All our clothing is sized on this website in UK sizes. Don’t be alarmed if you receive your order and it shows a different size, because, depending on the manufacturer, it may be sized in European sizing.

As a general guide to sizing, please see the table below:

PLEASE NOTE:

Different manufacturers do size their products differently so the above is just a general guide.

In our experience ANITA briefs tend to be a little on the small size and we would recommend that you go up a size if you are in any doubt.

If you are looking to buy your new bra from Embrace, why not use our free bra fitting service?

We are passionate about FIT and this article attempts to explain why and to allay some of the confusion that often arises between bra measuring and bra fitting.

Although bra measuring is widely offered on the high street, in our opinion it doesn’t give the full picture.  There are several reasons for this.  Firstly, a measurement does not take into account the shape of the breast tissue or its density and elasticity – these factors are just as important as a measurement in assessing which bras will work best for you.  Secondly, all bras fit differently – there are massive variations in sizing between different brands and there will also be differences between different styles of bra within the same brand as the material and even the dyes used can have an effect on fit.  Thirdly, different brands use different sizing scales – so you will never be a DD cup in many European brands, because they go straight from a D to an E cup, and in an American brand you may find that you are a DDD!  For these reasons, a measurement alone will not necessarily be enough to help you find the ideal bra.

A bra fitting will give you a much better picture.  During an appointment we try you in a variety of styles and shapes of bras from the stock in our shop, and recommend the ones that are the best fit for you.  It is quite common for the recommended bras to be different sizes, due to the factors set out above, especially if you are buying across different brands and different styles.  We take our time with fittings – expect to spend about half an hour or more with us – and we work with you to find the best fit for your personal needs.

Occasionally we have requests from ladies who want to know their “bra size”.  If you are looking for a measurement to take to a different shop, then a bra fitting will not be particularly useful, as the only certainty in sizing will be for the specific bras we have tried you in and the factors set out above will again come into play.  As a result, this is not a service that we feel we can offer.

Once your fitting is complete and you have selected your bras, we can, with your consent, keep a record of your purchases, so that we have the details to hand for future visits (and this is often useful if someone else is planning to buy you a gift!).  We can also offer advice on how to care for your bras, to ensure that you get the most from them.

We hope that this gives you a better understanding of the services that we offer, the differences between measurement and fitting and why we firmly believe that FIT COMES FIRST!

TIPS FOR A GOOD FIT

1. The band of your bra should fit snugly around the narrowest part of your back and be the same height all the way round
2. The bra should be close to the body at the front and sit evenly in the middle
3. Your breasts should be enclosed in the cup with no wrinkling of the fabric
4. Your breasts should not bulge over the top or side of the cup
5. You should be able run two (but no more than two) fingers under the band
6. Always start on the loosest hook. This way you can tighten it up as the bra stretches, giving you more wear
7. If you wear a prosthesis check that it is in the right position and is completely covered by the cup.  It is important that the bra is supporting your natural breast. Do not gauge the fitting of a bra on how your prosthesis fits as this maybe different to you natural breast if you have lost or put on weight
8. My bra is riding up at the back or moving around – Here your band size may be too big. Try lifting your arms up to see if the band is tight enough. If it is riding up try going down a band size e.g. 36 to a 34. To keep the cup size the same you must go up a cup size e.g. 36C = 34D

COMMON PROBLEMS AND HOW TO RESOLVE THEM

1. The band is digging in around my body or the band is overstretched – Here the band appears to be too tight, so try a bigger band size e.g. 34 to a 36. To keep the cup size the same you must go down a cup size e.g. 34C = 36B
2. The shoulder straps are digging in – You may need to loosen the straps. If this does not work it maybe that the underband is too big, thus giving you no support, and the weight of your bust is being borne by the straps. The underband acts as 80% of the bra’s support so try going down a band size e.g. 40 to a 38.
3. The straps keep slipping off– Here you need to adjust the straps so they are a tighter fit. For more support you may need to try a bra with wider straps
4. My breasts are bulging out of the top or sides of the cup – This is a really common problem – the reason is that the cup size is too small. Try a larger cup size e.g. B to a C cup
5. The fabric is wrinkling on the cups– Here the cup is too big. Make sure you lift your bust into the bra. If the fabric still wrinkles try going down a cup size e.g. D to a C cup.  This can sometimes happen if your breasts are different in size.  Choosing a bra with a stretch lace cup can help, as the fabric will stretch to fit each breast individually.
6. My prosthesis is moving to one side– This often happens when the band is too big. Try a smaller band size. If the problem persists it may be that the prosthesis is too light and you need to try a slightly heavier style.

PLEASE NOTE

All our lingerie is sized on this website in UK sizes.  Don’t be alarmed if you receive your order and it shows a different size, because, depending on the manufacturer, it may be sized in European sizing.

This is a tricky area, due to the fact that after breast surgery your breast is continuously changing and the healing process differs widely from woman to woman.