Rosa Faia Fitting Guide: Wireless Bras for a Large Bust
A wireless bra for a large bust has to hold you up through the band and the shape of the cup alone, so how it is made matters far more than with a wired one. Rosa Faia builds most of its range around exactly that problem.
Rosa Faia is part of Anita, the German family firm, and sizes and measures the same way. Every Rosa Faia bra carries a support level, which is the quickest way to find the right one.
At a glance
- Rosa Faia uses UK band sizes with single cup letters, from A to J
- Each bra is graded C1, C2 or C3, for light, medium or firm support
- Several ranges have a separate full cup style made for F to J cups
- Twin is the wire-free bra we keep in the most colours, from an A to an F cup
- Some styles have a comfort lining that takes a pad or breast form
- How Rosa Faia sizes
- Support levels C1 to C3
- Choosing a wireless bra for a large bust
- The Rosa Faia we stock
- Frequently asked questions
How Rosa Faia sizes
The band is your usual UK band: a 34 on the label is a 75 in Europe. Rosa Faia measure the same way we do, snugly under the bust for the band and around the fullest part for the cup. They also suggest measuring over a well-fitting bra without underwires, and they say plainly that a measurement is only a guide until you try the bra on.
The cups run in single letters, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and J, with no DD or FF. Above a D, that puts the letter one ahead of most UK brands, so a UK DD is usually a Rosa Faia E. Our guide to how to measure bra size covers the rest.
Rosa Faia also print a cross-sizing chart, which works like sister sizes. A 38D, for example, can also be worn as a 36E or a 40C, because the cup volume is the same.
Support levels C1 to C3
The support level is printed after the style number in every Rosa Faia catalogue, and we go by it when we fit.
| Level | Support | Typical style |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | Light | Briefs and the softest tops |
| C2 | Medium | Twin, Fleur, most spacer cups |
| C3 | Firm | Bobette comfort bra and the full cup styles |
For a fuller bust in a wire-free bra, C3 is where to start. It is the level where the cup and band do the most work.
Choosing a wireless bra for a large bust
Without a wire, support has to come from somewhere else. Rosa Faia uses three things, and it helps to know which you are looking at.
- Double-layered, seamless moulded cups, as on Twin, hold their shape without a frame
- Wide, flat padded straps spread the weight across the shoulder instead of digging in
- Spacer cups use a soft, breathable fabric that holds its shape
The band matters even more than usual in a wire-free bra. It should sit level and firm, because with no wire to anchor the cup, a loose band lets everything drop.
If you do prefer a wire, look for the full cup support styles. Rosa Faia make these with a four-section cup designed specifically for F to J cups, in ranges such as Selma and Bobette.
The Rosa Faia we stock
Twin is a soft, wire-free bra with seamless moulded cups and wide padded straps. We keep it in black, white, desert, champagne, rosewood and deep sand, from a 32A to a 44F.
Bobette comes two ways. The comfort bra is wire-free and graded C3, made in B to G cups on 34 to 46 backs, and ours is in maritime blue. The padded underwired version has floral lace on the straps, with a high-waist brief to match.
Fleur is a padded soft bra with a contrast lining inside the cup, in light smaragd green. Selma is the full cup underwired style for F to J cups.
All of them are on our Rosa Faia page, and you will find more wire-free styles from other brands on our non-wired bras page.
Come in and we will fit you. It is free, you do not need to book, and we can put Twin and Bobette side by side so you can feel the difference between C2 and C3. We are at 30 High Street, Shaftesbury, Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 5pm, on 01747 852444.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best wireless bra for a large bust?
Look for a firm support level, a wide band and wide, padded straps. In Rosa Faia, that means a C3 style such as the Bobette comfort bra, which is wire-free and goes up to a G cup. For everyday comfort at medium support, Twin has seamless double-layered cups and runs to an F cup on bands up to 48. Trying both on is the quickest way to tell which suits you.
How does Rosa Faia sizing compare to UK sizes?
The band numbers are the same as UK bands. The cups use single letters with no DD, FF or GG, so above a D the Rosa Faia letter is usually one ahead: a UK DD is usually an E, and a UK E usually an F. The measured size is a starting point, and the right size is the one that fits when you try it on.
What do C1, C2 and C3 mean on Rosa Faia bras?
They are support levels. C1 is light support, C2 medium and C3 firm. The level is printed after the style number, so you can see at a glance how much hold a bra gives. For a fuller bust without a wire, start with C3.
Does Rosa Faia make bras for F to J cups?
Yes. Several Rosa Faia ranges include a full cup support style with a four-section cup designed specifically for F to J cups. Selma is the one we stock, as an underwired full cup bra. Bobette, Colette and Eloise are made the same way.
Can I get fitted for Rosa Faia in Shaftesbury?
Yes. Bra fitting in our lingerie department is free and you do not need to book. Come into 30 High Street, Shaftesbury, Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 5pm, and we will measure you and bring Twin, Bobette and the other Rosa Faia styles to try. Ring us on 01747 852444 if you would like to check we have your size first.
Written by Shirley Allum
Shirley has run her Shaftesbury boutique since 1997 and still does all the buying herself, across fashion, footwear and lingerie. She and her team have been dressing the women of Dorset for nearly thirty years.
