Choosing your bra size at Etam involves handling two distinct measurements: the underbust and the bust, and then cross-referencing them with a size chart specific to the brand. The challenge does not come from the calculation itself, but from the discrepancies between the theoretical size obtained with a measuring tape and the actual fit depending on the model’s cut.
Worn size and perceived volume: what the Etam chart doesn’t tell you alone
The size charts published by Etam associate a back measurement (in centimeters) with a cup letter. The principle is simple: measure the underbust, then the bust at its fullest point. The difference between the two gives the cup depth (A, B, C, D, etc.).
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Where the chart becomes insufficient is with volumizing models. The Etam press release from March 2024, dedicated to the range called “Numéros,” indicates a “+1 size volume effect on several push-up references (N°2 deep plunge push-up, N°3 scarf push-up). In practical terms, a customer retains her usual size while visually achieving the equivalent of an additional cup size.
This guide to finding your size at Etam details the step-by-step measuring method and provides a reliable starting point before considering the volumizing effect specific to each cut.
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Back and cup size correspondences at Etam
The table below follows the conversion logic used by the brand. The back measurement determines the number (80, 85, 90, etc.), while the difference between bust and back measurements sets the cup letter.
| Back measurement (cm) | Etam size |
|---|---|
| 63 – 67 | 80 |
| 68 – 72 | 85 |
| 73 – 77 | 90 |
| 78 – 82 | 95 |
| 83 – 87 | 100 |
| Bust – back difference (cm) | Cup |
|---|---|
| 13 | A |
| 15 | B |
| 17 | C |
| 19 | D |
| 21 | E |
These values provide a starting point. The cup letter varies depending on the model’s cut: a wireless triangle (N°8 in the Etam classification) will fit a C cup differently compared to a balconette (N°9) or a scarf bra (N°7).
Measuring with a tape measure: errors that distort the size
Taking measurements seems straightforward, but several biases recur.
- Measuring the back while inflating the rib cage. The tape should go under the bust, perfectly horizontal, after a normal exhalation. An extra centimeter on the back measurement shifts the size up a notch.
- Placing the tape too high or too low for the bust measurement. It should be positioned at the fullest point of the bust, without compressing or leaving any slack.
- Taking measurements over a padded bra, which artificially adds volume to the bust measurement and skews the cup letter upwards.
The tape measure should be placed directly on the skin, ideally in the morning when the body hasn’t yet undergone variations related to water retention later in the day.
Sister sizes as an adjustment variable
If the size obtained from the chart does not provide satisfactory comfort, the sister sizes system allows you to switch to a neighboring combination. The principle: when you go up a back size, you go down a cup size, and vice versa. A 90C can thus become an 85D (tighter back, deeper cup) or a 95B (wider back, smaller cup).
This mechanism is particularly useful for cuts that fit slightly differently from the average, such as wireless models or sports bras.
Bra fitting in Etam fitting rooms: what home measuring cannot replace
Since 2023, Etam has been developing an in-store bra fitting service with sales associates trained in fitting. According to information published by the brand and relayed by the Federation of Women’s Ready-to-Wear, the process goes beyond simple centimeter measurements.
The fitting in the changing room relies on successive tries, strap adjustments, and movement tests (raising arms, bending) to ensure that the back band stays in place and that the cup does not gape. This “co-construction” approach to sizing with the customer is presented as more reliable than measuring with a tape measure alone.
The gap between the calculated size and the actually fitted size mainly concerns the following cases:
- Asymmetrical breasts, where the cup must adapt to the largest breast.
- Body types with a significant difference between back and bust measurements (D cups and beyond), for which maintaining the back band becomes crucial.
- Recent changes in body shape (post-pregnancy, weight gain or loss), where usual markers are no longer valid.
Etam classification by cut: which number for which effect
The “Numéros” range introduced in 2024 simplifies identification by associating a number with a type of support and neckline. The N°4 (thin cups) offers a natural shape with a rounded neckline, while the N°5 (deep plunge thin cups) maintains the same shape but with a deeper neckline. The N°9 (balconette) creates a plunging effect, with more structured support.
Knowing this classification before trying on allows you to directly target the two or three models corresponding to the desired effect, instead of browsing the entire section.
Determining your bra size at Etam occurs in two stages: first the measuring tape calculation to obtain a numerical base, then the fitting (in-store or at home with the sister sizes system) to refine the result. The correspondence chart sets a starting point, not a definitive answer.