Breast shape classification and discrimination driven by local features-focusing on Chinese women in their 20s

In order to analyze the breast shapes and provide basis for the development of bra sizing system and garment pattern-making, this study proposed a method to classify breast shapes from breast local features and overall shape based on the detailed breast morphological parameters. A definition for the breast boundary was determined to establish a measuring standard for the feature points, and then 18 related parameters were obtained based on the 3D point-cloud data of 158 unmarried young female college students aged between 18 and 25. Six shape parameters were selected for cluster analysis. In addition, the gathering ratio was induced to classify the breast shapes of subjects into nine categories that are FC-Middle, FC-Gathering, FC-Separating, UO-Middle, UOGathering, UO-Separating, PO-Middle, PO-Gathering and PO-Separating. Through verification, it shows that the error range of 95.71% UBP and 91.43% OBP are all less than 1.5 cm, while the error range of 81.43% UBP and 74.29% OBP are less than 1 cm. The accuracy of the classified results via the proposed method is 97.33%. The classification of breast shapes of this study can provide a reference for young women to choose the correct size of bra.