Bra sizes can be a pain! Above all, finding the perfect fit isn’t that easy either. If you’re having difficulty choosing your perfect bra size, you could treat this article as a personal guide, especially if you have a large frame.
All bra sizes are organized by what they call “cups.” And there are many different types and sizes available in cups. These cups are associated with letters. Basically, the higher the letter, the bigger the breast size.
I guess you’re already aware that bra sizes DDD, E, and F, are all extra-large sizes. Obviously, they just have a minimal difference. But it’s a little more complicated than that, so let’s get right to it!
What is a Bra?
A “bra” is short for the word “brassiere.” It’s a woman’s undergarment for covering and supporting the breasts.
If you’re a woman, you might think its only use is to cover your nipples. However, the whole point of a bra is to redistribute some or all of the weight of your bust onto the shoulders and waist areas. When the bra is fitted correctly, approximately 80% of the weight is held by the band and the shoulders.
Several different types of bras serve multiple other purposes. These can be divided into four main categories based on their type. Some bras can be padded, non-padded, wired, or non-wired.
In addition, there are more types depending on the bra’s coverage to your breast. These can be categorized into demi-cups and bras with full range.
Why Do Women Wear a Bra?
Women wear bras for various purposes and benefits. These may include general breast support or enhancing and diminishing the appearance of breast size.
Isn’t it amazing how you could make your breasts appear smaller or larger just by wearing a different type of bra? To do that, you could use a push-up bra for enhancing and a minimizer for downsizing.
Also, breasts are consist of fats and glands that suspend over time. Even though they have ligaments for their support, eventually, they will begin to sag.
Therefore, to avoid this, it’s essential to wear a bra. It provides a lift to the breasts and prevents sagging.
Problems With Not Wearing a Bra?
Not wearing a bra can put you at risk of many problems. These may include pain and discomfort being the major ones.
Every woman feels fantastic when she unhooks the bra and throws it across the room after a long day. While it certainly is bliss to go braless, it may surprise you that not wearing one has plenty of disadvantages.
As I’ve mentioned, it would help prevent drooping. In fact, Dr. Sherry Ross agrees that if there’s a lack of proper support, the breast tissues will stretch, making the breasts sag- regardless of size.
A bra can also uplift the breasts and reduces the chances of stretch marks by providing additional support to the ligaments trying to keep your breasts high. Therefore, it’s known to offer immense support.
Moreover, this helps prevent various neck and back problems, for it could keep your breasts in one place and evenly distributed. In fact, they can also help you improve your posture.
However, while a loose bra can lack support, a tight one could also cause problems. It’s a given that it might cause you pain, and it can also wear out quickly, which could limit your movement.
How to Wear a Bra?
Are you wearing it the right way? You need to know the proper way of wearing your bra to get your needed comfort and look.
The correct way to wear a bra is by getting all the hooks clasped. Firstly, lean forward to slip into your bra. Next, adjust the displaced breasts and place them in your bra cup the way you need it.
Then it would help if you made sure that all the hooks are closed and the band on the back isn’t riding up but is parallel to the ground. You can make your bra more comfortable by adjusting the slider’s straps. This way, there won’t be any digging marks or leave marks.
Wearing your bra is very important. Even the right size bra can make you uncomfortable and won’t provide adequate support if it’s not worn correctly.
Which Cup Size is Bigger A or D?
Obviously, Cup A is smaller than cup D. If you’re not aware of it, there’s a cup size AA- also known as double-A, which is actually the smallest bra cup size.
After D, you can either go up to DD- double D or E’s equivalent in full figure bras. Each cup size is 2 centimeters and 2.54 centimeters, depending on which brand you shop from. Therefore, an AA is one inch smaller than A, and a DD is one inch bigger than cup size D.
It’s important to note that cup size doesn’t represent volume. Instead, it means how bigger your breasts are than your rib cage.
What’s the Difference Between Bra Cups? (DDD, E, and F)
DDD and E are the exact sizes, while the E cup is an inch lesser. You could get your cup size by measuring the difference between your chest and bust line measurements. This means that the cup size indicates well the size of a woman’s breasts about her body size.
All these cup sizes actually differ in inches. For example, A cup is 1 inch, B cup is 2 inches, and C cup is 3 inches, and on it goes. If you’re still confused, here’s a video to help explain them:
Difference Between DDD and F Cup (Are They The Same?)
They’re not really the same. After DD (Double D) or E, DDD (Triple D) is the next cup size and is equivalent to the size F. Once you hit F or triple D, you continue to go up letters the same way before.
The thing with DDD and F size is that sometimes they’re the same but only labeled differently depending on the brand. Because they have only a slight difference, it’s okay to wear a DDD one day and then try the size DD for the next day. This is because of the difference in brands as they make bra cups according to their own standard size charts.
When you try other brands and find out that your size has changed, it’s not that you’ve shrunk or gotten more prominent. But it’s just the different sizes that each brand makes.
Is F Cup Bigger Than E Cup?
Yes. In fact, you could say that an F cup is actually bigger than an E cup, only because E is equivalent to DD in some brands and F is equal to DDD.
While there aren’t any E or F cups in the standard U.S. sizes, a few European brands have E and F cups, and there is some variation in sizing among different brands.
A breast measurement 5 inches bigger than the band size is actually double D (DD), and 6 inches larger measurement is the size triple D (DDD).
Is Bra Size F Bigger than E?
Obviously!
While the sizes of the bra aren’t the same as how long the straps are, the sizes of their cups are pretty much the same. You can always adjust the strap, so it’s best that you get a bra that’s only fit for your breast.
The farther the letter is in the alphabet the bigger it is. Additionally, there is no DDD cup in the UK system but only a DD, E, and an F cup. The difference denotes roughly an inch difference in overbust measurement for each cup change.
Is DDD The Same as E or F?
No. A Bra size DDD is more of an F rather than an E.
Of course, they might be labeled differently based on the brand. If you’re a size E and you can’t see any of your sizes on the store, you can choose size DD instead.
How to Measure Your Own Bra Size?
It’s pretty simple to measure your bra size!
Firstly stand upright without wearing a bra and then use a measuring tape measure around your torso directly under your bust where a bra band would sit. Make sure it’s an even and steady line. This value would be your bra band size.
Next, wear your most comfortable bra for the bra cup size and measure around the fullest part of your breasts.
Then you subtract your band size from this bust measurement to know your cup size. The difference between the two will be your cup size.
Take a look at this table of different values associated with varying sizes of cups to get a better understanding:
| Band size and Bust size | Bra Cup Size |
| 0 inches | AA |
| 1 inch | A |
| 2 inches | B |
| 3 inches | C |
| 4 inches | D |
| 5 inches | DD/E |
| 6 inches | DDD/F |
| 7 inches | DDDD/G |
Which Type of Bra is Best?
The best bra for daily use is considered as the one which is breathable and made out of organic fabric. These fabrics may include organic cotton and bamboo, which are good choices.
It would be best if you always looked out for latex straps or nickel closures, as they could irritate those who are sensitive to certain materials. When it comes to attending special occasions, a push-up bra might just be your best friend as it offers a lift that every woman desires. It supports the breasts makes them look close together.
In addition, a cotton push-up bra is very comfortable to wear when working. However, it totally depends on what you find the most comfortable!
Final Thoughts
Generally, cup DD or E is only less than one since, from cup F. Basically, the difference in cup sizes really depends on the brand or manufacturer of the bra.
A double D cup can either be an E cup, and the difference could be 0 to 1 inch. Furthermore, an E to an F cup difference is only half an inch, while a triple D could be the same as an F, depending on the maker.
The bra cup sizes are usually standardized, and the cut and shape of the cup can also change how the different cup sizes will fit. So it’s always better to ask for a size chart or guide from the brand you shop from. Make sure you go with whichever you feel more supported and comfortable with.