Tales From the BRABAR Studio: The Best Preteen Bras and Bralettes With Band Size 32-40

Entering a store for your first bra can be nerve-wracking for anyone, but especially for a preteen girl. At the BRABAR Studio, we strived to make it a comfortable experience buying bras for the first time. Quite a few girls were coming in for their first fittings, and preteens and teens who had bras but never had a fitting before.

Two Real Fittings

The first preteen girl came in with her father, who was very much at a loss for how to guide her, so he left it to me to explain the process. I measured the preteen first. She measured a 40-inch rib cage, so a 40 band. Her overbust measurement was 42 inches. Subtracting the 40 band from the 42 overbust gives a 2-inch difference - a B cup. She was a 40B.

The second preteen girl came in with her mother. She measured a 35-inch rib cage, which rounds up to a 36 band. Her overbust measurement was 40 inches. Subtracting the 36 band from the 40 overbust gives a 4-inch difference - a D cup. She was a 36D.

What I Recommended

Each preteen was given suggestions to try, not in any particular order:

• The Everyday Bra - a versatile, all-day supportive bra with a back closure and removable cups.
• The Soft Day Bra - combines the ease of a bralette with surprising support.
• The Soft V Crop Bralette - super soft with thicker straps. Though it officially goes up to 36-38 in band, it has fit girls and teens with a 40 band and a petite bust (AA-C).
• The Soft V Laceback Bralette - reversible, now in nine colors.
• The Soft Cami - a fan-favorite, versatile bra top and a great starter teen bralette.
• The Soft Strapless Bra - ultra-versatile, ideal for off-shoulder, one-shoulder, halter styles, and tube tops.
• The Strappy Halter Bralette - a seamless design that can double as a medium-impact sports bralette.
• The Open-Back Backless Halter Bralette - great for backless and open-back outfits.
• The Soft Crop Multiway Convertible Bra Top - endless styling options.

What They Chose

For the preteen with the 40B bra size - a larger band with a petite bust - the perfect pick was the Soft V Crop in 36-38. She wore one out of the shop, since the fabric's stretchiness accommodates a 40 band with a petite bust (AA-C). The Soft Crop Multiway Convertible Bralette would be a good option too, depending on the person, but it can run more snugly than the Soft V.

For the preteen with the 36D bra size, she picked the Soft Day Bra, Soft V Laceback Bralette, and Everyday Bra - all good preteen and teen bralette options. The Soft V Laceback Bralette brought some prettiness to her wardrobe.

Both preteens left with new bras they could wear every day and felt comfortable in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a larger band size still pair with a small cup?

Yes, and it's more common than people think. A 40B, like the first preteen here, has a large band with a relatively small difference between band and bust - the two measurements are independent of each other.

Why did the Soft V Crop fit a 40 band even though official sizing tops out at 36-38?

The fabric's built-in stretch allows some styles to comfortably accommodate a band size or two beyond the labeled range, especially when paired with a petite bust.

What's a good first fitting experience like for a nervous preteen?

A calm, straightforward explanation of the measuring process, without pressure, and a range of styles to actually try on rather than just guess from a chart, tends to make the first visit far less intimidating.

The Cheat Sheet

• Measure Underbust: Wrap a soft measuring tape around your body, just below your breasts. Round to the nearest even whole number for your band size.
• Measure Overbust: Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your breasts. Round to the nearest whole number for your bust size.
• Calculate Cup Size: Subtract your band size from your bust size. Each inch of difference is one cup size, from A up through DDD/F.

Use BRABAR's Fit Guide and Bra Size Calculator to measure yourself accurately at home.