Ordered the wrong bra size: what are your options?

Ordered the wrong bra size? You've got three options: first check whether the problem is really the size, then do a free exchange under the 30-day perfect fit guarantee, or return the bra and order again. At Monavida you can often get an exchange sorted without even sending anything back first. Below you'll find what to do for each situation, plus how to get the right size the next time around.

Is it the size, or is it the style?

Before you send anything back, check where it's actually bothering you. Not every bra that doesn't feel right is actually the wrong size. Sometimes it's just a style that doesn't suit your shape, even if the label says the right size.

One shopper in our own survey put it well: she finds it hard to figure out the right size without trying it on first. And we get that completely. Ordering online means guessing, and even with a size chart next to you, it's easy to miss. That's not a dumb mistake. That's just how buying bras online works.

"I'm not really a try-before-you-buy person, so it's hard for me to figure out the right size"

Of the nearly 2,900 women we surveyed, 8.2% name the wrong size or cup as their biggest frustration with a bra. So you're definitely not the only one dealing with this. Once you know what size you need, read here how to pass that size along to our customer service team.

1. Your bra is too small: here's what you'll feel and see

A bra that's too small gives clear signals right away. You'll feel it within a couple hours, and you'll see it in the mirror too.

• Your breast spills out at the side, above or next to the cup. Some call it the double boob effect.
• The band digs into your skin or leaves red marks by the end of the day.
• The straps cut into your shoulders, even after you've loosened them.
• You keep tugging and shifting things around, and you can't wait to take it off by evening.

Quick test: slide a finger under the band at your back. If you can't, or the band feels like a tight elastic around your ribs, the band is too snug. Next, look at yourself from the side in the mirror: is there any tissue spilling out above or beside the cup? Then the cup is too small, even if the band itself is fine.

2. Your bra is too big: here's what you'll feel and see

Too big happens less often than too small, but it's just as annoying. This often shows up after weight loss, or if you're used to a very different brand.

• The cup sits away from your breast, with a fold or an empty bit of fabric at the top.
• The band rides up your back instead of staying level.
• You keep tightening the straps, and they still slip within the hour.
• It doesn't feel like it's supporting you anymore. The bra hangs rather than holds.

Quick test: raise your arms above your head and check the mirror. If the band rides up toward your shoulder blades instead of staying put, it's too loose. If you're currently wearing a 34C and you see that fold in the cup, try a 32D instead: same cup volume, just a bit snugger around your body.

3. Exchanging at Monavida: how it works

Did the quick test and you're sure the size is off? Then you don't need to place a whole new order and pay again. Monavida offers a 30-day perfect fit guarantee: if your bra doesn't fit, you can fix it without hassle.

What shoppers tell us about this is exactly why we set it up this way. They didn't just get a reply, they got the right size sent to their door, often without having to return the wrong bra first. You can read more about how that guarantee works in this article on the 30-day perfect fit guarantee, and how to exchange without returning anything in this explanation of exchanging without a return.

So you don't have to wait until you've shipped the wrong package back first. You pass along the right size, and the new bra heads your way. Only after that do you deal with the old one, if that's even still needed. In practice, that often saves you a week or two of waiting.

4. Can you adjust it yourself first?

Sometimes it's only off by a little, and then you don't need to exchange right away. A small difference of an inch or so in the band is often something you can fix yourself, without waiting on anything.

• Is the band just a touch too tight? A bra extender gives you an extra inch or two of room without sending anything back.
• Is the cup just a bit too big, with a little empty space at the top? A cup insert often does the trick, as we describe in this article on cup inserts.

If the gap is more than an inch, adjusting won't really help. A bra that's two sizes off doesn't become right just by stuffing some fabric in. In that case, it's better to just request the correct size right away.

So which size should you order?

This is where things often still go wrong, because a bra size isn't just one number. At Monavida we also work with standard sizing, from S through 3XL+, converted from your band and cup size. So don't just say "I wear a 34D", also give us the standard size, since that's what our customer service team uses.

The Daily Essential Bra, our best-selling style, has a size chart that runs from cup B through cup H, with band sizes from 32 through 48. That's a wide range on purpose, because so many women told us they couldn't find their size anywhere. Not sure about your band or cup size? Measure yourself properly first: this article on measuring your band and bust walks you through exactly how to do that at home.

If the Daily Essential isn't quite right for your shape, that doesn't have to be the end of your search. The Lace Lift Bra has a chart that goes up to cup F, and the Posture Lift Bra goes up to cup DD/E with extra high sides for a smooth silhouette under clothes. Sometimes the problem isn't just the size, but also which style actually fits your shape best.

A few rules of thumb that often get overlooked when reordering:

• Go down a band size and you usually go up a cup size. A 34C becomes a 32D, with roughly the same amount of room in the cup.
• Recently lost or gained weight? Measure again, since your cup size changes faster than you'd think, even if your band size stays the same.
• Torn between two sizes? Go with the smaller band and the bigger cup. A band that's too loose never gives you enough support, no matter how well the cup fits.