Size Guide

BRA SIZE GUIDE

Like the rest of your body, your boobs don't stay the same forever - they can change size and shape with weight loss, weight gain, hormone changes, you name it. If you aren't sure of your size follow this guide to help find your bra size or alternatively; come in store of give us a call. we would love to help you find your perfect bra. Just remember, whatever your result, they are just letters and numbers…what's important is comfort and support. Once you find your size, choose from any of our hundreds styles so you can look your best.

DOES MY BRA FIT ME Q AND A

Are you ready to find the best fitting bras?
Here are a few important things to look out for that will ensure you have all your bases covered.

WHAT IS SISTER SIZING?

Sister sizing is a quick and easy way to find alternative sizes for both band and cup that will give you the perfect fit. Different bra styles and brands fit differently, and knowing how to determine your sister size can be an extremely useful tool when buying a bra.

Cup sizes are not uniform across the board, a D cup on a size 12 band would be a much bigger cup than a D cup on a size 10 band. As back sizes get bigger, the cups proportionately get bigger too.

If you go down a back size, you will need to go up a cup size - this is your sister size. For example, if your bra size is 12D, but you want a firmer fitting band, your sister size would be 10DD. Similarly, if your band is too tight, you can go up a back size and down a cup size, your sister size would be 14C.

THE BAND

The perfect bra band should be comfortable and firm. It should sit level around your body without digging in or riding up. When buying a new bra, fasten it on the loosest hooks, as it stretches out over time, you will have room to adjust it to the tighter hooks.

WHY IS MY BRA BAND RIDING UP?

A telltale sign that your band is too big is if it starts riding up. Try going down a back size (don't forget to go up a cup size). Your bra band should sit firm and your breasts should be comfortably enclosed in the cups!

THE CUPS

Make sure to position yourself in the centre of the cups. A tried and tested method is the scoop and swoop! Here's how it's done.

Make sure the underwire is sitting in the crease under your breasts. You may have to wiggle it up there.
Use one hand to slightly pull your cup away from you. This will give you room to scoop your breast with the other hand, from your armpit to the bottom of your breast. Scoop your breast tissue into the centre of the cup.
Swoop the top of your breast tissue back into the centre of the cups. This is often called ‘window wipers' by bra fitters!
Repeat for the other side.

When the cups of your bra are the right size, your breasts should be fully enclosed and comfortable.

WHY DO MY BREASTS SPILL OUT OF THE CUPS?

There's no bigger wardrobe malfunction than spilling out of your cups, if this is happening, you likely need a bigger cup size.

WHY ARE MY CUPS GAPING AND WRINKLING?

If your cups are puckering and gaping, your cup size is too big and if there is extra room in the cups, you need a smaller size. Unless of course, you want a secret pocket.

Your cups can lose shape and wrinkle after washes too, so we always recommend washing your delicate bras by hand.

Sometimes its just the natural shape of your breasts too. maybe opt for a balcony/balconette style bra or one with stretch lace bras as they are an excellent choice if you want your cups to fit snuggly around the top part of your breasts. This lace hugs your breasts and moulds to shape of your curves, which is great if one breast is bigger than the other!

THE STRAPS

Look for bras that have adjustable straps, you should be able to put two fingers between your straps and your shoulders for a comfortable and snug fit. If you find yourself constantly adjusting the straps to get optimum lift, revisit your band size.

WHY DO MY BRA STRAPS SLIP OFF MY SHOULDERS?

A simple explanation could be that your straps are too loose, first tighten your bra straps and check again. If they still slip off your shoulders, it might be because you have sloping shoulders. You can use a bra hook to convert the straps to a racer back style or try a full cup bra that has straps that are more centred. Bra hooks are sometimes already incorporated into the design of the bra, check the straps on the bra to see if there are any. We also sell them in-store and online if need.

WHY ARE MY STRAPS DIGGING INTO MY SHOULDERS?

If your straps are digging in, they might be too tight, try loosening them a little. If the digging persists, this could indicate your bra band is not giving you adequate support and your shoulders are bearing the weight of your breasts. you can't the cup, the straps and the band to all give an equal third of the support to your breast without one working more than the others. You can try a smaller band size for better anchorage.

THE UNDERWIRE

Underwire can be painful, poking into your sides if sized incorrectly. You want to make sure the underwire is in the crease under your breasts as it curves around to your armpits. The underwire centre gore should sit flat between you breasts against your chest wall. If the underwire in your bra is not in the right place it can poke into your breast tissue, in this case, you may need a bigger cup size that encloses your breasts fully

As a general rule of thumb we recommend checking your bra size every six months to avoid the unpleasant experience of wearing an ill fitting bra!

Here at Lamour Lingerie we have expert bra fitters who can measure you in store If you want to go it alone, and haven't had any luck with the bra size finder above you can double check using a tape measure. Here are three simple steps that will get you closer to the right sized bra with the perfect fit.

1. MEASURE YOUR BAND SIZE

To accurately measure your band, stand upright, wearing a non padded bra (don't wear a push up bra or minimiser), measure around your back and under your bust, where your bra band would sit. Make sure the measuring tape is level as it goes around your body, you want to measure for a snug but not tight fit.

Measure in inches: if you land on an even number, that is your band size. If it's an odd number, round up to the nearest inch to find your back size.

Refer to the chart below to find your band size in Australia.

In Inches	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	46	48	50	52	54	56
Australian Size	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34

2. MEASURE YOUR BUST

Wrap the measuring tape around the fullest part of your bust around the nipple area. Keep the tape flat and level as it goes around, you don't need to pull tight for this measurement. Round up to the nearest number, this measurement will help determine your cup size.

3. CALCULATE YOUR CUP SIZE

The Difference (In Inches)	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
Your Cup Size	AA	A	B	C	D	DD	E/F	FF	G	GG	H	HH	J	JJ	K

To calculate your cup size, subtract your band measurement from your bust measurement. If your band measurement is 34 inches, and your bust measurement is 38 inches, 38 - 34 = 4. Referring to the two charts above, your Australian band size would be 12 and the cup size would be the alphabet corresponding with the number 4 i.e D. Your bra size is - 12D

After properly measuring yourself, you may find that your bra size is quite different from what you have been wearing, usually the correct size is a little bigger than before. At Lamour Lingerie we have the most comprehensive range of bra styles from leading bra bands, Simone Perele, Wacoal, Freya, Fantasie, Passionata and lots more.

Pregnancy Bra Fitting Guide

Nothing beats the expert advice that our bra fitters can give you at our Lamour Lingerie store during this precious time in your life. Our bra fitters are all trained in the needs of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and can help you find the right size and style to suit your needs.

If you're unable to visit our store to get expert maternity bra fitting service the below tips here will help you find the right bra fit for your maternity bra that will support your changing shape throughout pregnancy and even after your baby is born.

Breast changes during pregnancy

Your body will change significantly during pregnancy. Your breasts will increase in size (in a short amount of time), and they will feel heavier and more sensitive due to hormonal changes. Your milk ducts are also going through a process of being activated and require unrestricted support to help them function.

0-3 months - Your bust is undergoing the most change during the first trimester, with milk ducts developing and the bust increasing sometimes by 2-3 cup sizes. Your breasts may be very sore and sensitive; so a non-wired, stretchy, seamless maternity bra that is designed to grow with you will provide some relief. When trying on maternity bras during the first trimester the bra must fit well on the tightest hook which allows for the back band to be loosened as your rib cage expands.

3-7 months - During the second and third trimesters your breast growth slows but your rib cage will expand as your baby grows. It's usually during this time you may need to be fitted again especially if the back band is getting too tight. Your breast size should stabilize at around 7 months.

7-9 months - Your bra should be fastened on one of the looser hooks by now. Maternity bras are designed to stretch with your changing shape so ensure there is only enough room in the cup to slip a flat hand in (not a fist). If your maternity bra is fitted too big, it will be unsupportive and uncomfortable. Getting close to the birth you may like to consider a wire free bra for hospital during delivery and for the following few weeks.

Post-Pregnancy Bra Advice

First 4 weeks - Once your baby is born, your breasts will swell and may become quite hard as your milk comes in. A really comfortable, well-fitted bra is particularly important as mastitis becomes more common. During these weeks we recommend a wirefree maternity bra due to breast fluctuations.

4+ weeks - Your breasts will start to settle down a little now that your milk supply is regulated. You may find that by this stage, you can wear the maternity bras you were fitted in during months 7-9 of pregnancy. At this stage, your bra should be fitted on the loosest hook as you would in an everyday bra.