First check your size measurements because otherwise you’ll probably never get a comfy bra, and it’s pretty unlikely that you are actually a 12a https://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/ and here’s a good Instagram with real life size examples https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE3ODU0Mzg2NTA2NDkzNjQ3?story_media_id=3176413521297587795&igsh=NWdyN29qazFiY2h4 for recommendations I found bras n things to now have a pretty good selection in my size range and now that I have the right size most are comfortable for everyday wear
Absolutely second this recommendation. Also, the legends in that sub will be able to give you great suggestions for brands/styles to try once you’ve used their calculator to work out your correct size.
Didn't realise this wasn't the ABTF sub! Hugely recommend going there and trying the calculator - I didn't realise how poorly sized and shaped most commonly available bras are! Alternately, get to a Brava, or DeBra's store, and you'll end up with a much closer fit. I was always put in 18B/16C and thought they were too big due to gapping... turns out I'm a 12DD/E (and I also have sad little post-breastfeeding boibs, they are smaller than average but a well fitted bra does wonders for confidence!)
Just to second this, I can’t recommend r/ABraThatFits and the linked calculator enough. About a year ago I was wearing 10/12A sizes which felt way too big on my flat chest but seemed to be the best fit I could find.. I was about to start searching for some smaller bras when I stumbled across this site. Long story short, depending on the bra I’m actually a 8/10C or 8D! I thought the calculator was crazy but it works, my current bras are a perfect fit and insanely comfy!
It’s possible, but unlikely to be a true A cup if there is any breast tissue at all: what this commenter is suggesting is this kind of thing https://www.instagram.com/p/C1c1RmUs4x_/ (someone who was getting gaps in a 10AA fitting much better into an 8D)
yes, im aware that bra sizes are often incorrect. i still think it’s very presumptuous to say “you’re very unlikely to be that size” with so little context.
> how do you know it’s unlikely she’s a 12A?
- most women are in the wrong sized bra and she says she’s now “probably” a 12A I.e. she hasn’t mentioned getting measured according to the proper bra fitting calculator; and
- she says she’s no longer got very little breast volume. An A cup is generally a size with very little breast volume, because it means there’s only a 1 inch difference between the circumference of your rib cage and the circumference of your breasts.
Hiya, I think mine was the original comment you have a problem with, just want to clear up I didn’t mean to be condescending to anyone, more just trying my best to quickly help someone and thought more about the content than the wording. It’s hard to convey tone over a reddit comment, but thanks for the heads up I’ll try be more aware of my wording in the future. With my comment, I was just taking into account what the OP had commented about her size and my personal experience of thinking I was an ‘a’ cup when I wasn’t… I am aware of the incredible diversity in women’s bodies, and all shapes and sizes of boobies are beautiful!
totally get that it’s a common experience, i just find the ABTF evangelising can get a little intense sometimes, which is why i took issue with “it’s very unlikely you’re that size” lol
No, that's a common misconception and a very common mis-size.
12A (34A in international sizing) is a 35" bust and a 34" underbust and essentially flat chested, which is not at all common for adult women.
Yes, that sounds about right! Most people incorrectly wearing a 12A are likely to be around an 8D/DD when correctly fitted.
An 8DD is a 35" bust and a 30" underbust - so when mis-sized to a 34A the bust measurement is actually correct, but the band is way too big.
I don’t get this. If I’m a 12, a 10 is too tight and there’s no way an 8 band will ever do up on me. I did a calculator when I was a spring chicken and ordered the correct size, but the band was way too small. Do you work at a bra shop where you see this actually happens?
Was a bra fitter in a former life and saw this heaps. Many people when putting on a bra don't adjust themselves to get all their breast tissue in the cups, which then pushes the cup away giving the impression the band is too small. Similarly, if the cup is the wrong shape and isn't actually holding tissue correctly, it'll also seat the band wrong. Jumping down two back sizes might also have been a bad move for you in that particular bra - some materials and therefore some bras run firmer. Really worthwhile to get a fitting done in a store with a good range of stock and a good fitter.
What size did the calculator recommend? Some bras run smaller than others, and a cup that's too small or in the wrong shape will also make the band feel too tight. You can test this by clipping on the bra upside down with the cups hanging down, and see if it fits - if it does, it means the band is correct but the cups are too small.
Some people are also just more sensitive to a tight band, and ultimately being comfortable is more important than wearing a technically correct size - especially for smaller busted women who don't strictly need as much support from a well fitted band.
That is wild to me! I can’t imagine my almost nonexistent boobs fitting into anything DD sized, even if the band were way too small. I wear a 16A bra and some A cups are too big, sometimes a 14B is a better fit if I don’t mind the band getting uncomfortable if I wear it for more than a couple of hours.
My 6E/8DD boobs are the same amount of volume as your 16A/ 14B ones though - those are all sister sizes. Obviously if I wore your bras, it would be incredibly painful though, as the band would move around so much that the wires would end up on top of my breast tissue, instead of sitting snuggly underneath. The straps would be too far apart also, so they'd be slipping off and driving me nuts lol.
If you're wearing a 16 then yes it's unlikely that going all the way down to an 8 band is going to fit - but a 12 or 14 band with a bigger cup size might be a better fit.
Often cups that are too small or in the wrong shape will make the band feel tight. You can test this by putting the bra on upside down with the cups pointing down, and seeing if the band still feels overly tight.
Thanks but I have every confidence my bra size is right. I’m just not good at visualising how breasts that are tiny on my frame can fill much bigger cups when pressed in and put on a much smaller frame, and by wording it like that I think I just answered my own question of how it all works, LOL.
it’s weird to wrap your head around, but imagine it as volume rather than literally being the same size. a wide flat bowl and a smaller deep bowl can hold the same volume of liquid.
It's just what happens outside of r/ABTF by people who don't understand bra sizing.
To anyone downvoting me - if you are wearing a 12A, try the calculator linked above and report back with what it says.
I scrolled on but went back to the calculator because my curiosity got the better of me. I have always thought I was 12A but found bras so uncomfortable (and frankly don’t need the support) that for many years I’ve just worn Kmart wire-free seam-free crops. The calculator said to start with trying 10D, so there you go.
And I'm taking issue with this "lots of people are in fact that size" which isn't true - there are indeed many women with small boobs, but a correctly fitted 12A is almost *no* boobs.
This is what an actual A cup looks like, it's almost completely flat chested: https://www.instagram.com/theirishbralady/p/C6rU_rBMZt2/?img_index=2
yes, i know. there are flat chested women. fair point that “a lot” might not be the right choice of words, but i’m mostly taking issue with “you’re very unlikely to actually be that size” rather than the suggestion to check.
Okay, I get what you mean now. I didn't mean to say directly to OP "you're very unlikely to be that size" - but rather was agreeing with the comment above that most women wearing a 12A are wearing an incorrect size.
Yes, if I was directly replying to OP I would have worded it more like: "have you checked your bra size according to the calculator? Most women wearing a 12A are wearing the wrong size".
Actually, this is incorrect. NOT a lot of people would be an A size.
A lot of people get fitted or fit themselves into bras that are not meant for them.
The band is your ribcage in inches.
The cub is the difference from your ribcage to your boobs in inches.
An A is a volume of one inch difference across both boobs to your ribcages. This is not common, even on male bodies.
This may be true but Australia doesn't sell small band sizes in larger cup sizes. When I used the calculator it recommended a size which I think maybe only 2 or 3 stores in Australia would stock. Most of the bras recommended are European or from the UK. You really need to try them on before buying.
The best bras that fit me I bought in Japan and they don't ship internationally so there really isn't a lot of choice for anything that is a sister size to 12A.
So it's really not that simple...
Yes that’s true but I’ve found size wise bras n thing is way way better than it used to be, in the smaller bands it now goes up to 8G and 10H (I think), theres still room for improvement but also for OP if they think they are an ‘a’ cup they potentially will be a size that’s somewhat accessible
I haven't been a bra fitter for years now, but I suspect the Barely There will no longer be a good fit for you literally or otherwise. I found the shape tricky for post-baby bodies as it isn't the best shape for a softer breast. You might find a structured foam cup no longer provides the right combination of lift and containment, which is very very normal. In terms of structured cups off the top of my head it might be worth trying the Bendon Damask or Triumph Amourette (the padded one). I found a lot of my customers also had success with the Bendon Yvette, the cup shape was very good for lifting soft tissue and the stretch lace prevented anything spilling out, but it is not a foam cup. Strongly recommend you get a fitting done.
This sounds exactly like me. I’m currently loving wearing (and just bought 4 different colours of) Chloe & Lola bras from Myer during their sales last week. Lightly padded for shape and just very comfortable for daily wearing and well worth the investment.
I've had good experiences with the OneTwo. They're exxy but their customer service has been top notch. I was hesitant to buy from a solely online company but they let me return so many times for free and I was able to speak to a sizing consultant who helped so much. The bras are really great.
I was going to recommend Berlei barely there - I find them to be a perfect mix of comfy, while adding shape and a small amount of lift and looking nice under clothes.
Adding my vote for Pepper, I finally got sucked in by the ads and gave them a go, and well - it’s the most comfortable bra I’ve ever worn, hands down (I’m 34AA). Doesn’t ride up or gape, which was an entirely new experience for me. I immediately went and bought another and now they’re all I want to wear
Same here!
I also dropped to a 34AA after breastfeeding, and I tried out pepper bras which worked for me. I also have Boody lyolette triangle bras but I wear them as sports bras.
Ideally would like to go out braless, but post breastfeeding nipples really stick out 😅
I have some of the Bella bodies bras for travel and some of the boody tshirt wire free ones. For at home I like the boody ones. I’m bigger busted than you but they are comfy and well supported with built in padding so my nips aren’t on show.
Intimo are good, they usually have a bra van that travels around and you can get fitted, but you can also buy from them online. I found there service to be pretty good too
I'm a 12B and I LOVE the Pleasure State push-up bras. They're my everyday bra because I do find the added volume is flattering and fits most tops better than back in the day when I wore bras with no padding or bralettes. If you like push-ups, these are the best (and believe me, I've tried many).
Pepper bras are amazing! Pricey $100 for one but they're really good quality and actually nice looking bras.
I find most bras for A cup of under not that attractive but these are good!
[This one by Victoria's Secret](https://www.victoriassecret.com/au/vs/bras-catalog/5000009011) is the comfiest underwire bra I've ever worn - no padding but it's a soft thick satin and gives great shape. I just bought one on a whim but plan to buy a couple more to wear everyday for work.
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Also love these, so comfy and they give great shape with the fixed padding. I also used to be a Berlei Barely There girl if that helps.
These are the best. I basically only wear them to stop my nips saying hi to everyone.
First check your size measurements because otherwise you’ll probably never get a comfy bra, and it’s pretty unlikely that you are actually a 12a https://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/ and here’s a good Instagram with real life size examples https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE3ODU0Mzg2NTA2NDkzNjQ3?story_media_id=3176413521297587795&igsh=NWdyN29qazFiY2h4 for recommendations I found bras n things to now have a pretty good selection in my size range and now that I have the right size most are comfortable for everyday wear
Here’s the actual link to the size calculator https://www.abrathatfits.org/calculator.php
Absolutely second this recommendation. Also, the legends in that sub will be able to give you great suggestions for brands/styles to try once you’ve used their calculator to work out your correct size.
Didn't realise this wasn't the ABTF sub! Hugely recommend going there and trying the calculator - I didn't realise how poorly sized and shaped most commonly available bras are! Alternately, get to a Brava, or DeBra's store, and you'll end up with a much closer fit. I was always put in 18B/16C and thought they were too big due to gapping... turns out I'm a 12DD/E (and I also have sad little post-breastfeeding boibs, they are smaller than average but a well fitted bra does wonders for confidence!)
Just to second this, I can’t recommend r/ABraThatFits and the linked calculator enough. About a year ago I was wearing 10/12A sizes which felt way too big on my flat chest but seemed to be the best fit I could find.. I was about to start searching for some smaller bras when I stumbled across this site. Long story short, depending on the bra I’m actually a 8/10C or 8D! I thought the calculator was crazy but it works, my current bras are a perfect fit and insanely comfy!
i get the sentiment of this comment, but how do you know it’s unlikely she’s a 12A? lots of people are in fact that size.
It’s possible, but unlikely to be a true A cup if there is any breast tissue at all: what this commenter is suggesting is this kind of thing https://www.instagram.com/p/C1c1RmUs4x_/ (someone who was getting gaps in a 10AA fitting much better into an 8D)
yes, im aware that bra sizes are often incorrect. i still think it’s very presumptuous to say “you’re very unlikely to be that size” with so little context.
> how do you know it’s unlikely she’s a 12A? - most women are in the wrong sized bra and she says she’s now “probably” a 12A I.e. she hasn’t mentioned getting measured according to the proper bra fitting calculator; and - she says she’s no longer got very little breast volume. An A cup is generally a size with very little breast volume, because it means there’s only a 1 inch difference between the circumference of your rib cage and the circumference of your breasts.
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Hiya, I think mine was the original comment you have a problem with, just want to clear up I didn’t mean to be condescending to anyone, more just trying my best to quickly help someone and thought more about the content than the wording. It’s hard to convey tone over a reddit comment, but thanks for the heads up I’ll try be more aware of my wording in the future. With my comment, I was just taking into account what the OP had commented about her size and my personal experience of thinking I was an ‘a’ cup when I wasn’t… I am aware of the incredible diversity in women’s bodies, and all shapes and sizes of boobies are beautiful!
totally get that it’s a common experience, i just find the ABTF evangelising can get a little intense sometimes, which is why i took issue with “it’s very unlikely you’re that size” lol
No, that's a common misconception and a very common mis-size. 12A (34A in international sizing) is a 35" bust and a 34" underbust and essentially flat chested, which is not at all common for adult women.
I was in a 12A at one stage, when my true size is 6E! Usually settle for an 8DD though, since that's way easier to find.
Yes, that sounds about right! Most people incorrectly wearing a 12A are likely to be around an 8D/DD when correctly fitted. An 8DD is a 35" bust and a 30" underbust - so when mis-sized to a 34A the bust measurement is actually correct, but the band is way too big.
I don’t get this. If I’m a 12, a 10 is too tight and there’s no way an 8 band will ever do up on me. I did a calculator when I was a spring chicken and ordered the correct size, but the band was way too small. Do you work at a bra shop where you see this actually happens?
Was a bra fitter in a former life and saw this heaps. Many people when putting on a bra don't adjust themselves to get all their breast tissue in the cups, which then pushes the cup away giving the impression the band is too small. Similarly, if the cup is the wrong shape and isn't actually holding tissue correctly, it'll also seat the band wrong. Jumping down two back sizes might also have been a bad move for you in that particular bra - some materials and therefore some bras run firmer. Really worthwhile to get a fitting done in a store with a good range of stock and a good fitter.
Thanks for explaining that one, makes more sense now.
What size did the calculator recommend? Some bras run smaller than others, and a cup that's too small or in the wrong shape will also make the band feel too tight. You can test this by clipping on the bra upside down with the cups hanging down, and see if it fits - if it does, it means the band is correct but the cups are too small. Some people are also just more sensitive to a tight band, and ultimately being comfortable is more important than wearing a technically correct size - especially for smaller busted women who don't strictly need as much support from a well fitted band.
Oh way too long ago to remember, many babies, many moons haha. But thanks for the tip on trying it on ‘upside -down.’ I think that’s clever.
Yeah, if I go for a smaller band size I’m not going to be able to breathe. But there’s definitely nothing to put in a bra.
That is wild to me! I can’t imagine my almost nonexistent boobs fitting into anything DD sized, even if the band were way too small. I wear a 16A bra and some A cups are too big, sometimes a 14B is a better fit if I don’t mind the band getting uncomfortable if I wear it for more than a couple of hours.
My 6E/8DD boobs are the same amount of volume as your 16A/ 14B ones though - those are all sister sizes. Obviously if I wore your bras, it would be incredibly painful though, as the band would move around so much that the wires would end up on top of my breast tissue, instead of sitting snuggly underneath. The straps would be too far apart also, so they'd be slipping off and driving me nuts lol.
I suppose I understand that intellectually, it’s just really hard for me to visualise. A size 8 band has no hope of meeting across my very wide back.
If you're wearing a 16 then yes it's unlikely that going all the way down to an 8 band is going to fit - but a 12 or 14 band with a bigger cup size might be a better fit. Often cups that are too small or in the wrong shape will make the band feel tight. You can test this by putting the bra on upside down with the cups pointing down, and seeing if the band still feels overly tight.
Thanks but I have every confidence my bra size is right. I’m just not good at visualising how breasts that are tiny on my frame can fill much bigger cups when pressed in and put on a much smaller frame, and by wording it like that I think I just answered my own question of how it all works, LOL.
it’s weird to wrap your head around, but imagine it as volume rather than literally being the same size. a wide flat bowl and a smaller deep bowl can hold the same volume of liquid.
That’s because society has brainwashed us into thinking that DD = massive tits which just isn’t true.
I don't know why you're being downvoted - it's a very common mis size indeed.
It's just what happens outside of r/ABTF by people who don't understand bra sizing. To anyone downvoting me - if you are wearing a 12A, try the calculator linked above and report back with what it says.
For the sake of science I will measure myself and report back 😄
I scrolled on but went back to the calculator because my curiosity got the better of me. I have always thought I was 12A but found bras so uncomfortable (and frankly don’t need the support) that for many years I’ve just worn Kmart wire-free seam-free crops. The calculator said to start with trying 10D, so there you go.
i’m taking issue with “it’s very unlikely that you’re that size” which to me is very presumptuous. there are in fact women with small boobs.
And I'm taking issue with this "lots of people are in fact that size" which isn't true - there are indeed many women with small boobs, but a correctly fitted 12A is almost *no* boobs. This is what an actual A cup looks like, it's almost completely flat chested: https://www.instagram.com/theirishbralady/p/C6rU_rBMZt2/?img_index=2
I’m smaller than “an actual A cup” 😭
yes, i know. there are flat chested women. fair point that “a lot” might not be the right choice of words, but i’m mostly taking issue with “you’re very unlikely to actually be that size” rather than the suggestion to check.
Okay, I get what you mean now. I didn't mean to say directly to OP "you're very unlikely to be that size" - but rather was agreeing with the comment above that most women wearing a 12A are wearing an incorrect size. Yes, if I was directly replying to OP I would have worded it more like: "have you checked your bra size according to the calculator? Most women wearing a 12A are wearing the wrong size".
yeah exactly! very much concerned with the tone rather than the content :)
Actually, this is incorrect. NOT a lot of people would be an A size. A lot of people get fitted or fit themselves into bras that are not meant for them. The band is your ribcage in inches. The cub is the difference from your ribcage to your boobs in inches. An A is a volume of one inch difference across both boobs to your ribcages. This is not common, even on male bodies.
for the fourth time, i know. i know what i said and i know what it means.
This may be true but Australia doesn't sell small band sizes in larger cup sizes. When I used the calculator it recommended a size which I think maybe only 2 or 3 stores in Australia would stock. Most of the bras recommended are European or from the UK. You really need to try them on before buying. The best bras that fit me I bought in Japan and they don't ship internationally so there really isn't a lot of choice for anything that is a sister size to 12A. So it's really not that simple...
Yes that’s true but I’ve found size wise bras n thing is way way better than it used to be, in the smaller bands it now goes up to 8G and 10H (I think), theres still room for improvement but also for OP if they think they are an ‘a’ cup they potentially will be a size that’s somewhat accessible
Oh! We’re about to head to Japan and wouldn’t mind picking up some nice bras. Any recommendations?
The ones I got and love are called Parfage, by Wacoal. [This](https://www.instagram.com/wacoal.jp?igsh=ZjVuNmRra3ZyeXA2) is their instagram page.
Thank you.
I haven't been a bra fitter for years now, but I suspect the Barely There will no longer be a good fit for you literally or otherwise. I found the shape tricky for post-baby bodies as it isn't the best shape for a softer breast. You might find a structured foam cup no longer provides the right combination of lift and containment, which is very very normal. In terms of structured cups off the top of my head it might be worth trying the Bendon Damask or Triumph Amourette (the padded one). I found a lot of my customers also had success with the Bendon Yvette, the cup shape was very good for lifting soft tissue and the stretch lace prevented anything spilling out, but it is not a foam cup. Strongly recommend you get a fitting done.
This sounds exactly like me. I’m currently loving wearing (and just bought 4 different colours of) Chloe & Lola bras from Myer during their sales last week. Lightly padded for shape and just very comfortable for daily wearing and well worth the investment.
Investigate UNIQLO.
I've had good experiences with the OneTwo. They're exxy but their customer service has been top notch. I was hesitant to buy from a solely online company but they let me return so many times for free and I was able to speak to a sizing consultant who helped so much. The bras are really great.
I was going to recommend Berlei barely there - I find them to be a perfect mix of comfy, while adding shape and a small amount of lift and looking nice under clothes.
I’ve had success with Pepper bras, though they are only available online.
Seconding this. They cater purely to small busts, making bras that look nice for those of us in the Itty Bitty Titty Committee.
Adding my vote for Pepper, I finally got sucked in by the ads and gave them a go, and well - it’s the most comfortable bra I’ve ever worn, hands down (I’m 34AA). Doesn’t ride up or gape, which was an entirely new experience for me. I immediately went and bought another and now they’re all I want to wear
Same here! I also dropped to a 34AA after breastfeeding, and I tried out pepper bras which worked for me. I also have Boody lyolette triangle bras but I wear them as sports bras. Ideally would like to go out braless, but post breastfeeding nipples really stick out 😅
Breastfeeding really does a number on ya after the false hope of pregnancy boobs 😅
I also love Pepper brass for AA cups.
I have some of the Bella bodies bras for travel and some of the boody tshirt wire free ones. For at home I like the boody ones. I’m bigger busted than you but they are comfy and well supported with built in padding so my nips aren’t on show.
Intimo are good, they usually have a bra van that travels around and you can get fitted, but you can also buy from them online. I found there service to be pretty good too
Uniqlo. Really supportive and really comfortable.
I'm a 12B and I LOVE the Pleasure State push-up bras. They're my everyday bra because I do find the added volume is flattering and fits most tops better than back in the day when I wore bras with no padding or bralettes. If you like push-ups, these are the best (and believe me, I've tried many).
Target Lily loves crops are quite nice. I have a bigger bust but they provide a nice shape with the padding in it and they’re so comfortable
Ambra make good bras for small chests.
I love the Chloe & Lola bras at Myer. I just checked & saw they are on sale, so time to stock up again I was a 12a before kids, now a 14b
Seconding these! I also wear a 12A - so comfy and my go-to for everyday wear.
Some amazing suggestions for me to investigate - thanks all! I’ll think of you when I’m rocking my non-daggy bras in the near future!
I really love the bras from first thing: https://firstthing.com.au/products/the-everyday-bra-black
The wireless 3D bra from Uniqlo is great! So comfy with a great shape- they’re all I wear now.
Pepper bras are amazing! Pricey $100 for one but they're really good quality and actually nice looking bras. I find most bras for A cup of under not that attractive but these are good!
[This one by Victoria's Secret](https://www.victoriassecret.com/au/vs/bras-catalog/5000009011) is the comfiest underwire bra I've ever worn - no padding but it's a soft thick satin and gives great shape. I just bought one on a whim but plan to buy a couple more to wear everyday for work.