Bra Sizes Increasing

Posted by Miss Cellania in Fashion on April 10, 2009 at 10:59 am


One of America’s largest bra makers says that three years ago, the most common size in the country was 36C. Last year it was 36D. In 2009, Wacoal predicts that 36DD will be the size more women purchase than any other.

Theories abound as to why women’s cups seem to be (forgive the pun) spilling over. Some ascribe the difference to a confluence of health and beauty trends that have accelerated over time. A 2007 study of adult women by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that the prevalence of obesity — someone having a body mass index of 30 or more — has increased 2.1 percent since 2004, to 35.3 percent. Breast augmentation, too, is still a popular procedure, despite the recession. And age and hormones play havoc with baby boomers’ bust sizes, as well. But most manufacturers and lingerie shop owners say the phenomenon is due to the fact that more women are being fitted correctly. They call it the Oprah effect. Since 2005, when Oprah Winfrey devoted a show to how to buy the right size bra, the number of women seeking bra fittings has soared.

Link -via Digg

Illustration by Alison Seiffer.


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COMMENT

20 comments to "Bra Sizes Increasing"

  1. Geekazoid
    April 10th, 2009 at 11:34 am

    It's also all the hormones and chemicals in foods, water supply, etc. I know in some asian countries bra sizes are increasing too, probably based on the same factors as in the U.S.

  2. taliesyn30
    April 10th, 2009 at 12:08 pm

    That doesn't seem like a large size change over an almost 18000 year period.... :-) )

    (Check the prediction in the blurb!)

  3. Grammar Nazi
    April 10th, 2009 at 12:24 pm

    20,009 was a good year

  4. gagahput3ra
    April 10th, 2009 at 12:32 pm

    Nope man, in 20,009 the average bra-size would be 360XX

  5. Miss Cellania
    April 10th, 2009 at 1:27 pm

    Sorry about that, y'all. I suffer from typoglycemia. Fixed now!

  6. GailW
    April 10th, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    Um, breast augmentation surgery? Anyone? Buehler?

  7. zav
    April 10th, 2009 at 2:54 pm

    If only the area below the bra wasn't increasing as well, we might all be happy. Sigh.

  8. St. James
    April 10th, 2009 at 3:01 pm

    I, for one, welcome our new mammarian overlords!

    DDelightful!

  9. DOJ
    April 10th, 2009 at 3:24 pm

    Is there no marketing component in this?
    In some brands of shirt I've found that a medium from 5 years ago is smaller than a medium from today. I suspect that companies are increasing their sizes so their customers can remain a medium while getting fatter.

    I'm sure there are other factors as well.

  10. Kerozene
    April 10th, 2009 at 3:28 pm

    I've always been a B cup and proud. Sorry guys, but I like being able to see my feet, touch elbows together, enjoy sleeping on my tummy, and live a life backpain-free. I have big chested friends that complain about getting shirts that fit right, uncomfortable seat belts, and getting "sweaty" in certain areas when working out. Wha?? Gross.
    3 Cheers for itty bitties! Rawr!

  11. Kerozene
    April 10th, 2009 at 3:29 pm

    what the... who's picture is that attached to my post? LOL two kerozenes on NeatO? o_O?

  12. sadtomato
    April 10th, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    I'm with Kerozene! I love my itty bitties! The only problem is that because most women are large breasted and getting larger, I have a hell of a time finding small bras!

  13. myleti
    April 10th, 2009 at 4:18 pm

    I have big ones, and I personally can't see why someone would *pay* the $6000 or so for them.** They're annoying, and Kerozene's right, I can't do much with them. They just get in the way too much, especially since I'm already short, and leaning over things is a hassle. I'm always on the lookout to make sure I didn't stick my chest where it didn't need to be. XD

    For the record, I'm about five feet tall and have a DD chest. Talk about annoying, but hey. I do have something that people actually pay big money to get. My friend says I have "pin-up girl boobs".

    **I understand for self esteem reasons, or reconstructive surgery, etc., but if you just want bigger ta-tas, why? Use the money for something better! :D

  14. Katey
    April 10th, 2009 at 9:51 pm

    Aw, damn. I thought I was a very average 36B! I guess the stats I got that from were at least a decade old. Now I really am going to start saving my pennys for that augmentation...

  15. Frau
    April 10th, 2009 at 9:59 pm

    Now if they could only make a proper bra with large wide straps to accomodate everything they have to hold up - then the bra manufacturers will have kept up with boob size.

  16. BikerRay
    April 11th, 2009 at 6:35 am

    The missus just got hers reduced (DD to C) and couldn't be happier. No more back problems. And bruising on her knees is gone :-)
    Being in Canada, and due to back problems, it was a free operation.

  17. Ned Flanders
    April 11th, 2009 at 8:07 am

    Bras are getting bigger because people are getting fatter.

    McDonalds and Victoria's Secret should team up.

  18. violet
    April 11th, 2009 at 3:00 pm

    Yeah, probably breasts are getting bigger, but it's hard to tell with the sizing weirdness. Clothing sizes, for instance, have all gone stupid as manufacturers lower the numbers for whatever reason. For instance, a size 6 of a few years ago is today something like a 2. I'm not gross-skinny, but I wear a ZERO. That's, like, hardly a number. You can't just keep making up sh*t.

    It stands to reason that bra sizes might be doing the same thing, but upwards since society thinks bigger is better in that department.

  19. Courageous Grace
    April 12th, 2009 at 5:46 pm

    Before my pregnancy, I was a 34DD. I have had numerous back problems and get black eyes when I run no matter how good my bra is ;) . And pregnancy causes them to get even BIGGER. My son is 15 months old now and my cup size has still not receded all the way to its pre-pregnancy size.

    If I were ever to get breast surgery it would be to reduce the size.

  20. girkabob
    April 13th, 2009 at 4:48 pm

    This is so weird. I just went bra shopping a couple weeks ago, and discovered to my horror that I've gone from a 36C to a 36D. I better start exercising more, I didn't realize I had such control over the national boobie average!


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