Today’s topic is probably one of the hardest concepts to explain and understand in bra sizing. I’ve been working in the lingerie industry for 15+ years and sometimes I get mixed up with it. We’re going to talk about the difference between UK and US bra sizing.
If your cup size is smaller than a DD, you don’t have to worry about a thing, but if your cup size is larger than a DD+ you need to listen up! Don’t worry, I break it down to easy terms to understand.
Because manufacturers employ different bra sizing systems, determining which size to buy becomes literally, a pain. One of the most commonly asked question I get from women is how to convert to a UK size.
One thing you need to know, band sizes stay the same in US and UK sizing, e.g., a US 32 band is the same as a UK 32 band.
Since the bra industry doesn’t have standardized sizing, variation in how tight or loose a band is cut varies between manufacturers.
Natori, one of my favorite brands, uses more luxurious soft and stretchy fabrics for their bras, therefore they often have a stretchier band compared to Panache, which uses firmer materials and a tighter cut. So sometimes you’ll find a 32 band size is way loose or snug depending on the brand.
Bra Size Converter:
Where the big differences is how UK and US manufacturers label cup sizes, dun, dun, dun!!! Here we go into the complex part. Look at this handy dandy chart, it makes it a lot easier to visualize and understand.
As the chart indicates, American manufacturers essentially cycle through the alphabet without utilizing a multiple letter system beyond DDD. In fact, some US brands (and many European brands) will label a DD as an E and a DDD as an F.
To make the process of buying a bra even more confusing, some US brands, utilize UK sizing systems. My rule of thumb, if you’re hoping to buy online, you need to determine what sizing method a manufacturer employs before ordering.
For example, a UK H cup is three sizes bigger than a US H cup, so it is essential to know how a brand sizes its products. That's why each of my fitters is trained to know which brands are in which size so they get the right fit for you!
And if you shop on our website, we include both the US and UK sizes for each bra so you know exactly what you're ordering.
To find out your US and UK bra sizes, click on the Bra Fit Calculator button below or book an appointment with one of our expert fitters.