Sports bras are like a good friend. They hold you up at your worst, catch you when you fall, and a real good one makes sure that you always look your best. Unfortunately, a staggering 80-90% of people worldwide are wearing the wrong bra size, and that’s mostly because we don’t exactly know how to get the right size.
When it comes to a sports bra especially, it can be tricky to pick one that holds you in place without totally suffocating you. It’s even trickier when you’re buying a sports bra, or a bra tank online and have no way to test it out before making a purchase.
While your measurements cannot account for different cuttings, and different brands, here’s how you can measure your cup size for your next sports bra purchase!
1. Get the girls ready
Boobs, breasts, ladies- whatever you call them, you can’t just slap on your measuring tape and call it a day. The best way to measure yourself is while standing up, and with no bra on. If you feel more comfortable with a bra on, or need someone’s help, wear one that is non-padded and doesn’t change the shape of your breasts too much.
You’ll also need a soft measuring tape, and a paper and pen to jot down your measurements. If you have a period, try to measure yourself after as some people have bigger breasts due to the hormones. If you’re pregnant, or going through puberty, it can also have an effect on your breast size.
2. Start measuring
Source: WikiHow
To get the size of your band, measure above the bust- right below your armpits. While it might seem like you should be measuring where the band falls (ie. around your ribcage), measuring above your bust will actually get the most accurate measurement. The number that you’ll get here will be your band size.
Source: WikiHow
To get your cup size, measure the fullest part of your breast. If you’re measuring on your own, look in the mirror to make sure your measuring tape is straight. Once you have that number, subtract your band size. If the difference is one inch, you’re an A. Two inches makes you a B, and so on.
3. Figure out the support you need
Some activewear brands label their bras with support levels. If you are a C bra cup onwards, or do high-impact activities (think HIIT or boxing), you might want to go with a sports bra that provides high support such as a racerback or one with thicker straps.
For low-impact exercise such as yoga, pilates and hiking, a low support sports bra will be more suitable. You can find low support bras having more creative back designs which is also a fun element to add into your workout fit.
Remember to not downsize on the bra you need, either. Sports bra sizings already take that into account and provide snug enough fits without you having to take a few inches off.
Ready to find your perfect fit, LIVLOLA fam?
