Cup Size in Stories

[TruthwithaTwist]

So, I’ve now received a few negative comments about using “cup size” to describe women’s breasts in stories. (Yes, all anonymous!!!) They claim that nobody would describe womens breasts like that (or using inches for men.)

I beg to differ. I know my wife is a 38C. She used to be a 34A before kids. I knew the bra sizes of past girlfriends, too. I sometimes used them to give imagery of size in my stories. What are other authors’ thoughts?

Do these readers want me to use fruit comparisons? Tangerines? Grapefruits? Glass size! Champagne glass? Gallon jugs? Sports metaphors? Softballs? Badminton shuttlecock?

I jest … but am curious for thoughts.

 

[KeithD]

Well, yes, I keep noting there are users who think in terms of measurements, but we have users who won't mind their own business here and insist on posting "what I want you to write" threads.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Ah, the great debate! Some readers seem to like measurements, others loathe them.

As a male writer, I have zero idea about bra sizes, other than they're different in every country, so I never use them. As a descriptive device, a bra size is meaningless for me.

Do as you will, but be prepared for some readers to leave your story at the first mention of a cup size, others to stay.

Or you could do what I do, describe the colour and the silk and lace, then get the bra off. It really is up to you, but don't try to satisfy "all readers".

 

[Bramblethorn]

This gets discussed every few months here, but TLDR: it depends on your target audience. Some people like that kind of thing, some don't, it's up to you how far you want to cater to that portion of the audience. I tend to click out of stories that mention cup size early on because from experience those tend not to be the kinds of stories that interest me, but there are zillions of readers who feel differently.

One thing to consider is that while you may know exactly what a 38C looks like, not all readers do, and some only think they know. Measurements like "DD" may have connotations in erotica that don't match what they mean in real life, so the picture you conjure in a reader's head may not always be the one you were aiming for.

 

[Voboy]

Just write it how you want.

It's your story. If your commenters want a differently-written story, they're free to submit their own shit.

 

[onehitwanda]

they're free to submit their own shit.

Probably literally in most cases...

 

[Djmac1031]

I personally have shied away from it lately, preferring more descriptive words; "large and full," "pert and firm" etc.

It doesn't necessarily bother me except when it's coming from a male character who just met her and is spouting off her bra size like an expert lol.

If you're gonna do that, have him say something like "I estimated her breast size as__."

But yeah, use it, don't use it; the choice is yours, not the readers.

 

[Euphony]

Cup size is non-standard, especially in American lingerie so you aren't imparting much useful information.

All it is fictionally is a mostly agreed upon shorthand for "big, small, busty, etc."

If you research true brassier fitment, you'd see just how different even cliched 36DD shows on a variety of bodies.

Who really, narratively, needs this specific level of information?

And even if so, why not come up with a more novel way of presenting it? (preferably showing the emotions associated/attached w/their measurements.)

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[blozo]

Early on I mentioned it. Now I just use generalizations, unless I've got a character that's just freaky huge. I don't think it helps or hurts your story either way.

 

[Stimtheone]

Honestly, I don't even understand cup sizes so I avoid mentioning them. Plus, reading about it can make people have unrealistic ideas. If you said "G" they might imagine some titty monster with boobs as big as babies instead of some much more common image like "one hand is not enough". Fun fact... D is often not that big and G is actually what some consider the best, I think it was the smaller G sizes that represent them being more firm rather than those that hang down. Or so I assume.

Mostly I've learned that bra sizes are at times quite arcane and hard to use them to imagine the tits just by those alone unless you measure women up as a profession. Plus, I'm not one to care of these specifics. I just use generalizations. Most guys have the decent average, some are a good deal above, some are out of the norm, breasts are flat, almost flat, decent, big or HOLY SHIT. What matters more is if the character has something to grab and if the titty is just overflowing out of their hand.

 

[Voboy]

I usually let the narrator tell me how they want to describe things.

Meaning, if I'm writing a female narrator in FP, and I've established that she's image-obsessed, or that she's got an inferiority complex, she'll use different terms than if I'm writing a male narrator who's a college student, and really only cares less about how big they are than about whether he will get to see them.

One of my FMCs worked as a manager at a lingerie store. You bet your ass she used bust sizes, because I assumed that's how she would have thought of the women she saw.

 

[lovecraft68]

Personal style and preference, I don't use stats. I like to let the readers use their imagination. If I say a woman's breasts are 'large" they can picture what that means to them.

However, that being said, its your story, write it the way you want. Some people like stats, some don't. You'll catch crap either way.

Fun, right?

 

[Zenith77]

I fail to see how size makes a difference in erotica. I much prefer to let the reader fill in the gaps. Makes no difference to me if the character is a blond, brunette or redhead, small, large or in-between. Let the reader picture what the reader wishes to picture.

First time I've ever used the word "inches" was to describe the dimensions of a strap-on, because it was relevant to the story.

Personally I find "12-inch cocks" and other such measurements a complete turn-off - and for every reader out there that likes 44GGs there's another who'd prefer 34As. If you don't mention it at all, you please both of them.

 

[Smuttyandfun]

Normally, when I refer to a lady's breasts I don't get into cup size. I might say she's got a nice set of curves, or her breasts are nice and perky, or maybe a perfect handful. I think the reader can tell from how I've described them that her breasts aren't likely to suffocate her partner, unless of course, I want them to.

Although, I have had a few readers curious to know every last detail - exact cup and nipple size, color, etc. But I find that most enjoy just using their imagination - which I think is the purpose of reading a story rather watching porn.

 

[Rustyoznail]

I avoid numbers unless it's essential to the story. If I wrote that my FMC wore a 20D, I'd have so many comments that she was an unrealistic stick figure with huge tits. That is a normal size for an Australian woman and it equates to a US/UK 42D.

 

[KeithD]

As usual, folks miss the point. Most of those who like using or reading measurements don't usuauly understand exactly what number goes with what size either. It just means "big" to them in a way that turns them on. It's just an arousal mechanism for them. We all have them. But we don't all have folks here starting or contributing to threads to razz whatever turn-on mechanism we have in our minds like we have for the measurement visionaries. Men who work with measurements in their jobs are prone to talk in measurements otherwise, including in their sex fantasies. It doesn't make a hell of a bit of importance whether they understand precisely what the volume of a 36D is or not. And it's a false argument to assume they do--or should. To them, it's a sexual arousal turn-on image.

 

[EmilyMiller]

So, I’ve now received a few negative comments about using “cup size” to describe women’s breasts in stories. (Yes, all anonymous!!!) They claim that nobody would describe womens breasts like that (or using inches for men.)

I beg to differ. I know my wife is a 38C. She used to be a 34A before kids. I knew the bra sizes of past girlfriends, too. I sometimes used them to give imagery of size in my stories. What are other authors’ thoughts?

Do these readers want me to use fruit comparisons? Tangerines? Grapefruits? Glass size! Champagne glass? Gallon jugs? Sports metaphors? Softballs? Badminton shuttlecock?

I jest … but am curious for thoughts.

I use my cup size when describing the [lightiy fictionalized version of] myself, because I obviously know what my cup size is, IRL and in the stories. I don’t tend to use this to describe other women (I think maybe my best friend - who appears in three of my stories - might be an exception, but I honestly can’t recall without going to check). I don’t use fruit sizes, that seems rather school playground.

Em

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Personally - and YMMV - I find descriptions involving cup sizes or the male equivalent a turn-off, generally enough to cause me to leave. Oh, I’ve written large willies and large wobblies into my tales, but only when necessary. One of the consistent ‘Top 10 Beautiful Women of all Time’ features is Audrey Hepburn, who wore an A-cup. Beauty is not cup-size-dependent and a Whopper doesn’t make a man a good lover. I figure a good writer can impress and enflame without that.

Like I said, YMMV and that’s fine. Just my two cents.

 

[tenyari]

If I ever meet a guy who can do drive-by cup measurements at 25mph while no closer than 50 yards... then I'll start including cup measurements. Or if I ever write a scene where one of the characters brings a tape measure to the event. Otherwise, unless my characters are shopping bras or talking bras... I'm at a loss about using it.

I'm trying to get myself away from describing guys as having a 7 73/137" long cock that had a 1.2397" diameter and 3 4.87mm wide veins on it as well.

 

[John_Vandermeer]

For what it is worth, from a new (heterosexual male) Lit author that is not familiar with all the unspoken codes and mores of Lit, but have published enough to find out there are plenty, for me breast size is important, and have mentioned with regard to every FMC. Using descriptive language, US numbers, or both. I am ok with it since I write to what I like, not to "sell" to the broadest possible audience, since we are not really selling here. I think of it as a fetish, and that is that. I have zero ability to estimate when it is not of my preferred size. But I recognize my prefered size when I see it. Plus or minus one letter or 2 number increment (by that I mean 34 vs 36, say). It is not unreasonable for me to assume my MMCs do to. And that it is part of what hooks them to my FMCs.

 

[Euphony]

But I recognize my prefered size when I see it.

Doubtful.

According to a 2008 survey conducted by Triumph and published in the journal Chiropractic & Osteopathy, 80% of women are wearing the wrong bra size.1 This statistic was first published by Dr. Edward Pechter in a 1998 study, where he wrote that 70 percent of women or more were wearing the incorrect bra size.

Even if we carve off 30% for industry biased research (Triumph is a lingerie company) HALF of the owners of breasts you are eyeball quick measuring struggle to identify their OWN size. And they live with them 24/7.

Bra sizes in fiction are shorthand for ample or wanting and a signal to the fetishist the author is courting.

If you aren't that audience (or, very possibly just an owner of breasts) you are often graciously suppressing an eye roll or possibly having your suspension of disbelief tested.

Author's choice is author's choice but many of us tend to write to a wider, inclusive audience more often than not.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

“My wife was stacked, with 38D cans.”

or

“My wife had a sizzling figure with broad hips, a narrow waist and high, firm, alluring breasts.”

Your choice and you’re entitled to it, but I know which one I prefer.

 

[SamScribble]

I had to consult the cardiology nurse on this matter when she asked me to keep a record of my fluid intake. I said that I normally got through three cups of coffee in an average day. She thought that each cup was probably about 200 ml. Rather than faffing about with measuring cups or anything like that, we decided that 200 ml was close enough for jazz.

 

[ElectricBlue]

“My wife was stacked, with 38D cans.”

or

“My wife had a sizzling figure with broad hips, a narrow waist and high, firm, alluring breasts.”

Your choice and you’re entitled to it, but I know which one I prefer.

38D melons, TP, surely?

But yes, I reckon I'll go with Penny's choice. With Sam's nurse coffee.

 

[Rustyoznail]

But yes, I reckon I'll go with Penny's choice. With Sam's nurse coffee.

200ml? What are you drinking, EB? A short black?