Recently a measure-yourself formula that calculates your true bra size went viral on social media. Feeling like I’m never wearing the right bra size, I took the measurements like the calculator instructs and discovered my real size once I inputted the numbers. Instead of being a 34C which I’ve worn most of my life, my real bra size is 32E according to the calculator. This calculator has become popular because many people like myself have now discovered that they’ve been wearing the wrong bra size all along. It’s suggested that 80 per cent of people with breasts are wearing the wrong size. But when it’s a garment that many of us wear incredibly often, why are we still wearing the wrong size? We are able to find a good, fitting pair of jeans, but why not a bra?
Another reason the calculator has gained so much traction is because of the “sticker shock” many people are experiencing from it. This is the shock of often seeing a much larger size than they’ve ever worn. It’s the feeling of “Oh, my boobs would never fit into that size!” And that is exactly what I felt too. So, I went to La Vie En Rose and La Senza (in Abbotsford’s watering hole: the Sevenoaks Mall) to try some on — only to learn that they actually do not carry my size. La Senza doesn’t have any cups higher than a DD in store, and though La Vie En Rose carries bras with E cups, the lowest band number was 38. All my life I have benefited from thin privilege meaning I’ve always been able to find my size of clothing in most stores, so not being able to have my size of bra in a shop was new. This curiosity led me to book a bra fitting appointment at Forever Yours Lingerie in Langley by the suggestion of a Reddit comment. Sure enough, my fit specialist measured me to be a 32E and brought me plenty that fit. I couldn’t believe that I was fitting into an E cup bra.
From chatting with the fit specialist and doing more research, I learned that the idea that bras with size A cups are for small breasts and bras with DD cups are for massive breasts (something that I grew up being taught) is a complete lie. Places like Victoria’s Secret seem to use a measurement system that helps fit more customers into fewer sizes which might be why they do not offer anything higher than DDD or a 40 band size even though many other bra brands carry cups up to size K. On top of that, many people with breasts don’t understand how a bra should actually fit: the band needs to be very snug because that’s carrying most of the weight of your breasts for support; when wearing a bra one should practice the scoop and swoop technique; plus the centre gore of the bra should lay flat against the chest. All of these techniques are not something you will learn at your quick fitting at La Senza. Their goal is to get you into something and get you paying.
Therefore the 80 per cent stat mentioned above makes sense. With Victoria’s Secret and La Senza only carrying limited sizing while being the most popular bra brands in Canada, many people with breasts think that they should be fitting into those sizes, leaving countless people wearing their incorrect size. This is not the individual’s fault. I was fitted at Victoria’s Secret once and given bras that certainly did not fit. Reflecting on this experience I now understand that I didn’t fit into any of their sizes and was given the closest thing that might work. Obviously, it didn’t. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who has encountered this. If people with breasts want to find their right size, the answer will often not be found in a Victoria’s Secret.
Instead of heading straight to a store, check out the A Bra That Fits subreddit where you can learn about how a bra should fit, take your measurements, and find specific bras that work well for your breast shape and size. From there head to a local bra shop that has a wide range of sizes. If you’re not comfortable going out yet, many stores (including Forever Yours Lingerie in Langley) offer delivery and free returns through the mail. Keep in mind that finding a bra that fits will likely take time and may not be accomplished after trying on just a few options. However, the results are much better than the uncomfortable La Senza bra many of us find ourselves wearing.
Image: Brielle Quon/The Cascade
