Recently my most searched term on my blog has been ‘Kat Dennings bra size’. I’m somewhat cheered by this, as I see so many so called ‘experts’ proclaiming her a 38DDD, which literally makes no sense. To break it down – a 38 would mean that her raw under bust measurement would be around the 38 inch mark. Not even mine is that, and I can safely say that she is a lot smaller than I am. And DDD? Please. The Alphabet Does Not Stop At DDD. This calculator should help if you are now confused about your own bra and size!
I get bra rage every time I see articles and forums spouting ill informed crap about what size celebrititties are, and so I have decided that it’s time to make my own ‘Celebrity Bra Size’ post and also explain my reasons behind my predictions. It’s not that I want to reduce these women to their cup and band size, but more that I want to hit back at the crazy amounts of D’s I see out there!
Similar predictions to the ones I’m about to make have already been cast by Sophia Jenner and I think you’ll see we share similar bra knowledge!
Kat Dennings
I would guess that the 2 Broke Girls star is around a 30H for reasons I touched on above. She is around 5’4 and slim with curves. Her back isn’t overly broad but her chest is! And a 30H is the equivalent to a 40DDD in terms of cup volume therefore not making it so hard to fathom.
Katie Price
Jordan Jordan… I have read several articles that put the glamour model at a 36E. Wow. That woman has a very strict exercise and diet plan, and friends who have met her in real life tell me that she is very very petite. Her back is probably around 24/26 inches, the same back size as Brittany from Thin&Curvy.
And that impressive rack leads me to guess that she is a 24K.
Sofia Vergara
As seen in this post Sofia claims that she is a 32F. And whilst I know I will seem obtuse for arguing with what she knows about her own body, I can’t help but think that she may be closer to a 28G – the exact same cup volume as a 32F, just with a firmer band.
Dolly Parton
The buxom country and west singer has had the words ‘40DDD’ uttered about her more times than anyone. Going with my above methods of prediction I would say she is closer to a 30J.
Kim Kardashian
Kim is famous for her beautiful curves, and most sites put her as being around a 34DD. I’m going to guess that she is a 30G, the same size as Curvy Kate’s Lauren.
Christina Hendricks
Oh Christina. Her boobs are a thing of lust for boys and girls alike. I do sometimes cringe at the way she contorts them into her outfits and the unnecessary photo shopping that a lot of publications indulge in, and I would say her alleged 38DDD is around a 30H.
Lara Stone
I adore Lara Stone. She has beautiful curves and such a unique look. I love that she is a top fashion model with a shape that sets her apart from the rest and most of all I love that she is married to funny man David Walliams. The busty blonde is probably around a 30GG, the same as Curvy Kate’s Laura.
Katy Perry
I would put the gorgeous singing sensation in a 28GG.
Salma Hayek
Salma showed us all what she was made of in that unforgettable ‘Dusk Til Dawn’ scene, and I think that she has a 28G bust.
Scarlett Johansson
I would put Scarlett at a 28F.
Halle Berry
Most forums seem to guess at Halle being a 36C. She looks like a 30G to me.
Helen Flanagan
The Jungle babe is around a 28G.
Kate Upton
It’s pretty much impossible to find a photo of Kate in a well fitted bra or bikini, which shocks me as she is an underwear model. However, I think that those poor mangled boobs are a 30FF.
All of these are pure guesses with a lot of knowledge behind them. And as every photo of every celeb was different the guesses may not be as close to the truth as I would like. However, I would like to think that they are a lot closer than the terrible ‘expert’ predictions that litter the web at the moment.
What do you think of my guesses? Do you have your own opinions about certain celebrities sizes? Does it also infuriate you when the media spout nonsensical sizes?
Fuller Figure Fuller Bust 
Interesting! I would hedge my bets on your guesses being a hell of a lot closer to the truth than the media portrays! We need to get them all in a room with a tape measure and a pile of bras… x
Hallelujah! I’ve been so excited to see this post because, like you, I get so utterly frustrated by the astronomically inaccurate bra sizes associated with famous busts. I totally agree that women should not be reduced to their bra size, however, if busty women in the public eye were more vocal about correct bra sizes then I believe we’d see a shift in the tide of misconceptions about ‘big cup letters’. When we can throw off the idea that cup letters end at multiples of D we’ll see lots more women embracing great bra fit. Super post George! Thanks for including our calculator too! xx
I think that sometimes it’s not a bad thing when people think celeb’s boobs are smaller than they are – gives them a feeling of ‘reality’ if that makes sense. for young girls to strive to want a 30DD is a lot better than them wanting a 30GG or something if that makes sense? maybe that’s why they are falsifying their own bra sizes?
I disagree completely.
There are young women out there that feel like freaks, because their boobs are bigger than a DDD, and they need to know that’s OK.
YES! I agree completely! When I was 16 years old wearing a 32E bra to high school, I would have loved to know that most of the women we idolize are not the envious 34B-C that I would think they are, but are rather exactly like me. Instead, I spent my formative years wearing two bras, a sportsbra over a bra, a camisole over a bra, and crying every time I went to a bra store because of the ugly options and horrifying sizes. I felt like a freak and absolutely hated my body for years and years because of this “feeling of reality” you speak so highly of. My peers (female) would either stare longingly at my chest and call me crazy for being so hateful of them, or worse, they would jealously whisper about me behind my back, saying “oh wow, I would just DIE if my boobs were like AK’s”. Do you know how hard it is to go into Target and see all the cute little skimpy bathing suits and not be able to wear a single one? The rest of my body would fit fine in them, just not my breasts. Do you know what its like to spend upwards of $200 on ONE bra just so I can feel comfortable in SOME of the clothes I enjoy? Summer’s coming up, and with that comes the dread of being unable to find any tops that look good on me, because I can’t go without a bra. Thankfully, fashion is leaning towards my advantage recently, considering the slouchy/comfy/flowy trends of late. Tops that are slouchy on most girls fit me perfectly — and that’s great. But it has NOT always been that way.
I am 22 now and I am in love with my body because of discovering proper bras and because I have grown into my chest. However, to suggest that ALL young girls have small boobs and ALL young girls want to be bigger is offensive, presumptuous and hurtful.
Of course you disagree. You seem less concerned with women with natural A and B cups feeling small than you do larger and larger-busted women. The pendulum swings both ways but is addressed more in favor of bustier women.
What a great idea of a post! I think part of the reason that so many women are resistant to the idea that the alphabet doesn’t stop at DD (or even DDD) is because celebrities with larger busts are often pegged as that size. It would really put things in perspective if Christina Hendricks came out and said: “I wear a 30HH bra.” Women wouldn’t associate her larger bust with a DDD cup anymore. By the way, I totally agree with you that Sofia Vergara is not a 32F. My best friend wears a size 30F/32E, and Sofia is more than one cup size bigger than her. I’d say she’s closer to a 28GG.
I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that Katie Price once claimed to be a 32J, so it sounds like your prediction is probably not all that far from the truth! A very interesting post, and much needed- these incorrect sizes aren’t just affecting the women they’re attached to but confusing everybody else too!
The question is though… do you think they wear correct size bras??
I think what kills me more is when someone talks about sizes in the way that the band size just doesn’t exist at all! There’s just letters, A, B, C, D or numbers 1, 2, 3, 4. It’s insane!!
Brilliant post ! Much better than this ddddd silly ness lol
tape measure wont tell you the size of Bra needed… most of the celebrities here are more between 30-32 backs def NOT a 24 that would bring Katie Price down to a dress size 4! uk size at that . she is more of a 28 back and now down to a JJ/K. when you go too small in the back and big in the cup yes the bra goes round but the wires end up way past the underarm totally the wrong place which a lot of Lingerie stores do being fitted in too small a bra can be as bad as too big .
Please see my updated post below the Katie Price bit. She is almost certainly sub 28.
I agree with you, George. I’m a 26 back and I’d say Katie is 24 or 26. Dress size 4 is not unbelievable with her, she’s very slim.
Its not hard to think Price is a 24-26 back =)
I am size curvy size UK 8 and have 26 inch back (hence 26 bra sizes or 28 if I can get away with altering it)
And Price is much slimmer than me! No way she would be around (let alone above) 28!
Glad to see others agree!
It’s not 100% safe to guess a back size without profile, but I think that your estimations are much closer to the truth than all that DD nonsense.
I just wanted to comment on Sophia Vergara’s price size. She was fitted into a Parfait Affinitas in 32F and I know they run relatively small in the back so it might have fit more like a 30FF.
One difficulty with this too is that pretty much all of these ladies appear to be full on top, which makes their boobs appear larger than full on bottom ladies.
But seriously thanks for doing the post! I hope it helps to educate ladies out there on what real bra sizes should look like.
Hi! I saw a tv show a week a go. There were two guys talking about breasts. They said that breasts is in A, B, C ore D. D is the biggest! When they said that I smiled at their stupidity and looked down at my “unexisting” G-cups. But its sad to becaus many people watch that show…
Definitively better guesses than all that s**t we can read in many forums and websites, so thanks for keeping on educating people!
Personally I think you are a bit small in the back sometimes. You didn’t give more than 30 for any of these ladies. I wear a 32 (measuring 31″) and comparing myself to them I reckon I must be similar to some of them. For example Kim K. to me looks wider than Lauren. It’s not about being slimmer or fatter, but wider. Kim K. seems to have “wider bones” in general. Same with Scarlett & Salma: Salma looks wider to my eyes. Height is also important to determine the underbust measurement, so it is very difficult to guess only with a picture.
I think you’re much closer to their “real” size than the media is saying. I might be a band or cup size up or down on a couple of them than you… but in the ballpark for sure.
I think it would be a GREAT thing if the media was more aware of real bra sizes. The bra alphabet does not stop at D, and DD is not Bazunga Humongous.
I think that we need to be able to celebrate ALL body sizes and shapes, and not create a false idea of beauty (meaning you need to enhance/minimize/diet to death/overeat to unhealthiness to be “beautiful”). Young girls should be aware of all the sizes and shapes, and that theirs is fine. No shame in being “big” or “little” boobwise or bodywise.
Excellent celebrity post. When someone outside of Hollywood steps back and soaks it all in, honesty becomes the new THING. I love it. With regard to constant up/downsizing of big-bubb’d celebs, it’s only a guess that they are catering foremost to mammophiles, a genre predominantly (outwardly) male, as a ploy to perk interest in film/tv/books/any other media you can name. I personally do not put much stock in Number-Number-Letter-Letter.
It’s so great to finally hear someone commenting on the incorrect sizes that people give these celebrities. And what would be so wrong about hearing or saying “yes I am definitely THIS size”. The only thing wrong I can think of is if all these women ARE wearing the wrong size. That would be terrible. I think you gave great guesses!
It’s so great to finally hear someone commenting on the incorrect sizes that people give these celebrities. And what would be so wrong about hearing or saying “yes I am definitely THIS size”. The only thing wrong I can think of is if all these women ARE wearing the wrong size. That would be terrible. I think you gave great guesses!
I know this is on the extreme opposite, but what size do you think Keira Knightley is ?
A 26D…
Depends if you’re looking at a photo-shopped picture there. I’ve seen interviews with Keira where she slates the movie companies for always making her bigger in the bust then she is. She’s happy in her size and they always insist on pumping them up! See below guardian article:
26D?? She is as flat as a pancake. So… what would a 26A look like?
I know this is on the extreme opposite, but what size do you think Keira Knightley is?
I think your educated guesses are probably more accurate than the media’s claims. For some reason, the media seems to believe that bras (and breasts!) only come in 32 to 40 band size, A through DD cups, which clearly, is not true. Personally, I believed that I was a 36C for a very long time. It may have been true at one point, but it certainly isn’t now.
LOL I’ve read so many appraising headlines about Katy Perry’s “humongous C-cups” that it almost makes me cry!
Fabulous article! Hopefully it will educate some confused minds…
The vintage stars have always bothered me in this area, such as Marilyn Monroe at a 36C and Sophia Loren at a 38(!!)C. I know bras are different now but both are obviously way off.
I think you are a lot closer to these predictions than those ‘experts’ I love Christina Hendrix, and I myself am a 38DDD and I am clerly much larger than her, with far smaller boobs, a 38DDD for her is an absurd prediciton.
As someone who has spent many years working as a bra fitter for both rigby and peller and bravissimo I would say you were pretty much spot on!
I too am annoyed by the ridiculous nbera bandied around regarding celebrity bra sizes!
love that you did this post. I too cringe when Christina Hendricks says she’s a DD – just perpetuating that anything bigger than that is not normal!
The only thing I’m curious about is, in a couple of those pics (and with celebs in general) they are obviously wearing push up bras – are you sizing them knowing they are wearing push ups or taking in the full roundness of their breast silhouette (ie assuming the bra has no padding) in making your judgement?
Just wanted to chirp in that Sofia’s bra size is probably correct as stated. I have practically the same measurements (5’7″, 37-28-39 is the most common result googling for her measurements) and I wear a 32F (I’ve never worn a Parfait Affinitas admittedly) and it’s very comfortable and supportive for me and I regularly try to get fitted as a few years ago before I knew better, I was still trying to erase the scarring around my breasts from trying to cram into an ill-fitting victoria’s secret bra.
I’ve tried on 28 and 30 bands before and they also felt correct but a 32 is just on the right side of supportive while still allowing me to be a bit bloated (hyperthyroid) from time to time without getting my flesh cut into.
I read your article with interest. As a busty woman with a small band size I get annoyed at the press and many women I know preferring increasing their back size to reduce the cup. Almost as if they are embarrassed by their curves. Embrace it ladies you will feel so much more supported and comfort in a well fitting bra!!
The skewed perception of breast size created by the media and celebrity body image standards makes me crazy. I am a REAL 32DD. Any time bra size comes up in conversation, I get pegged as an A or B. People don’t believe I have boobs until the rare day I wear a pushup. Smaller breasts are made to look larger with padding and photoshop, and larger ones are falsely labelled within what we accept to be “normal” sizes. We have no concept of the natural variation in the female form! Great post. 🙂
Katie Price was actually measured by Panache, I believe around the time her lingerie range came out. She was definitely not one of the sizes in her own range! I can’t find the link now but Google implies it was 30G, and there’s a good chance that was using the dreaded +4 method. So that would make her most likely 28GG or 26H (unless she’s had more surgery since, this was a while ago).
All of these band sizes seem really unrealistic to me. I mean, a 24 band? I’m a measured 32c and have a tiny ribcage. Unless these are sizes not in the US, then these measurements are impossible. Many women tend to have band widths between 32-38. I don’t even think 24 band widths are made. The women in these photos probably wear 32+ band widths, otherwise, they would be falling on their faces from the weight of their chests in proportion to the rest of their bodies.
I’m not sure if you read the post and saw the examples of the Curvy Kate models (both 30 bands) and Thin and Curvy (24-26 band) but I would urge you to do so to reconsider your views. If your ribcage measures a lot smaller than 32 inches then you are likely not a 32. And ‘most women’ ie my friends have ribcages and thus bra sizes of 28-36 on average.
at a 28J I personally agree that these women have bigger cup sizes than the media claiming. Most people I know think anything bigger than D is too much. But what I really wanna know is does a 26 band even exist where do you find these, I want one!
Ewa Michalak xxxx
I checked out the post and I think the reason for the discrepancy is that brand measures differently. Most brands are actually measuring the circumference from the hook to the meeting of the straps and cups. Therefore, someone with a 34 band size does not actually have a 34″ circumference around the ribcage–that’s the distance from hook to above the bust. Their ribcage measurement us probably closer to 28. If you were to translate the Curvy Kate measurements to the typical sizing system, the band sizes would be larger, and the cup sizes would be smaller.
I’ve read the post, but I think that brand just measures differently than most. The numbers you listed are probably really close to the underbust circumferences, but most brands measure from the hook to the top of the bust, which would be a larger number than the raw underbust size. So basically, if these women were to wear Curvy Kate lingerie, they would have sizes close to what you listed, but if they were shop at the average department store, they would have larger band numbers and smaller cup sizes.
I wear a US size 2-4/UK 6-8 (mostly 2/6), and a (UK sizes) 28G bra – should be in a 26GG, I purchase small banded 28s/alter. My naked bust measurement is 35 inches, underbust 24.8. Noting I went from a 32C, to a 30E/F to my current size 26GG/28G – A massive 3 back sizes and 3 cups sizes off – mostly just because of poor measurements. I’ve never been larger than my current clothing size! Miss Price is 6cm shorter than me so is definitely capable of being a 24. I advise you to measure your underbust, you’re probably not a 32, and probably not a C cup! Try this fitting guide – http://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/comments/rh26h/is_getting_fitted_for_a_bra_as_humiliating_as_it/c469bi0
kds12… “Therefore, someone with a 34 band size does not actually have a 34″ circumference around the ribcage–that’s the distance from hook to above the bust.” ….. Why would anyone measure around from the hook to above the bust? What relevance does that have to anything? It’s not where the band sits, so why use that as any point of reference? And someone with a 34 band size does indeed have about a 34″ circumference around the ribcage.
“Their ribcage measurement us probably closer to 28″.” …… Yes, it probably is, but a ribcage measurement of 28″ should very likely mean a band size of 28. Yes, there are some differences from brand to brand, but not *that* much.
It’s quite simple really: ribcage measurement in inches = band size 🙂
I hate that people totally misguide how big a certain size is. I’m a 30G but when I tell people that they don’t believe me because they’ve got this perception that a D is big so a G must be massive and on a 30 band it definitely isn’t massive! At least not as big as everyone thinks because of what’s been shown in the media.
And not being able to get correct bra sizes because of this truly bothers me!
I am a 18 y o girl with a bra size around 30D and I am SO THANKFUL you did this, because I’ve always felt my boobs are massive, but you made me realize they are actually quite average
please do kate upton. I have no idea what size she is but I worship her
I reckon… 30FF?
I’m confused. You say band 38 would mean an under bust measurement of 38 inches, but i thought you had to add 4 inches (so measuring 26 would give you band size 30) is this just wrong?
Also, if everyone wore the correct bra size what would the average be? were made to believe it’s ‘C’ but is it?
Lastly, I love Erica Durance in Smallville, i didn’t think shes particularly “full” like all the other celebs on this list, but could you do her? Pretty please!
You do NOT add inches! You may need to with some firmer bras, but this is not a rule! Please see: http://fullerfigurefullerbust.com/2011/06/16/simply-proven-wrong/
Also, with regards to average size’ please see: http://fullerfigurefullerbust.com/2012/08/16/bra-sizes-do-not-exist-without-back-sizes/
And I would say she is 26J/28HH x
I’ve heard that adding 4″ used to be accurate for non-elastic bras of yesteryear. And sure, the average cup size could be C if everyone wears a bra only in the A-D range, forcing anyone with more than 4″ difference between underbust and bust measurements to size up in the band 🙂
I just have a question, I see these girls and I know I’m bigger than some of them but I wear I 34 DDD (US Sizing). What would your take on my bra size be? I measure 39-29-26, I am just curious- I have never seen people do measurements like this. I always feel squished into my bras.
Hiya,
As your waist is 29 inches, I would guess you need a smaller band than 34.
Try this:
http://www.butterflycollection.ca/bra-size-calculator/
x
I would say a 28/30 band with a cup size H+. Before I got into my ‘correct’ size, I was wearing a 34DDD and when I finally found Curvy Kate, I fit right into a 28J while my bust was 42 and waist 29.
Chari, if it’s any help, I measure 39-29 too (my hips are bigger than yours, but that’s irrelevent when it comes to bra sizes), and I usually wear a 30HH (UK). My underbust measures 30.5 inches and I find a 30 band nice and snug and supportive. I would suggest you try something similar to me size-wise, but bear in mind that all makes and styles of bras fit differently. xx
I think your guesses are completely off…G is Massive, none of these womens breasts look like G’s
Please read my post.
haha!!! G cups are massive? Jesus…mine must be ginormous when I wear my Deco in 30GG!!!
G is not massive. I’m a 28JJ/K and I do not have giant porn-star beachball boobs. Also, a 30G will not be the same size cup as something like a 40G. Cup size is dependent on band size.
Only massive in the sense that they have mass. Free yourself from the A-D paradigm.
Wtf are all these numbers you’re claiming? Who the hell has a 28 inch bust, I really don’t get it. Really skinny girls with small boobs wear about a 32. How in the hell are you coming up with 28s etc??
Please READ THE POST.
Noooooope! I’m 180 lbs on a good day, wearing a 32J quite well. Your under-bust measurement really isn’t affected by how big your boobs are…just your ribs!
Hey 32J, I’m 175 lbs and that’s what I wear too!
I wear a 28. I’m 5’5″, 160-ish pounds.
Skinny girls wear 32s because that’s what’s available in most stores and they’re probably using the outdated +4 inches measuring technique. Small boobs have nothing to do with band size.
G, I’d love to see you do a similar post to this, but using celebs with smaller boobs. So, for example, those who claim to be, say, a 32C, but are probably a 28E, and so on… I think far too many celebs claim to have ‘small’ cup sizes because they “can’t possibly be a D, or heaven-forbid, a DD”. I know you’re all about a fuller bust, but most people think of anything above DD as a fuller bust, so it’d be appropriate. Anyhow, just a thought for a future post. Keep up the fantastic work 🙂 xx
Stephanie fox claims to be a 32m. She looks quite slim to me, what bra size would you predict for her?
you must be from the uk. In the us noone wears under like a 32 band bra, I wear a,32 or 34 and I am very petite, dress size 2. The cup sizes in the us do go d then dd then ddd, which is equivalent to an f, just go to victorias secret or macys. none of these women in the pics would wear less than a 32 band or over a ddd. Your confusion is bc you are not using american bra sizes. Get it together! I am petite but about the size of salma hayek, maybe bigger in the cup, and I am a perfect 32 dd or I can wear a 34d, I’ve been measured, but again these are american sizes. You must be talking uk bc I.have never met any woman with less than 32 band or bigger cup than like ddd and my friend and I are very top heavy.!
I read this comment after reading your second one. Why so rude? You need to get it together and re read what I said. Just because no woman has told you she is sub 32, it doesn’t mean she isn’t. And UK and US sizes are pretty much the same. And you can find all those sizes in the US if you look hard enough. Wow…
Oh my, Just because you have never heard of it doesn’t mean it does not exist, and you are free to wear whatever size you want. Don’t go online and be rude to someone who has an educational post trying to help people. I am in the US and I wear a 38g.
I believe that this obsession people have with never being over a dd or ddd is exactly what the blog post is addressing.
Macys carries up to a G cup. Dillards also carries some Panache bras, which come in 28 bands.
Seriously? I wear a 32J and I’m a dress size 14. And I’m in the US. US bra sizing does go D, DD, DDD, DDDD/G, H, I, J, etc…UK sizing goes D, E, F, FF, G, GG, H, HH, I, J. They’re the same sizes by different names, and the UK cup sizes are a lot easier to follow as well as find online.
Let me guess, you were measured at VS? If you’re a size 2, I highly doubt that you have a true 32/34 band size. What you need to do is measure under your bust and use that as a starting point for your band size. Measure over the fullest part of your breasts while standing up straight, and also while bent over if your breasts are pendulous (average the two measurements if this is the case). For every inch larger than your under-bust measurement, count that as one cup size.
Really? Because I live in Florida and I wear a 32G/30GG with a dress size 12. Tell me about how we don’t wear bras under a 32 band….
Umm, I live in the US and I wear a 28JJ/K (UK). That would put me at like a 28N/O in US sizes, which obviously isn’t produced by Victoria’s Secret. VS is also notorious for not measuring properly.
A DDD is a UK E cup, not an F.
UK US
DD DD (5″ Bigger than underbust WITHOUT added inches)
E DDD (6″ Bigger than underbust)
F G (7″ bigger)
FF H (8″ bigger)
G I (9″)
GG J (10″)
H K (11″)
HH L (12″)
J M (13″)
JJ N (14″)
K O (15″)
You know what, I did some research, and im gonna give you a little more credit. Most of us in the us are taught to add 3 or 4 inches to the under bust measurement to get our band size. Most average bra stores in america are going to have this bigger band size that starts with 32, maybe 30, and then with the bigger band smaller cups come with them in order to fit. You are probably right that the correct measurement is the smaller band and larger cup however, NOONE IN AMERICA DOES IT THAT WAY, so you are basically telling us what they should wear if bra sizes were manufactured and sized properly in america, but they are not, so it doesn’t give most people a reference point and is somewhat uninteresting vs what size they wear in a normal american bra, which probably is a 36 ddd or what have you. The only exception is those fancy expensive bras, so if u are sadiddy and buy your bras at those fancy boutiques where each bra is.150 then you probably do see lots of.28 h bras. Go to victorias secret in the us and see if you can find that size. You can’t so you saying that the 36 ddd size is ridiculous is wrong, if ur an american shopping at a dept store or vs it’s correct, so you just have a different frame of reference. This explains it though bc my friend who if from london and lives here but shops at expensive boutiques was shocked I only wear a dd and she did day she thought I wore like an h and I was like what, but now I see she was just coming from the british and/or expensive boutique frame of reference. 80% of america doesn’t come from that and when we say what bra size we mean cheap store in america with the bigger band and smaller relative cup. 36 ddd makes sense, 26 h is not comprehensible in our frame of reference.
I understand. But 36DDD is still wrong on Kat Dennings et al, even if it is all that is available. If your back measures 32 inches, wear a 32, if it measures 28, wear a 28. Put it on the loosest hook, and if it rides up it is too big. Just because you cannot readily buy a 28H it does not mean you are not one…
I had a bit of trouble deciding which of these idiotic comments I should reply to. I decided on this one purely for the fact that you contradicted yourself. You state that you’re giving this wonderful women credit and then using a BS excuse that we live in different countries? Half the world measure using the +4 method, as does te UK in some places, not just the US, darling. You’ve never met a woman with breasts bigger than a DDD cup? So every large breasted woman you come across, you’ve questioned her bra size? I live in the US and I’m a dress size 8/10 and I wear a 28N which is about a 28JJ in the UK. If you wear a 32/34 at a size 2, then you must be in constant pain and discomfort. Get out of your ignorance bubble and take the time to read her blog and maybe a few others of women who do reside in the US with you.
I’m in the US. I used to wear 38Fs when I didn’t know any better.
Now, I’m a US size 14… and I wear a 34GG. I could probably wear a 32 band (either an H or GG, since I think I’m close to losing a cup size right now) in some bras. My underbust (around my rib cage) measures 33 inches.
The fact is, Victoria’s Secret measures for crap. They measure above your boobs for your band (which fits under your breasts.) I actually once had a conversation with a sales associate at VS who wore a 32GG (and I think was really more like a 30H) and she admitted to me she thought their sizing method was stupid too. When you measure me above my boobs, you get 38 inches, and that’s WITHOUT a bra. With a bra, I’m closer to 40. That is quite the massive size difference. I guarantee that the 38DDD they tried to put me in last time I was there was ridiculous.
In the US there’s a general misunderstanding of how bras are supposed to fit. How they should be sized. If you go to a good lingerie store, they won’t add inches, because they understand fit. Sadly, the US bra manufacturers don’t seem to be caught up with the times and insist on using outmoded methods that don’t work with the current materials bras are made of.
“NOONE IN AMERICA DOES IT THAT WAY”
Correction, I’m also in the US and there are many women and lingerie stores that size 32 and 30 band to H cup. Go to Nordstrom and Dillards, they carry US bra brands that start 30 band and go to H cup. I’m a 32J and I wear a Wacoal 34H.
I’m in the US, California to be exact and I wear a 32H! You are incorrect that “NOONE IN AMERICA DOES IT THAT WAY.”
Just no one that you know of.
Victoria’s Secret is that she has no idea what she’s doing when sizing women.
I’m in the US as a 32J. Just because you measure the way shops want you to to make money doesn’t mean everyone else does it wrong.
Wow this post is very informative . It would be great if you posted the bra sizes of Hollywood legends from the 1950’s and 60’s, Marilyn, Sophia, Jane Russell, Liz Taylor, Raquel, ect… Marilyn was definately not a 36 d, which is what the internet incorrectly states she was. It’s a shame so many women are mislead about their bra size by the ignorant media.
I’ve read that Marilyn’s bust measurement was (usually) 35″. Her build was slender (waist supposedly 22″), so maybe a 26″ ribcage (or less)? I’ve read quotes describing her breasts as “thrusting” and “like granite”… in photos they do look like they point forward a lot, but not at all full up top.
All of that said, she may well have comfortably worn a 36D of the 1950s; who knows what they were doing back then.
Incidentally, Marilyn claimed to have worn a bra as rarely as possible 🙂
Sorry but really I’m actually not sorry, because you’re predictions are completely off! I myself am a 36DDD or 36E (which are the same exact thing). My measurements are 41″29″41″. But looking at me I look a lot closer to what you have down for Christina Hendricks or Kat Dennings. As someone who has an incredible measurement gap between waist and bust I can say that it is a lot easier for us to make the distinguishment ourselves then for someone who is just simply big all around.
Sofia Vergara is being completely honest about what size bra she wears. For ultimate support and comfort only the person wearing the bra can truly tell which size is best.
The measurements of bust to waist simply give each woman a small range of sizes to use when shopping for bras.
I usually buy 36DDD but at some stores and some select styles its labeled 36E. And I can’t buy a bra that says 38DD because the band is too big and the cup is too small.
I can pretty much safely say you’re in the wrong size bra. You have a 29 inch waist and a 36 inch under bust?
Stormy, sorry but you’re the one wearing completely the wrong size! Just because you wear a 36DDD/E doesn’t make it right. My measurements are 39″ 29″ 39″ so quite similar to yours and I wear a 30HH. Measure your underbust in inches… whatever that number is THAT’S the band size you should be wearing, then buy a bigger cup accordingly.
Also, have a look here: http://www.bravissimo.com/boob-school/
You poor thing! Your back must be killing you, along with neck and shoulder pains! I bet your breasts also don’t even completely fit into the cups of these way too small bras you have. My meaurements are 44-30-42 and I am happily in a TWENTY-EIGHT-JJ(wrote it out so I could do capital letters to emphasize the fact)
What is your defintion of a ‘measurement cap between bust and waist’ do you mean that because your waist is 29 and your band size is a 36? You need to properly measure yourself and get your hands on a good bra. I’m sure there are many on sites such as Bratabase that are good for cheap and would do you well.
I must admit to being confused by this statement: ‘As someone who has an incredible measurement gap between waist and bust I can say that it is a lot easier for us to make the distinguishment ourselves then for someone who is just simply big all around.’
Are you stating that simply because George is a plus size woman that her breasts aren’t as large? Or that us smaller women have more trouble finding bras? Or am I just completely off the subject?
For ultimate support and comfort, yes, only the person wearing the bra can tell. But if you were to post a picture of yourself in the 34DDD you are wearing, I bet LOADS of women here and elsewhere would be able to point out every single little flaw that you have when wearing such a wrong size bra.
A 36E “fits”… well, good. So try a 34G. If you can get that done up, try a 32H/I.
umm its virtually impossible to be a 26-28 underneath…i was that at about 11 and im really thin (UK 6)
It’s not ‘virtually impossible’ to measure 26 inches under your bust….please read the post.
Sorry, I measure 23.5 inches underneath 🙂 23.5 tight, 24 snug. I’m 5’7″ and NOT eleven years old. I’m also a UK 6. My overbust is 35.5 inches and my waist is 22.5, hips 32. Not only is it possible but it’s especially common to measure under 30 inches over the underbust.
I actually have some remigrated tissue now & have been going to the gym the past few months – 22.8 under tight and 36 over now. Waist 22in, hips 32. I do have issues ordering bras because 26H is looser in the band than I like but 24HH is too snug. Either way they’re both custom order. Here’s a photo of some 24 band girls http://www.brabandproject.com/gallery/search/band/24/ 26 http://www.brabandproject.com/gallery/search?band=26&cup=&age=&brand=&sister_sizes=0&search=Search 28 http://www.brabandproject.com/gallery/search?band=28&cup=&age=&brand=&sister_sizes=0&search=Search
I guess that means I’m fluctuating in and out of existence! My ribcage measures 28″ (firm, without exhaling forcefully). I have a medium build at 4’11”. I see some ultra-petite women who are my height or only a couple inches taller, with a considerably lighter build, so it stands to reason that their ribcages measure 27″, 26″…
Are you converting inaccurately from cms? 28″ = 71cm.
This post makes me question my own bra size. Victoria’s Secret had placed me at a 36C, which I’m certainly not. Another store placed me at a 32DD and I’ve been wearing that size since. It tends to be the largest size available with the smallest band. I often feel like my breasts are spilling out of it though, but if I wear a bigger band it fits too loosely around my rib cage. I always adjust the bands to the tightest hook on my bras. My back and shoulders are in constant pain. I’m very petite and, from pictures, my bust appears as large or larger than some celebrities listed above, like Katy Perry and Scarlett Johansson. The last time I wore a dress (prom) I believe I was a size 2 or a 4, probably US measurements since I’m in Canada.
There are some really good online options, like brastop.com, and you might find Nordstrom helpful in person, as they go down to a 30 back, and up to a 30M in 30 back cup sizes.
You might find you need less than a 30 back, though, and I can’t help you there (I’m from Australia!)
Check out reddit.com/r/abrathatfits for fit help–If you feel like your bras don’t fit, they probably don’t!
I think you are WAY under-estimating the band sizes. I measure 30 inches around the band, but any bra smaller than a 34 feels like a straitjacket (and as other commenters have mentioned, correct sizing for a bra is 2-4 inches more than your actual measurement). So while you may be correct about these women’s actual numbers, I don’t think you’re correct about their band sizes. I look pretty much exactly the same as Kim K in the torso, and her being a 34DD sounds spot-on to me.
Also – have you ever seen Christina Hendricks from side-on? She has a solid ribcage, she’d be at least 34 in real measurements and therefore a 38 band sounds accurate.
Apologies, I have now read ALL the comments (I should always do this first, before posting!) and I see that you disagree with the ‘add 4’ method.
I guess I am writing from my own experience with professional fitters who have tried to squeeze me into 30- and 32-inch bras, insisting that those are the correct sizes for me (either 30D or 32C) – when I am actually most comfortable (and best-fitted according to all the accepted parameters – lack of ride-up in the back, placement of the cups on my chest etc) in a 34A. After 25 years of bra-wearing I am confident that this is the right size for my body. If I went by my actual measurement I would spend my life in pain, with a permanent furrow around my ribs – I guess I just assumed that’s how everyone would feel in a ‘real size’ band!
Often people find that the reason the smaller bands feel so tight is that the cups aren’t big enough, and so the band has to stretch over breast tissue as well to accommodate them. For example, I wear a 34GG. If I wore a 34F, I would find the band really tight! But when the cups fit, the band that corresponds to my underbust measurement (34 inches) works pretty well for me.
This is such a helpful post. I’m a 30 D, and after seeing all these posts about celebrities who supposedly also have D cups, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how they make their boobs look so big while I can’t. I don’t envy bigger sizes, I just wanted to know what they were doing differently than me. Now this post clears that up a ton. Thank you so much!
This is a great article Fullerfigurefullerbust. In reading the comments, It points out what’s wrong with the lingerie industry and the perceptions we’ve been fed by the media. The lingerie industry as a whole aren’t consistent in their sizing. Some companies do use a +2 to 4 inches, while others use strictly the size of the under bust for the band size.
All of those inconsistencies cause arguments like this. Unfortunately, until sizes a standard, all women can do is educate themselves and try different bras by different manufacturers. I agree, it is pita, but only you will know what size is comfortable…
The media does further perpetuate this confusion by glossing over the fact that women come in all sizes and sizing is not consistent. It’s easier for writer to say A, B, C or D rather than doing actual research.
I myself wear anywhere from a 30-34 band depending on the brand, and adjust the cup size accordingly from a 30g to 34ddd. My underbust is 30.5. i like the chantelle, panache & wacoal bras..still would like to try curvy kate and bravissimo. VS is awful. Their sizes are inconsistent, I used to wear their bras until one day I realized they fit me badly, the back kept riding up and my boobs kept falling out. Not a good look…
So thanks for allowing me to put my 2 cents in…all I can say is, “Ladies let’s quit fighting amongst ourselves and educate ourselves.”
hey, could you please help with my bra size as i think i’m wearing the wrong size. I measure 30 inches around my chest and then 42 inches around my boobs? I live in the UK. Thanks x
http://www.butterflycollection.ca/bra-size-calculator/
30j /32hh depends on how u like the tightness of fit hope this helps
Agree with Fiona that you’d probably be around a 30J. I measure 30.5 inches around my underbust/ribcage and 39 inches over the fullest part of my boobs and I wear a 30H/HH. Hope that helps 🙂
I think its a bunch of crap. Im a 40H and they all look smaller to me.
At a 40H you are bigger than all of them so I’m not sure of your point? But thanks for stopping by.
Not to be anything but rude, but as George said, no shit you’re larger than them, by both band and cup.
I’ve been annoyed with the media on this as well, so thank you for the post. That being said…. I heavily disagree with these sizes. I understand that these women are thin but I doubt any of them are even close to these band sizes. Here’s some perspective: Victoria’s Secret caters to preteens with their Pink collection, and the smallest band size found in those stores is a 32. I would say they all hover around there, one or two maybe being bigger. As far as cup size goes, that also feels very generous. Clearly they have help in the pictures, boobs just don’t do sch things on their own, no matter the size. And even adjusting the cups to match a 32 band, I think the guesses are still too big. I’m not trying to be critical, I just do this for a living! I also think it should be considered that well us with larger sizes have trouble finding bras that fit, overall society can be more judgmental towards more flat chested girls. Just a thought! Again, thanks for the post!
Just because VS starts at a 32, it doesn’t mean that some of these women are sub 32 – hence the examples and explanations I added to the post.
I’m sure you have good intentions, but as anyone under a 34 band or over a D cup (or, God forbid, both!) who has been “professionally fitted” could tell you, “doing this for a living” means nothing. Out of curiosity, what sizes would you put some of these women in?
Someone who is accurately a 28C/D can get away with wearing a 30B or even 32A. A lack of support from the band is unlikely to cause problems at this size. The same cannot be said of larger sizes.
Also, bras feel uncomfortable at first, so a girl might prefer to start wearing a looser band before moving down a size or two. I started wearing a 12A (34A), even though I didn’t fill it out nicely. I grew into the 12A, and then into a 12B. After a year or two, I realised I could wear a 10D, which I still buy. This feels fine and the back stays level, but the gore touches my chest only at the bottom edge, so ordering an 8E (30E) is on my to-do list.
My mum, stuck in the “D is quite large” mindset, had trouble making sense of my migration to a 10D, despite the fact that I clearly filled the bra (I’ve since been trying to get her to migrate from 12C to 10DD). My school friends, on the other hand, readily accepted that if I wore size X, and size X fitted properly, then I must have size X breasts.
On a recent trip to the US, a VS assistant measured me and suggested a 32D/DD, “but you could go up to a 34D, to get more fullness in the cups.” Wtf, I hope she resigns.
As for your feeling that the sizes above are incorrect after converting to a 32 band, sizes start to waver more and more as they go up, do they not?
Well, after reading these comments I have one thing to say please get fitted by a professional fitter. Too tighter bra can give you problems leter in life. Your body shape changes around twice a year, medical problems have to be taken into account, if you do manual work or work out alot. Just because you can wear a dress size 10 does not mean you will wear a 32/34 bra. European sizes are done in cm not in inches, America they have a different way of measuring for cup size so yes they do have DDD, etc. Some countries go by dress size plus cup size. I can say all this as I have been fitting bras/corsets for over 20 years and was trained by bra companies Gossard & Berlie. People’s body shapes might have changed over the years and how early the female form develops but how to fit hasn’t. I fit all sizes, shapes, post op, etc.
I actually work for the company that fit Sophia Vergara and she is a 32F. Sizes vary greatly according to brand. If you’re fitting in Prima Donna the size will be vastly different in, let’s say 32H than in Panache 32H. While I believe your cup sizing is fairly accurate, your bands are too firm. Unless someone has had ribs removed, you’ll never find a 24 band. With a little cross-sizing, I think you’re on the right track.
Also, after reading some of these comments and being a bra fitter… For shame. Lack of support at ANY size has impact. Later in life you will notice your 30B cup sagging. It happens ladies. Please get into the right fit!!
Tell the women who wear 24 bands (and whose ribcages are <24 inches around) that. Bodies come in an astonishing array of sizes.