CONTENTS
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PlusSizeBras.info -- A Consumer Information Provider
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Your Resource for Larger Cup Size Bras and Bra-Sized Swimwear
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 Plus Size Bras Hints and Tips
Updated February 10, 2007
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HINTS AND TIPS --
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MATERNITY BRAS
During pregnancy, the ribcage often expands. Don't expect your pre-pregnancy bra to be comfortable.
Instead consider a sports bra since they flex more readily than conventional bras.
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NURSING BRAS
To ensure proper fit, don't size nursing bras until after delivery. The first step in sizing a bra is to
determine the chestband size. Since your underbust measurement is larger before delivery, your
post-partum chestband size will likely be less. It's important to get the chestband size correct because
cups are proportioned to the chestband. If the chestband size is wrong, the cup size will also be wrong.
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NURSING BRA CARE
Mother's milk contains protein. Washing in hot water cooks the protein, coagulating it to tightly bind
with fabric fibers. To remove fresh stains, soak in cool water ½ hour before laundering in
cold water. To remove old stains, soak in cool water with liquid detergent for 1 hour
before laundering in cold water. Use a non-chlorine bleach to whiten.
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TRYING ON BRAS -- FITTING THE CHESTBAND
The chestband must be properly fitted before cups can be. Cups are proportioned to the chestband. If the
chestband size is wrong, the cups will also be wrong.
Most chestbands are sized to the chest girth above the bust. They are typically designed to accommodate a chest
which tapers to about 2 inches less below the bust. If your chest has more or less than 2 inches
of taper, or if your underbust chest girth measures an odd number measurement, it may be difficult to size the
chestband simply from measurements. Instead you may size the chestband by trial. Select 3-4 bras of the identical
brand, style name/number, and cup size (any cup size, just so long as they're all the same), but in chestband sizes
that range from too small to too big. Try on each bra in size order beginning with the largest. Use the middle set of
hooks to fasten the closure in FRONT, IMMEDIATELY below your bust, NOT down
around your waist. (You may want to bend at the waist to keep your bust from interfering.) If you can easily slide
the closure to the back, that size is too large for you. If it's very difficult to slide the closure to the back, that size is too
small. Goldilocks had no problem determining what size was just right -- neither should you. Your bra should
fit snugly all day long.
NOTE: custom made bras are typically sized to the chest girth at the underbust. Don't assume that if you wear a
ready-to-wear bra in label size 34G that you'll wear the same size in custom fit, i.e. NorvellŪ.
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TRYING ON BRAS -- FITTING THE CUPS
When trying on bras, select 2 or 3 of the identical brand, style name/number, and chestband size, but 1 or 2 of
them in successively larger cup sizes than you expect your correct size to be. Why? Oversize cups are more
easily recognized than undersize cups. Try on each bra in cup size order beginning with the highest. If the cups
are not full and wrinkle and pucker, that size is too big. Repeat with successively lower cup sizes until cups first
become full and obvious wrinkles and puckers disappear. You're done!
Resist the temptation to try a larger chestband size to "make" a bra "fit". Just because you can wear it doesn't
mean it fits!
Will this be your size for all bras? Sadly, that's unlikely. Remember that bras are apparel just like skirts, blouses,
shoes, jeans, etc. Some are cut more or less full than others. Even within the same brand name, sizes
may not be entirely consistent. Use of different sewing contractors who use different salvage edge widths
will result in size variations.
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