the underarms, and the cups should not wrinkle. The back should not ride up or cut in on your back. The straps should rest comfortably on your shoulders. The decision of whether or not to wear underwires when you are pregnant or nursing is a source of some controversy. Many lactation consultants recommend against underwire bras for nursing mothers, as they can restrict the growth of the breast during pregnancy and can put pressure on the breast, leading to blocked milk ducts.

Again, many thanks to HOTmilk for providing us with so much wonderful and helpful information! HOTmilk is a great choice when looking for maternity and nursing bras because they are not only comfortable and supportive, but sexy as well! (Read about the HOTmilk controversy here.) HOTmilk bras are specially designed to provide gorgeous support and coverage all the way up to a G cup. You can find your own HOTmilk lingerie at Figleaves (US/UK).