You took the quiz. Here are the answers.
1. Almost all of us have one breast that is larger than the other. In what percentage of women is the left breast larger than the right?
62%, according to the National Institutes of Health.
2. How many bras does the average American woman own?
6
3. A properly fitted bra should do all but which of the following:
Rely on the shoulder straps to support the breasts
4. Finding the perfect bra can be a system of trial and error for all of these reasons except:
The dye lots used in bras of different colors can shrink the fabric in the band and cups. The rest are all true—in fact, some researchers reject our bra-sizing system entirely, because neither of its two measurements account for the shape of the breasts or their position on the body, which vary from woman to woman.)
5. All of these are signs that your bras may not fit, except for:
The center of the bra lies flat against the sternum. Other signs include back, shoulder or neck pain, straps that dig in or slip off, underwires that poke into the body or point away from it, and breast tissue bulging from over the cups or under the arms.)
6. Which American magazine first mentioned the word ‘brassiere’?
Vogue, 1907
By Jen Barnett
Comments (34)
Is it possible to make bras with the back upper part a little higher so flesh won’t lapse over it when wearing jersey tops or fitted bloused?
I recently visited an upscale lingerie store and was fitted by a professional. As your article states, I was wearing the wrong size. She fitted me and I can’t believe the difference the correct size makes! I encourage every woman to be fitted by a professional (not some teenager working part-time.) The suggested format of measuring is not always what a woman should wear. Also, not all shops stock the size you really need, so salespersons will suggest a size that is in stock.
I hate shoping for bras. I have not been able to find a bra that fits me perfect. I have been fitted but there is always something about the bra. I am an unusual 32D or 32DD depending on the bra I guess and no one carries those.
very informative and enlightening!
Why would one need to know what percentage of women have a left breast that is larger, or how many bras the average woman owns, or what magazine first mentioned brassiere in print in order to know if my bras fit properly? Sort of irrelevant, useless trivia. Quiz did not provide much practical information.
Get professionally fit, go to an uppser scale store, such as Nordstrom, Dillards, they have trained fitters there all the time . 32 d, 32dd, 32ddd are sizes that are made, I wear that size and I wear a Wacoal bra, and can always find the size and right fit in a Wacoal bra.
Most women are too embaressed to admitt that they can not afford the bra that they really need to feel good in a bra. I overcame that hurdle years ago when I realized that a good bra that fits me properly last much longer than the cheaper improper fitting bras do. Ladies don’t be afraid to take good care of the girls, no one else will do it for you!!
HELP…. i havent known what real size i’ve been since forever and i live in upstate new york what can i do because im sick of the pain from unfitting bras???
I totally agree with Cynthia’s comments, I thought the purpose was of the quiz was to inform women about the importance of getting the right type & size bra-the letter from Mere demonstrates illustrates the article from the “BRA EXPERT” was more cheeky than practical,in my opinion
is it possible to make a sports bra that doesnt start to hurt after like an hour and a half?
some of the info was good.But,I wish you were a little more informative on some fact to help to see if the bra s women are wearing are the right ones and not how many bras we own or when brassire was first mentioned.
Agree with Kathleen and Cynthia- some trick/obscure questions which don’t measure anything except lucky guessing. What a bad loser I am, can you tell I only got a 4? What frustrates me is I can be a 36C is one bra and a 34 D in another brand. Love my sports bras- I have 4. I also do NOT believe the average American women has only 6 bras. I have 4 favs plus my sports bras, but I have about 8 others to wear at times.
*sigh* I only got a 2/6. I thought I was more knowledgable
I believe it’s totally impossible for me to find the right bra because of my heredity: I’m part Asian and Jewish–so I have big Jewish boobs and narrow little Asian shoulders that won’t hold up a bra strap!
–as a result, I go around consently pulling up my straps all day– I’ve tried the ones that cross in the back, but their straps usually don’t adjust enough for me.
Tom, don’t feel bad. I am a woman and I got 1/6.
What really stinks is I have a latex allergy and the majority of bras out there make me break out in a violent, red, itchy rash. I’ve tried everything from Playtex to Olga Warner and they’re all the same. Only Victoria’s Secret and Fredrick’s Of Hollywood make bras that don’t make me want to rip my own skin off. However, I’m a 38 DDD. (Despite losing 60 pounds.) And no one makes a DDD in a 38. Especially not VS. So I have to buy 40 DDs – sometimes I get lucky and find a 38 DD that fits perfectly. But most the time, I’m coming out over the top of the cups. Seems no one cares about those of us with big busts and latex allergies.
I am a plastic surgeon. One of my patients called me to take this quiz and to kid me: 5/6… (I missed the Vogue question.) I literally spend 10 minutes of every breast consultation discussing properly fitting bras. This article is unfortunately weak. Seventy-five percent of the women that I see do not wear the proper size bra. (If they did I would have a lot less business.) Getting fitted properly is critical but a hard to find service. I agree that Nordstrom is a good choice and certainly the most consistent of the big chains. Local lingerie shops vary in quality but some can be excellent. (e.g. I. C. London in Charlotte, N.C.). I discourage my patients form shopping at Victoria’s Secrets due to inaccurate sizing and poorly trained salespeople. I think that in addition to education bra shoppers need to remember to be persistent. One of my recent augmentation patients, who formerly retailed bras, called back to warn my patients not to get discourage and to designate enough time to shop. She reported that she tried on 41 bras until she found the right one and returned two days later to buy another 11 before the manufacturer change models etc.
Rob, I’d really like to get your opinion about bras and latex allergies. You suggest not to shop at VS, but their bras are the only ones besides Fredricks’ that I’ve found that don’t make me break out into severe rashes. I’ve tried so many from the lowest to the highest quality. Please, if you read this comment could you google me and find my e-mail address. Or post a reply here. I’ve yet to find a single article about allergies, rashes, and bras. Just on fit and size.
Hi. I’m having this problem too. Can you email me and let me know as well what he says to you?
Hey Ladies. Essential Bodywear is a direct sales company that fits ladies from 32A-44G and we carry all those hard to find sizes. And very comfortable bras with a 45 day guarantee. Locate a rep in your area.
I work with a company called Essential Bodywear. We Bra Laides will come to your home or other place to professionally fit you! We have sizes 32A-44G. YOu can go to http://www.myessentialbodywear.com/bonniethebralady to find a bra lady near you. I have fit many ladies that thought there just wasn’t a good bra for them.
Ladies…you may want to find a “bra fit” consultant working with Essential Bodywear…they offer trained professionals and a 45 day bra guarantee!
Email me ebonye_d@yahoo.com
You know, I find the thrice-repeated ads for the EBW to be tasteless SPAM. I mean, if you want to advertise on Health.com, how about paying for advertising space instead of clogging up the comments for those of us who want to talk about the Bra quiz?
So, how many bras would you consider too many?
I think my wife must have an underwear fetish.
She must have at least 30 bras, and even more panties!
Jami JoAnne, you may be able to look into some british brands like fantasie and freya that sell all the larger sizes, and very pretty bras too which you don’t come across too often with bigger bras. By the way, I believe that in the British system E is considered a DD and F a DDD and so on. If you find a place that sells them I’d try a bunch on to find the right size. I’m not sure if I can help with the latex issue but I believe you can probably find out from their websites. Also, freya has cute bathing suits that come in bra sizes which is great because I feel supported when at the beach or on boat trips. Good luck and happy bra-hunting!
Oh, and I’m not a spokesperson trying to sell something, just a woman who appreciates a good bra and wants to share if it will help someone.
Ace – there’s no such thing as too many bras.
Erica – thanks. I do with that people would talk about allergies and underwear though. Not just bras but panties too. I should see if Health.com has a “suggestion box” cause it’s a big issue.
Do *NOT* get fitted at Nordstrom! They refuse to believe that anything under a 32 bandsize exists. After dealing with their incompetence for years, I finally got a proper fitting at a privately owned shop, and found out that I’m on the line between a 30GG and a 28H! Nordstrom doesn’t carry anything besides training bras in bands below 32, so I get everything online these days (Figleaves.com mostly).
If your band is riding up in the back, you need to go down at least one band size. If you have to start the bra on the tightest hook, go down a band size — ignore that BS about the extra hooks being for PMS swelling, you should be starting it out on the loosest hook and moving tighter as the band ages.
If the underwire doesn’t touch your sternum, go up a cup size, and almost certainly down a band size. If you’re spilling over the top or getting “quad boob” go up a cup size.
I agree with the other replies here — this was more of a trivia quiz than functional information.
Hummm. I have over 6 bras in one color!!! I agree – the “guiz” was useless in helping with the proper fit of a bra! But, thanks for adding droplets to my “sea of useless information”!!! :)
Jami Joanne, have you tried Lane Bryant? They have at least six styles in 38DDD available at any given time (that’s in store; they have more online).
Just found out about biggerbras.com. They have an enormous selection of largest sizes. . . and show you how to measure. Check it out.
I get so excited when I see things about bras – being a 34FF or G, I’ve had major issues finding bras that fit me ever since, well, ever. I finally found Figleaves.com and Biggerbras.com, which are good, except I keep having to send things back because they’re not right or they’re horribly pointy. I hate that I have to drive 1 1/2 hours to even find a shop that carries my size so that I can just try a few on – and I hate that I have to spend $50 or $60 on a bra, when my smaller breasted friends can spend $15 or $20 and look great. It just doesn’t seem right somehow. Anyway, this is just me in Athens, Ga asking somebody, anybody to open a bra shop that sells sizes beyond a DD for band sizes smaller than a 40. I’ll be your best friend (and customer) forever!!
This quiz was useless. I need to find a bra that hooks in front with lots of support and NO WIRES. where do you find these. with my arthritis I cannot hook the back ones. and do not suggest hooking backwards then turning it around, that doesn’t work. I found some in 40CC that fit good, but after wearing them for a few hours the cups start to sag and that back rides up. I HATE that. the 38CC is way too tight when first put on. help please.
I am a certified bra fitter with Essential Bodywear and have been with them for 4 years. We fit 32A-44G and even hard to fit sizes 38A-44B. http://www.myesseantialbodywear.com/karla
I wear a 28DD–which is only a 33″ chest. It took forever to figure that out! Fitters, even at the most upscale stores had no idea what to do with me. It wasn’t until I made a business trip to London, that I finally got a proper fitting. Of course, no store in the US even carries a 28 band size–so it’s all Internet shopping for me.
Forget that old rule about adding 4 or 5 to your band measurement–that was for when bras were much less elastic decades ago. Instead measure your band and add just enough to get an even number. See http://www.wikihow.com/Measure-Your-Bra-Size for more info.