Bra sizing can seem like a bit of a mystery and our calculated size can sometimes come as a surprise.

So, what is going on? With a high proportion of women in the UK wearing the wrong size of bra, a historical issue is that many high street retailers use the ‘+4 method’ when it comes to measuring. This method takes your under bust measurement and adds on 4 or 5” (depending if it is an odd or even number) to get your band measurement. It was developed when bras were made from silk and satin and so had no stretch. Now the vast majority of bras have some sort of elastic or give in the material, and so this method is redundant and results in you wearing a bra that is too loose in the band. Why does this matter? It matters because the majority of support you get from your bra comes from the band. At Molke, we take your under bust measurement as it is and match it with the correct cup size for optimum fit, support and comfort.

In terms of cup size, if you have been wearing a traditionally measured bra, our cup size could be significantly larger. Cup sizes are not a standard size across all band sizes, so a DD cup in a 30” band isn’t the same as a DD cup in a 36” band. When you have a smaller band size, you usually have to go up in the cup size to get the same volume, support and comfort.

Our calculator size is very much a starting point. We recognise that every body is different and we all prefer different things in terms of fit, support and comfort. If you are unsure on what size you need to order, or want to check if your new bra is a good fit, please drop our expert fitting team an email at pixie@molke.co.uk and they will be happy to help.