Advice & Bra Basics

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ADVICE & BRA BASICS

At Eve's Apples, we find that getting a great bra fitting requires a couple measurements. Start with the band, cup and individual breast measurements.

If measuring doesn't provide you with your correct size, we recommend that you try our Online Bra Consultation that provides detailed information, including bra size, breast shape, body type and bra recommended for your needs and wishes.

Since bra measuring isn't an exact science, bra measuring is a starting point. Body type and breast shape play a big role in getting a correct bra size. Since breast shape affects bra size, we find that adding an additional measurement (individual breast measurement) helps in deciding the best size for your body.

To get your small bust size, please do the following measurement(s):

1. Bra Measurement: This measuring system is a good place to start. Some women find their ideal bra size with this measurement alone. However, many small busted women need individual breast measurements also.

2. Individual Breast Measurement: This measurement is great for helping women who are in between sizes or have wide set breasts. It will tell you if you need a larger cup size due to breast shape.

The traditional bra measuring system of adding 4 - 5 inches on the band doesn't work on small busted women, leaving most without an accurate bra size and some without a size at all. The number one fix for women in the wrong bra size is to go up a cup size and down a band size. The same is true for small busted women. Due to the inaccurate results in traditional bra measuring and the variety of small bust shapes, we've altered the traditional bra measurement system to best fit small busts (see "Bra Measurement" below).

BRA MEASUREMENT

To find out your Band Size, do the following steps:

Stand straight. Wear a wireless, comfortable bra.
With a measuring tape parellel to the ground, place the tape securely around your back and measu re it at the rib cage, directly under the breasts.
Hold it firmly across your bust. But not too tight.
Any fraction of an inch is rounded up to the nearest whole number

Cup Size:back to top

The above image is the traditional way of finding a cup size. At Eve's Apples, we've found that women who consider themselves small or petite busted are not able to get an accurate bra size by using this antiquated method. As a result, Eve developed her own (patent pending) method of calculating bra size based upon individual breast measurements, tissue and placement.

To calculate your own bra size, please follow the information below.

To have immediate results, please fill out our original online bra consulation form.

INDIVIDUAL BREAST MEASUREMENT SYSTEMback to top

Many women require an additional measurement to get a correct bra size. This is good for a variety of reasons, especially for women who have one breast larger than the other.

Dr. Pechter, a plastic surgeon, discovered women could get a more accurate measurement based upon measuring each individual breast. Many women have one breast bigger than the other. This explains some issues with fit. When this happens, it's best to go up to the larger cup size. Some women are fine with that and others use breast insets (cookies) to even out the breast shape.

To Find Your Band Size, do the following steps:

(Same as Band Measurement above)back to top

Stand straight. Wear a wireless, comfortable bra.
With a measuring tape parellel to the ground, place the tape securely around your back and measure it at the rib cage, directly under the breasts.
Hold it firmly across your bust. But not too tight.
Any fraction of an inch is important. The fraction lets you know that you're inbetween sizes. Round up to the nearest whole number only for the band measurement

To Find Your Individual Breast Measurement, do the following steps:back to top

      1. To do this, you need a starting point. Take the tape measure next to the breast bone
      2. Go across the nipple and end the measurement where your breast tissue ends (on your chest or side of body)
      3. You want this measurement firm, not loose, but not so tight that your breast tissue is bulging beyond the tape. Any
      fraction of an inch is important. Do not round up
      4. Write down each breast measurement. Most likely, you will have more than 4 inches or more on each breast

Each breast may or may not be the same measurement.

To Calculate Your Bra Bize:back to top

Take your measurements and compare them the to conversion chart below.

Our exclusive Eve's Apples Breast Conversion Chart (patent pending) is created for small and petite busts from Eve's scientific findings while utilizing another scientifically based method created by Dr. Pechter. Pechter was a plastic surgeon who created a method of getting bra sizes by measuring each individual breast.

This is the closest method to getting an accurate bra size. However, breast shape, tissue fullness and placement can greatly alter the final bra size, regardless of measurements. If you suspect this, please fill out our complimentary Bra Consultation Form for a personalized bra fitting.

Breast Conversion Chart

B
a
n
d

S
i
z
e

	4.5	5	5.5	6	6.5	7	7.5	8	8.5	9
23	26A/B	26B	26B/C	26C	26C/D	26D	26D/DD	26DD	26DD/E	26E
24	28A	26B	28B	26C	28C	26D	26D	26DD	28DD	28E
25	28A	28A/B	28B	28B/C	28C	28C/D	28D	28D/DD	28DD	28DD/E
26	28A	30A	28B	30B	28C	30C	28D	30D	28DD	30DD
27	30AA/A	30A	30A/B	30B	30B/C	30C	30C/D	30D	30D/DD	30DD
28	32AA	30A	32A	30B	32B	30C	32C	30D	32D	30DD
29	32AA	32AA/A	32A	32A/B	32B	32B/C	32C	32C/D	32D	32D/DD
30	32AA	34AA	32A	34A	32B	34B	32C	34C	32D	34D
31	34AA/AAA	34AA	34AA/A	34A	34A/B	34B	34B/C	34C	34C/D	34D
32	36AAA	34AA	36AA	34A	36A	34B	36B	34C	36C	34D
33	36AAA	36AA/AAA	36AA	36AA/A	36A	36A/B	36B	36B/C	36C	36C/D
34	36AAA	38AAA	36AA	38AA	36A	38A	36B	38B	36C	38C
35		38AAA	38AAA/AA	38AA	38AA/A	38A	38A/B	38B	38B/C	38C
36		38AAA	40AAA	38AA	40AA	38A	40A	38B	40B	38C
37			40AAA	40AAA/AA	40AA	40AA/A	40A	40A/B	40B	40B/C
38			40AAA	42AAA	40AA	42AA	40A	42A	40B	42B
39				42AAA	42AAA/AA	42AA	42AA/A	42A	42A/B	42B
40				42AAA	44AAA	42AA	44AA	42A	44A	42B

If you are not getting a great bra fit with either of the measuring methods above...

Fill out our Bra Consultation form and we can give you specific bra recommendations based upon your measurements, breast tissue, body types and needs.

Keep in mind, that it's common for the traditional and individual breast measurement sizes not to match up due to breast shape and body type. Bra measuring is not an exact science. Traditional bra measuring doesn't take into account breast shape and tissue. Breast shape, breast tissue and body type come into play in getting a great fit.

BREAST TISSUEback to top

A woman’s breast tissue (the amount of tissue making up the breast shape) affects the way a bra fits. There are three types of breast tissue: shallow, medium and full. This is looking at the top of the breast (above the nipple). All of these types require different bras to achieve desired results.

Shallow Breast Tissue
This is common with women who have given birth or as women get older. The tissue swoops down at the top to meet the nipple. Push Up, Plunge, Balconette and Demi Cup Bras are perfect to gather the breasts and create a fuller look. If the client doesn’t want to add fullness, bralettes are sublimely comfortable and complimentary on shallow breasts.

Medium Breast Tissue
With the breasts tissue coming straight down to meet the nipple, all bras will look good with this tissue type. The bra style chosen depends on the desired effect.

Full Breast Tissue
This breast type rounds above the top of the breast before meeting the nipple. Contour and Soft Cup Bras and Bralettes are exceptionally flattering on this tissue type.

BREAST PLACEMENT

MYTHS OF SMALL BREASTSback to top

Women with Small Busts don’t need a bra.
Myth
With time, even tissue in small busts looses it’s elasticity. It’s important, especially when exercising, to wear a good supportive bra. Cosabella’s Talco Bra is the ultimate yoga bra, offering comfort and support for small breasts.

Women with Small Busts can only wear training bras.
Myth
The lingerie industry is being to get savvy that all women are made unique and beautiful. In recent years, luxury bras have been made in larger cup sizes, and we’re starting to see additional beautiful and well made smaller cup and petite sizes for small busts. All the bras at Eve’s Apples are selected due to their exceptional fit on small breasts, comfort and beautiful style.

Women with Small Busts can only wear bralettes.
Myth
Today, small busted gals have many options when getting a bra. Many bras are versatile, going from day to evening or the boardroom to bedroom. These bras vary in style based upon your needs from padding to no padding, underwire to wireless, push up and plunge to bralettes. It’s entirely up to you to decide what suits your needs and desires.

Women with Small Busts aren’t sexy.
Myth
Beauty comes in all shape and sizes. Feeling comfortable and confident in your own skin is the sexiest lingerie a woman can wear.

Think of all the famous and infamous small breasted women that are utterly sexy: Audrey Hepburn, Kate Hepburn, Betty Davis, Keira Knightley, Kelly Ripa, Jennifer Garner, Gwyneth Paltrow, Eva Longoria, Victoria Beckham, Michele Pffeifer, Alicia Silverstone, Evangeline Lily, Cameron Diaz, Sandra Oh, Kate Hudson, Cate Blanchett, Charlize Theron, Kate Moss and many more.

Your breasts are small so you must wear an A Cup.
Myth
Women who have shallow breast tissue (the tissue that makes up the shape of the breast) can wear a larger cup size, including a B Cup, C Cup and D Cup. Wider shape breasts require larger cup sizes, otherwise, the bra cup will gap in front.

Shallow breast tissue is very common for women who just had a baby or are older. There are still beautiful bras to support and compliment women with shallow breast tissue.

Size matters.
Myth
Our society is used to seeing exceptionally large breasts due to the media, Hollywood and breast augmentations. As a result many women who naturally have A Cups, B Cups, C Cups and D Cups have gotten breast augmentations, thinking that their breasts are too small. In society as a whole, our perception of what is a “small breast” is distorted.

Recently, I went shopping with a “small busted” friend (with shallow breast tissue) who wanted a breast augmentation. She thought she was a 34B. After a fitting, she discovered that she is a 30D. This is common. Now she’s perfectly happy with her breast size and bra selections.

I have another friend who got a breast augmentation so that she could be a “B Cup.” I took her to get fitted. She’s a 32DD!

Always get fitted from a reputable lingerie store, specializing in fittings, before making a life altering decision.

TYPES OF BRASback to top

Push Up Bra: Creates a fuller bust and cleavage. This bra the appearance of ½ to one full cup size larger.

T-Shirt Bra: A smooth bra, creating rounded looking breasts under t-shirts and thin material. An essential bra in any lingerie drawer.

Gel Bra: A push up bra where the insert is made of gel.

Air Bra: A push up bra where the insert is made of air. Many have removable air inserts to increase or decrease bust size.

Bralette: This wireless and unpadded bra is an ideal favorite with small breasts, being more comfortable and cute than supportive.

Balconette Bra: The straps sit further out on the bra, allowing the breasts to take center stage. A great bra that pushes up breast tissue. Due to the position of the straps, the bra doesn’t provide a large amount of support, but is wonderful on smaller cup sizes.

Plunge Bra: Provides great cleavage. The angeled cups push small and petite breasts together in the low front, accentuating cleavage for small and petite busts.

Convertible Bra: A versatile bra that can be several bras in one (halter, racer back, one-sided and cross back.

Strapless Bra: A supportive bra that doesn’t have straps to keep the bra up. Usually silicone strips keep up the bra. Many new and inventive brands have created adhesive strapless bras for special events.

Demi Cup Bra: Showing ½ cup, many push up the breasts. A flattering look on small and petite breasts.

Sports Bra: Even smaller breast tissue needs support while exercising. Sports bras compress breasts to protect tissue and help to defy gravity and age.

Soft Cup Bra: A wireless bra that provides minimal support. Ideal for small busoms.

Contour Bra: Creates a more rounded, balanced looking bustline, without increasing or decreasing bust size. The fiber fill used in bra protects nipple from showing through. Chantelle Basic Invisible is the exception, in which removable cookies allow the “A” cup bras to increase or decrease in size.

TYPES OF PANTIESback to top

Thong: A bikini in front with back of panty cut out, exposing bottom. Eliminates visible panty lines.

Brief: Provides more coverage than a bikini with a full bottom.

Bikini: More playful than the brief, comes in a variety of side details and has a full back.
However, the fullness of the back cut various based upon the design.

Boyshort: A comfortable alternative to preventing visible panty lines due to the panty being lower on legs. Can make legs look shorter.

High Rise: Usually hits high up on the leg and up to the belly button. Makes legs look longer.

Low Rise: Usually at hit at or below the hips. Perfect for low slung pants.
No VPL (visible panty lines): A panty constructed to create a flattering look by eliminating panty lines from behind.

Seamless: A panty constructed without side seams. Keeps the wearer from having visable panty lines.

Lace: A beautiful detail that enhances the look of panties.

G-String: Like a thong, with less material in back. For women who want as minimal material on her bottom as possible.

Shorty: A combination between a thong and boyshort, sitting higher up on the bottom. It creates a sexy look on the bottom.

LINGERIE CAREback to top

Handwash lingerie only. If you’re unable to handwash, put lingerie into a lingerie bag before washing. The lingerie bag will add life to your lingerie. Lycra looses it elasticity in the washing machine and beautiful lace and embroidery can get destroyed. Always hang dry lingerie. Never put your lingerie in the dryer…Never. Ever in the dryer.

Individual Breast Size

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