This Matilda is surprisingly comfortable! The mesh doesn't seem particularly soft, but it's comfy enough I think I could wear it all day. The 36HH size is probably wrong for me, as the band is not tight enough. Elomis seem to be stretchier. The top cup is non-stretch mesh, so full-on-top ladies may have more difficulty. I think I'm pretty even vertically, so the cups fit nice and taut, but not tight. I have ongoing difficulties with bands slipping down out of my IMF, maybe due to shape issues, and this is no exception. A 34 band may help.
This was on okay fit while trying to discover my "true" bra size.
This is the first bra that's closert to my cup size than every other bra in a while (read: I used to wear 36-38 DD's prior to this). Pre-ABTF I ordered a 36HH based on my measurements and the inch difference rule between your boobs and band size.
However, the cups being ended up being too big for me and I had a strap-gap. My breasts have narrow roots and am full on top but upon reflection I don't think have enough the bottom fullness and/or eveness that this bra requires because in addition to ...the wrinkling cups (due to the cup size) I had another strange little gap at the bottom of the cups that my breasts couldn't fill out. The underwire was good but didn't align with my IMF and if I scooted it up, the underwires would stab me in the underarms (which is apparently a common problem for us petite ladies) and the gap I experienced was a little bit closer to the curve of my breast root, but nevertheless the wires were too wide for me which left me with another gap.
I do find that that I had to move to the second row of hooks a bit quickly, although it could maybe be attributed to my current dieting at the time.
I tried this on after wearing the Panache Jasmine in a 36H (along with it's own set of issues), and the underwires poked my breast so badly it hurt.
I would definitely recommend this bra for someone who has a decent amount of bottom fullness and wider roots. Read more 172 more words
This is a very comfortable bra but it is very much a full coverage bra. I would have no problem recommending this for under high neck shirts and for work wear, as it will get you through the day no problem. But if you are looking to show some cleavage but not the bra, this isn't the one for you!
This bra is a band and cup size above what I usually get, but it was so unexpectedly cheap that I decided to risk it, and alter as needed.
First of all, it is a gorgeous turquoise color. The embroidery and bows are an almost iridescent violet. I love it. The material itself is a somewhat stiff double-layered mesh. This didn't bother me, in fact I enjoyed the increased support and reduced jiggle from this strong mesh, but people with sensitive skin may have a problem.
I also love the wide, soft, comfortable straps. They're fully adjustable and absolutely do not cut into ...the top of my shoulders, even when I overtightened them. The band is also very comfy. This one is a size too big - I'm wearing it on the tightest hook and will need to take it in after a few more wears - and yet the wide band is still very supportive, doesn't dig in, and does a remarkable job of smoothing down that roll of back fat I struggle with.
This bra is marketed as a 'plunge' and in this respect I am a somewhat disappointed. It covers more real estate on my bust than I hoped. It's approaching a full coverage bra on the cups, especially toward the sides, and then dips down to a plunge at the gore. This bra works with most of my narrow v-neck clothes, but my scoop necks show a little slice of the embroidered roses.
The cups are wide and deep - too wide for me by almost an inch on each side, but that doesn't seem to affect support. The depth is close to perfect, only a few millimeters of wrinkling at one point under my breasts. I think that may be solved by bending the wires to conform to my ribs. There is a bit of wrinkling at the top of the cups which I will need to alter, but overall the cup seems well constructed. The cups come up quite high at the sides, almost too high but so far I've felt pressure but no wire-stabbing or welting from it. A strip of elastic runs along the inner edges of the cups, likely to help keep breasts from jiggling free at the plunge. In this respect I'm glad I went up a cup size as the elastic, to my surprise, doesn't dig into my all-over-full breasts, but women with very soft tissue or upper fulness may have a problem with this.
Overall, this bra gives my breasts is a moderately uplifted, subtly pointy shape. It is not a bombshell cleavage bra, but it is cute, comfortable, and works with much of my wardrobe.
This bra does not hold the girls centered or in their cups. The top of the cup allows part of the breast to work its way out and the fabric loosens. The wire stabs me under the arms on the sides of my ribs. The fabric that holds in the underwire has come apart and the underwire does not stay in place. It fits fine when you put it on but is no good after an hour. The band does not stretch too bad.
+ very supportve + gore tacks + Straps are fully adjustable + it looks cute https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
- very wide wires - slightly pointy shape - cup edge runs tights and tends to cut in
Important note: I have altered the Betty from a 36HH to a 32JJ! I cannot say if 36HH ran true to size since that size never fitted me. I usually wear 32K.
About the bra itself: it's the first plunge bra I tried that keeps my boobs in the cups despite the low gore. The cups are not very full on top friendly since the cup edge runs tight (I think ...that is the main reason why it works so well as a plunge – stiff fabric keeps boobs from falling out) but it also cuts in slightly. It's not very visible under tops, so I ignore it. The wires are very stable but also very wide. The shape from the side is slightly pointy and from the front the bra does as all Elomi bras make my boobs look wider. It works well under low cut tops as the gore does not show. It is no cleavage bra. It's a plunge bra but it won't give cleavage.
Edit March 2014: Bra is not wearable anymore due to cutting in of the cups. Definitely not full on top friendly. Cup edges run very tight. I only recommend this for full on bottom and somewhat wide boobs. Wires are much too wide on me and end on my back. Read more 148 more words
+ very supportve + gore tacks + Straps are fully adjustable + it looks cute https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
- very wide wires - slightly pointy shape - cup edge runs tights and tends to cut in
Important note: I have altered the Betty from a 36HH to a 32JJ! I cannot say if 36HH ran true to size since that size never fitted me. I usually wear a 32K.
About the bra itself: it's the first plunge bra I tried that keeps my boobs in the cups despite the low gore. The cups are not very full on top friendly since the cup edge runs tight ...(I think that is the main reason why it works so well as a plunge – stiff fabric keeps boobs from falling out) but it also cuts in slightly. It's not very visible under tops, so I ignore it. The wires are very stable but also very wide. The shape from the side is slightly pointy and from the front the bra does as all Elomi bras make my boobs look wider. It works well under low cut tops as the gore does not show. It is no cleavage bra. It's a plunge bra but it won't give cleavage.
Edit March 2014: Bra is not wearable anymore due to cutting in of the cups. Definitely not full on top friendly. Cup edges run very tight. I only recommend this for full on bottom and somewhat wide boobs. Wires are much too wide on me and end on my back. Read more 150 more words
I love the the look of this bra. There's no seams, the shape is nice and rounded: supported, but not in your face.It looks great under shirts, and I REALLY want to like this bra... BUT no matter the adjustments I make, I cannot keep this bra from bruising me and leaving angry red swollen patches underneath. I've tried adjust the wires, straps, and hook fastening. No matter what I try, the underwire digs underneath my breasts. Sitting in the bra is near torture for me.
The underwires are a little thick, but it doesn't poke me anywhere. This bra is super comfortable and supportive. I feel awesome in it https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
Though I had tried on the Betty and decided against it, I felt that the Suzie looked like a slightly higher gore and maybe, maybe... no. Same issue. Felt like it fit well, but any bounce and my flesh would loosen its way out of that short gore. I give up on plunge bras.
Oh, how I wanted to like this bra. I tried it on in the store and thought it was perfect. And yet... once I was home and wearing it for longer, I discovered that the cut of the armholes is just wrong for me. I compared the shape to my favorite Libby bra and noticed that the Libby has a much shallower slope than the Rita. Then I started comparing all my other bras to the Libby for that measurement and noticed that all of the ones I didn't like were a sharper curve. I guess I need larger armholes. It would also explain why I hate balcony bras with the straps that are way to the side.
Aside from the armhole, this bra was great. Material was smooth and soft, felt supportive. I never tried the J-hook for a racerback. I've never obtained any racerback shirts because I've never had a racerback bra.
I've learned that I don't like it when the gore is this low. Even when I fit in the cups well, they always bounce out near the gore and I am just not comfortable with that. I liked the Betty, it was comfortable, but... I knew that I would not be comfortable wearing it.
I got this bra primarily because it was recommended as having a similar fit to the Caitlyn, which I do well in, but with a lower gore, which is always a plus. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way for me. The biggest issue, I think, was how weak the wires were -way to flexible and easily distorted for my taste. In terms of sizing,I would also say this ran smaller than the Caitlyn, as I'm sort of between a 34hh bordering on j in the Caitlyn and a 36h was definitely too small in this.
The biggest downer was probably the shape for me - very wide, east/west, and low; I wasn't really getting lift.
On the plus side, the bra was pretty - I felt sort of like a black and white movie star in it, and the fabric felt lovely and silky.
Ugh. I really don't like this bra. It has a couple of good points, though. The magenta red color is really pretty & the material is silky soft. It is a LOT of bra, however, & looks very matronly. The under wires dig into my ribs, so I had to bend them to avoid bruises.
