Finding the right bra shouldn’t be a challenge. And yet, many women leave a fitting room more confused than when they entered, with a style that “will do” rather than one that truly fits them.
At Bott, we start from a simple principle: Every breast has a shape, and every shape deserves a style designed for it. No standard. No imposed silhouette. Just lingerie that adapts to you, not the other way around.
This guide is here to help you see things clearly: understand your body shape, decode bra shapes, avoid common mistakes, and go straight to the styles made for you.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND IN THIS GUIDE
How to measure your true size · Identify your breast shape among the 8 Bott profiles · Choose the style made for you · The most common mistakes · A complete FAQ
WHY CHOOSING THE RIGHT BRA REALLY CHANGES YOUR LIFE
An ill-fitting bra is more than just uncomfortable. It pulls, digs in, strains your back, and sometimes does so as early as 10 a.m. Over time, the wrong size can cause real neck and back pain, especially for fuller busts that carry significant weight without adequate support.
By contrast, the right style becomes invisible. You forget you’re wearing it. Your posture naturally straightens. Your clothes fit better. And that little boost of confidence that comes from feeling comfortable in your own skin is there, subtle but constant.
The BOTT golden rule: A bra should never hurt, dig in, or ride up. If any of these three signs is present, something is wrong, and your body is not the problem.
STEP 1 - FIND YOUR TRUE BRA SIZE
The size marked on your current bra may not be the right one. Industry studies estimate that 7 out of 10 women wear an unsuitable size, often with a cup that is too large and a band that is too small.
The measurement is taken in two steps: the band measurement (in centimeters, under the bust, breathing normally) and the bust measurement (at the fullest point). The difference between the two determines the cup size.
BOTT TIP
If you’re hesitating between two sizes, always choose the most snug band size you can wear comfortably. The band is the bra’s main support: it’s what holds you up, not the straps.
To go further and discover your complete body profile, visit our page: Which BOTT are you?
STEP 2 - IDENTIFY YOUR BREAST SHAPE: THE 8 BOTT BODY TYPES
Two women with the same 90C can have completely different bodies. Same size, opposite needs. That’s why Bott developed a morphological approach with 8 profiles, each with its own dedicated collection.
Find your profile on the Which BOTT are you? page and discover the styles designed for you.
SLENDER BREASTS
Longer than they are wide, slender breasts often have nipples that point downward, with volume concentrated lengthwise rather than across the width. The classic bra with a flat cup is not their friend: it does not lift them; it compresses them.
What to avoid: rigid cups that accentuate the downward slope without providing lift.
BOTT's recommendation: the double triangle, with its double cup and double straps, naturally lifts the breasts while respecting their curve.
VIEW THE SLENDER OR PAPAYA-SHAPED BREASTS COLLECTION →
ASYMMETRICAL BREASTS
One breast is more voluminous than the other: this is the case for the vast majority of women, to varying degrees. The problem arises when the difference is pronounced enough for a structured bra to feel tight on one side and gape on the other.
What to avoid: molded, rigid cups that do not adapt to each breast independently. Always choose the size of the larger breast.
The recommendation BOTT: soft fabrics and enveloping cuts that fit both breasts without forcing symmetry.
VIEW THE STYLES FOR ASYMMETRICAL BREASTS →
BELL-SHAPED BREASTS
Wider at the base than at the top, bell-shaped breasts have generous volume at the bottom and less pronounced cleavage at the top. A standard bra that pushes upward can create an unnatural silhouette for this profile.
What to avoid: styles that are overly padded at the bottom of the cup, exaggerating the shape without truly supporting it.
BOTT's recommendation: styles that support the base of the breasts and rebalance the volume upward.
VIEW THE BELL-SHAPED OR APRICOT BREASTS COLLECTION →
ROUND BREASTS
Even volume, with a pronounced curve across the entire breast. Round breasts adapt easily to different styles, but beware of over-support that can flatten what nature has done so well.
What to avoid: rigid underwires that compress the lateral curve. Round breasts do not need to be contained; they need to be enveloped.
The recommendation BOTT: soft cuts that follow the natural curve without constraining it.
VIEW THE ROUND OR APPLE-SHAPED BREASTS COLLECTION →
EAST-WEST BREASTS
East-west breasts point outward, with the nipples pointing in opposite directions rather than forward. This profile requires a bra that can gently bring the breasts toward the center without forcing them.
What to avoid: large, open cups that allow the breasts to spread even farther apart, and underwires that are too short to manage lateral spreading.
The recommendation BOTT: styles with good central support that naturally bring the breasts together.
VIEW THE LES SEINS EST-OUEST OU LES CITRONS COLLECTION →
LES SEINS EN GOUTTE D'EAU
More volume at the bottom, a lighter upper bust, and a naturally downward-sloping shape. This is one of the most common body shapes and often one of the least well supported: women with this profile tend to choose overly structured styles that flatten the bottom instead of gently lifting the whole bust.
What to avoid: deep, rigid cups that accentuate the downward slope. Prefer styles that gently recenter.
The recommendation BOTT: triangle styles respect the natural shape while creating a subtle lifting effect.
VIEW THE LES GOUTTES D'EAU OU LES POIRES COLLECTION →
LA POITRINE PLATE
Little volume, with a subtly present bust. The classic pitfall: trying to create “more” with ultra-padded styles that produce an uncomfortable, unnatural illusion. Elegance means a bra that enhances your real curves.
What to avoid: thick padding that creates an artificial shape and becomes uncomfortable within the first hour.
The recommendation BOTT: minimalist, sensory styles that enhance.
VIEW THE LA POITRINE PLATE OU LES RAISINS COLLECTION →
LES SEINS DE CÔTÉ
Most of the volume is located at the sides rather than in the center. This profile often makes the bust seem to disappear under clothing from the front, even though it is clearly present. It needs a bra capable of bringing the volume forward.
What to avoid: cuts that are too open at the sides, allowing the volume to escape laterally without bringing it back toward the center.
The recommendation BOTT: styles with active lateral support that naturally repositions the bust.
VIEW THE LES SEINS DE CÔTÉ COLLECTION →
WHICH BRA STYLE SHOULD YOU CHOOSE FOR EVERYDAY WEAR?
Beyond body shape, every bra style meets an everyday need. It's not so much a question of style as of context: what you wear under a fitted dress isn't what you wear for an intense day at work.
The triangle - natural and sensory
Minimalist cut, soft cup, no rigid structure. The triangle follows the shape of the breast rather than imposing one on it. Ideal for teardrop-shaped, elongated and smaller busts. Find our styles in the Les Poires collection.
The double triangle - the lifting specialist
With its double cups and double straps, it naturally lifts the bust while preserving its shape. Bott's signature solution for elongated breasts. Discover the Les Élancées collection.
The bralette - everyday support
Covering the entire breast, often without underwires. The bralette is the modern answer to the question of comfort without compromise. It works just as well under a sweater as it does for a yoga session. Explore all Bott lingerie.
MATERIALS: WHAT YOUR SKIN FEELS FIRST
The material of a bra is what determines your comfort from the very first seconds. Before the shape, before the size, it's the sensation against your skin that determines whether you forget you're wearing it or can think of nothing but taking it off.
Natural materials (cotton, modal, bamboo) are breathable, regulate temperature, and suit sensitive skin. Technical materials (microfiber, stretch polyamide) offer optimal support and increased durability. Lace and embroidery appeal to desire: lingerie that is as pleasing to look at as it is to wear.
At Bott, the choice of materials is never incidental. Each style is designed to last and to feel right. To understand our material philosophy, visit the Feel Good in my Bott page.
THE 5 MISTAKES (ALMOST) ALL WOMEN MAKE
MISTAKE NO. 1
Choosing based on aesthetics first
A beautiful bra that starts to hurt after two hours isn't a good bra. Aesthetics should be a consequence of comfort, not its sacrifice.
MISTAKE NO. 2
Ignoring your body shape
Buying a size without considering the shape of your breasts is like choosing shoes solely by size without checking whether they are wide or narrow. Body shape is just as important as size.
MISTAKE NO. 3
Keeping the wrong size out of habit
The body changes. Breasts vary with hormonal cycles, weight, motherhood, and age. Measuring yourself again once a year is a simple habit that makes all the difference.
MISTAKE NO. 4
Relying solely on straps for support
Straps account for only 20% of the total support. If you tighten them as much as possible to support your breasts, the band is too large. The solution isn't to tighten the straps, but to change size.
MISTAKE NO. 5
Buying without a size guide or body-shape profile
Online, trying on is impossible. But a reliable body-shape guide more than makes up for it. That's why we developed BOTT developed a guide to your body-shape profile, waiting to be discovered right here: Which BOTTé are you?
READY TO FIND YOUR IDEAL BRA?
Start with your BOTT body shape, and find the right style. No doubt, no mistakes.
Published on April 11, 2026