Thread: Best way to determine cup size

I'm uploading costumes to my new web site, and I have all the measurements included except for cup size. Antimony told me that many swap meet sellers are including inch measurements to avoid the ambiguity of A, B etc. I wanted to avoid using the standard cup sizes because it really can change for the same person depending on how the ribcage is measured. Having accurate measurements is better for buyers so there are fewer disappointments and returns, and it's important to me that the descriptions be as correct and informative as possible.

Anyway, what's the best way to do this? Using the outside of the cup won't give you a true measure of the inside, but if the bra is already padded you wouldn't get a true size, either. Where do you place the tape measure - horizontally? Vertically? Flat for the width of the cup to gauge how far it would go around your ribcage since width can be as important as depth?

Thanks for any light you can shed on this! Sorry I've been more MIA than usual lately. Between the web site (hoping to debut by January), Etsy, and making Christmas gifts I've been getting killed on time. I even had to step out of Secret Habibi this year. ,f::

There was a thread in the swap meet section on how to do this. Let me see if I can find it....

Here it is. If you scroll down to post #18, there's a nice photo of how to do the bra measurements.

http://www.bhuz.com/forum/bellydance...swap-meet.html

My own preference is to see measurements taken inside the cup, into the curve with a soft tape, provided the bra is not padded. If it has padding, would want the same measurements taken over the outside of the cup, with the info that it's measured that way because there's padding.

Measurements I would want would be, horizontal through (or over) the center of the cup, vertical through the center, and the full length of the bra measured "underbust", ie, with the tape running along the base of the cups, not over them.
Rosette

For me, it adds valuable information if I get some idea of street-bra cup size, as well. I.e., not "b/c cup", but something along the lines of "It would probably fit a 34B." or "This would be specious enough for a dancer wearing a 38C." Both these would be "b/c cup", but of course be very different. The measurements are very useful, but do not always tell the full story.

It also helps me to know the size of the dancer who wore it and to see pics on a body.

I recently bought a bedlah and based on the inside cup measurements I was planning to add fabric along the top of the cups - I thought it was going to be too small and I would spill over. But it fit perfectly, just needs the straps adjusted. So boob measurements can be kind be confusing, at least to me.

I don't know the answer, but I've already opened up your website and started watching for the new costumes!

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I don't know the answer, but I've already opened up your website and started watching for the new costumes!

Linky???????

Originally Posted by laura 2

Linky???????

LOL! I hit the 'refresh' button for a while, then gave up and called Andrea, who laughed at me. She said she's working on a NEW site, she's not working at that location and we can't look while the construction mess is going on.

Her old site was at Welcome to Neenees Imports there's still some stuff to look at there for addicts.....g.:

Cant we just use fruit? Lemons, apples grapefruit, cantalopes and honeydew?

Cant we just use fruit? Lemons, apples grapefruit, cantalopes and honeydew?

..l;, Love it!

Originally Posted by anala

Cant we just use fruit? Lemons, apples grapefruit, cantalopes and honeydew?

Originally Posted by Mintaka

..l;, Love it!

Anala- I think to sell Egyptian costumes it would also be helpful to see Mangoes.

Yes, of course! Side ways fruit with a sharp edge! You're brilliant!

Thanks for the link, Shahla! I never would have found that on my own.

Rosette, I've already got the ribcage measurements, but thanks for the detail on the others. Thanks also for specifically stating "through the center of the cup" otherwise I could easily have just arbitrarily placed the tape.

Dunyah, I totally agree that bras can be confusing! The fit can vary so much from person to person that I'm hoping to reduce fitting errors as much as possible. My costumes are shot on real people, but sometimes they are jimmy rigged as far as fit goes to get the pic. Knowing the size of who wore them for the photo shoot isn't foolproof.

The web site will be at the same address, but I'm working on it offline. There is so much I don't like about the current site, and it was never finalized. The new site won't be spotless when it goes up, but at least it should be functional. Don't worry - I'll post and let you know when it's up. Whether that's before or after the celebratory shots of Tequila Rose is hard to say. I'm sure you'll know by how much sense the post makes.

Celebratory shots? will there be a website-warming party? ;)

Originally Posted by antimony

Celebratory shots? will there be a website-warming party? ;)

She's right, Andrea, you really shouldn't drink alone!

YAY a PARTY!!!

I'm in as long as someone takes my credit card away from me first!

Originally Posted by laura 2

I'm in as long as someone takes my credit card away from me first!

I'll put it in my safe, and you can spend the night with me. I'll get us a DD to take us home after the PARTAY at Andrea's house!

Can't wait, Andrea makes the best munchies.

When is this party again, Andrea?..g.:

I like pics of the bra on actal people and the size of the person in the pic. Coverage is my biggest concern so the vertical measurement is something that I like to see as well. The costume that I just bought the seller talked about the fact that it fit her D's just fine with good coverage and that sold it to me! I know that breasts are different even if you are both D's but it is a good reference point for starting out.

Originally Posted by Rosette

My own preference is to see measurements taken inside the cup, into the curve with a soft tape, provided the bra is not padded. If it has padding, would want the same measurements taken over the outside of the cup, with the info that it's measured that way because there's padding.

Measurements I would want would be, horizontal through (or over) the center of the cup, vertical through the center, and the full length of the bra measured "underbust", ie, with the tape running along the base of the cups, not over them.
Rosette

I second all of this. I had no idea that some people measure over the top of the cup for the underbust. Silly me thought that under meant under not over!

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I'll put it in my safe, and you can spend the night with me. I'll get us a DD to take us home after the PARTAY at Andrea's house!

Can't wait, Andrea makes the best munchies.

When is this party again, Andrea?..g.:

Christmas is breathing down my neck, but I would to have it done by the end of this month. Do or die it has to be done by the end of January because that's when I'm switching hosts. Plus, I need a little bit of snack planning time. Do you think gooey butter cake clashes too much? ..g.:

LOL! Girl, you're doing a workshop at the end of January! Maybe we'd better hold off pestering you for a party until you get through that and the website.