Cup/Bra Size

[MWCMDarlene]

There is a current running thread about how we determined our cup size. That thread has me wandering, along the same sort of lines, but I am interested in seeing what might be the right cup size for a particular body build. Does anyone have any links to sites that will help us to determine, according to our body shape (ie. weight, height, measurements, etc) what would be a normal or average cup size for us? For example, I am 6' 1.5" and weigh 200lbs. My chest measurement is about 43-44 inches, which means that my bra band size would be @ 44. I know I can vary my cup size to whatever I want, but what would be an average or acceptable cup size for someone of this build? Thanks for the replies.

[Kathi Lake]

Sorry, since everyone is sooo different, you'll have to use the LAR method - Looks About Right.

Kathi

[eileendover]

I suspect most sites dealing with bra size and other specific body measurements would be for GGs, not for CDs.
Like Kathi said, be empirical. Start cheap with different sizes, and see how they look on you.
For this, "you do the math" won't work.

[Kathi Lake]

Also, you could do what I did - ask.

I went to a mastectomy store and they tried every size on me from an A cup to a D (mostly for a joke. There's no way my skinny little frame could ever pass off a D cup!). They took front and side pictures of each set of forms while I was wearing a tight sweater, and we chatted about each size.



Kathi

[Karren H]

I'd go out and buy a FF cup bra and then load it up with small water ballons. Then after each water ballon try to walk.. At the point where you fall over, back off a water ballon and then measure the remaining volume and that's your proper cup size!!

[Eve_WA]

I'd go out and buy a FF cup bra and then load it up with small water ballons. Then after each water ballon try to walk.. At the point where you fall over, back off a water ballon and then measure the remaining volume and that's your proper cup size!!

spoken like a TRUE engineer!

[eileendover]

I'd go out and buy a FF cup bra and then load it up with small water ballons. Then after each water ballon try to walk.. At the point where you fall over, back off a water ballon and then measure the remaining volume and that's your proper cup size!!

Karren, somehow I lost my conversion chart for fake-breast-water-balloon-volume to bra-cup-size. Does this use Avogadro's number?

[Eve_WA]

The Madonna quotient

[ReineD]

At 6'1" and 200 lbs, I would start with a D cup with the view of moving downward if it doesn't look good. My SO is 6'. She started off with a D cup but reduced it to a C since this looks more natural on her.

If you want a better idea before you buy any breastforms, buy a D and a C cup bra and fill them with batting or something. Then put on a hugging T-shirt (not so tight that it stretches), and go from there.

Also be sure to put on the hip pads and the waist cincher if you have them, as this will alter how big the breasts look compared to your torso.

[Karren H]

Karren, somehow I lost my conversion chart for fake-breast-water-balloon-volume to bra-cup-size. Does this use Avogadro's number?

Of coarse!! Every good equation has to have molecules per mole-gram in it!!

[donnah]

I tried to figure it out myself but then went to CD friendly corset shop and she did a fitting.I wound up with 40DD bra size and C cup forms, they fit beautifully and are in proportion to my build.She was very friendly, helpful and professional. She is well known in the community and does a great job.

[docrobbysherry]

Because of the "protrusion factor"! Some forms protrude more than others! I have C forms that stick out as far as my DDs!
If u don't want to visit a store, ( I DON'T BLAME U!), try some mastectomy forms from online, size C or D! See how u like them! You'll NEED different sizes with different outfits anyway!

I'd go out and buy a FF cup bra and then load it up with small water ballons. Then after each water ballon try to walk.. At the point where you fall over, back off a water ballon and then measure the remaining volume and that's your proper cup size!!

Ha ha ha! Too funny, and TOO TRU, Karren! That was ME when I started dressing!

Karren, somehow I lost my conversion chart for fake-breast-water-balloon-volume to bra-cup-size. Does this use Avogadro's number?

What a coincidence, Eileen! I'm having those in my salad for dinner tonite!

[Jodi]

I wear a "B" cup. When I had my bra fitting done about 10 years ago at Victorias Secret, the manager told me, with my body shape and size, that I should go with no larger than a "B" cup. I figured that she knew what she was talking about. So, that's what I have done.

I have gotten many compliments from gg's on how natural my bustline looks.

Jodi

[Angiemead12]

in the interest of practicality i now use the same bras as my SO!

I just bought the bra clip extenders as to not stretch the bands to much.

works out well for us. she is a 34c hence im a 34c at least all the bras i buy get used alot!

[sandra-leigh]

I am 6' 1.5" and weigh 200lbs. My chest measurement is about 43-44 inches, which means that my bra band size would be @ 44. I know I can vary my cup size to whatever I want, but what would be an average or acceptable cup size for someone of this build?

I'm 6', and in recent years (since I started dressing) have ranged up as high as 224 pounds and as far down as 191 pounds; I think I'm holding at about 194 now. My under-bust measurement (taken with a metal measuring tape, not a tailors' tape, so slightly inaccurate) is currently 36", so I can fit into some bras as low as a 36 band but most of them would be uncomfortable. I'm comfortable in a 38 band now; when I was on the heavier side, for some bras I needed a 40. With the figures you give about yourself, probably you should use a 46 bra band rather than a 44 band, but it may vary even according to the exact model from the same manufacturer. For example, I find that for me, a front-closure bra is comfortable in a smaller band size than a full-coverage bra from the same manufacturer. (Unless, that is, the front-closure bra has a thick underwire. Front closure and thick underwire and smaller band size is a good way to get underwire chaffing you.)

Okay, now with my 36 to 38 chest diameter, I went to two different professional forms fitters, and a very experienced professional bra fitter. What all three of them told me is that the semi-standard size 7 forms are definitely too small for my body; the first form fitter indicated that either size 8 or size 9 would be right for me, and the second form fitter (who took the time to explain her reasoning) said that my shape needed either size 9 or size 10 forms, with the exact size to be determined partly by details of the fit of particular model, and partly by how big I was comfortable going, as she recommended that on the whole, for most models, size 10 forms would be the best fit for me. (But size 11 would provably be too big for me.) The professional bra fitter tolerates when I wear my size 8 forms, in a sort of "It's your choice, and they don't look so bad that I'm going to risk losing the sale", and is continually amazed by how good the size 10 forms look on me -- and has directly told me off for "wasting her time" (and mine) when I go in looking for a bra for anything smaller than my size 8 forms, because apparently my stature and presence "demand" the larger bust size.

Thus, in the opinion of three fairly experienced professionals (one a thousand miles away from the others), the appropriate size for my body is F to G cup.

And yes, "F to G cup" does sound "huge", as if I am a "size freak" over-exaggerating my bust line -- you know, like the kind of gurl that we say "gives the rest of us a bad name" for not knowing when to stop, for becoming a characteracture of a woman rather than looking appropriate. I know what it sounds like. Porn stars with F and G cup breasts star in those "big bust" specialty movies, and only go as high as H if they want to cater to the extreme-breast fetishists. That's what it sounds like.

And yet, when I wear my largest forms, I get nothing but complements from women, including three that I had to convince that I was only wearing forms, not natural breasts or well-done implants. And women fairly consistently under-estimate the size of the cup (well, except for the women who have worked for years in bra sales), thinking that they are D to DD. I've had more than a few "They look fabulous on you" and "I wish my own looked that good", and almost every time that I asked "So they aren't too big, then?", the woman's eyes would defocus for a moment as if I had caught they completely by surprise and their mind were boggling for a moment at the idea... and then each one of them has assured me, "No, definitely not!"

If we were to translate the volume that many have thought looks great on me into your sizing, that would be "40G" -> "42F" -> "44DD/44E" -> "46D". That would be equivalent volume.

However, with your chest being about 6" larger diameter than mine, if your build is similar to mine (that is, perhaps a bit of a gut but little flab on the upper body), then if you happen to be starting out with about the same breast-bone curvature as I have, my forms specialist would, I suspect, say that you should have approximately size 13 forms (roughly 3" further inward in radius each so as to come to the same relative position on the center dip) so that your forms fit naturally on your chest rather than "perching" on them. That size 13 is an extrapolation on my part... and if it holds, it would take you to approximately a "46G".

Now with your 44" chest compared to my 37", if you were going for dresses, then instead of looking in the range of "just maybe 12, 14 is often good for the torso but maybe too tight under the arms, 16 almost always fits the arms but might be too loose", I would guess that you are probably looking at size 22 for dresses. And to be honest, about the only size 22 dresses around that I see that would accommodate a G bust and that are not more or less mu-mus, are designed for the full-figured brides-maid or cocktail dresses for the full-figured woman -- full figured in this case translating into "show us your cleavage". I find it uncommon to see a regular sleeved "I just want to look like I have some sense of fashion" dress above a size 18 -- other than "mother of the bride" dresses in dull colours that are aimed at 55-68 year olds. Thus, you may find that for the practical reason of being able to find affordable clothes that fit, that you may have to go for the 46D-ish, even though a professional would likely say that you should be using wider forms so that your forms do not slide around and stay properly centered.

I have not found any great hardship in finding dresses in the 14-18 range that I can wear my 40G with, but such clothes do not grow on trees... or in Sears, not unless you want to do the "latest rayon print, guaranteed to last two wearings, by which time it will have gone out of fashion anyhow" stichk. I tend to buy quality... and that can sometimes mean regularly browsing stores and figuring out what I like, and then going back when the store's seasonal clearance sale starts, to buy that $350 linen dress for $80. Or for $40 at the consignment store, if I'm the lucky person who sees it before the hordes of other gals my size (I'm right in the size range that sells the most in adult women's clothes.) I suspect you are larger enough than I that you fall out of the magic high-sales range, so you might have to compromise on the matter of what bust size you "should" have in favour of what bust size it is "practical" for you to have.


You have likely seen a lot of opinion expressed on these forums that the appropriate form size for cross-dressers who do not want to over-exaggerate and get caught out for "being too big" is a B or at most C cup. Let me put it this way: with my frame size, I have worn my C cup forms at work more than once, and if I am careful with my choice of clothing and careful with how I walk, the only people who notice are the ones who I want to have notice. "Careful with my choice of clothing" does not, by the way, mean "wearing big bulky sweaters" -- sweaters do tend to smooth out curves, but even a C cup is enough that the natual stretch of a sweater would show inexplicable raised bumps with the wrong curvature to be "moobs". No, "careful with my choice of clothing" has more to do with the stiffness and thickness of the fabric; you need something thick enough to look like the extension in your front is just due to your natural thickness, but not so thick that it "tents" straight down from your forms. I have one top that works wonders -- I can even go to meetings in my C forms with it and no-one pays attention. I wore it (and my forms) for the official company promotional photos a few weeks ago. Probably by now, one or more people have noticed the atypical bulges... but the effect is slight enough that it isn't worth even teasing me about. On the other hand, I do have some stretch tops that make the same C forms look fairly obvious, beyond that which could be easily overlooked: I just don't wear those kinds of tops with my C forms at work.

So don't let people convince you that a C cup is big enough that Everyone will notice and you will suffer unending social stigma if you are seen with them and recognized as being male-ish. Maybe in some sensitive places, but not in the larger Canadian cities (though I don't know if I'd want to wander by the docks of Halifax or Windsor by myself in TG mode.)

On the other hand, I must admit to inexperience on the point: perhaps by band size 46, a C cup does have enough volume to be obvious under nearly any clothes. In theory it shouldn't be that way, but I don't have any experimental subjects handy upon whom I can put my theories to the test

[AmandaM]

It's pretty obvious CDers aren't gonna go for A cups! LOL. Anything over a D cup is for drag queens.

B, C, D, that's your choice. Knowing CDer's, it'll always be C or D.

Cder less than 200 lbs. C cup. Cder over 200 lbs. D cup.

There, problem solved!

[KandisTX]

At 6' 220 # myself, I have settled on D cups since they seem to be the most proportioned to my size. With the broad shoulders that men are somehow "blessed" with, you want to go with something that compliments your frame. Remember, we are all seeking to "pass", which means that we are able to go out in public and be seen as a woman, and not a guy in a dress. I would recommend finding a GG friend, or even a professional fitter to help you determine which cup size best compliments your frame.

Kandis

[sandra-leigh]

It's pretty obvious CDers aren't gonna go for A cups! LOL. Anything over a D cup is for drag queens.

Or for CD'ers who have actually consulted with professionals who pointed out specific body features and specific form features in arriving at their recommendations.

Or, alternately, for CD'ers who actually pay attention to the news and what women around them look like, rather than relying on mythology and word of mouth.

The wikipedia article on Brassiere indicates:

"In 2009 the most sold bra size in the US was 36DD, an increase of one cup size compared to 2008."


According to the figures on wikipedia, 57.1% of the local population where I live has an ethnic origin of English, Scottish, or German -- all peoples known far better for their stoutness as they age rather than for maintaining a thin figure. 10.2% of the local population is Aboriginal, mostly of the Oji-Cree group: these are not the tall thin Poccahontis type peoples, but rather a shorter broader people, the women of whom tend to have large busts. The adult female Aboriginal population might only be about 4% of the local population, but they are by no means an "invisible minority" -- and their often H+ busts help define what is "normal and accepted" here.


The owners of the bra specialty store not far from where I live tell me that the size that sells out most quickly for them is 40G. It is against board policy for me to post contact information for a business, but if you PM me, I will provide the exact store name and location and you can verify directly with them. How quickly? More than one of the store co-owners has told me that most of their 40G bras sell out within one week of their regular monthly shipment.

So, Amanda... would you recommend that I go around asking roughly 1/4 of the GG's around me how they like being drag queens, since at least that portion are over D cup?

Do I need to post references to specific newswire articles to establish that these days, D cup for women in England, Canada, and the USA is pretty typical? Oh wait... I already did that, in the media section, and in several other posts.

What backing do you have, Amanda, for your claim that "Anything over a D cup is for drag queens." ? Citations of newswire articles? Of academic studies? Of sales figures? Of specific quotations from bra-store owners? I've posted all of those. It is time, Amanda, for you to provide some objective proof for your "facts", or else for you to clearly differentiate between fact and opinion. Back up your claims, or back down from your claims.

[Billijo49504]

At my local LB 38 C is a hard size to find. That's what the wife gets. I on the other hand, measure a 42C and the lady that measured me, said I was almost a 42D. So most of the time I wear minamizer bras. So I don't stick out too much in guy mode...BJ

[Jilmac]

Perhaps a good idea would be to watch GGs with about the same measurements as you, then guesstimate an average cup size.

[ReineD]

More than one of the store co-owners has told me that most of their 40G bras sell out within one week of their regular monthly shipment.

Sandra, I do know that manufacturer's ship an assortment of sizes within each lot (bras, shoes, clothing, etc) and the sizes do follow a bell curve. There are fewer of the smallest and largest sizes, and more in the middle. I wear a size 11 shoe and when stores receive shoe shipments, they will receive only one or two in that size. So yes, these sizes sell very quickly since the manufacturers don't make as many. I wonder if the 40G bras sell quickly for the same reasons?

When I shop for bras and look through the racks, they range from 32As to 40DDs. The Victoria's Secret online store will corroborate this. But, there are fewer of the A's and DD's, and many more Bs, Cs, & Ds on the rack. There seem to be more Cs than other cup sizes. I've never seen a G. But, breast size does increase with weight, and maybe stores like Victoria's secret cater to the younger women who do not have weight issues?

Granted, the B to D sizes are average for a woman's torso (outside of women who are heavier), and it makes sense that a 6', 200 lb GM might need a bigger size. But I have noticed in the Picture Gallery that many CDs seem to prefer a 'well-endowed' look over what might be considered to be average, non eye-popping boobs. I hope I do not offend anyone when I say this.

Have you noticed when looking at the beauty ideal in the media: the runway models or the models in fashion magazines, they tend to have the smaller rather than the larger breasts? Smaller breasts elongate the general form, and the clothes seem to hang better. The model's beauty shines through and she presents a cohesive, elegant appearance, rather than command all the attention to her bustline.

[AmandaM]

Wow, you actually took me serious! Ok, name one drag queen who wears less than a DD. LOL!

<<What backing do you have, Amanda, for your claim that "Anything over a D cup is for drag queens." ? Citations of newswire articles? Of academic studies? Of sales figures? Of specific quotations from bra-store owners? I've posted all of those. It is time, Amanda, for you to provide some objective proof for your "facts", or else for you to clearly differentiate between fact and opinion. Back up your claims, or back down from your claims. >>

[Brooke Anderson]

Ive always worn the 36-38 C range as that was the bras I always had available to me.

[Brandi Wyne]

I suspect most sites dealing with bra size and other specific body measurements would be for GGs, not for CDs.
Like Kathi said, be empirical. Start cheap with different sizes, and see how they look on you.
For this, "you do the math" won't work.

You might also inquire about computer programs that can show relative sizes and builds and how various cup sizes might look. Just an idea. Good luck.

[sissystephanie]

I wear a "B" cup. When I had my bra fitting done about 10 years ago at Victorias Secret, the manager told me, with my body shape and size, that I should go with no larger than a "B" cup. I figured that she knew what she was talking about. So, that's what I have done.
I have gotten many compliments from gg's on how natural my bustline looks.
Jodi

I also wear a B cup, and have done so for over 60 years. I have been to professional fitters at many different stores over the years and they all tell me to wear 40 B for my size. I also have received compliments from GG's on my bustline look.

The best way to get your proper size is to go to a professional fitter, like at VS or any major department store. They will measure you properly, and fit you the way you should look for your size. Don't worry, there aren't many fitters who have never fitted a crossdresser!! Remember, there are a lot of us out there!!

BTW, the proper band measurement is taken below your natural breasts, not across them. And always with a cloth tape pulled snug, never a metal one!!