Tales From the BRABAR Studio: Tweens and Teens with 28 Band and D+ Cups

What happens when your tween or teenage daughter has a 28D, 28DD, or 28DDD bra size? Most people don't even know band size 28 exists, since most intimates retailers start at 32.

For a tween girl just starting out, or a petite teenager or young adult, it may be the case that she has a petite ribcage and a full bust - so the bra she needs caters to a smaller band while still having enough room for the bust. Simple training bras, or bras with bands that are too big and cups too small, are no good.

Comfort is the key to happiness. You want your tween or teen to feel comfortable in her own body as it changes through life. Where can you find teenage bralettes or tween bras for the petite, full-busted girl - everyday bras, sports bras, bra tops, halter bras, racerback bralettes, cotton bralettes, crop tops, strapless solutions, bandeau bras, cami bras, lace bralettes, and convertible bras? BRABAR, of course.

Finding Your Bra Size

The best place to start is finding your real bra size - it's the key to a perfect-fitting teenage or tween bra. Bra sizing seems mysterious even to a mature woman, let alone a teenager or tween on her bra journey. But it's genuinely simple to find your bra size yourself, especially when you can't find a professional fit expert - you can become your own fit expert at home.

All you need is a soft measuring tape (the kind used in sewing) and something to write your measurements down with.

Step 1: The Underbust Measurement and Band Size

Wrap the measuring tape around your ribcage, where the band of a bra would sit. Wearing a sleeping bra or a seamless, padless bralette can help if gravity isn't cooperating. Keep the tape snug for the most accurate measurement - even if it feels surprising, it's probably right. Write down your ribcage measurement.

Example: a 27-inch ribcage measurement.

Since band sizes are even whole numbers (28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40), round up to the nearest even whole number when your ribcage doesn't land exactly on one. A 27-inch ribcage becomes a 28 band.

Step 2: The Overbust Measurement

Your overbust measurement is not your cup size - it's the other measurement needed to calculate it. Measure the fullest part of your breasts, with the tape neither too tight nor too loose, just enough slack. Round to the nearest whole number.

Example: a 31.5-inch overbust measurement rounds up to 32 inches.

Step 3: Find Your Cup Size

Your cup size is the difference between your overbust measurement and your band size - that's all there is to it. If you change your band size to be bigger, your cup size goes down, but the perfect-fitting bra should always be snug around the ribcage with no spillage in the cup.

Each inch equals one cup size:

• 1 inch = A cup
• 2 inches = B cup
• 3 inches = C cup
• 4 inches = D cup
• 5 inches = DD cup or E cup
• 6 inches = DDD cup or F cup
• 7 inches = DDDD cup or G cup
• ...and so on

Using the example above: a 28 band and a 32 overbust give a 4-inch difference, so a D cup.

Step 4: Your Complete Bra Size

Your band size plus your cup size is your bra size. In this example: 28 band, D cup, so a bra size of 28D.

Best Picks for a 28D, 28DD, or 28DDD

Using the example of 28D, here's what works well from BRABAR:

• The X Sports Bra - a fantastic everyday sport racerback, comfortable and supportive for medium-impact activities. Seamless, no pads, but double-lined - a wonderful option even for D+ cups like a 28D.
• The HUG Backless Halter Bra - a great addition to a teenage bra collection, perfect for outfits and dresses that need a backless option. Deep V-neck, seamless design, with medium-impact support.
• The Soft Day Bra - a bestselling teenage bra, tween bra, and young adult bra alike, with a three-hook back closure. Part of the Soft Collection, comes in countless colors, super soft and breathable.
• The Cotton Stretch Rib Racerback Bra - a great selection for summer and the gym, breathable with a cute rib design. Seamless, supportive, and doubles as a medium-impact sports bra.

These are far from the only options for small bands and full busts at BRABAR. Our Halter Bralette Collection, Soft Bra Collection, and Everyday Bra Collection are wonderful places to start finding colors and styles fit for teens and tweens alike.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do so few stores carry a 28 band size?

Most mainstream retailers concentrate their inventory around 32-38 bands, treating anything smaller as a niche size, which leaves teens and preteens with narrower ribcages genuinely underserved.

Can I really measure myself accurately at home without a professional fitter?

Yes. With just a soft measuring tape and the rib cage method, most people can measure themselves just as accurately as a professional fitting would.

Why does a larger band size result in a smaller cup size for the same overbust measurement?

Cup size is always the difference between band and overbust, so as the band number goes up, that difference - and therefore the cup letter - goes down for the same overbust measurement.

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