I get super nitpicky about things, mostly because I hate the idea of being wrong or inaccurate. For a couple of measurements, we take multiple kinds (e.g. bust while standing, leaning, flat on back and loose, snug, and ultra tight underbust) - so which ones are you supposed to use? When I measured my ribcage as tightly as I could humanly get it, I came up with a measurement of 27.5" (69.9 cm). That's what I currently have listed on Bratabase, but I feel like that's sort of misleading, as I am pretty certain I appropriately fit a 30 band (at least in Cleo and the one Fantasie bra I've tried). I dunno how I even got it down that far, 'cause I tried again this morning and couldn't for the life of me get it below 28" (71.1 cm). Maybe I just enjoyed my spring break a little too much, haha. But if someone were to ask, do I give them the average? Or do I just give them a trillion measurements and allow them to come to their own conclusions? I feel like most times I see people providing measurements, they're not really clarifying which ones they're using - is which measurement to use just common knowledge I haven't been let in on?
Shared on Mar 17, 2013 Flag this
I personally give the average. Over the past year I have measured from 30" to 29.5" down to 28" and now I'm back to 29". Weight fluctuates constantly and depending on our bodies, our measurements are different time to time. I label my underbust as 29" and go by this when deciding which bands I use.
The 'standard' seems to be one's 'comfortably snug, fully exhaled' underbust measurement. The 'comfortably' part is of course subjective, but it probably isn't 'as tight as you can possibly go without snapping yourself in two'. THAT measurement is reserved for measuring for the likes of Ewa Michalak ;)
But it is totally personal -- whatever you find gives you a reliable starting point (and remember that it's only that, a starting point, and nothing more) for finding fitting bras.
Just as an example: in my case it's my 'fully inhaled' underbust measurement that seems closest to a reliable starting point if I adhere to the +0 fitting method (which oddly enough actually gives me the same result as my 'comfortably snug, fully exhaled' measurement +4), but this has to do with my particular body shape.