Archive for the 'Full Figure Lingerie' Category
What Is The Average Bra Size?
July 14, 2009
Today, my customer service team forwarded to me this inquiry from a customer named Denise:
"When I was young, my mother told me the average and also perfect bra size was 34B. Now I have noticed a lot of 34B in pictures, and the basis of your fitters measurements. What is it that is so special about 34B? So is 34B really the average size? Or was it at some point, the average size and we’ve now outgrown it? Thank you!"
Well Denise, you ask a very good question. First, let me address why HerRoom uses 34B as the basic average bra size for photography and measurements.
The reason HerRoom uses 34B bras and thus 34B models is because in the lingerie industry, the established sample size is 34B. Months before a new item is displayed on our site, my buyers go to market where they are shown the new styles by each vendor. With the exception of manufacturers who specialize in larger sizes, all the samples the buyers are shown are in 34B. We take those samples, photograph them, and measure them before they are shown on the site. So, it’s not our choice, but rather, 34B is the only size we can get our hands on.
Now, this sort of answers your second inquiry which is why are there so many 34B mentions on the Internet, and is it the average bra size. No, it is not the average bra size. Today, U.S. manufacturers tell us that 36C is the average bra size in America, and that it is trending towards 38C becoming the new average U.S. bra size. Yup, we are getting bigger. Again, because everyone makes their samples in a 34B, we are somewhat forced to photograph that size on our site.
Denise, I’m also glad you asked this question because it gives me an opportunity to point out something we do at HerRoom that no one else does. From reading years of customer comments, it was clear that larger busted women find it very difficult to make a decision about a bra unless they see it on a model with a fuller figure. To address this, any bra that comes in DD cup sizing or larger at HerRoom will have an alternate image shot titled "36DD". That’s right, once we have inventory of a bra, we pull the 36DD and bring in a model of that size and have her photographed. So, a full figured woman can now see a bra at least close to her size on a more voluptuous model. She will also be able to see if the manufacturer makes any design changes to accommodate the large cup sizes.
Great question. Thank you Denise.
Find bras at HerRoom in these departments:
Bras
Plus-Size Lingerie
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Posted by Tomima at 7:16am
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Lingerie Figure Types – The Apple Body Shape
February 16, 2009
Not all figure types are defined by fruit, but this the apple body shape is the second and final one. What is an apple figure type? It’s a woman with round curves who has a tummy bulge and round hips. In silhouette, she would have a very round shape – as in contrast to a pear shape which would have a noticeably smaller top. The apple shape tends to be petite in stature, and definitely has full breasts.
The best way to enhance this figure type is with lingerie that smooths and gives control. Consequently, shapewear and bodysuits are great options. The breasts should be lifted and supported to make her look thinner and more youthful. She needs to have a round, full and lifted look. Anything less will make her look dowdy.
For her tummy and thighs, shapewear is her best friend. And, how great that shapewear looks and feels so good these days. It also comes in black which is not only slimming, but looks sexy, so it’s a look she can feel good about being seen in.
In our "What’s She Underwearing" series on HerRoom, we always include a petite plus size model. I strongly suggest the apple shape figure type check out this section on our site to see the various solutions we put her in.
Find lingerie for your body shapeHerRoom in these departments:
Bras
Panties
Shapewear
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Posted by Tomima at 8:40am
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European Bra Size versus American Bra Size – What’s the Difference?
December 09, 2008
One of our fabulous Customer Service Representatives, LaBresha, emailed me recently and told me many of our customers ask about the difference between European bra sizes and America bra sizes. She then suggested I blog on the subject. Well LeBresha, thank you for your suggestion, and here you go!
Let me begin with a little history. The bra cup letter sizing as we know it today was first introduced in 1935 by The Warners Company. Shortly after this measuring system was accepted in the US, the European corset manufacturers followed.
The numbers used today for our bra band size (e.g. 34, 38 etc.) were devised shortly after WWII. Back then, women with the measurements of 36-24-36 were determined to be the ideal hourglass silhouette of the day. But, since the band size represents a woman’s underbust measurement, the true measurement would be something more like a 28 or 32. Now, this is where marketing came in. The industry decided to have the bra band sizes sound more appealing to women. So, they took the underbust measurement, added 4-5 inches to it, and came up with the band sizes that we use today. This is why you add the 4 or 5 inches to your underbust measurement when you are calculating your bra band size.
So, now let’s talk about cup sizing today. A recent inquiry came to us from a woman stating that she’s a 36F in European bra sizing. She wanted us to tell her what her US bra size would be. There is no easy answer to her question, unfortunately. This is because there is no consistancy in bra sizing between European brands and American brands when it comes to cup sizes larger than a D. Over the years, various bra manufacturers, in their attempt to be unique, have varied their bra sizing from the traditional naming of cup size. It used to be that American manufacturers would size their bra cups as follows: AA, A, B, C, D, DD, DDD, DDDD. European manufacturers sized their cups: AA, A, B, C, D, E, F, G. But, British manufacturers had their own scheme: AA, A, B, C, D, DD, E, F, FF. So you can now see why it would be difficult to convert one size to another.
Here is my personal suggestion to women who have breasts larger than a D cup, and want to find their bra size in a different brand. Know how many cup sizes larger you are than a D, and then you can always find your correct size. Cup sizing up through a D is universal. The grading of cup sizing is also universal. Therefore, if you know you are 3 cup sizes larger than a D, you can simply find the D cup size on any bra manufacturer sizing chart, count up 3 cup sizes from there, and that will be your size. Here’s is an example: suppose you know you are a DDD cup in the US which is 2 cup sizes larger than a D cup. Using our cup sequences method, you would be an F cup in the European example, and an E cup in the British example.
But let me make it even easier for you. At HerRoom, we have this great fitting chart we always keep current that compares all the brands we offer. Simply find your cup size under the brand you know fits, then go up and down the column to determine your size in other brands.
Now what about band size? Well, thank goodness this is pretty standard across all brands. However, some European brands do like to use the centimeter number to identify your underbust measurement – and they don’t add 4 to 5 inches to make it sound better. So, a 32 band size would be a 70, a 34 band size would be a 75, a 36 would be an 80 and so on. The good news here is that at HerRoom, we only offer traditional band sizing for all our items, regardless of country of origin.
So there you have it. It’s really not that difficult to understand and adjust to once you know the system. And of course, if you have any further sizing questions, my ace Customer Service Representatives like LaBresha are there to give you any assistance you need.
Posted by Tomima at 8:49am
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