Finding your bra size is an important first step towards finding a comfortable bra.
However, your size does not tell the whole story.
Different brands use different patterns, wires, fabrics and cup shapes. Even two bras carrying exactly the same size label can feel very different.
The same applies within an individual brand.
Fantasie specialises in supportive lingerie for fuller busts. Its collection includes full-cup bras, side-support styles, balcony bras, moulded T-shirt bras and lightweight spacer cups.
Understanding Fantasie bra sizing can help you choose the right starting size across these different styles.
This Fantasie Fit Guide explains band and cup fit, UK-to-Australian size conversion and sister sizing. We will also look at breast shape, compare Fantasie with other fuller-bust brands and explain how popular Fantasie bras can fit differently.
That last point is particularly important.
There is no reliable rule saying every Fantasie bra runs small, large or perfectly true to size.
Your breast shape and the construction of the individual bra matter too.
If you are unsure of your current size, start with our Determine Your Size guide. You can then use this page to understand how that starting size may translate into Fantasie.
Fantasie bras are designed around the support and shaping needs of fuller busts.
Many styles use structured cups, supportive underbands and carefully positioned seams. Side-support panels are also common throughout the collection.
These features can help lift and position breast tissue while creating a supported shape.
However, different Fantasie styles achieve this in different ways.
A seamed side-support bra will not fit exactly like a spacer bra.
A balcony bra creates a different neckline from a full-cup style.
A seamless moulded bra also responds differently to breast shape than a flexible stretch-lace cup.
For this reason, your usual Fantasie size should be treated as your starting point.
The final decision should always be based on how the individual bra fits your body.
Our Six-Point Bra Fit Check can help you assess the complete fit.
Many women can begin with their usual UK bra size when trying Fantasie.
However, saying that every Fantasie bra is “true to size” is too simplistic.
Individual bras can vary in:
band firmness
cup depth
cup height
wire width
neckline shape
stretch
breast coverage
projection
These differences can affect how the same labelled size feels.
For example, a flexible seamed cup may adapt more easily to your breast shape than a moulded cup.
A firmer band may also initially feel smaller than a stretchier band.
When a particular Fantasie style consistently fits differently, style-specific advice becomes very useful.
You may occasionally need a different cup or band size.
This does not mean Fantasie as a whole runs large or small.
It simply means bras are three-dimensional garments, and different patterns interact differently with different bodies.
The underband provides the foundation of your bra.
It should carry much of the bra’s support and remain stable throughout the day.
A correctly fitted band should:
feel firm and secure
sit level around your torso
remain in position when you move
avoid riding upwards
allow comfortable breathing
provide support without excessive strap tension
A new adjustable bra should generally feel secure on its loosest hook.
The tighter hooks can then be used as the elastic gradually relaxes with wear.
First check your cups.
Cups that are too small can make the entire bra feel tight.
Breast tissue pushes against the cups, which can pull the band more firmly around your body.
Try fastening the bra backwards with the cups hanging down.
If the band suddenly feels more comfortable, the cups may be contributing to the problem.
If the cups fit correctly but the band remains painfully tight, consider the appropriate sister size.
A band that moves upwards may be too loose.
This can reduce support and cause you to overtighten your shoulder straps.
Our Band Problems guide explains these issues in more detail.
Fantasie offers many different cup constructions.
The appearance can therefore change considerably between styles.
However, the basic fitting principles remain similar.
Your breasts should:
sit completely within the cups
avoid spilling over the neckline
remain clear of the underwires
fill the cups without significant empty space
feel comfortably supported
remain contained when you move
If the bra has side-support panels, make sure your breast tissue sits correctly within the main cup.
Look for:
breast tissue spilling over the neckline
bulging at the sides
tissue escaping underneath
underwires sitting on breast tissue
the centre front being pushed away
an excessively tight overall feeling
Trying a larger cup may solve these problems.
Possible signs include:
wrinkled cup fabric
obvious empty space
poor shaping
cups extending too far around your torso
reduced breast support
However, empty space does not always mean the cup is too large.
The shape may simply be wrong for your breasts.
Visit our Cup Problems guide if you are unsure whether size or shape is causing the problem.
Breast shape deserves particular attention when choosing Fantasie.
The brand offers a wide variety of cup constructions, and each interacts differently with breast tissue.
Your breasts may be:
fuller on top
fuller underneath
shallow
projected
close set
wide set
soft
firm
Root width and breast position can also affect fit.
Projection describes how far your breasts extend forward from your chest.
A projected breast often needs sufficient depth within the cup.
If the cup is too shallow, breast tissue may push the bra away from your body.
Someone with shallower breasts may experience the opposite problem in a deep cup.
They may see empty space despite wearing the correct cup volume.
Our Breast Projection guide explains this in more detail.
Where your breast tissue sits can influence how a neckline fits.
Women who are fuller on top may experience cutting along certain cup edges.
Women who are fuller underneath may find some upper cups less completely filled.
Visit Breast Fullness to learn how fullness can affect bra choice.
Close-set breasts may prefer a different centre-front construction from wider-set breasts.
Plunge, balcony and full-cup bras all create different centre shapes.
Our Breast Spacing guide can help you understand this part of your breast shape.
You can explore all these factors together in our Breast Shape Hub.
Fantasie uses UK bra sizing.
Australian band sizes use different numbers.
A typical starting conversion is:
| UK Band | Australian Band |
|---|---|
| 30 | 8 |
| 32 | 10 |
| 34 | 12 |
| 36 | 14 |
| 38 | 16 |
| 40 | 18 |
| 42 | 20 |
| 44 | 22 |
Always check the size range available for your chosen Fantasie bra.
Cup conversion requires more care.
UK cup sizing commonly progresses through DD, E, F, FF, G, GG, H, HH, J and beyond.
Australian brands do not always follow exactly the same cup progression.
Do not assume matching cup letters always represent the same cup volume.
Our Bra Size Conversion guide can help when moving between UK, Australian and international sizing systems.
Sister sizing is useful when your cup volume feels correct but your band does not.
If you increase the band size, you generally decrease the cup.
If you decrease the band size, you generally increase the cup.
This helps maintain approximately similar cup volume.
Imagine your Fantasie cups fit beautifully but the band feels too loose.
Moving to a smaller band while keeping the same cup letter would also reduce cup volume.
Instead, choose the appropriate sister size.
The reverse applies when moving to a larger band.
Our Bra Sister Size Chart explains sister sizing and provides useful examples.
Fantasie and Freya both use UK bra sizing.
This makes your established UK size a sensible starting point when moving between them.
However, their individual bra shapes can be very different.
A Freya plunge bra may have a completely different cup depth, neckline and wire shape from a Fantasie full-cup side-support bra.
Do not assume the same size guarantees the same fit.
Use the label to choose your starting point and assess the individual bra from there.
Fantasie and Elomi both specialise in fuller-bust lingerie and use UK sizing.
However, some Elomi styles can feel more generous through the band or cup.
If you already wear Elomi successfully, your established UK size provides a useful starting point in Fantasie.
Then check the band and cups separately.
Do not automatically transfer any Elomi-specific size adjustment into Fantasie.
Visit our Elomi Fit Guide for detailed advice about Elomi bra sizing.
Panache also uses UK sizing and specialises in fuller-bust support.
Some Panache styles can feel relatively firm through the underband.
Fantasie styles can have a different feel because of their fabrics, patterns and construction.
If you know your Panache size, begin around the equivalent UK size in Fantasie unless style-specific advice suggests otherwise.
Then assess the complete fit.
Our Panache Fit Guide explains Panache sizing in more detail.
Sculptresse is another fuller-bust brand using UK sizing.
Its bras are designed around fuller figures and often have strong, structured support.
If moving between Sculptresse and Fantasie, your UK size gives you a logical starting point.
However, compare band firmness, cup depth and wire position before deciding whether that size is correct.
Visit our Sculptresse Fit Guide if you regularly shop between these brands.
Understanding the main Fantasie bra constructions can help explain why one style works beautifully while another does not.
Full-cup and side-support designs provide excellent breast containment.
Side-support panels help position breast tissue forward rather than allowing it to spread towards the sides.
This can be particularly useful for fuller busts.
Read our Side-Support Panels guide to learn how this construction works.
Balcony bras generally have a more open neckline.
They can create a lifted, rounded shape but interact differently with upper breast fullness.
Our Balcony Bra guide explains who may prefer this shape.
Moulded bras use pre-shaped cups rather than relying entirely on seams.
This creates a smooth appearance beneath clothing.
However, moulded cups are less able to adapt to different breast shapes.
A woman can therefore experience empty space in a moulded bra despite wearing the correct cup volume.
Visit Bras for T-Shirts for more advice about choosing smooth everyday bras.
Spacer fabric creates lightweight, breathable moulded cups.
It can provide a smooth shape while offering more flexibility than some traditional foam cups.
However, cup depth and breast shape still matter.
Individual product advice is especially valuable with Fantasie.
Several popular styles demonstrate why.
Fusion Lace is particularly well suited to fuller, firmer breasts.
Its side-support construction helps position breast tissue forward while providing excellent containment.
The double-layer band can initially feel firm.
It generally becomes more comfortable as the bra settles with wear.
Fusion Lace also uses a relatively narrow wire.
Women with significant breast tissue extending towards the sides may prefer a style with a wider wire.
This is a good example of shape being just as important as size.
Rebecca Essentials can fit generously through both the cup and back.
If your usual size feels noticeably roomy, consider trying a smaller band and adjusting the cup accordingly.
For example, someone normally wearing 12G may find 10G provides a better fit in this style.
Use this as style-specific guidance rather than a general Fantasie sizing rule.
Demure Moulded Non-Padded can fit small through the cup.
If your usual cup feels restrictive or creates spilling, try one cup size larger.
For example, 10F may fit better as 10FF.
Keep the band unchanged if it already feels correct.
Magdalena can also fit small through the cup.
Trying one cup larger may provide better breast containment while keeping your normal band size.
Again, this illustrates why your Fantasie size can vary between individual styles.
Illusion uses a different construction from Fantasie’s moulded and spacer bras.
Assess the cup seams, neckline and side support rather than comparing it directly with a T-shirt bra.
Envisage is another example where cup construction and breast shape need to work together.
Check that the cups contain your breast tissue smoothly and that the side-support section sits correctly.
Aura’s moulded construction should be assessed differently from a seamed bra.
Check for smooth cup contact without spilling or significant empty space.
The Fantasie Smoothing range includes seamless styles designed to sit smoothly beneath clothing.
Because seamless cups have fewer opportunities to adapt through seaming, breast shape becomes particularly important.
Speciality styles can use different constructions depending on their purpose.
Always check the individual product’s fit rather than transferring advice from another Fantasie collection.
Cesile’s construction should be assessed according to its individual cup shape and coverage.
If you already wear another Fantasie style, use that size as a starting point rather than assuming the fit will be identical.
Understanding the cause of a fit problem can prevent unnecessary size changes.
Check the cups first.
If they are too small, they may be making the entire bra feel tighter.
If the cups fit correctly, consider an appropriate sister size.
Your band may be too loose.
Try a smaller band with the appropriate sister cup.
You may need a larger cup.
Also make sure all breast tissue is correctly positioned inside the cups.
Check where the space appears.
You may need a smaller cup, but breast shape could be the real issue.
Trying a different Fantasie style may solve the problem more effectively.
Check whether the wires are sitting on breast tissue.
Also consider wire width.
A wire can be uncomfortable even in the correct cup volume if its shape does not suit your breast roots.
Visit our Bra Underwire Problems guide for more help.
Your straps should help stabilise your bra.
They should not provide all the support.
Check your band before tightening the straps further.
Our Bra Strap Problems guide explains common strap issues.
You can also use our complete Bra Fit Troubleshooter to investigate persistent fitting problems.
Start by putting your bra on correctly.
Make sure all breast tissue is positioned completely inside the cups.
Our How to Put On a Bra Correctly guide explains this process.
Then work through the Six-Point Bra Fit Check.
Is it firm, level and secure?
Are your breasts fully contained without spilling or significant empty space?
Does it sit correctly for the bra’s design?
Do they surround your breasts without sitting on breast tissue?
Are they comfortably secure without digging?
Does your bra remain comfortably positioned when you walk, reach and move?
These checks tell you far more than the size label alone.
Begin with your current correctly fitted size.
If converting from an Australian brand, make sure you correctly convert both the band and cup.
If you already wear Fantasie successfully, your established size is usually the best starting point for another Fantasie bra.
Then check the individual product’s fit advice.
Remember that some styles can fit differently.
Rebecca Essentials can feel generous.
Demure Moulded Non-Padded and Magdalena can require more cup room.
Fusion Lace has its own band and wire characteristics.
These are style-specific differences, not rules for the entire Fantasie collection.
If your band needs changing but the cup volume feels correct, consider sister sizing.
If the size seems correct but the bra still does not sit properly, consider breast shape.
Sometimes another bra style is a better solution than another size.
Understanding Fantasie bra sizing gives you a much better starting point when choosing your next bra.
Fantasie offers a wide variety of fuller-bust styles, including side-support, balcony, spacer, moulded and seamless bras.
That variety is one of the brand’s strengths.
It also means every Fantasie bra will not fit exactly alike.
Start with your current correctly fitted size.
Then assess the band, cups, centre front, underwires and straps.
Pay particular attention to breast shape.
Projection, fullness, spacing and breast root width can all influence whether a particular Fantasie style works for you.
Use style-specific fit advice whenever it is available.
If you are unsure of your current size, begin with Determine Your Size.
Then use our Six-Point Bra Fit Check to assess your new Fantasie bra.
For additional help, explore the Breast Shape Hub, Bra Sister Size Chart, Bra Fit Troubleshooter, Band Problems, Cup Problems and Bra Underwire Problems.
If you are comparing fuller-bust brands, our Panache Fit Guide, Sculptresse Fit Guide and Elomi Fit Guide can help you understand their different fitting characteristics.
Your size label provides the starting point.
The best Fantasie fit comes from matching the right size, cup shape and bra style to your individual body.
Amy x
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