The Art of Fitting
FIT TIPS
Once you have figured out your size (see how to measure here) and found a suitable style (see our style guide here), it’s important to put the bra on comfortably.
The band of a newly purchased bra should fit well on the loosest setting (the outer-most hook setting). A band that cuts in uncomfortably may be too small. A band that rides up the back is too large.
The bra band supports most of the breast weight, so the straps should not be tightened up too much. They shouldn’t dig into the shoulders uncomfortably.
When putting the bra on, bend over forward and scoop forward all the breast tissue, settling it into the cups. We are not trying to fit the armpit/side tissue (Tail of Spence) into the bra, but only actual breast tissue. If the cups are wrinkled, they may be too large or the wrong shape for you. If you are overflowing the cups, they are probably too small.
The underwire should sit comfortably around the perimeter of the breast tissue, not cutting into the breasts, nor extending beyond.
The centre front of the bra is called the gore. If the bra is wireless, the gore will likely not sit flat against the body. If the bra is wired and fits correctly, the gore should sit flat against the sternum.
It is possible that a bra can be the right size but the gore folds over itself or the wires can’t lie flat because the breasts are too close together. In this case, you might choose a bra with a lower gore, like a plunge style.
SISTER SIZING
Every bra size has a sister size. It is the bra size on either side of your “true” size. This will have the same volume but in a different band size.
To find your smaller sister size, choose the next band one size down and increase the cup letter by one. Please see the example below:
If you are a 34G your sister down would be a 32H. This bra will have the same cup volume but a smaller band.
To find your larger sister size, choose the next band one size up and decrease the cup letter by one. Please see the example below:
If you are a 34G your sister up would be a 36F. This bra will have the same cup volume but a larger band.
Sounds Like Too Much Trouble to Calculate?
WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE!
In the Elizabeth Valentine shop or in the My Fit form, you simply enter your largest overbreast measure and your band size separately. You don’t have to worry about calculating a sister size, or a bra size at all, for that matter! We do that work for you.
HOW TO I FIND MY SISTER SIZE IN YOUR CHARTS?
Because we have such an array of sizes and show international conversions for each band size, we cannot put them all into one chart.
Once you know your overbreast measure you can select a different underbust tab on the left and follow along the row for your volume (OB). That will be your sister size for that band.