Writing about breast size

[Javalar]

In general, avoid description with letter, numbers and figures that you can't know by just looking at somebody. Avoid describing a person as 1,65 Meters height (or inches or whatever people use where you are from). I look at a person, I don't know how tall he or she is. I don't know their weight. And frankly, the information means nothing to me.

I see them as "tall" or "small" or "sporty" or "slim". Whatever. Knock yourself out, but avoid numbers. They immediately throw you our of immersion and generally are a sign for sloppy writing.

Same goes for bra sizes, as people here have explained already.

 

[grimbous]

Very well put, Zeebop.
Take an adjective like 'pendulous' for example: you immediately get an idea about many aspects of the breast: sag and size, real or fake. You'd never describe silicone bolt-ons as 'pendulous'. The same but opposite applies to 'perky' etc.
I can only recommend @grimbous great 'Encycopedia Erotica' and 'Character Creator' for finding some good adjectiva and adverbia.

Not me! @RicoLouis is the man you are looking for. He's put in a ton of work to help other authors here and deserves ALL the praise and credit.

 

[unisol_gr44]

Not me! @RicoLouis is the man you are looking for. He's put in a ton of work to help other authors here and deserves ALL the praise and credit.

Oh, don't know why I jumbled you two up. Sorry. Thank you for correcting me.

 

[RejectTed]

In general, avoid description with letter, numbers and figures that you can't know by just looking at somebody. Avoid describing a person as 1,65 Meters height (or inches or whatever people use where you are from). I look at a person, I don't know how tall he or she is. I don't know their weight. And frankly, the information means nothing to me.

I see them as "tall" or "small" or "sporty" or "slim". Whatever. Knock yourself out, but avoid numbers. They immediately throw you our of immersion and generally are a sign for sloppy writing.

Same goes for bra sizes, as people here have explained already.

I find words like “tall,” “small,” and “short” can be dull and vague sometimes. My favorite descriptions talk about something relative to the environment or characters. Things like “towering over” or “having to duck.”

And I think numbers have a place. “The bouncer was 6 ft 5 and weighted 263.14 pounds” is bad, but “the door was blocked by a 7 foot beefsteak” puts a clear image in my mind. Is the bouncer actually 7 feet tall? Probably not, but the main character feels like he is.

Similarly, if I read “her thong had no more than 2 sq cm of fabric” I know what the author is saying. I don't know the metric system, but I know 2 sq cm wouldn't cover anything. Again, it's a hyperbole but works.

 

[gene.sis]

I think measurements can work if the writer is casual enough. People guess measurements a lot, so thinking “those can't be bigger than B cup” or “her DD globes” isn't that weird to me.

But that's something I would only do in dialogs or internal monologs and not in actual descriptions.
You'll still have the problem of different sizing systems, though it doesn't matter that much as it isn't meant to convey the information about the size or shape but rather reveals something about the speaker.

I've been struggling with a chapter that might require bra shopping.

In that case, it would be fine for me. The sizes would describe the bras and not the breasts.
So you don't need to convey the information about the size and can mess around with different bra sizes as they try them on.
(Maybe do some trip to VS with your wife )


Fruits and balls can be cheesy, though I think it's still better than cup sizes.
Besides the size, they also might give you an idea of shape and surface.
So fruits and balls are usually rather round while tits only look like balls if they are fake or if they are big balls which sag a lot.

Similarly, if I read “her thong had no more than 2 sq cm of fabric” I know what the author is saying. I don't know the metric system, but I know 2 sq cm wouldn't cover anything. Again, it's a hyperbole but works.

Well, not sure about this but I think that users of the imperial system are more familiar with the metric system than the other way around.
And then...

She barely weighed in at seven stones.

 

[Ms. Hammer Critic]

Oh gosh, VS is terrible for all kind of reasons. They're a big part of why so many people think "big breasts" top out in the D-DDD range (which self-reinforces), their fittings are among the least accurate in the mall, and they're terrible to plus-sized customers. Don't go there if it's not already a known comfortable quantity. But definitely take a partner shopping! Be active and engaged in the whole process. If you don't have a partner, take a friend who could use emotional support!

 

[Kobe]

Lots of people are different.

For me, since I write in...very loose 3rd person omniscient (effectively a camera following whatever character and giving their rough approximation), I give what they estimate. Then, I give a detailed description in some other part (like a branch dedicated to just that person's description/likes/whatever) so people can fully visualize (some people prefer it this way, so I do both).

In general, unless you are very secure in the way you wanna write, don't go with cup sizes. Measuring with fruit (generally speaking -- people typically use stuff like Lemon (A) Orange (B) Grapefruit (C) and Melon (D) is a good way if it's super important. However -- as ANOTHER general tip, just go with what feels natural to the story.

For instance, if you're going for describing a busty barmaid, what fits better to the story?

"Kyle walked into the bar and he immediately picked Serene out of the crowd. Hair tied back in a braid with a standard barmaid outfit, her most notable feature (at least the one he remembered most fondly), her supple breasts, managed to make the outfit whole; making him -- and arguably every single guy in the bar -- a happy customer."

OR

"Another day of grueling, punishing work at his 9 to 5 -- another trip to the bar. One shot, two shot, three shot -- Kayla's breasts somehow managed to go from a solid 32B to 34D's in his mind -- and the fourth made him muster the courage to (once again) hit on the one bar maid who hated him more than anything else.

And of course, as always, it worked."

Pardon the grammatical errors, but you get the point. If it works, it works.

Just go with the flow, my guy. You'll get it down. Don't sweat it too hard.

 

[Javalar]

OR

"Another day of grueling, punishing work at his 9 to 5 -- another trip to the bar. One shot, two shot, three shot -- Kayla's breasts somehow managed to go from a solid 32B to 34D's in his mind -- and the fourth made him muster the courage to (once again) hit on the one bar maid who hated him more than anything else.

And of course, as always, it worked.

I get what you mean and agree in principle, but this still doesn't work for me.

"From 32B to 34D" simply doesn't really creates any pictures in my mind. A very simple sentence like "grew significantly bigger in his mind" would be more effective than the number game. For me at least.

 

[Javalar]

I find words like “tall,” “small,” and “short” can be dull and vague sometimes. My favorite descriptions talk about something relative to the environment or characters. Things like “towering over” or “having to duck.”

Well, you are certainly right there, and adjectives like "big" or "beautiful" are always highly subjective and to be used with caution, especially in book writing and journalism. So yes, your examples are better, generally speaking.

There is a caveat, and that's the very special style and purpose of a CYOA-story: As most of us are reading these to implement ourselves in these stories, I don't mind a bit of vagueness, because I most probably will fill the gaps myself anyway and create my hot dream girl.

If your preferred size of "large breasts" is much bigger than my preferred size of "large breasts", we can still both get off of the description, without being bothered by exact measurements. Of course, there are always situations where you need a more specific description (a bodybody transforma story that ends with her tits on the floor or whatever), but in terms of description I often feel less can be more here.

 

[Mordredaggrfall]

I use this way to describe my characters' breasts (slight off topic: it is why I use the best photos that show off the fullest size. Easy to imagine them covered up, hard to imagine them naked):

For large breasts (never used it on smaller breasts, since I don't use much of them), take a shirt that would fit them, such as an XL or so, then go a size lower. For example "Her breasts stretched her white shirt almost to its limit, making it a size smaller, just because of her breasts.", could also say she turns a large shirt into a midriff.


For any woman with large breasts, could you confirm this as accurate? I am a stickler for accuracy.

 

[gene.sis]

For large breasts (never used it on smaller breasts, since I don't use much of them), take a shirt that would fit them, such as an XL or so, then go a size lower. For example "Her breasts stretched her white shirt almost to its limit, making it a size smaller, just because of her breasts.", could also say she turns a large shirt into a midriff.

Don't think so. I mean, it surely has an effect but the reader would probably not know what kind of clothing it was before it was misused as a second skin.
Is the usual fit rather tight or loose, long or short? Does she wear a bra underneath the shirt or not?

I think that stretching emphasizes the size.

 

[Ms. Hammer Critic]

For any woman with large breasts, could you confirm this as accurate? I am a stickler for accuracy.

What kind of shirt? What fabric or fabric blend? How tailored? What style of shirt? What sort of large breast on what sort of torso? Because, right now, what you're describing is not accurate to anything I've observed.

(I am a small hammer puppet who is familiar with how shirts fit on various body types.)

 

[Mordredaggrfall]

Don't think so. I mean, it surely has an effect but the reader would probably not know what kind of clothing it was before it was misused as a second skin.
Is the usual fit rather tight or loose, long or short? Does she wear a bra underneath the shirt or not?

I think that stretching emphasizes the size.

Not sure what would actually fit Tessa Fowler (couldn't really find a size, since I could only find the 32H-27-31 measurement and I completely forgot what the other two numbers mean, IIRC, they were hips-width, but found none with those), but I assume a 3XL, highest I could find was an 2XL, but the chest was one lower (ended at 26in) and the length was two shorter (ended at 29in).

Using 2XL, might be a little tight (using women's shirt sizes), if 3XL isn't found (my search googling of shirt sizes had all ended in 2xl). If 3XL is found, it'd probably be either tight or loose, or a mix (if that is possible). Not sure. Since I am a guy and don't shop for bras in stores, I do not know if they sell 32GG bras in American stores and not sure how well online stores work since They look all the same (I use to use it as a visual aid before Tessa/using actual models).

What kind of shirt? What fabric or fabric blend? How tailored? What style of shirt? What sort of large breast on what sort of torso? Because, right now, what you're describing is not accurate to anything I've observed.

(I am a small hammer puppet who is familiar with how shirts fit on various body types.)

The breasts is easy, since I use Tessa Fowler's body (would use another, if I could find another model with a size similar to hers, but the reasons could be off topic), so you could look at the [characters] section of my stories for some quick photos or google her. There is apparently contradicting bra sizes for her, so I use the 32GG bra size.

The shirts are harder, since I never really thought more than the typical common fabrics (cotton, wool, and silk. Mainly cotton), the style and how it is tailored would be how Walmart shirts are made.

 

[gene.sis]

Not sure what would actually fit Tessa Fowler (couldn't really find a size, since I could only find the 32H-27-31 measurement and I completely forgot what the other two numbers mean, IIRC, they were hips-width, but found none with those)

32H
The number is obviously in inches, so is it US or UK size? I mean, that's 3 inches/cup sizes difference.
The other number should be waist girth and hip girth

but I assume a 3XL, highest I could find was an 2XL, but the chest was one lower (ended at 26in) and the length was two shorter (ended at 29in).

What are these numbers?
2XL seems to be fitting for girls with 40 inches around the bust and 33 inches at the waist.

While a fitting bra always has to follow the same rules (not spilling out, not too loose, ...) this isn't the same for shirts. So it depends on what the shirt is intended to look like.
Just take two shirts of the same size. One is hip hop style which is loose and could also be considered to be a minidress while the other one is made of latex and meant to resemble a second skin...
So you can't quite see the difference if you don't know how it should look like

Though that actually doesn't matter in terms of comparing sizes in relation to each other.
The matter is how stretchy the fabric is. And the bigger the size, the less it needs to stretch from one size to another.
(If you have two elastic bands with lengths 10 inches and 5 inches and you stretch each by 1 inch, the 10" will be stretched by 10% while the 5" is stretched by 20%)
Now, if you the shirt is tight and not flexible, it might flatten the breasts.

if they sell 32GG bras in American stores

The US system basically counts up with single letters, so there is no GG but a matching size.
No idea if you can buy such sizes off the rack.

They look all the same (I use to use it as a visual aid before Tessa/using actual models).

That's promotional pictures which should make you buy the bras and not show how they look in different sizes. I guess they just take one model who shoots with a bunch of bras.

(would use another, if I could find another model with a size similar to hers, but the reasons could be off topic)

I guess Lucie Wilde (Busty Buffy) has a similar size though she is "listed" with 4 cup sizes more.

 

[Mordredaggrfall]

32H
The number is obviously in inches, so is it US or UK size? I mean, that's 3 inches/cup sizes difference.
The other number should be waist girth and hip girth

Uk, the US would be a J.

Somehow I remember where I learned the other two numbers, when Game Grumps played an imported Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 when they were deciding who they should pick.

What are these numbers?
2XL seems to be fitting for girls with 40 inches around the bust and 33 inches at the waist.

While a fitting bra always has to follow the same rules (not spilling out, not too loose, ...) this isn't the same for shirts. So it depends on what the shirt is intended to look like.
Just take two shirts of the same size. One is hip hop style which is loose and could also be considered to be a minidress while the other one is made of latex and meant to resemble a second skin...
So you can't quite see the difference if you don't know how it should look like

Though that actually doesn't matter in terms of comparing sizes in relation to each other.
The matter is how stretchy the fabric is. And the bigger the size, the less it needs to stretch from one size to another.
(If you have two elastic bands with lengths 10 inches and 5 inches and you stretch each by 1 inch, the 10" will be stretched by 10% while the 5" is stretched by 20%)
Now, if you the shirt is tight and not flexible, it might flatten the breasts.

I did not see the bottom on the chart I saw/used, most shirts from the site, are pre-shrunk, which explains why they were low and confused.

If only there was a way to measure shirt sizes from photos.

I guess Lucie Wilde (Busty Buffy) has a similar size though she is "listed" with 4 cup sizes more.

I thought of using her, along side Tessa, but was unsure because she sort of 'disappeared' when she quit. Also, there apparently was a lot of hate, from how she sounds to her face (lot of really unneeded hate there, with really bad insults that I really dislike), and there is a subreddit that pretty much is built on the hate. Still, would use her if people would like her.

 

[Ms. Hammer Critic]

The shirts are harder, since I never really thought more than the typical common fabrics (cotton, wool, and silk. Mainly cotton), the style and how it is tailored would be how Walmart shirts are made.

Walmart recently overhauled its womens and juniors extended sizes, and wool/silk aren't going to comprise much of what's currently available. Lots of cotton/rayon/poly knit and cotton/poly weave, lots of low-level lycra blend stuff. Gildan and Fruit of the Loom shirts are more consistent amongst the mens' sections, but not egregiously so. If you can drill down farther than "Walmart shirts" I can discuss textiles, fit and drape.

 

[gene.sis]

Also, there apparently was a lot of hate, from how she sounds to her face (lot of really unneeded hate there, with really bad insults that I really dislike), and there is a subreddit that pretty much is built on the hate.

Oh... now these "down syndrome girl" comments make sense...
Well, don't think so. Sure, she's a special face, though I wouldn't say it's bad.

Still, would use her if people would like her.

If you use the pictures only for inspiration and guidance for description, nobody would know who you described.

 

[Rubicon]

Walmart recently overhauled its womens and juniors extended sizes, and wool/silk aren't going to comprise much of what's currently available. Lots of cotton/rayon/poly knit and cotton/poly weave, lots of low-level lycra blend stuff. Gildan and Fruit of the Loom shirts are more consistent amongst the mens' sections, but not egregiously so. If you can drill down farther than "Walmart shirts" I can discuss textiles, fit and drape.

Hammer's good at it -- we have this discussion relatively often, especially when I'm writing Superheroes. The differences between lycra versus leather versus knit weave cotton versus canvas changes things up a lot. And Hammer knows so much more about this than I do. I've got some... embarrassing old stories that need to be updated with actual understanding of textile.

 

[porneia]

What I don't understand is that sometimes it seems measurements for the chest size is different then bra size. For example, the model Lana Kendrick's measurements are 42-25-37, yet her bra size is 32GG. So, is it wrong to write 42GG-25-37? What is the difference between chest and bra size? Another example, is Alice Brooks whose measurements are 41-26-33, yer again her bra size is 32GG. However, Talia Shephard measurements are 28-24-35, and her bra size is only 28, yet her cup size is GG?! How can you have a 28 chest size and have a GG cup?!

With regards to writing, I agree with the philosophy of not giving measurements but instead using adjectives so the reader can insert they own tastes. To say "busty" to someone might be a C cup, while others it's a HHH, however, each person would find the other's cup size silly, so it is best not to label it.

In my "Catwoman" story, however, I have to give Selina's measurements, because it is part of the plot. I want her to be busty (DD cup, but nothing silly, like an HHH cup). But what should the chest number be? 28DD? 36DD? 42DD? Again, I don't understand how two models with the same height and cup size could both have DD cup sizes and yet one be 28 in the chest and the other 42.

 

[unisol_gr44]

What I don't understand is that sometimes it seems measurements for the chest size is different then bra size. For example, the model Lana Kendrick's measurements are 42-25-37, yet her bra size is 32GG. So, is it wrong to write 42GG-25-37? What is the difference between chest and bra size? Another example, is Alice Brooks whose measurements are 41-26-33, yer again her bra size is 32GG. However, Talia Shephard measurements are 28-24-35, and her bra size is only 28, yet her cup size is GG?! How can you have a 28 chest size and have a GG cup?!

The bra size is the inseam (band size) of the bra, meaning it’s the chest circumference below the breast. While the measurements are the bust circumference, the circumference including the breasts. The A-B-C-D-E-etc. desribes the difference between the two sizes. A 28GG will be smaller than a 32GG, but have the same difference between band and bust sizes.

For example, the model Lana Kendrick's measurements are 42-25-37, yet her bra size is 32GG. So, is it wrong to write 42GG-25-37?

Yes, GG means 10 inch difference and that’s exactly the differnce between 42-25-37 and a 32GG. With Talia Shepard, I think someone misreported her measurements, 38-24-35 seems more inline with a proper body shape.
[EDIT: Just looked at Talia’s page. Somone wrote her measurements as Bra Size-Waist-Hip, which isn’t what’s usually done, I think.]

In my "Catwoman" story, however, I have to give Selina's measurements, because it is part of the plot. I want her to be busty (DD cup, but nothing silly, like an HHH cup). But what should the chest number be? 28DD? 36DD? 42DD? Again, I don't understand how two models with the same height and cup size could both have DD cup sizes and yet one be 28 in the chest and the other 42.

I’d go for 32E or something along those lines.