Bra School: Not all D cups are the same size

From Left to Right 30D, 32D, 34D, 36D, 38D. Five different band lengths, five different cup volumes. All D Cups.

I know that bras can be confusing little minxes. When I try and explain to someone that besides their 34G bra they could also wear a 32GG they look at me with bewilderment. This post aims to give you an easy-to-understand guide to how cup sizes work.

Most people think that all D cups hold exactly the same volume of boob and then that cup size is just sewn onto different lengths of band to make the 30D, 32D, 34D etc. This is not true. 

In my world of D-K bras* you may think there are only 11 cup sizes (D, E, F, FF, G, GG, H, HH, J, JJ, K) However, there are actually SIXTEEN different cup sizes, or more accurately, cup volumes (volume refers to the amount of breast tissue a cup can hold).

In this table below I have colour co-ordinated all the D-K BRA SIZES THAT HAVE CUPS WITH THE SAME VOLUME.

The volume of each cup increases as the 'Cup Volume Number' increases. E.g. #1 is the smallest cup volume and #16 is the biggest cup volume.

You'll notice that there are six band sizes for each cup letter and as the band size increases on each cup letter the cup volume also changes. So for example, a 28D has a #1 cup volume, a 30D has a #2 cup volume, 32D has a #3 cup volume and so on.

Real Life Example
Imagine you wear a 36D; your cups fit well because they encase your breasts but your band keeps riding up. Instead of thinking of your boobs as a D cup you can think of them as being a cup volume #5. When you realize your band keeps riding up because you actually need a 32 band not a 36 then you can see that a #5 cup volume on a 32 band is actually an F cup.

What is Sister Sizing?
When people talk about sister sizing what they're referring to is all the bras with the same cup volume but on different length bands. In our chart all the bra sizes with the same cup volume number are sister sizes. For example, 28JJ, 30J, 32HH, 34H, 36GG and 38G are all sister sizes to each other because they're all cup volume #10.
 
This is the basic logic behind how cup sizes work but as always you should learn how each bra style and brand fits (we have a How This Bra Fits tab on each of our product pages). When you put on your bra be sure to look for the Five Fit Signs to make sure you're in the right size for you.

I hope this has helped (I expect I've confused a few people too). If you have any questions leave a comment below and I'll get back to you xx

*A footnote for anyone wondering why I don't use UK DD cups; it's because they are the same equivalent as US D cups so to avoid confusion I don't use the DD size.

12 MORE Must-Read Boobilicious Blogs

We had a fantastic response to our original 12 Must-Read Boobilicious Blogs post. It's so exciting to see that people want to know more about their bra size and options as well as breast health and fashion for busty women. In the last six months since the original 12 post there have been even more new blogs talking about the quest for great bra fit and fashion. 

http://missunderpinnings.com/
This is one of my new favourites written by a North American blogger (we need more of these please!) On the search for small back, larger cup bras as well as the fashion to flatter her shape, this blog is easy to read, uplifting (in more ways than one) and gives you some good ideas.

http://boosaurusbras.blogspot.ca/
This blog only came on my radar earlier this year and has already made a big impact. Christine, the author, is passionate about good bra fit, easy to relate to and a bit of a geek - which I love!! I highly recommend checking out her blog.

http://curvywordy.blogspot.ca/
A new-ish UK blogger, Curvy Wordy has a great writing style and covers a lot more than just the bras. She's eloquent about her struggles without being a Moaning Minnie (sorry, but some bloggers just vent and that gets dull fast - Curvy Wordy is definitely not that!) This blog is always chock-full of good pics too!

http://thelingerieaddict.com/
Considered by many to be the Godmother of Lingerie, The Lingerie Addict is a mecca of lingerie knowledge and passion. Headed by Treacle, the original addict, this blog has information for buyers, sellers and designers alike. A must-have in your lingerie list.

http://voluptuouslythin.wordpress.com/
This blog is almost brand-spanking new but I have to include it because it shows such promise and made me super excited that young American women are getting involved in the bra conversation. Izzy is just 17 and yet she already knows that she's been short changed in the bra department. As a 32HH she wants to spread the word to other young women and improve bra knowledge in the US - HALLELUIAH!!!!!

http://cleavagechronicles.blogspot.ca/
This is the blog for Presenza, the brand behind a line of bust-friendly wrap blouses. The brainchild of Jill Homiak this blog has fashion and style tips for busty women of all proportions.

https://swimwearandlingerie.wordpress.com/
Written by the lovely Maggie (here in Canada no less!) you are always guaranteed to learn, giggle and empathize when reading her blog. Maggie is also a tireless supporter of lingerie bloggers, retweeting them whenever humanly possible.

http://busts4justice.com/
Busts 4 Justice is the home of one of my bra heroines, Beckie, who single-handedly brought Marks and Spencer's to their knees on national TV and admit that big busts need to be treated more fairly. She is a fantastic advocate for good bra advice, sizing and offerings. I was lucky to be interviewed by Beckie last year about my mission for Butterfly Collection and large breasted Canadians! In my head she wears a cape all the time!

http://hourglassy.com/
Hourglassy is the blog for Campbell and Kate, designers and makers of classic white button-down shirts for larger breasted women. Darlene is a passionate writer who understands the life and wants of a busty woman. Her journey as both business owner and busty clothing magician is absolutely worth the read.

http://kel-kitty.blogspot.ca/
Three things to know about this lady - She has fantastic style, amazing hair and a killer personality - if that doesn't make you want to read her blog then you're like stone! A UK blogger, this young and vibrant blogger has heaps of fashion picks for busty women and lots of knowledge about what constitutes good fit. Check her out!

http://bybabysrules.com

They say a good blog is defined by a unique voice and I think an ex-military, bra loving, dog owner counts as a unique voice! You'll find small band and big cup reviews as well as general bra questions and a passion for great fit!
http://guilty-pleasures.org/
Guilty pleasure is a compendium of great lingerie articles and blogs from the unique and lovely Miss Tique as well as designers and other lingerie experts. Whether you're looking for some sports bras advice or reviews of the most exquisite luxury French designers, Guilty Pleasures will have something for you.

Well that's my 12 extra blogs for you - I hope you see some faves and some new ones in there. Let me know if I've missed your favourite xx

Mother's Day: New Moms and their New Boobs

In honour of Mother's Day I'm handing you over this week to two wonderful women in my life, my sister Rebecca who I adore and my fabulous friend Jess. They both had baby girls last year so I asked them to answer a few questions about life with their new boobs xx

My sister lives in York in the north of England and last August she gave birth to her first child (and my first niece!) This is her story of new Mummy boobs...   

1) Did you switch to non-wired bras before your daughter was born?
I did. About 4 months into my pregnancy I started to feel uncomfortable as my rib cage expanded.

2) When did you start wearing a nursing bra?
I bought 3 nursing bras after the baby was born. I think full term Mums would be advised to buy some in the last few weeks of pregnancy but my baby was very early. There was little choice so I bought what fit well enough. My sister then sent me a Butterfly Collection nursing bra from Royce and it's superb...so comfortable and gorgeous!!! 

Heather from Royce gave my sister the support she needed

3) Was it complicated at first to figure out how to use your nursing bra?
The design with clips is very easy to work out...although there are many moments during each day when I forget to clip myself back up and end up swinging low!

4) Is there something that has happened to your boobs that no one told you to expect?
I didn't know that there would be such a massive difference in the size of my breasts when my baby only nurses from one side. For good breast health your baby should always drain both sides, but if she falls asleep during a feed I end up with one grape and one watermelon!!! The Royce bra is great here as the cup seems to hug me no matter what size I am.

5) Do you feel very differently about your breasts since nursing?
Each and every day I feel in awe of my breasts for providing my little girl with a life source. Mother Nature deserves a Nobel prize for this design. I feel that they are precious and need to be cared for (they can feel very tender after nursing). Having your breasts out half the day makes them less 'intimate' so I certainly feel the sex appeal of cleavage may have dwindled during the nursing period. But life ebbs and flows and I'm sure once nursing is done I can hoik them back into action in a red lacy push up!!!

6) What kind of outfits worked well for you while you've been nursing?
Almost everything I own now is either v necked or a loose T shirt which I can easily pull up.


My lovely Canadian friend, Jess, gave birth to her first baby last September. Here is her new Mom boob journey... 

1) Did you switch to non-wired bras before baby was born?
I did. I was around 6 months pregnant and was much more comfortable - partly because they were non-wired and because Claire fitted me into the right size of bra for the first time ever!

2) When did you start wearing a nursing bra?
Right after the baby was born although because she was early I had my mom pick up a couple for me. She couldn't find any in my size (34E) and so my first bras didn't fit right. I ended up living in the sleep style nursing bras for a long time because they fit and I found them easier overall while I was figuring out nursing! Then Claire fitted me properly (my size hadn’t changed since late pregnancy) and gave me a Royce nursing bra which is still my most comfortable and prettiest nursing bra.

Lauren from Royce was my pick for Jess

3) Was it complicated at first to figure out how to use your nursing bra?
The clips were easy enough but to be honest I still found them to be a pain while I was learning how to nurse, I often forgot to do them back up and would discover them undone the next time I went to nurse. I found the sleep-style of bra super simple and more comfortable for me and baby.

4) Is there something that has happened to your boobs that no one told you to expect?
I was lucky and didn’t really have any problems getting breastfeeding started.What I didn’t expect was how much milk you produce at first while the system is sorting itself out! I spent the first two months constantly damp because I was literally pouring milk. She ate less but more often so there were a lot of times where my breasts were just so full they were dripping!


5) Do you feel very differently about your breasts since nursing?
I feel completely different about my breasts since I’ve started nursing. Breasts are part of our sexual identity but that has totally changed for me since are doing what they are designed to do. One thing that is obvious to me now is how far we have to go in Canada in terms of respecting nursing moms. I never really had any issue with seeing moms nurse in public. Now that I am a mom, it makes me sad how much of an issue it is here. I bought a nursing cover so I can nurse discretely in public; at first this is how I was most comfortable but the baby doesn’t really like nursing under the cover. Now I would be comfortable nursing her without the cover but I know it would make some people uncomfortable so I still use the cover.

6) What kind of outfits worked well for you while you've been nursing?
My daily outfits are now always soft cotton, dark shirts often with a cardigan or some type of open shirt over top – they have to be easy to hike up and out of the way, dark colours hide dampness, soft shirts are best for snuggles and comfort and the cardigan or other sweater help me nurse discretely!

Holly Jackson: How to Deal with Cup Size Shock

 

I've recently managed to convince several people to get measured through Twitter and the power of friendship, and some of them have come back to me feeling very unsettled after finding out their new bra size. I can sympathize since I recently lost some weight and changed sizes to…a 32J (and by the way Internet, I have not yet collapsed due to the weight of my own breasts!)

Several of my friends used a good bra calculator and had similar revelations. A good friend of mine found out more about her bra size; she previously thought her bra size was 38G and she turned out to be a 36L. The calculator also gave her the American size translation which made her a 36R in US sizes, this seemed even more of a shock! She was understandably freaked out. Suddenly, her whole life was different. She asked lots of questions that I think about too. If she got pregnant, how would she find nursing bras? If she lost weight would her breast size go down or up? Where in the world did a person buy L cup bras anyway? She was truly upset. Her body, as she understood it, was different than it was before the calculator, and she was now in a category of cup size that can make life difficult.

I tried to be practical and soothe her, but honestly, I feel the same way sometimes. Life was much easier when I was a G cup (even if my bras didn't fit as well). I could wear all kinds of bras and felt like I had tons of choice. As we learn more and cup sizes increase worldwide, G is starting to be more accepted in terms of being a normal cup size. Unfortunately, if you're above that the market hasn't caught up as fast. I find myself staring at websites and wondering where I fit in now that I've found my new size.

If you're struggling with the acceptance phase of finding out you're on the larger end of full bust sizing, here are some quick tips to help you along.

1. You're not alone.
Many women are in the same boat, whether you know it or not. Happily, many women are also blogging openly about their experiences, and lots of wonderful communities have formed around these blogs. Find one you like, and join in. You'll learn things, and even make some like-boobed friends in the process.

2. Tell retailers that you exist.
If we want the market to change, this is what we have to do. In the age of the internet, people are easier to contact than ever. Use that to your advantage and contact retailers and ask why they don't carry your bra size. Small boutiques like Butterfly tend to be more responsive to things like this, but even big retailers have made changes based on widespread internet campaigns.

3. Speak with your wallet.
If someone carries your size, make sure you buy from them. Sometimes this means paying a little bit extra, but that extra is exactly like voting with your wallet. One of the issues that brands face when they want to make larger cup sizes is finding an audience, so make sure you're showing them they have one.

4. Don't be afraid to talk about it.
I once convinced someone to get measured and into a bra that fit on a train trip from New York to Philadelphia. It all started with her awkwardly asking me what my bra size was, and the fact that I was willing to reveal it helped her accept her own full bust figure. I'm not suggesting that you start walking around with a name tag with your bra size on it, but if we don't tell people that larger cup sizes exist people won't realize that they do. Most people don't know that J, K, or L cups exist! By getting measured and 'owning' your size we can change the mental image of full bust women and make bra manufacturers take notice of us.