MEASURE YOURSELF
Obviously getting an in-store fitting in person is the best way to dial in on size and fit (plus, there's champagne and chocolates there, so, duh). If that's not in the cards for you or there isn't a Journelle store near you (yet!), it's super easy to do it at home. Here's a simple how-to.
STEP ONE: Relax + Prepare
Pour yourself a glass of something bubbly and/or caffeinated, put on your best fitting, non-padded bra, and relaaaax. Cocktail optional, but feeling good is a must.
STEP TWO: Gather the goods
Find a tape measure. If you don't have one, we can send you one OR you can literally use whatever's lying around (ribbon/string/floss/strand of pearls) and a ruler. We use inches because, srsly, who uses metric (oh wait, literally everyone else...well, we don't write the rules!).
STEP THREE: Band Measurement
Run the measuring tape around your back, under your arms, and up around the top of your bust (where your cups meet your straps). Exhale. The tape should be as snug as possible without digging. This number, in inches, is your Band Size. If you get an odd number, round up to the next even number.
STEP FOUR: Bust Measurement
Run the measuring tape around your back—just under your shoulder blades—and up around the fullest part of your bust. The tape should just skim the bra in front. This is your Bust Measurement.
STEP FIVE: Bra Math
Subtract to see the difference between your band size measurement and your cup size measurement (if you rounded your band size up to an even number above, use the smaller, odd number for this calculation). The difference in inches corresponds to your cup size.
Ok, cool. But what about things that are sized S/M/L (like, basically every bralette)?
We hear you. It's complicated. Finding a bralette that fits can feel less like an exact science and more like some sort of boob magic. Luckily, we're pretty good at boob science AND boob magic. Obviously, there are tons of variables when it comes to simple S/M/L sizing (and we have a few suggestions below if you're feeling like this chart doesn't nail it for you), but speaking generally, here's a bare-bones fit guide for finding a bralette you love that loves you back:
Bralette Sizing Tips + Tricks
Not all bras are created equal which is actually awesome because all women are (fabulously) different. While this means that there's *usually* something for everyone, when it comes to simple S/M/L sizing it can feel...limiting for certain size ranges + breast shapes. For slender bands and fuller cups we recommend bralettes specifically constructed for that shape (like THIS ONE) or wireless bras that use classic band/cup sizing (like THIS or THIS).
If you're looking for a bralette sizing recommendations for your particular shape, we've got 'em!
And, as always, we're here to help. When in doubt...
Ask an Expert!
Just like with everything else, fit is personal. Not all 34B's (or 32D's, 36A's, or 28G's) are created equal because every woman is different. Have questions? We got you. Check out our Fit FAQ page for some insider info on some of the most common issues we see in our fitting rooms and our Breast Shape Guide for tailored recommendations based on silhouette.
Or, if you have more burning questions about size (Jocelyn), shape (Stephanie), fit (Alondra), or whether or not the last episode of Game of Thrones was satisfying (Sandra) our team of experts is standing by. Get in touch.