I’m a 34DD - Why Does Nothing Ever Fit Quite Right?

One of my favorite appointments in-store started exactly like this.

She came in wearing a 34DD - a size she’d worn for years. “It’s fine,” she said. Which, in fitting-room language, usually means it’s not fine at all.

When I watched how the bra was sitting, I noticed two things immediately: the band was correct, but the cups were working overtime. She wasn’t dramatically spilling out, but there was tension along the top edge — that subtle pulling that makes you adjust all day. And because the cup was slightly shallow for her shape, it wasn’t laying as smoothly as it could.

This is where sizing nuance comes in.

At Journelle, we often refit 34DD clients into a 34E - which is the same cup volume, just expressed differently across brands. The letters can feel intimidating, but they’re just tools. What matters is how the bra sits on your body.

I brought her the Victoire Plunge Bra in 34E, in Praline - our soft skin-tone neutral that disappears under everything. The first thing she noticed was the shape. The demi contour cups give you structure without bulk, and the stretch mesh overlay is forgiving in the best way. It smooths without flattening. It supports without feeling rigid.

When she fastened it, the band anchored immediately - snug but not tight. The plunge neckline sat flat against her sternum. No gapping. No digging. The picot trim along the plunge added a delicate detail, and the center bow kept it feminine without being fussy.

She looked at herself in the mirror and said, “Oh. This is what it’s supposed to feel like.”

The Victoire works beautifully for fuller busts in a 34 band because of its balance: contour demi cups for lift, mesh panels for flexibility, and wings that smooth the sides without cutting in. It’s an everyday bra that still feels special. And in Praline, it becomes invisible under white tees, silk blouses, and spring knits.

The biggest shift wasn’t the letter change. It was the support.

When a bra fits properly, you stop thinking about it. Your shoulders drop. Your posture softens. You move differently.

A 34DD isn’t a problem to solve. It just needs the right construction.

And sometimes, that means trying the 34E.

Expert Tip: If you’re spilling slightly at the top of a 34DD but the band feels right, try the same band in the next cup size. A well-fitting plunge like the Victoire in 34E should lie flat at the center, feel secure in the band, and smooth - not compress - the bust.