Tuesday, 08 April 2008
-
The Bra Matrix
The Bra Matrix is the world of false bra measurements and uncomfortable bras.
It is the world where busts are divided into A, B, C and D, and underbust measurements into 70, 75, 80 and 85.
It is the world in which you live feeling that you have a strange bust, and that adjusting your bra umpteen times a day is the norm.
I've always thought that I had the right bra. I read those little tables on websites, measured myself, and bought 75 c bras.
I thought that it was normal to adjust the bra a couple of times every day. I believed that my breasts were spaced too far apart, and that was the reason that the underwire never went all around the breast, but poked into it. I thought that comfortable bras don't exist anyway, well maybe only if I had the money to buy a really expensive one. And I was sad that pretty thin bra straps were bad because they didn't offer enough support.
Until the day I discovered I was stuck in the Bra Matrix.
I informed myself, measured myself, and got a 65D bra. I was delighted ! For the first time I had a bra that was comfortable and made me look good ! The band was tight, but contrary to expectations it was very comfortable. The underwire reached framed my entire breasts, so I had found the solution for what I thought were breasts spaced far apart !
So, now I reveal the secret to you:
I discovered this blog. Since you probably don't read Polish, I'll explain.The biggest misconceptions that exists in the bra consciousness of people, is that there exists a fixed size of each cup. For example, that the only difference between 70A, 75A, and 80A is the size of the band that is attached to it.
This is not true. The cup size changes with the band size.
Take a look at these photos:DD cups are big in the NZ band size 18 (EU 90) and quite small in NZ 8 (EU 65)
Both the cups here are DD... but as you can see they are not the same !The D cup in 65 and the B cup in 70 are very similar in size ! However, the 65D underwire is slightly broader than the 70B.More photos and explanations *here*
The other big myth is that to get your under-bust measurement, you have to measure yourself under the bust, add 5 cm, and go up to the nearest band size.
This is absolutely stupid for the following reasons:
* The elastic tape is not stretchable. The bra band is, and it stretches up to 20 cm.
* It is the band and not the shoulder straps that should support the bust. To give good support, the band must be snug, not loose.
* Would you wear panties that are bigger than your hip measurement ?A test if you are wearing the correct band size:
Do a jumping jack: Jump, lift your arms over your head, and clap. If your band moved, it's too loose.
Another way to check is to take a look at your back view in the mirror.The correct band size should look like this:The band size is too big if it looks like this:Now read this:
How to measure yourself and get your CORRECT size !!! Then read: How to buy your first right-sized bra. For later reading: complete list of my Bra Matrix Articles
♥ For examples of bra before and after shots, take a look >here<.
I will give a small preview:
70B to 60E !!!
note the "quadruple breast" effect in the wrong size (70B)
note: I am using European measurements.
Use this chart to convert it to the sizes of your country.
You might also want to read:* how to measure your bra size correctly
* Bra Myths busted
* The tricks we use to pretend that a bra fits
* Even Rihanna gets it wrong
* Bra Matrix Central *
Post a Comment
- Back to eternalvoyageur's Xanga Site!
- Note: your comment will appear in eternalvoyageur's local time zone: GMT +01:00 (Central European - Paris, Madrid, Rome, Berlin)









Comments (18)
clarysagenaturals wrote:
Hi, really liked your info on "Bra Fitting" - thank you, thank you.
I've been squeezed into the wrong thing time and time again. Even
after going to a super upscale store and being "professionally"
fitted... Now to find the bra...
@clarysagenaturals -
The so-called professional fitters often don't know a lot about bra
fitting. I've even spotted lots of badly fitted models on bra ads !
I'm putting up a guide to buying bras online, be sure not to miss it !
hi
Where can you buy a bra size 60. I have only managed to find size 65
Hello, you don't say where your are from. I have posted some links to online stores here: http://weblog.xanga.com/eternalvoyageur/652169948/buying-bras-online-a-short-guide.html
If you live outside Europe, take a look at the brands in those stores, and then google to find online stores with those brands and bra models in your area.
Then there's British Ebay, you might want to search for 28 (that's the same as 60). I got lovely bras there for quite cheap, but you have to hunt around a bit, and discuss shipping costs with the sellers (there is cheap surface shipping, then air mail, then registered shipping, then trackes... depending on how cheap / how secure you want the postage to be). And often you can't return the bra if it's incompatible.
Hope that helped ! If you have any more wuestions, just let me know.
I'm so glad I found this page! After wearing bras in high school that left red marks on my body and hurt, I had deemed them too uncomfortable and stopped wearing them. Ten years later I considered going in for a bra fitting and starting to wear one again, because I am sick of looking like a child (I look FLAT in most shirts without one). I wussed out of the fitting and started trying some on instead, and was so confused and upset when none of the B cups that fit my chest had big enough bands (they lifted up between my breasts) and going to bigger band sizes meant there was too much space for my breasts. I have a SMALL frame, I weigh 90 pounds, so why couldn't I find a tiny bra to fit me? Now I think my problem is that I actually need a C cup. I will go out again tomorrow and this time, not be too shy to try a larger cup.
I'm still reading, but I'm just so happy to know that I might not be as impossible to fit as I expected. :) So thanks for sharing.
Hi Kim, way to go ! It´s totally the fitters and the manufacturers that are the problem, not your breasts ! You probably do need a bigger cup, and if a bra doesn´t lie flat between the breasts that means the band is too small. When you do find your right size, you might be surprised how much boobage you´ve suddenly got !
Yep, concluded that the store I first tried them on at doesn't carry the size I need. The closest I found there was 34C (American sizes), but after a bit I realized the cups were definitely not wide enough. Went out of my way to a store with 32Ds, and they're perfect. But I think I need balconettes or demi, and haven't bought one yet due to the expensive prices and low amount of style/material variety. I've just about got enough confidence to order them online, at least. Thanks again for this site, I've been spreading the word since I found it :d
Hey Kim
Do try online, it´s really worth it ! Check the store´s return policy, and then I suggest you order twice the bras that you need, try them all on and then only keep the best fitting ones and return the rest. This only works if you have a strong willpower though ! And thanks for spreading the word !A friend recommended your website to me and I'm glad she did. I always used to wear a 36A after being professionally measured but had my doubts given some of the rubbish the woman came out with (that the straps should support the boobs and that you should never ever use the loosest catch). My boobs were never properly supported and I was getting a bit miserable about how small and out of proportion my boobs must be with the rest of me. Using your matrix, I came out as a 32D and the bras feel comfortable, my boobs are supported and they look great as a result (and I'll admit that being a D instead of an A makes me happy). Thanks!
Hey Boob Girl, I´m glad that you found your correct size ! You´re also lucky in the sense that 32D is a size that you can buy anywhere, and you have a huge choice of bras.
There is a reason why the first catch exists ! It really irritates me when bra fitters talk such rubbish...I buy this bra 3 weeks ago and I really feel the change I can as the same why my husband starts to using this viagra online he do better as me.
Thanks.
For so long now I have tried different sized bras and found the perfect size elusive. Even after being professionally measured, I could see that it wasn't a proper fit and couldn't understand how everyone else could have the perfect bra but I couldn't. My sister recommended this site and I have found that I'm a 34H, not a 36E!
Unfortunately this means that I am too big for stores (unless I want to buy a nursing bra) so I can't try before I buy. I've ordered from Bravissimo and have two on the way. I really hope that I now have the perfect sized bras that won't shift during the day or give me four boobs so that I have to shake them back in. Will definitely let my mum know about this website.
Hi there, after stumbling across your blog in a search for how to get rid of armpit fat, I remeasured and discovered instead of the 34A I always thought I was, I am actually a 32D! I am in my mid thirties, and after years of pushing my poor breasts into bras that don't fit, they are quite misshapen. It seems that they are permanently quads!
I am wearing the correct sizes for about 2 months now, and they have improved a bit. I guess all that mistreatment over the years just doesn't get undone very quickly. What I think happened was that I was an A cup (I was underweight), but after putting on weight the fat just grew around my boobs instead of being incorporated into them. But thanks to you, my bras fit better now, I feel more comfortable and my breasts look really great!
Like Boob Girl I am really happy to be a D cup too 
@Pretty CL -
Hi, I´m glad I could help ! Do remeasure again after a few weeks, it´s possible that after the fat gets back into the breast you´ll need a DD cup@eternalvoyageur - Oh, you're right... I am a 32DD now. LOL. Dear me.. that size may be hard to find where I am ( south east Asia), actually any double letter cup is. I'll have to hit the stores and try all possible fits then.. (any excuse to shop!)
@Pretty CL - Then try an E. I don't know how the sizing is where you live, but in Europe there are no double letters. So UK DD = EUR E.
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
<w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true"
defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99"
latentstylecount="267">
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false"
unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"/>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
this
graph really conveyed the part which i was looking for.<a
href="http://www.buy-pharma.co.uk/DUTAS-p-116.html">dutas | <a
href="http://www.buy-pharma.co.uk">careprost | <a
href="http://www.buy-pharma.co.uk">tadacip|
There are many post to read out there but this one is really up there among the best
pikavippi luottotiedottomalle