Bra Problem #16: “How about very small boobs? Like 30A? Do you have anything for that? Or even strapless in that size?”

Absolutely, yes. 😊  Although many of our clients have trouble finding options because they need a larger size than you’re likely to find at chain lingerie stores or big box retailers, petite folks know that it’s just as difficult to find small band sizes! At Grail, we carry high-quality bras across the entire size spectrum. Even in the smallest cup sizes, we have a robust selection in 30 bands and a few options in 26 and 28 bands.

Several of my favorite styles for petite bodies are made by sister(ish) brands Natori and Skarlett Blue. Both offer bra designs that run the gamut from basic to fun, and everything they make is super soft! Always keep in mind that shape is as important as size when it comes to how your bras fit. For smaller breasts, we tend to get the most complimentary fit from styles that slope gently as they approach the neckline rather than resting more open and forward, which tends to cause gaping even if the amount of space in the cups is appropriate. A great example is pictured above, the high-apex Feathers bra from Natori, where the side structure subtly directs breast tissue towards the center, and the high anchorage point between cups and straps makes a smooth transition between bra and body. (If you’ve ever seen ads for the online brand Pepper, Pepper’s underwired styles are pretty much all “borrowed” Natori designs.) For strapless, we stock the Goddess Multi-Way Strapless bra from Skarlett Blue, which I’ve written about before. It works wonderfully for the small-band/small-cups size range. There are just so many options depending on body your shape and personal tastes! We have t-shirt bras, lace-cup bras, and wireless styles- like Montelle’s wire-free T-shirt bra that starts in 28 bands- that you could put to the test.

A final note, since I mentioned the Pepper brand above: please remember that there are no consistent universal size standards for bras. All of the petite-fit brands that I’ve ever seen online, and even some of the ones we carry in the shop (like The Little Bra Company) have some very weird irregular sizing quirks. They may make AA cups (which is one size step down from A-cups, i.e. should fit folks who have less than a 1-inch difference between their under-bust ribcage measurement and the widest circumference of the bust); however, if their size chart directs you to go up 2-3 band sizes from “average” sizing, you have to go down an equivalent number of cup sizes to get an appropriate fit… It basically thwarts the whole purpose of offering smaller cup sizes. If this all sounds confusing, that’s because it is. 😕 Inconsistent sizing is a mess throughout all of women’s clothing, and it’s just really unfortunate that bra sizing is no better than, say, jeans. A lot of folks aren’t aware of that or don’t want to believe it. You truly can’t trust the size labels on bras. An actual sizing chart is better but still not a guarantee. You really honestly must try a bra on to know if it’s going to fit.

Note: “Bra Problems” was originally a series of Facebooks posts written in response to follower queries during the Covid shutdown of spring 2020. Our inboxes are still open, though! If you have a Bra Problem you’d like us to troubleshoot here, email your issue to support@grailbras.com.