Sunday 5 June 2011

Bras, again

Someone told me something revelatory about bras today. At least, it was a revelation to me, and I will share it with you, dear reader. It has only taken about 30 years to get this.

Cup size is only related to the back measurement. So within the measurement of 34 cm, there is an A, B, C, D and E cup. The same for a 30 cm, 32, cm, etc etc.

CUP SIZES HAVE NO RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER CUP SIZES. E cups have nothing in common with each other. They are only related to the back measurement. When people say "She's an E cup" it has no meaning or significance, because it's leaving out half the information. It's like telling someone what time to meet you, but not the place. Physics, people.

I always wondered why I was the same cup size as glamour models when clearly I'm not as, um, gifted. This is why.

I would like to thank the woman in John Lewis who told my friend about it. It was like achieving enlightenment without having to do chanting or fasting or anything.

14 comments:

  1. If you've ever read a guide on measuring yourself, it says that - you measure yourself around under your bust, add on 4 inches (that's your size, 34 or whatever) and then measure including your bust and that determines the cup size, by adding or subtracting. But it's almost impossible to get right, and you're better going to John Lewis or similar, where the woman looks at you and tells you your size and is always spot on.

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  2. Z, I knew there were two parts to the measuring, I just hadn't understood that the letter for the cup size has no relation to other cup sizes - eg the E in a 30E bra is different from an E in a 34E bra. I think because people refer to cup sizes as though they are independent from the back measurement. I know, the women in John Lewis are amazing, they don't even need a tape.

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  3. This post needs more photos.

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  4. You're right, LC. Just for you, I did a quick search on Flickr and came up with this.

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  5. S'true. I was rather surprised when the nice ladies at Bravissimo told me I was a 32E. Even more surprised when they turned out to be right. I am not at all buxom.

    (PS LOL at photo)

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  6. Spin, buxom is a nice word. I was all 'WTF?' when I found the photo. Hurrah for Flickr.

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  7. This makes so much sense to me now! I got measured as an E cup years ago and just refused to believe it, and am now wearing C cups again out of stubbornness. So maybe I AM an E cup, but only in terms of my back. Except I can't remember what that was so I better get measured again.

    I blame men for this confusion. More specifically, I blame the "Storm in a D-cup" headline that they wheel out on the front of lads' mags every other issue.

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  8. Annie, exactly! They don't get it either. Nobody ever explains this, so confusion reigns. I will make it my mission to reveal the truth...

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  9. Obligatory bra link - I like these, especially the Fleur of England bras:

    http://www.boudiche.com/section.php/300/1/bras-and-bra-knicker-sets

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  10. I like the Elle McP "marsh brown" stuff. Didn't know brown could be so sexy.

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  11. There's another common men's mag phallacy (ho ho) – you know where they have a slip of a thing with big boobs and the caption says she's a 42 DD. When actually she's probably a 30 F. It's the sheer numbers that excite 'em.

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  12. >>>It's the sheer numbers that excite 'em.

    No, I'm fairly certain it's the picture of the pretty young thing in the buff.

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  13. Ah, but what use is the picture without a set of numbers/facts/dimensions that can be compared to others? That's half the joy of it. Admit. Like making endless top tens of favourite indie albums.

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  14. Over at What Katy Did - can you make any sense of this? http://www.whatkatiedid.com/src/brasizing.php
    I have thought of just sending them one of my tatty old bras in the mail and asking for a match...

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