Size Guide
Buying a bra you can't try on first takes a small leap of faith. This page is here to make it a short one.
Two measurements
You'll need a soft tape measure and about two minutes. Measure over bare skin or a thin, unpadded bra — never over a jumper or a padded cup, which will add centimetres that aren't yours.
Your underbust. Bring the tape directly under your bust, where the band of a bra sits. Keep it level all the way round, snug but not tight. Breathe out normally, then read the number.
Your bust. Measure around the fullest part of your bust, tape level and relaxed. This one shouldn't compress at all — let it sit lightly.
If someone can check that the tape is level across your back, ask them. A tape that dips at the back is the single most common reason a measurement comes out wrong, and it's usually wrong by enough to change your size.
Finding your size
| Size | UK dress size | Underbust | Bust |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 8 – 10 | 68 – 76 cm | 82 – 88 cm |
| M | 10 – 12 | 76 – 84 cm | 88 – 94 cm |
| L | 12 – 14 | 84 – 92 cm | 94 – 100 cm |
| XL | 14 – 16 | 92 – 100 cm | 100 – 108 cm |
Your underbust is the measurement that matters most here. If your two measurements point to different sizes, follow the underbust — it's the band that holds everything in place.
Between sizes? Go up.
This isn't a hedge, it's the whole philosophy. Support only works if you actually wear it, and a band that's a fraction too tight is a band you'll be quietly undoing by three o'clock.
The back panel does its work whether the band is firm or gentle. What makes the difference is whether you keep it on all day — so when in doubt, choose the size you'll forget you're wearing.
How it should feel
Give it a proper fitting when it arrives, before the tags come off. Five things to check:
- The band sits level all the way around and stays put when you raise your arms. If it rides up at the back, it's too big.
- You can slide two fingers under the band comfortably — no more, no less.
- The back panel lies flat against you, with no gaping at the edges and no pinching between the shoulder blades.
- The straps stay where they're put without pressing into your shoulders.
- Across the shoulders you feel a gentle encouragement, not a pull.
Here's the honest test: after ten minutes, you shouldn't be thinking about it at all. If you are, the size isn't right — and that's exactly what the 30 days are for.
If it's not right
Email hello@carriageandco.co.uk with your order number and we'll arrange a different size. Free, within 30 days, and you won't be asked to explain yourself.
The full detail is in our returns and refunds policy.