Pro tip: Harrington wants everyone to know there’s a space for them in intimates. “I’d rather people explore their options and feel like lingerie is an open space for them that they can play in, rather than having me as an expert come to them and say, ‘No, this is how you should wear it,’ because, to me, that mindset doesn’t feel welcoming.” That can be really intimidating,” she explains. “The way we talk about lingerie is so centered around rules and telling people what to do, what not to do. While Harrington is now a laudable expert, she grew up in a small town and remains a conscientious advocate for those who might feel overwhelmed or out of their comfort zone by the lingerie buying experience. If you’ve been wearing the same size since high school, it’s time to get an updated measurement - and don’t judge the outcome. Pro tip: Practice self-love and acceptance. “They think, ‘Oh, I’m a 40DD,’ when their rib cage is 32 inches around.”īut if women are afraid of exploring those higher sizes - whether it’s due to size stigma or a lack of lingerie education in the United States - that means they’re unnecessarily putting up with uncomfortable bras. “People believe that there’s no way they could be a G cup,” Harrington notes. Starting with DD, which is a 5-inch difference, each letter doubles before increasing again (e.g., E, EE, F, FF, etc.). One inch is an A cup, two a B, three a C, and four a D. The letter, or cup size, is essentially a ratio - the difference between your underbust and bust at its fullest point. The New Method: underbust = band-size Bra brands that cater to A through D cups tend to use the Classic Method, while brands specializing in DD and above are more likely to use the New Method. The Classic Method: underbust + 4 to 5 inches = band-size (add 4 inches if underbust is an even number, 5 if it’s odd) The number - or band size - corresponds with your rib cage or underbust measurement. Part of that, notably in the United States, stems from the misconception “that anything over a D cup must be this really large, enormous size.” This is problematic, according to Harrington, because most of the population should be wearing a DD cup or beyond. “The biggest issue that I see, especially in talking to people, is that they don’t know what the numbers and the letters of their bra size mean,” Harrington says. Banish size stigma and learn your accurate size Just remember to have your bra measurements on hand! And don’t go with what’s popular, choose the best fit for you.Ģ. Pro tip: Luckily, in the internet age, you’re only a click away from a company that caters specifically to your size and style preferences - all from the comfort of your own home, wherever that may be. “They might not carry sizes beyond an F or a G cup, or maybe they’re focused on beige bras and not fashion colors.” “Even in larger cities with boutique offerings you might still run into issues of access,” Harrington says. Nevertheless, they’re worth a visit, even if only to obtain an accurate bra measurement. Department stores may not have the selection you’re looking for, either in terms of size or style. In Middle America, the closest you might get to the boutique experience is Soma, or a department store - such as Macy’s or Dillard’s. Living in the States, Harrington recommends a lingerie specialist boutique or a department store with a comprehensive fit-focused lingerie department whenever possible. “We don’t have the kind of lingerie boutique culture that countries like France or the UK have, where on every corner practically there’s a lingerie shop,” she explains.Īcross the pond “lingerie shopping is this total experience, and the idea of wearing a beautiful, well-fitting bra isn’t seen as something scandalous.” The United States, with its many rural pockets and puritanical roots, is rife with undergarment misinformation. Pursue the boutique experience, no matter where you live
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