Bra Fitting Guide
Four out of five women are wearing the wrong bra size.
As the owner of Shell Lingerie, and an expert bra fitter, I often hear the question, “What bra size am I?” or “How do I measure my bra size?” when helping clients. You might be surprised to learn that you won’t find a tape measure in my fitting studio! Our bodies are beautifully unique, and breasts are three-dimensional, each with its own shape and character—would you measure a pint of milk with a ruler? That’s why I believe that finding your perfect bra size isn’t just about numbers and letters. It’s about how you feel, and about finding the size and styles that truly uplift you—both physically and emotionally.
Understanding your bra size goes beyond a simple measurement; it’s about feeling confident and empowered in your own skin. While this guide offers insight into how your bra should fit, remember, you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. At Shell Lingerie, I’m passionate about making your bra-fitting experience not just informative, but uplifting—literally!
You deserve bras that fit.
Start with your band size
In Australia bras are sized by dress size. You should be wearing your dress size or smaller. So, if you are a size 10 and are wearing a bra band size 12 you need to reduce it but make sure you change the cup size accordingly. Every time you reduce the band size, increase the cup size. So a 12DD, becomes a 10E.
Consider how your cups fit
The underwire should not touch your breast tissue in the centre or under your armopits. If it does, continue to go up cup sizes until all of your breast tissue is enclosed in the cup. you should not 'spill' out of the bra when you bend over and the wires should not 'dig in'.
Choose a style to suit your breast type
Once you have reduced your band size and increased your cup size (often two/three sizes) you should feel that the proportion is now more bespoke to your frame. Now consider which style of bra is going to work for your unique breast type. A balcony style is usually a good place to start.
You are not a number - ditch the tape measure!
Getting independently fitted and educating yourself in different bra styles is the only way you'll get a perfect fit. Remember, bras are meant to fit you, finding the right one is not easy so ditch the tape measure and get the support you need. You are not a number, your bras should be as unique as you. You deserve bras that fit!