Freya Fancies was one of my favorite bras when I was a solid 28DD, thanks to the fact that it's pretty, comfortable, and comes in a beautiful assortment of colors. It took me a few tries to find the correct size as I started my journey with a 28D that I didn't immediately realize was too small and altered and wore for a while before switching to 28DD. This review is specifically to discuss how the 28D fit me, as I am currently a 28E, and my review under 28E is more comprehensive regarding the bra itself.
At the time of purchase, I was trying to figure ...out my bra size and did not know how Freya bras would fit. It was my first 28 band, so I didn't realize immediately that the band on this particular bra is too loose and almost +1" longer on the flat than normal. The cups didn't fit me like I expected them to in pictures, and the upper cup was too empty, so I mistakenly assumed the bra was the wrong shape for me and subsequently altered the bra to lower the top cup and make it more open. I later realized this is because the cups were too small and this was a classic example of the orange in a glass effect.
In hindsight, the wires were clearly too short and the cup width was also too short. I had been wearing 32B bras and was used to the appearance of tiny demi cups, so I didn't realize how poorly this fit. However, in my experience this bra does run true to size, so I would say it should work for someone who is a true 28D, specifically with a larger ribcage as Freya bands in general are stretchy and run large. However, the shape of the cups really suits a round shape best, so I would not recommend this style if you are very shallow or if you are empty on top. It is a super comfortable bra and I love it for summer. Highly recommended if it suits your shape! Read more 250 more words
The Freya Starlight Side Support is a nice bra with a lot to like. However, it's just one of those styles I don't absolutely love, since I paid full price for it. Thus, I decided not to keep it, but would still like to comment on this bra's positive points.
First, this bra reminded me so much of the Agent Provocateur Sidonie from AW 2011. A classic, retro-style bra made from rigid, open black lace, Starlight doesn't have the gorgeous daisy lace pattern of Sidonie, but it has a far nicer cup construction and supportive design. This is a three piece cup with side panel ...that is solidly constructed. The band is firm and supportive, and the gore is much taller and more stable than Sidonie. Design details are minimal, with just a tiny ribbon tack at the gore, and subtle gold hardware.
The main problem with this bra is that the lace is SO stiff and scratchy. I thought the lace on Freya Fancies and Freya Daisy was stiff, but that's nothing. If you close your eyes and touch this bra, it feels somewhere between a burlap sack and a fishing net. It's not uncomfortable to me once it's on, but it makes handling the bra very unpleasant to me. The stiff lace also affects the fit, as it doesn't sit as smoothly on the body as a softer material. Ultimately the lace for me was the dealbreaker on this bra, and while I'm sure it will soften up with washing, I just don't want to deal with it.
The other point to note regarding this bra is that it is the exact same cut as the Freya Rose Tapestry Side Support Bra. That particular bra gave me serious orange-in-a-glass issues due to the narrow width of the underwire, while this particular bra fit me fine as the cup width was about 1 cm bigger. Thus, this cup construction plus the rigid fabric is not very forgiving in the fit. There also seems to be something unusual about the grading of the cups when you get to larger cup sizes, based on the reviews of others. Other than that, the band felt secure and comfortable, and I had no particular fit issues in the 28DD, which is my normal size. 28D is one size too small for me and didn't fit in the cups, but I would say this runs true to size.
This is a lovely retro-style bra, but I would definitely recommend you try before you buy to determine if the shape and fabric are for you. Read more 336 more words
This is a standard Freya fit for me and responded well to tried and true alterations of the cup - padded cup insert and darting the fabric to fit my 28C's into the 28D cup and shorten the height for my petite frame. This is the only bra I wash in the machine and it has tolerated it well. Given a couple of years it has stretched a bit and I am now on the 2nd or 3rd hook and it aches a bit at the end of a long day. Still good quality for the price point.
I love this print. Fresh! The measurements will make for a good bra to alter, much like my other freya bras, to fit my 28C bosom. Narrow cup width is the answer for me. Can't wait to put it into rotation. The straps are a bit wider than usual and carry the pattern forward. Straps are only partially adjustable but are fine for me. I like that the pattern extends into the posterior band. The material seems a bit softer than some of the other Freya models that I have.
I did a different type of alteration with this bra than other ...Freya models in the same style. I still used an padded bra cup as an insert, but instead of darts and narrowing the lace portion, I shortened the entire height of the cup at the wire. Smoother fit and still looks great. One of padded cups flared out at the top, but I tacked it down using a stitch technique off of youtube. It looks great and is in better proportion to my size and my breast volume. Read more 82 more words
I have been eyeing this Freya pattern so happily snapped it up when it became available through Bratabase. I have a number of similar styles in the same size so the bra is a good fit. While Bratabase categorizes this bra as not fitting, I have a standard alteration of adding a cup liner to make it fit well. I can patch the previous gore repair with a bow and it should be good to go. Pleased to give it a good home!
While technically this bra does not fit as the cups are too big and the upper lace too closed, I have successfully modified it to fit rather nicely. I added a pad in each cup, a dart in the center of the cup, and brought the lace down to make a more open cup. With the cream strips on black fabric, you can't even tell there is an extra dart. Lovely rounded shape with good cleavage - front and center. The wires are more narrow which helps. The fabric is a bit scratchy but hopefully that will improve with washing and wear.
The fabric never did improve. It has remained scratchy but tolerable though perhaps not for long.
This bra is great for narrow projected breasts unfortunately it's too small for me. Like all freya bras it has a stretchy band so not great for sub 28 bands
After much debate between the 28C and 28D I decided to go with this size! It captures all of my breast tissue well and when I run around nothing slips out https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
Much too tight, cups very shallow and they felt a bit narrow also. (I am full on bottom.) The cups give a lot of pushup but unfortunately were not filled at the bottom (this can be seen in the side view photo). The fit was better after adding an extender but overall still not right. The band seemed like it would become very uncomfortable after a while because of the relative lack of stretch, and it felt like it would be prone to sliding down. Amount of padding was pretty much the only thing right about this bra: it was enough to prevent show through without feeling overly thick or heavy. The same bra in 30D would possibly fit correctly but due to the stiffness of the band fabric and the shallow-bottomed cups, I prefer not to chance it.
All in all this bra is a big disappointment -- except for the watercolor print fabric, which I think is gorgeous. Much too deep in the cups for this size. Depth is 7.5" and for a 28D depth should be about 6.5 - 7". Band is strange: it measures 23" unstretched and 29.5" stretched which should be OK for me, and yet this band moves around like crazy. It has to be fastened on the tightest hook to fit me properly. The shape of the cups is conical, very much unlike my old 30D - Freya » Antoinette (3925) which I was really hoping to replace or at least rotate with this one. Unfortunately I have to return this and keep looking for a cut-and-sew unlined bra in this tiny size.
Background first: I have wide set, shallow, slightly splayed boobs; tall roots but soft and deflated, so my braless shape is full on bottom. The left side is about half a size larger than the right, but it's also more deflated and concave on top when unsupported.
The Gem isn't a bad-looking bra. My dh especially liked the lace panels at the top of the cup. The straps have lacy loops along the sides, which are pretty but made adjusting the strap length somewhat challenging. The bra is nice and lightweight, just right for summertime.
On me, the fit is problematic. The wires are just ...a hair too narrow, but a swoop-and-scoop can still bring all the breast tissue in where it belongs. The band is borderline too snug; I had heard that one should size down in the band on this bra, but I would have been more comfortable in my usual 30. If I otherwise liked the bra I might just wear an extender until the band stretched...but I don't otherwise like it that much. The top of the cup makes a nice smooth line on my big side, but the small side wrinkles unpleasingly at the top. I also am not fond of the silhouette this bra creates on me -- weirdly narrow and almost inward-pointing, compared to my usually east-west facing apexes. For a person with narrower roots and less splay this would probably be a great little bra. Read more 144 more words
This is a great narrow and projected bra that is more friendly to FOT/tall roots than other Freya bras. I have very tall roots and while the other unlined Freyas I've tried were way too closed on top for me (Rapture Plunge, Starlet Plunge, Icon Balcony, Rio) this one only gives me the tiniest bit of quadboob that's barely noticeable. Other than that, I have absolutely no complaints. I have quite a bit of immediate projection and it accommodates that perfectly, and the gore is low enough for my center-full and extremely close-set boobs. The wires are quite narrow - this is probably the only bra I've ever ...had that doesn't extend past my tissue on the sides. The shape it gives me is very lifted but still natural - it's not at all pointy, but it's not super round like Cleo.
The band feels true to size. I've heard many complaints about Freya bands being loose or too stretchy, but this one is quite firm. The straps are also firm, and the adjusters stay in place very well. It seems like a very solidly constructed bra, despite its delicate appearance, and is very comfortable and supportive.
An important warning: it runs large in the cup. I wear a 28E in Panache/Cleo and sized down to a 28D in this bra. I suspect it doesn't actually run two sizes large and I've just had to size up in Panache/Cleo because of my projection, but I would definitely say it runs one size large as I have never worn a 28D in any other bra. Read more 157 more words
This is my second try with this pretty, sheer bra, but it's just not going to work. My boobs are kind of wide-set, splayed, shallow and soft, and one side is about a half-size smaller than the other. On my big side, the volume was right but the wire was too narrow and lay across some breast tissue on the side. On the small side, the volume was just too big, and in a sheer bra like this I can't use a cookie to make up the difference. This might work for you if your roots are less wide than mine and if your boobs are closer to the same size.
This was my first bra in my [new] corrected size. The bra calculator put me at a 26E/28DD, which I found out is US sizing and this is a UK brand. The 28DD was a little loose but I liked that it had 3 hooks; 28D has 2 hooks. The 28D follows the shape of my breasts more. The band is nice and firm so far, which I heard regular Deco bands have a tendency to stretch out over time.
Straps are not as elastic as I had hoped. However definitely gives vavavoom cleavage! Comfortable to wear. Had to use second hook but my under band measures 27''
Probably not an everyday bra but definitely looks cute!
You do get a great cleavage with this bra. I am glad for you that it is comfortable. It is a very cute and lovely coloured bra.
Have you tried a cup size up, looks like it's sitting on your breast tissue in the center.
Have you tried a cup size up, looks like it's sitting on your breast tissue in the center.
This bra looks about one cup size small. The underwires are sitting on your breast tissue. Have you scooped and swooped? Make sure you lean forward and lift all your breast tissue into the cups; you may find this is not an ideal fit once the underwires are in your IMF and not on your breast. Of course if you love it, wear whatever is comfortable for you.
Thanks for all your comments! I tried a cup size up in other deco variants. And because they gap at the top (I have shallow breasts) I decided that going a size down would help. Gaping on wear seem to be a problem with the decos, but because of the lovely shape and cleavage I get, I have continued to buy more! 😜
Got this as a giveaway, and I was hoping it would fit, but it's way too small. Gore doesn't tack I have quad boob AND side boob. Too bad, because it's a cute bra. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" />
You do get a great cleavage with this bra. I am glad for you that it is comfortable. It is a very cute and lovely coloured bra.