I recently noticed that ASOS (a UK retailer) has a US site, which offers free shipping and free returns. Combine this with the fact that they sell Panache, Cleo, and Freya bras and swimwear, and this is really good news for busty US shoppers on a budget. The best part is that their prices are low, not marked up past the normal UK prices. Plus, they have good sales.
So what's the downside? Well, the US ASOS site has decided to use a whacked-out version of "US Sizing" which makes it very difficult to tell what size you're actually ordering. This is a strange marketing decision, because the US size marked on the tags of Panache and Freya bras is the same as the UK size. After all, there really is no such thing as standard US bra sizing past DD!
But fear not, I've spent a bit of time examining the sizing system they use and I'm pretty sure I've cracked it. Here's the conversion. (Note: I had the HH=L and J=M messed up at first, it's corrected now!)
The band sizes are the same as the UK sizes. So if I'm trying to buy a 30H Cleo bra, I would buy a 30K on the US ASOS site. If you're looking for a 32E, you would buy a 32DDD/F from ASOS. If you want a 36F, buy a 36G from ASOS. Yeah, it's a little confusing, but if it gets you the bra you need at a price you can afford, then I'll still call it a win.
Why can't they just keep the UK sizing , it's too bad that they don't have curvy kate on the US site. I'll have to check there when I want to get some more cleo bras. It will be nice not having to pay for shipping
ReplyDeleteSuch a great post for American women! :) (or women living in the US) Boy is the American sizing weird! DD/E and triple D slash F... I'm sure this chart will come in handy for lots of US shoppers :)
ReplyDeleteYeah--the weird thing is that DDD is usually thought to be the same size as E, but ASOS have made it the same as F just to add to the chaos. I'm hoping once more American brands start to go up to higher sizes, that the lettering system will stabilize a little...
DeleteSee, I am really confused on whether an M in a HH or J. Most bras tend to skip L, which leads me to believe M is indeed HH, but few DO include L which leads me to believe that M is J. But if you select L in any band size it doesn't really return anything. So I have no idea what M is. It just seems really weird that they would stop at HH instead of J. The good news is that when they send you an order confirmation email they tell you what the label says so you can cancel it if it's wrong.
ReplyDeleteOh--interesting, they tell you what the label says? That is useful information. The only thing I've ordered from there so far is swimsuit bottoms that were cheaper than on Figleaves, but I'm thinking of ordering a bra.
DeleteI was assuming that they did stop at a HH instead of J for stupid reasons, but now that you mention it, it's possible that my conversion isn't right. I'm not sure how else it would work, though, as I assume the FF (UK Size) indicates that it is a real FF as listed on the tag. Have you tried to order a J cup and found that the M was actually a HH, or that it was a J? Let us know--it could be really useful information!
I haven't ordered the mysterious M yet so I'm not sure. I've just ordered a "30K" and "30J" bras. It's weird that they only put the labels on the order confirmations. You'd think they'd put that information in the item description because it's kind of important. . . Maybe they put it in the check-out too, I don't remember.
DeleteA 30m on asos.com is equivalent to a 30j. I wear that size and have ordered from asos before
DeleteHeck, Anon, you're right! I updated the conversion chart to reflect this--thanks!
DeleteThanks for posting this! I had been hesitant to order anything from them since I've heard about orders getting totally mixed up because of this very issue - I have no idea why they're doing this, but it's good to know what I would actually need to order from them!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, they do the same on their German site, but only in the smaller cup sizes: up to a UK E cup they convert to European cup sizes, then it's British cup sizes with the comment "British size" in brackets. The result is that you can get each British bra in two different F cups, a European F that is really an E and a true UK F cup :-).
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome, thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
ReplyDeleteWhen I ordered from ASOS last month I ordered what I thought was a Cleo panache bra in 30G and received a 30F instead. Was a little peeved, but free shipping returns and a quick refund made up for it.
ReplyDeleteWell I for one can confirm that ordering an I cup on ASOS is indeed a G cup UK.
ReplyDeleteI was crossing my fingers I got it right or I'd would've ended with a bra way too huge for me.
Thank you for this service!
ReplyDeleteI order from ASOS all the time. I live in Canada, and have been using UK ASOS site. I was aware of the US site, but sizing confused hell out of me. The same bra can have some sizes listed as "Cup size XXX" and some sizes will be "UK size ZZZ". Their size conversion chart does not venture past F cup or so, basically does not get to my cup size, so I just don't know what I am ordering.
ReplyDeleteI have been super happy with the UK site though. Shipping is free worldwide. Returns from Canada are not free, so I usually combine several items if I have to. I have been buying from them a lot lately as you can tell! :) Occasionally, I sent my return a bit late and I am sure they received it after the 28 day period, yet there was never a problem with a refund. So, given the liberal return policy, free shipping and great prices, I absolutely love ASOS UK.
If I lived in the US, I would definitely tap into their US site and get a feel for their sizing by trial and error, it's worth it!
And what's up with this FF size? Why is the ASOS equivalent the UK FF? This is so confusing. How did you come up with this conversion chart, btw? Are you certain it is correct? I have an opportunity to order to a US address in near future and have it delivered here by my family member, but obviously, I'd not be able to take advantage of the free return, so I really want to get it right. I know exactly what UK size I need, just hope to get the conversion right!
ReplyDeleteI came up with it by studying the sizes they offer on their bras, compared with my knowledge of what sizes are actually available. I cross-checked it with a bunch of different bras and updated the chart based on comments from those with experience ordering. That said, though--I can't say 100% that it will be right, so if you won't be able to return anyway, I'd recommend doing what the commenter above did, and ordering from the UK site. It seems as though the shipping will still be free, and the sizing will be familiar. Worth a try.
DeleteCommenter from above was me too :)
DeleteThey don't have an FF listed at all, they use H.
ReplyDeleteMe again... just noticed that they list the FF in the size choices, but they don't have it in the "search by size" option. Weird.
ReplyDeleteI think they updated the US site to show UK sizing! Unless I'm somehow on the wrong country's site which has happened before. . . But it says .com! So that's promising.
ReplyDeleteI thought their sizing system was normal US sizing, because US does go beyond D. It's just more uncommon.
ReplyDeleteIt says my size should be 36 L but they skip that size in every single bra they have
ReplyDeleteHas anyone figured out why they don't have a L cup?? Is a K really a UK H cup? And M a UK J cup? So does that mean they don't sell a HH cup? Please help
ReplyDeleteHello I live in the US and wear a 32 G cup. I was wondering what size i wear in Asos because it is hard to contact them and I am also confused by the chart above. Any help would be helpful. Thanks!
ReplyDelete