Finding My True Bra Size

So as you saw in my last post, I went to New Orleans recently and had a fantastic trip.

I specifically wanted to talk about my experience in one of the best lingerie stores I have ever been in before - Trashy Diva. I went in and was immediately greeted by Lindsay, the most luxurious of women. She was attentive, friendly, hilarious, and exceptionally helpful and personable. I adore her.

Before talking about my interaction with Lindsay though, I wanted to just mention briefly about how wonderful Trashy Diva itself is. I have never been to a store before, lingerie or otherwise, where I talked with an associate for a minute, then go to the fitting room and just have her bring me whatever she thinks I would like! I felt like royalty with a personal shopper. I was in the store and not ONCE did I browse around to see everything they had. Not only that, but everything she brought me I fell in love with. She knew exactly what I was looking for and I loved it all. I never even felt the desire to browse around, it was pretty wild. Sadly they don't have a shop here in Atlanta, but I know I will be going back to the one in New Orleans again and again.

Anyway, our interaction was as follows:

Luxurious Lindsay: "Hey there, how can I help you today?"
Megan Mayhem: "Hey! I saw this gorgeous strappy bra in the window and wanted to try one on."
LL: "Absolutely, what bra size are you wearing now?"
MM: "36DD"
LL: "Wait, what? Really? Let me size you."
MM: "Haha yeah, really...ok."
LL: "Holy shit. Um, yeah you should NOT be wearing size 36 hun. The fact you have been is absolutely ridiculous."
MM: "What? Why? What am I measuring at?"
LL: "Look, your ribs are measuring at 30 1/2 inches."
MM: "...so what size should I be wearing then?!"
LL: "I don't want to freak you out, so I'll say 34F."
MM: "What do you mean you don't want to freak me out? What's my real bra size then?"
LL: "You're a 32G babe."
MM: "Are you kidding me?!!!"
LL: "Nope."

To say that was a shock to the system is an understatement. The rest of my interaction with her gets EVEN BETTER though. She was a vast wealth of information and knowledge. I had no idea boobs had so much science behind them!

Luxurious. As. Fuck.

Lindsay went on to have me try on 34F bras, and sure as shit they fit great. She then told me how most women really don't wear their *true* bra band size (the number part in the bra size) because it feels tighter than what they are used to so they find it too uncomfortable. But, for information's sake, she had me try on a 32G bra so I can know what to look for, how she knew it was my perfect bra size, and for me to know how it's supposed to feel. I put that sucker on and it felt like I was wearing a corset around just my boobs. It was trippy. But at the same time, my boobs looked great, there were no gaps or weird creases anywhere or even hanging over anything, and it clearly really was my right size. She went through several things about the bra while I was wearing it, showing me how the straps are supposed to look and feel, how there were no gaps or overhanging anywhere, and how the tightness on the band is supposed to feel and how much give there is supposed to be (not much). It was absolutely fascinating.

She then told me that it's so ridiculous that I've been wearing a 36DD because that means that I have been putting all the weight of my breasts onto my shoulders. So, if I've been having any shoulder or upper back problems lately it is probably largely because of that! Well guess what, I had indeed been having major upper back and shoulder pain lately and had been going to a chiropractor for the last month because of it. I mean, I always knew I had large breasts, but I had never thought I had back problem tits! Blew me away. She said a lot of women do that and it actually can cause muscle deterioration in their shoulders.

Alternatively, you are supposed to be putting the weight of your breasts on the far larger and more stable portion of your body, around your ribs/chest under your breasts. Hence why it feels so tight when you wear your true size - because it's suppose to be tight.

All around some of the most interesting information I have learned in quite awhile, especially considering it affects my life every single day. Where is this class in high school?! It only affects HALF the population and can alter our health and happiness. Gah!

Anyway, Luxurious Lindsay is totally wonderful. Trashy Diva is wonderful. And having worn my true bra size the last month or so has been wonderful. So wonderful in fact, that most of my upper back problems are completely gone (thanks to my chiropractor as well of course!).

So my message is a simple one: Ladies, please go to a better place than Victoria Secret to get sized (somewhere like Trashy Diva or Intimacy) where they really know the science behind boobs and bras - it can really alter quite a lot more than you know in your day to day life.

And here is the bra I bought! It's perfect and fun and strappy as all get out, but I am obviously wearing a top thing with it in this picture. I have since found t-shirt bras in my size to wear on a daily basis of course as well, but it is just TOO much fun to have such prettiness like this too!

Mimi Holliday 'Rockhopper Penguin' Balcony Bra