D is a very different letter from B; any dyslexia notwithstanding

[beandelphiki]

For years now - since about the age of 13 or so, in fact - I've been amazed at the level of ignorance and cluelessness some female-bodied people in our society express when it comes to said female bodies. Really amazed. Because most of this ignorance is sexual, and therefore directly related to the sex of their bodies:

How do you masturbate? What's a clitoris? Do I have one? Where is it? What's an orgasm?

Etc.

I have asked myself and others where this level of HUHWHAT? comes from. Don't these people read books? Magazines? Do they read at ALL? Do they have any curiosity? How is it possible to even reach the age of 15 and not know these things...let alone 17, 18, 19, 24....?

At this moment, however, many of these people are probably one-up on me.

There is a good chance, you see, that most of them actually know their correct BRA SIZE. Or are closer to knowing said bra size than I am.

It's a bit difficult to pretend superiority when you've just discovered that for a few years now at least, you've been underestimating your bra measurements by AT LEAST two cup sizes. That for years now you've somehow convinced yourself that your 30C bra was pulling apart at the seams despite the most minimal usage because it is TOO BIG, and not because it is TOO SMALL.

And that right there folks, IS NOT MADE OF WIN AND RAINBOWS.

At least now I know why it's been hurting so much more to bind in recent years. And why my binders fall apart much faster.

OMG I HAVE TEH DUM.

GAH.

Comments

[haleth.livejournal.com]

O.O

There must be a website (probably as part of a lingerie store) that will tell you the correct way to measure. I think you would have noticed if the cup size was that much too small - did you check band size?

[cmot-dribbler.livejournal.com]

Hey if it makes you feel better, i don't know my cup size either....

[beandelphiki.livejournal.com]

Actually, that's where this post came from! I tried looking it up on a whim because...well, a few reasons. But it's been bothering me that I can't wear my one bra anymore because it fits SO poorly. There's gotta be SOMETHING wrong, because I fall out of that thing like nobody's business. I thought it was because it's too big/worn, though.

I'm still sorta foggy on EXACTLY what size I should be looking for (if I actually wanted to bother with another bra, that is), because I'm small overall. I mean, if I AM a D (and I really have no explanation for my binders falling apart so fast if I haven't changed shape or size) it's still not like I'm really busty or anything. It's just that cup size is measured by the difference between band and bust, yes?

Ribcage and above-breast measurements: 26 inches. (Some sources take a direct ribcage measurement, rounded to the nearest even number. Some sources say you should add 3-5 inches to your ribcage measurement OR measure above the breasts. Since those are the same on me, I'm ignoring the part about addition. Besides, online reviews of the latter method say HELL NO, DOESN'T WORK!)

Bust measurement: Around 31 inches? I'm not sure how "loose" is loose for this measurement - should I be assuming I've got no air in my lungs? But that's the tightest measurement I've got.

So yeah...still small (my bust size is smaller than most women's band size? meh...), but there's at least a five-inch difference there. Some sources suggest that's a DD, but I'm allowing for the whole being-too-small-for-normal-bra-sizes-anyway thing, and calling it at a D.

For the record, though: my sister wears a 30D (she also has a small ribcage, but that's about the smallest band size she and my mom can find without great difficulty), and my mom is a 34D.

[haleth.livejournal.com]

Curious, what's the band size on the old bra? And elastic wears out after a while - if it's creeping up in back, the band is too loose or the elastic is no good.

Good luck finding a new one, I guess? Try on several, different brands and stuff. They vary a lot.

Still boggling. Why would you need one? Do you ever go out not bound?

[beandelphiki.livejournal.com]

Do you ever go out not bound?

No, I don't. But this is just like, around the house wear. It's pretty uncomfortable sometimes (e.g. stairs!) without a bra.

[haleth.livejournal.com]

Man, I cannot wait to take my bra off, if I even wore one out. First thing I do when I get in the house. Seriously.

Anyway, you're not alone in the measurement thing. For a long time I thought I was a 40C or thereabouts, but when I looked up how to measure and actually went to the trouble, I was more like a 36DD. Ohhh that's why my bras never seemed to work that well. :-P

I usually just wear sports bras, though.