When asked why they don’t provide G+ cups in 30- bands, French lingerie companies have explained that there’s no need for them in France. They’ve given this answer so earnestly that I began to believe that few French women with small rib cages needed large cup sizes–until I saw the French crime series Spiral for the first time this week.
Meet Audrey Fleurot, another beautiful buxom redhead. She plays Joséphine Karlsson, a criminal lawyer high in ambition and low in scruples. She’s also high in breast size and low in waist size, as you can see in these pictures.
I asked our friend Astrid at Les Gros Bonets for her impression of the Spiral actress and the French bra options available to her:
I had only seen her in small parts and hadn’t realised how busty she was. I’m super bad at guessing band size of people I haven’t seen in real life though. It depends on so many factors like height, back shape, squishiness and personal preference…. In any case, if she does need a 28, she won’t find it in French brands! The most commonly available full-bust brands are those from Van de Velde [the Belgian company behind Prima Donna], which go up to a European I I think? As well as the traditional French brands (Chantelle, Empreinte, Simone Pérèle…) which stop around an H at most.
Any guesses as to Audrey’s bra size?
Finally, here are more photos just because it’s so enjoyable to be able to study how busty celebrities dress. She follows the “rules” a lot, but not always. Some of the photos cause me to wonder if I’m imagining that she’s large-busted at all. Perhaps she’s simply wearing a stiffly molded contour bra in the photos at the beginning of this post. Or it could just be the nature of large breasts–sometimes they look big, and sometimes they don’t, and a lot has to do with the undergarments and clothing we wear. (By the way, according to this article, she prefers dresses, and she likes Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton, Agnes B. and Stella Cadente. Any chance a reader has tried these brands and found them to be large-bust friendly?)
She’s on TV a lot in France and she does have big boobs, which are hard to find bras for in France.
The black dress with lips is by Diane von Furstenberg – her wrap dresses are amazing for boobs, although the old designs were better than her newer ones (I still have some with the black label when she first revived the brand).
re Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton … Marc Jacobs tends to cut very tight on the chest.
I suspect they are making them to fit her or tailoring them. In France companies have always treated ‘creative’ people well – not just ‘gifting’ reality TV stars as in the US (I was given an YSL dress that fit me like a glove when I published an archaeology book). But also higher end brands tend to have deeper seams that allow for alterations.
So interesting to know. Thanks!
Nice blog! I’ve been wearing French bras since many years, so I enjoyed this post.
Yes, French have an “idée fixe” that women’s average cup is B. Not so, also in France bigger cups are needed.
The brands have not yet understood this and they are losing the large cup market to the British brands even on their home turf.
They also forget that they sell bras globally to us foreign more busty customers.
As a 32E girl I love their bras but struggle to find nice ones in my size.
To be exact, the sizes offered by French bra brands are now up the the H-cup – but careful that’s only a US size F cup!
Brands like Empreinte and Chantelle have one or two bras that go down to a 30 band for an F cup (US size). Then from size 32F you’ll find Eprise, Simone Perele and Secret d’Eva.
And for my guess of Audrey’s size, I think she should need to wear US size 32DD 🙂
I didn’t reply right away, but I appreciate the knowledge you’ve added to the subject, Mari. Thanks!