Brand Size Decoder 2026: Why Your 34DD Becomes a 34G at Victoria’s Secret (VS • Aerie • Savage X • Cuup • Skims & More)

Ever tried the same bra size at two different brands and thought:

“How am I a 34DD here and suddenly a 34G there?!”

You’re not imagining it.
In 2026, bra sizing is still a bit of a chaos fest.

• At Victoria’s Secret, your 34DD might become a 34DDD or 34G.
• At Aerie, the same boobs fit best in a 34D.
• At Savage X Fenty, you might be a 34E or 34F.
• At Skims, you’re suddenly sizing up in band but down in cup.

This guide is your Brand Size Decoder: a simple, honest explanation of why this happens and how to fix it so you don’t waste money on returns and “almost right” bras.

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Quick Answer: Why Your Size Changes by Brand

• Bra sizes aren’t standardized across brands.
• Some brands follow U.S. sizing, others U.K. sizing, and some use their own hybrid systems.
• Band tightness, cup depth, padding, and fabric stretch all change how a size fits.
• Your usual 34DD can translate to:
  • 34DDD/F or 34G at Victoria’s Secret
  • 34D–34DD at Aerie
  • 34E–34F at Savage X Fenty
  • 34E at Cuup
  • 36D or 34E-equivalent at Skims

Bottom line: the label on the tag is just a starting point. Your true fit is a range of sister sizes that change slightly from brand to brand.

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📌 Important Disclaimer (Real Talk)

All size suggestions in this guide are based on:

• Brand size charts
• Customer reviews
• Fitting patterns from communities like r/ABraThatFits
• Professional bra fitters’ observations

Every body and every bra is different. Use this guide as a starting point, not a rigid rule.

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1. The Core Problem: Bra Sizes Measure Volume, Not Just Letters

Most people think:

“I’m a 34DD. That’s my size.”

But in reality, cup letters only mean something when you know the band size.

A 34DD isn’t the same cup as a 38DD.

Cup volume changes with every band:

• 34DD = 32F = 36D (same boob volume, different band length)

This is called sister sizing. Some brands respect this logic closely. Others… bend it.

When a brand changes:

• How tight their bands are
• How deep their cups are
• How much padding / stretch they use

…your “usual size” stops behaving like your usual size.

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2. Victoria’s Secret: Why Your 34DD Becomes 34DDD or 34G

System: Custom U.S. hybrid
General feeling: Tight bands, generous cups, extra cup steps.

VS often uses:

• D
• DD
• DDD (F)
• G
• H

That extra DDD and their firm band fit make it feel like your boobs suddenly got promoted.

✅ What it means for a typical 34DD (U.S.) wearer

Most people who wear 34DD in a more standard brand end up in:

• 34DDD/F at Victoria’s Secret
• Sometimes 34G in push-up or very padded styles

If the band feels like a boa constrictor? Try 36DD or 36DDD instead.

VS rule of thumb:
Start with same band, one cup up, then adjust based on comfort.

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3. Aerie: Why Sometimes You’re a 34D, Not a 34DD

System: U.S.-based, stretchy, comfort-focused
General feeling: Stretchy bands, shallow cups, soft fits.

Aerie bras:

• Often have softer bands
• Can have shallower cups (especially in bralettes / lighter styles)

✅ What it means for a 34DD

Most 34DD wearers find that:

• 34D works in very stretchy or light bralettes
• 34DD works in more supportive or molded styles

If you’re spilling over the top, go back to 34DD.
If cups are wrinkling or gaping, try 34D.

Aerie rule of thumb:
Stay with your band. Pick D or DD depending on how structured the bra is.

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4. Savage X Fenty: Why Your 34DD Feels Like 34E or 34F

System: U.K.-leaning
General feeling: Fuller cup depth, supportive bands.

Savage X uses something closer to the U.K. cup system:

D → DD → E → F → FF → G

So cups move up in smaller, more precise steps.

✅ For a U.S. 34DD wearer

• Your closest Savage X match is usually 34E
• If you spill at the top or sides, try 34F

Savage X rule of thumb:
Start with 34E if you’re a U.S. 34DD, then adjust up to 34F if needed.

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5. Cuup: Why Your 34DD Looks Like a 34E

System: True-volume, minimalist, math-brain brand
General feeling: Accurate cups, honest bands, little/no padding.

Cuup is obsessed with:

• Actual cup depth
• Clean lines
• Minimal padding

That means they convert many U.S. sizes into a slightly different cup label.

✅ For a 34DD

Most 34DD wearers feel best in:

• 34E at Cuup

Cuup rule of thumb:
Keep your band, go one cup letter up from your U.S. size.

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6. Skims: Why You Jump in Band but Not in Cup

System: Tight bands + stretchy cups
General feeling: Compressive, bodywear-inspired fit.

Skims bras and bralettes often:

• Have tight bands (shapewear DNA)
• Use very stretchy cup fabrics

So you end up needing:

• A bigger band for comfort
• But not necessarily a much bigger cup

✅ For a 34DD wearer

Common starting points:

• 36D in many everyday bras
• A 34E-equivalent in more structured underwire styles

Skims rule of thumb:
If it digs in, size up in band first, then fine-tune the cup.

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7. ThirdLove: What Happens to Your 34DD Here?

System: U.S. sizing with half cups
General feeling: Deeper cups, fit quiz driven.

ThirdLove is known for half cups (like D½), which gives more precise fits between standard sizes.

✅ For a 34DD wearer

Most people start with:

• 34E in many styles
• A half-cup up if you’re already getting quad-boob in other brands

ThirdLove rule of thumb:
If you often feel “between D and DD”, ThirdLove’s half cups can fix that.

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8. Honeylove: Why Your Bra Feels Smaller Than the Label

System: Firm, shapewear-style support
General feeling: Tight bands, structured cups.

Honeylove bras are designed to hold you, not just sit there, so:

• Bands are firm
• Cups can feel more compressive

✅ For a 34DD wearer

• Many find 34F more comfortable
• Or 36E if they hate tight bands

Honeylove rule of thumb:
If you prefer comfort over maximum hold, go up one cup or one band.

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9. Negative Underwear: Minimalist but Honest

System: Simple, true-ish to size
General feeling: Low bulk, mesh, unpadded, honest fit.

Negative Underwear tends to:

• Run true in band
• Feel minimal and natural in the cups

✅ For a 34DD wearer

Many people like:

• 34DD in Sieve and underwire styles
• 36D in less stretchy or very minimal designs

Negative rule of thumb:
Stick close to your usual size. Adjust only if the band feels too firm.

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10. Parade: When Your Size Becomes L or XL

System: S–XXL sizing for bralettes
General feeling: Very stretchy, comfy, often wireless.

Parade doesn’t use traditional cup letters for many bras. Your size is now a range, not an exact number.

✅ For a 34DD wearer

• L in super stretchy bralettes
• XL in more supportive or double-layer styles

Parade rule of thumb:
Think in ranges, not exact letters. L/XL is your zone.

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🔁 The Big Picture: 34DD Across Popular Brands (Quick Table)

Brand	Common Starting Point from 34DD (U.S.)
Victoria’s Secret	34DDD/F or 34G
Aerie	34D or 34DD
Savage X Fenty	34E or 34F
Cuup	34E
Skims	36D or 34E-equivalent
ThirdLove	34E (or half-cup up)
Honeylove	34F or 36E
Negative	34DD or 36D
Parade	L or XL (bralettes)

Use this as a starting guide, then refine based on how you like your band (snug vs comfy) and your cup (lifted vs relaxed).

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🧠 How to Decode Your Size Across Any Brand (Step-by-Step)

You don’t need to memorize every chart. Just follow this process:

Step 1: Confirm Your Base Size

Use a tape measure:

1. Measure underbust (snug, parallel to floor).
2. Measure bust at the fullest point.
3. Use a bra calculator or chart (like Bra-Calculator.com) to get your best starting size.

Step 2: Learn Your Sister Sizes

From a base size like 34DD, your main sister sizes are:

• 32F (tighter band, same cup volume)
• 36D (looser band, same cup volume)

Knowing this gives you flexibility when a brand’s bands are too tight or too loose.

Step 3: Check That Brand’s “Personality”

Ask:

• Do they run tight in band? → consider going up a band
• Are cups deeper or shallower? → shift up or down in cup
• Is the style stretchy or structured? → stretchy = you can stay smaller; firm = size up

Step 4: Order With a Plan (Not a Guess)

For a new brand:

• Order 2–3 sizes in the same bra:
  • Your best guess size
  • One sister size up
  • One sister size down

Then keep the one that actually passes the fit test.

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✅ Quick Fit Test Checklist (No Measuring Tape Needed)

When you try a bra:

• Band:
  • Should sit level around your body
  • Should not climb up your back
  • Feels snug but not painful on the loosest hook
• Cups:
  • No major gaping
  • No bulging over the top or sides
  • Underwire (if present) sits behind breast tissue, not on it
• Straps:
  • Stay put without digging
  • Aren’t doing all the lifting (band should do most of the work)

If it fails in more than one of these areas, you’re not in your best size (or not in the right style for your shape).

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🛠 Try It Live: Brand Size Decoder Tool

No worries about the size decoding here our free Brand Size Decoder tool below just:

• Enter their usual band + cup
• Choose a brand
• Get instant size suggestions + fit notes

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🎯 Make Brand Hopping Easy

If you’re tired of guessing every time you shop a new brand:

👉 Use the Brand Size Decoder on Bra-Calculator.com
Enter your usual size once and see your best starting size in:

• Victoria’s Secret
• Aerie
• Savage X Fenty
• Cuup
• Skims
• ThirdLove
• Honeylove
• Negative
• Parade

…and more as we keep updating it.

✅ FINAL WORDS

Finding your bra size across different brands shouldn’t feel like doing math homework, yet here we are — every store speaks its own “cup language.” The good news? There’s nothing wrong with your body, your boobs, or your measuring tape. The problem is simply inconsistent sizing systems, different band tensions, varying cup depths, and how much each brand chooses to stretch (or not stretch) its fabric.

Once you understand that your true size is a range, not a single number, shopping becomes 10× easier. Sister sizes give you flexibility, brand personalities guide your expectations, and tools like the Brand Size Decoder help you skip the guesswork entirely.

So the next time a bra fits “wrong,” don’t blame your body — blame the chart, adjust the size, and choose the fit that feels good on you. Because the best bra isn’t the one that matches the label… it’s the one that matches your comfort, confidence, and shape.

Happy bra shopping — and welcome to the era of stress-free, brand-smart sizing. 💗

✅ FAQs

1. Why does my bra size change between brands?

Bra sizes aren’t standardized. Each brand uses different band tension, cup depth, materials, and sizing systems (U.S., U.K., or hybrid). That’s why a 34DD at one brand can become a 34DDD, 34E, or even 36D in another.

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2. Why am I a 34DD in one place and a 34G in another?

Because some brands (like Victoria’s Secret) add extra cup steps—DD, DDD/F, G—while others use U.K.-style sizing where E, F, FF, and G come earlier. The cup volume stays similar even when the letter changes.

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3. What brands run small or big in the band?

• Run tight: Victoria’s Secret, Skims, Honeylove
• Run stretchy/true: Aerie, Negative, Parade bralettes
  Checking band personality helps determine whether to size up or stay true.

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4. What brands run bigger or smaller in the cup?

• Bigger/deeper cups: Savage X Fenty (U.K.-leaning), Cuup, ThirdLove
• Smaller/shallower cups: Aerie, Parade bralettes

Cup depth differences often cause spillage or gaping.

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5. What is my sister size if I’m a 34DD?

Your closest sister sizes are:

• 32F (tighter band)
• 36D (looser band)
  All three have the same cup volume.

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6. What size should I try at Victoria’s Secret if I’m a 34DD normally?

Most people start with:

• 34DDD/F in everyday bras
• 34G in push-ups
  Because VS runs tight in band and generous in cup, some also try 36DD.

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7. What size should I try at Skims if I’m a 34DD?

Skims bands run tight and cups are stretchy, so most 34DD wearers try:

• 36D for comfort
• 34E-equivalent in more structured styles

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8. How do I choose my size when trying a new bra brand?

Follow this 3-step method:

1. Start with your true measured size.
2. Compare the brand’s typical fit (tight/loose, shallow/deep).
3. Order your size + one sister size up + one sister size down.
   Pick the one that passes the fit test — not just the label.