Bras cup E

How to find your size

In practice the letter describes the difference between two measurements, not the absolute size of the bust: the same cup on a 70 band and on a 90 band holds a completely different volume.

From this size upwards, support comes mainly from the band rather than from the straps. Choose full cup styles with a high underarm side panel and wide straps. Push-up bras usually get in the way, because they add volume at the top of the bust.

Check your size with two measurements: take the underbust measurement firmly, breathing out, and the bust measurement loosely, at the fullest point. The difference gives you the letter, the underbust measurement - the number. Every size has its sister sizes: the same bust also fits a band one size smaller with the next cup up, and a band one size larger with the next cup down. If your size is temporarily unavailable in a particular style, that is the first place worth looking.

The band should sit horizontally and pull away about two fingers, the underwires should rest on the ribs rather than on the breast, and the straps should not leave marks. Wash in a laundry bag at 30°C, fastened, and dry flat. Orders over PLN 199 ship free, 14 days to return.

Cup E means a difference of roughly 20-22 centimetres between the measurement around the chest at the fullest point of the bust and the measurement just below it. The letter on its own says nothing about breast volume until you set it against a band size: 70E and 90E hold a completely different amount of fabric in the cup at the same difference in measurements.

Sister sizes work here just as they do everywhere else: going down one band size, move the letter up, going up one band size, move it down. You can check the neighbouring cup volumes in cup D and cup F, and a wider choice of styles in larger sizes.

Fabrics and comfort

This collection brings together several dozen styles in this letter, in bands from 65 to 105. Most of them use lace, and a large share are soft-cup constructions with no rigid foam. That is the usual pattern for this range: at cup E manufacturers more often choose a seamed cup with a lace upper panel than a moulded one, because a horizontal seam distributes the weight better.

What to look out for

If you are only now moving up to this letter from a smaller one, expect a change not only in the cup but also in how the bra feels across your back. At this volume the band carries most of the weight, so it should be noticeably firm and, in a new bra, fastened on the loosest row of hooks to leave room for the fabric to stretch.