After a blog post by Galena ( people.tribe.net/ca56c0dd-...38bf7/blog ) about how to find your correct bra size I decided to take a stroll around the internet and see what all the bra size calculators had to say about my rack.

Galena gives the basic formula as underbust measurment plus 3 equals band size, then you take our bust measurement and subtract your band size from that. 1 = A cup, 2 = B cup, 3 = C cup, etc, etc. This matches up with what I've heard.

I took a fresh set of measurements: 29 inch underbust, 35 bust, 32 overbust , and with numbers in hand (and the help of google) here's some of my results:

www.85b.org/bra_calc.php 85b tells me I'm a 34C, not usually my first choice, but it does fit. I usually go for 32D but that's a tough size to find so actually most of my bras are indeed 34C, but as soon as they get a little stretched out they start riding up in the back, hence my preference for the 32 as it fits better for longer. I can work my way up from the first set of hooks to the last. With a 34 I usually have start at the middle or last set from the star. (BTW, this calculator uses all three measurments, I like that.)

www.balicompany.com/fitcalcu...r.bra.asp Bali suggests 32C. Sometimes a C cup will fit, if they're extra stretchy. And hey, maybe if my left boobie wasn't practically a whole cup size larger than the right one I might be able to get a way with an unstretchy 32C, but ol' Lefty over flows a 32C cup in a most unattractive fashion. (Uses underbust and bust measurement)

www.barelythere.com/calculators.asp Barely There also reccommends a 32C. Barely There's calculator looks suspiciously like the exact same one that Bali uses, so not surprising they match. (Uses underbust and bust)

www.lilyoffrance.com/size/default.asp Lily of France claims I'm a 34A. I don't know whether to laugh or be offended. Not even the runt of the litter (affectionally referred to as "Little Righty" will fit into a 34A sized cup-- or B cup for that matter. This calculator is on crack. (Uses the underbust and bust, also claims you shoud add 5 inches to your underbust to determine cup size. 5! Uh, no) To be fair there are other calculators using the same formula-- They obvously all suck.

www.maidenform.com/catalog/...rself.jsp Maidenform shows me as a 32C as well. In a startling change of pace, they use the overbust and bust measurment and since my overbust is 32, apparenlty there's no adding of anything, just straight across, one for one, overbust = band size.

www.oprah.com/tows/pastsh...1115_c.jhtml Not a calculator, but according to Oprah, my underbust measurment puts me right on the cusp of 32 and 34 which is probably why it comes up as both

So there you have it. Not a single calculator picked the size I actually wear. But since there's no way of accounting for the fact that my one boob is too big for my "size" as based on measurements of my circumference, its hard to find fault with that. There's just no way of excusing the ones that are based on a 5 inch difference-- maybe it works if you're a larger person? Maybe proportions are different if you're closer to 6 feet tall than 5 feet? Maybe it works better for women who are heavier? I dunno, I'm short and thin and it soooo doesn't work for me.