To assist you before you make a purchase we have detailed below some guidance notes relating to the most frequently requested advice.
- Advice For Women
- Determine Your Bra Size
- Advice for women who have had breast surgery
- Advice for women who need a maternity bra
- Advice for Brides
- Fitting Advice For Men
- Buying a Gift for a lady
Advice For Women
Discovering your true bra size can be life changing. This might sound a bit over the top, but it is easy to underestimate how much your figure, the way your clothes look, and the way you feel about yourself can be transformed by the right bra.
At Elouise Lingerie all of our Lingerie Stylists are trained to fit the bra to the person rather than to use the more traditional method of tape measures. By using our expertise we are sure of getting a perfect fit and this is why we recommend a private fitting at Elouise Lingerie whenever you need a new bra. This service is provided completely free of charge.
Obviously we realise that this is not always a practical option and suggest that if you try to have a professional fitting once every six months then in the meantime you can pick up your regular size online as the brands we stock are fairly consistent in sizing and styling once you know what suits you.
Don't forget we are also happy to see you at any time on a walk in basis even to check the fit of the bra you are wearing .
However if you are unable to pay us a visit in person and you wish to order online then detailed below is a guide which we hope you will find helpful in getting it right!
Determine Your Bra Size
Back Size
Measure around your back and directly underneath your bust, ensuring the tape is held firmly in place. Use the chart below to determine your back size:
| inches | 27-28 | 29-30 | 31-32 | 33-34 | 35-36 | 37-38 | 39-40 |
| bra size | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 |
Cup Size
Measure around the fullest part of your bust, ensuring that the tape is held firmly in place. The difference between this measurement and your bra size will give you your cup size.
For example, if there is no difference between the two sizes, your cup fitting will be 'A', and so on. See table below for further details.
| inches | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| cm | 0 | 2.5 | 5 | 7.5 | 10 | 12.5 | 15 | 17.5 | 20 |
| cup size | A | B | C | D | DD | E | F | G | H |
Troubleshooting
- If bra rides up at back – adjust hook and eye closure to tighten, loosen straps or try a smaller band size (34 instead of 36).
- If band digs in – order one band size larger (36 instead of 34) or opt for a bra with a wider band.
- If sides bulge – order one band size larger (36 rather than 34) or choose a style that provides more cup coverage.
- If cups overflow – order one cup size larger (C to D) or one band size larger (34 to 36).
- If shoulders are sore – loosen bra or opt for a bra with wider, or padded straps.
- If bustline sags – shorten straps, avoid stretchy fabrics or choose a firmer support style with rigid straps.
- If underwires pinch or poke – order one cup size larger (B to C) or try a non-underwire soft cup style.
- If straps slip – tighten straps or opt for bra with wider straps.
These notes aim to provide general indication of your bra size. However, if at all possible allow yourself some 'me time' and book a private fitting in our boudoir. That way one of our Lingerie Stylists can spend time with you on a one to one basis in relaxing surroundings to help you select the best lingerie to suit all of your needs.
Advice for women who have had breast surgery
If you have had breast surgery it is even more important to seek professional advice as other factors will need to be taken into consideration.
Immediately post surgery you will normally need a special soft bra without wires whilst you go through the healing process.
Afterwards, when scarring has healed, dependent on whether you have had reconstructive surgery or will be wearing a prosthesis you will be able to choose what is right for you.
You may wish to continue to wear an unwired bra specially designed with pockets in either side which hold a prosthesis in place. These bras will normally be fitted to your natural breast and then the prosthesis fitted afterwards. In the event of a double mastectomy the bra will first be fitted to you then the prostheses fitted afterwards.
Alternatively once given the all clear from your surgeon you may wish to opt for a bra similar to what you were wearing before and possibly with underwires in which case it is very important to be fitted by a professional.
Following reconstructive or cosmetic surgery, quite apart from the size, the consistency and shape of your breasts will have changed. This where you would really benefit from a session with an experienced Lingerie Stylist who can not only help with size but also achieve a perfect fit through styling.
Advice for women who need a maternity bra
When pregnant some women notice changes in their breasts straight away whereas others may take longer. By the time you reach 8 – 10 weeks you should have noticed that your breasts start to become bigger and heavier and since there is no muscle and only ligaments it is important to ensure that you remain well supported. You also need to be careful that you don’t continue to make do with an existing wired bra that no longer fits which may dig in and cause discomfort.
As a general rule, early on in your pregnancy you can expect to see your band size increase as your rib cage expands to accommodate your baby and also your cup size will increase in anticipation of producing milk. Once you baby is born your band size will reduce again but your cup size will possibly increase further. However you can expect you breasts to settle down to your pregnancy size within 12 weeks of the birth. You do have to bear in mind though that everyone is different!
At Elouise Lingerie we recommend that you have your bra checked very regularly during pregnancy - at least every six weeks and as and when you notice a change in you breasts or feel uncomfortable in what you are wearing. We are pleased to offer this as a complimentary service and our trained Lingerie Stylists will offer their expertise and advice to help you make decisions that are right for you for you during this very important time.
Advice for Brides
We provide an extra special service for the bride to be…..making your bridal shopping experience something to remember!
Ideally you should have lingerie in mind when selecting your dress as you will need to wear it all day and therefore choose a style that will not only make you look fabulous but also feel comfortable as well. You certainly need to have chosen your lingerie before the first fitting to enable the dress to be fitted to perfection.
We recommend a private fitting in our sumptuous Boudoir which offers a more secluded and relaxed environment away from the shop floor. This enables us to provide a fully dedicated service in spacious surroundings to the Bride who may wish to bring her dress together with her Mother and Bridesmaids. Appointments are not always necessary.
Our experienced Lingerie Stylists use their expertise to help you select correctly fitting lingerie in the best style to suit your natural shape. Always taking into account what is needed to enhance that very special dress!
We offer sizes 30AA to 46H in a variety of top quality brands so whether it is the Bride, Mother of the Bride, Bridesmaid or Wedding Guest there is usually something perfect for the occasion.
For the wedding night and Honeymoon we have a fabulous selection of exquisite nightwear and stunning swimwear available all year round.
Elouise Lingerie very much looks forward to welcoming Brides and their wedding party to a fabulous shopping experience…….
Fitting Advice For Men
Buying for yourself
At Elouise Lingerie we stock an extensive selection of men’s designer underwear and swimwear for the more discerning male.
All of our products are made from the highest quality fabrics and are designed with comfort and fit in mind. To help you select the correct size we work on the following waist sizes for our Underwear and Swimwear:
- Small (S): To fit waist size 32 inches
- Medium (M): To fit waist size 34 inches
- Large (L): To fit waist size 36 inches
- Extra Large (XL): To fit waist size 38 inches
Please note that this is for guidance purposes only, various fabrics do offer different levels of stretch and of course different styles will vary in fit.
Buying a Gift for a lady
If the lady you are buying for is an existing customer of Elouise Lingerie then our experienced Lingerie Stylists will be able to consult our records to advise on both sizing and styling to help you make the perfect choice.
Alternatively take a look in her lingerie drawer and find a bra that she wears regularly as this will probably be a good fit, comfortable and in a style that works with the type of clothes she likes to wear. Look at the label to see what size it is: You are looking for a band size which will be for example 34, 36 etc. and a cup size C,D,E etc. The size will be stated as 36C, 34E and so on. If you are considering purchasing briefs, nightwear or swimwear then you also need to know her dress size which will be 10, 12 ,14 etc.
Armed with this information any of our lingerie stylists would be pleased to help you select a beautiful gift in the correct size for your lady.
If you need any further advice or assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.