Choosing the right bra size when buying online
It is the garment worn longest every day, and the one chosen worst. Eight women out of ten wear a bra size that is not theirs, almost always with a band too loose and a cup too small. Online, the fear of getting it wrong stops the purchase altogether. Yet two measurements and five minutes are enough to order correctly.
Two measurements, nothing more
Take a tape measure, keep on a thin unpadded bra, and stand straight in front of a mirror.
Measure your underbust just below the breasts, where the band sits. Pull the tape firmly: this measurement is what holds you, not the straps. Write the number down in centimetres.
Measure your bust at the fullest point, keeping the tape flat without compressing. Stay relaxed, arms down, breathing normally.
Save both numbers in your phone. You will reuse them for every order, and they change less often than people assume.
From centimetres to French sizing
The number in your size comes from the underbust. In France, 63 cm is an 85, and one size is added every 5 cm: 68 cm gives a 90, 73 cm a 95, 78 cm a 100. Between two values, round down if you like firm support.
The letter comes from the difference between your two measurements. A 13 cm difference is an A cup, 15 cm a B, 17 cm a C, 19 cm a D, 21 cm an E. Every two centimetres moves you up one letter.
The conversion trap
Labels mix systems. French 90 is European 75, UK 34 and US 34: the number changes, the woman does not. Cups shift too: a French D often becomes a UK E, and beyond D the letters diverge sharply between countries. Never trust the letter alone. Always compare your centimetres to the size chart on the product page — that is the only figure that never lies.
The signs that never lie
Does the band ride up your back? It is too loose. Go one band size down and one cup up: a badly fitted 95B is usually a 90C — the same breast volume on a firmer back.
Does the underwire press on the breast instead of framing it, or does flesh spill at the side? The cup is too small. Conversely, a cup that wrinkles or gapes is too big.
Do the straps dig into your shoulders? Carrying is not their job. A well-chosen bra is held 80 % by the band.
Choosing the shape for the use
An underwired bra gives the best support and shapes the silhouette under fitted clothing. A bralette, wireless, is the most comfortable at home, while travelling or across a long day. A triangle suits smaller busts and sits well under a light dress. A balconette opens up the neckline and slips under a wide-necked top. A moulded-cup bra smooths the bust under thin fabric, with no visible edge.
For sport, use a genuine support model: bounce is what tires breast tissue most, and no everyday bralette contains it properly.
Making it last
Wash a bra by hand, in cold water, with a mild soap. In the machine, use a mesh bag, hooks closed, at 30 degrees maximum. Never tumble dry: heat destroys the elastane in the band, and the band does all the work. Dry it flat, in the shade — direct sun yellows whites and tires the fibres. Rotate between several bras rather than wearing one every day: elastic needs a day to recover its shape.
And if I still get it wrong?
You have 14 days to return an unworn item in its original condition. On MODEACC, every lingerie page shows the real measurement chart, and you can filter the catalogue by size to see only what exists in yours. If you hesitate between two sizes, order both: delivery is free from 500 DH, and you send back the one that does not fit.
