The sizing advice on HerRoom for this bra states that you should order a band size larger than usual, but I don't necessarily agree with that, at least not for the smaller sizes. I normally would have started with a 28DD but on the sizing advice I chose 30D instead. The cups just fit but the band is definitely large -- I have to wear it on the tightest hook. (Incidentally my actual ribcage is 27.5" ). The 30D band measures 24" long, which is consistent with 30 band sizing. Maybe the bands only run small in the larger sizes? I don't ...know, but either way I will order my regular size next time.
As for the bra itself, I really like it. The seams lie flat and aren't particularly noticeable, even under t-shirts. You can see they are there, but barely. Someone would have to be on the lookout for bra seams! The overlay fabric, since it's not stretchy, ripples a tiny bit here and there because it's not perfectly fitted to the foam lining. This isn't a big deal to me because again, it's barely noticeable even when you're looking for it.
The foam lining is super thin (literally about 1/16" ) and soft. Contrary to other reviews I've seen about the Retro Basic, I find it gives a very nicely rounded shape, and it has great pushup with no padding -- a real feat. The wires are cleverly angled upwards on the sides for great cleavage.
The straps are non-stretch in the front. The gate back is really cool. I had a Wonderbra many years ago that was this exact same style (seamed, plunge cut), with a gate back. I loved that bra and it's the only other one I've seen with this back style.
*** Update *** There are rumors on the web that Freya slightly changed the lining of this bra (apparently it used to be thicker, more like padding). So maybe they also fixed the band sizing issue? This bra was purchased in the Spring of 2010 from Bare Necessities. Read more 251 more words
The Freya Antoinette is comfortable and supportive and well constructed. No foam in this one, though the lower cup sections are lined with an extra layer of firm fabric. The inside seams are bound for more comfort (for you non-sewers, that means they're covered over with smooth strips of fabric). I wish they made this bra in pastel colors (I ordered nude), but even so, this bra is prettier than it looks in pictures, and the strap detailing is cute. A nice bra for when you want to feel like it's "just you" in there!
Note on fit: Band size is true but the cups run a bit small. If you measure between cup sizes, you might want to round up; you will definitely need to do so if your breasts are on the fuller/rounder side. Purchased Spring 2010 from HerRoom.
I almost kept this bra but it was a bit too loose on the top section of lace. I think it might be due to the top section not being bonded together like the bottom section so it has less rigidity or maybe the shape is just wrong for me, as my boobs are fuller on the bottom. I found the gore really comfortable and it tacked well too. This is the first Freya bra I've tried and I was pleasantly surprised at the soft fleecy fabric covering the wires inside which made it very comfortable. I'm not sure I understood the side support feature but I don't ...have anything against it either! I didn't find the fabric scratchy at all (like others on here) but I wear a lot of wool jumpers so maybe I've trained myself for a little bit of a scratchy fabric. The band felt really comfortable and supportive and if it was possible I'd order this in a 30C, as I think the cup size was probably the only issue. I also liked the shape it created even though it isn't padded. The lace is quite see through so that's something to bear in mind if you want coverage. The colour poseidon is a lovely deep teal meets petrol blue and honestly was a large reason for me ordering it! Read more 118 more words
So, I now own this bra in 28DD and 30D, as I just grabbed the 30D when I found it for 70% off. My bra size fluctuates pretty wildly over the course of the month, so having this in 2 sizes that each fit some of the time is a good thing.
Ooh La La runs deep in the cup and small in the band. Even on the loosest hook, the 30D's band fits like my other 28 bands. I suppose it will loosen over time, but the band of my 28DD hasn't stretched much in the months I've owned it, so maybe not.
The pale pink is pretty. ...These pics were taken under very warm light, so it's really a more neutral pink than it looks. The mesh is entirely transparent, if that matters to you. It's incredibly comfortable as long as the band isn't too tight. There's slight gapping along the inches between the place the strap attaches at the shoulder and the end of the underwire...but I get that with most bras made in the last few years. I don't know what's changed in bra design because it isn't an issue in my older bras. (I'm so tempted to put a dart in, but I'd probably regret it.) Read more 102 more words
Well it looks like I've finally found a Deco that will work for me! I normally wear a 30DD, and after hearing that Deco cups run large, I ordered this in a 30D. The wires are a little shorter and narrower than I'd like, but nothing to disqualify it from being a good fit. This bra would work well for anyone with shallow tissue. The bra is largely unembellished, save for a few little bows. The cups do have non-removable padding, which fills about 2/3 of the cup. This seems like a great option for everyday wear when you want a little extra oomph. My sole concern with this bra is that with all that padding, the cups don't offer much coverage. My breasts have even fullness, and my areolas are *just* covered by the top of the cups. So the slightest bit of shifting in the cups, and things might start to show. So far it hasn't been an issue, but we'll see what happens with a full day of wear!
The Freya Emily nursing bra is easily one of the cutest nursing bras available. It gives a retro, slightly conical (but not pointy) shape which may bother some people. The seams, surprisingly, do not irritate. This bra has NO lining and is made of very low stretch simplex, so it feels very firm, which takes getting used to. It is not great for shallow or "pendulous" breasts, because you really have to fill out the cup or you'll have wrinkling (as I do, but I wear it anyway!). My other complaint is that it really should be cotton lined, since it is a nursing bra.
I really do love this bra, enough that I kept it despite the fit issues. It's the most supportive bra I own, plus it's just fun and pretty and makes me feel fun and pretty! That being said, I'm always having to pull the lace down when I'm sitting as it keeps riding up.
The band feels on the tight side to me despite the fact that I can fit two fingers under the band, but my measurements now are slightly different from my measurements at the time I bought it. My measurements now indicate a 32 band. I tend to find those feel too loose, though. Personally, ...I would probably still err on the side of the 30 band for this one given it will only get looser, but that one would really depend on your personal preferences, I think.
I really like the broader straps, both aesthetically as well as in terms of comfort, and I like where they sit on my shoulders. I have broad shoulders, but I have all kinds of posture issues, so they're very rounded and stuff is always slipping off them. Not so with this bra!
Because the longline lace bit goes all the way around and can't be unhooked along with the bra strap, getting the bra on and off is a deeply unsexy process, but the lace has held up through it so far, which speaks to the general quality of the bra, in my mind.
Overall, I find it a really comfortable bra even with the fit issues. It's my favourite bra and the only reason I don't wear it as much is because most days I find I prefer to have some padding. Read more 173 more words
I wasn't really sure which of Freya's padded half cup silhouettes the Gypsy Rose would be, but size 30D was super cheap on Amazon, so I gave it a try. This turns out to be a 4 piece cup (3 vertical panels, one diagonal upper panel) like the Fearne Padded Half Cup, which I had tried in 28E and fit OK, but couldn't tolerate the firm, narrow wires. This is a size down from the Fearne I originally tried, and despite the cups being a bit small, the wires are far more comfortable, being much more flexible. However, this cup shape doesn't really suit me, ...as the straps cause severe pulling at the outer cup.
30D in this fit actually measures pretty close to a 28E in some of Freya's other styles, but the wire width, wire length, and cup height were all noticeably a bit small. The depth was OK, but I ended up getting a small amount of spillage at the top, which I think it mostly because the wires were too small to hold all my tissue in the cups. The depth would probably be fine if the wires were longer and wider. However, the 4 piece cup construction is just a bit weird on my shape, I think it is due to the balance of the 3 vertical panels. Sometimes Fantasie/Freya 3HC styles also have this problem for me, where the cup's volume distribution isn't right for me, and as a result, the cup pulls badly at the strap attachment. Interestingly, I don't recall that Fearne in 28E had this problem, so I'm not sure if it is specific to each bra, or if it's a result of the size.
Now that I am used to wearing 28E/30DD, one other thing I've noticed is that 28DD/30D bands are a bit too narrow for my taste. This one actually measures pretty close to some of Freya's other 28E bands that are on the large side, so this style seems to run pretty TTS. The band fit me similar to some larger 28Es, it is not snug, but it stays in place and doesn't ride up. The band is made from printed powermesh similar to Fearne, Summer Haze and Patsy, and feels decently firm, though now my preference would be for a taller wing height.
Overall construction of this bra is pretty much identical to the Fearne Padded Half Cup. The bra is made from the same silky printed fabric that Freya typically uses on their printed bras, and the upper cup is mesh with diamond embroidery and a scalloped lace upper edge. The cups are lined with soft foam batting as are Freya and Fantasie's other padded bras. The foam on this bra seems a bit firmer than what I've seen on some other similar bras, as the cups hold their shape a little better on their own. However, it is still soft enough that drag lines and wrinkles can form, unlike in thicker foam cups. The print extends to the cradle and band, which is made from firm printed powermesh. The straps are decorated with printed fabric, and the straps here are fairly ornate, with crosses, squares, and a scalloped edge. This bra is decorated with simple folded pink bows, and the balance of trims are all white
My only criticism for the appearance of the bra is that the print doesn't appeal to me at all. It is busy and a confusing mix of soft colors (pink, lilac), bright colors (yellow, coral, turquoise), muddy colors (muddy chartreuse), and dark colors (navy, deep burgundy, deep purple). The motifs are also a baffling mix of photorealistic, hand-drawn, woodblock, stylized, and carved flowers and leaves. It's got so much going on, and the designs and color scheme are not cohesive.
If Fearne Padded Half Cup works for you, Gypsy Rose is a very similar style. However, I would not say that this is a very universal fit, as I think the 3HC fits are a bit more forgiving, and come in more open-top and closed-top versions. Read more 582 more words
Actually I feel the appearance is ok, but I think the center gore of 30F is a little bit too wide for me according to the measurements, although the wires are touching at the top of gore.
smjwzhan I think the print looks better in pictures than in person. At a distance it's fine, but close up it doesn't make a lot of sense. Either way, Freya's prints are hit or miss for me, some are just not my style.
Did you try this bra or the Fearne? It is a bit like the Fancies Longline, in that they are both 4 piece cups, but the shape of the cup is different. But if Fancies Longline was too shallow for you, then this is probably a miss as well, since the volume is about the same.
belleandblues For me, the major issue of Freya bras is their closed off cut. I haven't tried a lot of them yet, but every time I put a new one on I can see quad boobs in different levels. I think my roots are too tall for most of them.
This is the first Freya bra that has fit me. I don't know much about the brand, except that I've noticed that band lengths can be all over the place. I've tried 28 band that fit and 30 bands. This one is a 30 band and its just right. Lace is not scratchy. I got the white color. The tag for this Enchanted has the style number: AA1571
I knew this bra would be too small for me, but I just couldn't resist! It's so cute and I love the plunge style. The wires are nice and narrow and the gore is low enough to be comfortable. I would recommend this bra for anyone who has been struggling with how big cups sizes look and feel in comparison to your old bras. The band on this was firm. I'm definitely going to try and find one of these in my real size!
So I finally wore this bra for at least 8 hours. The first thing I noticed was the straps were rough against my skin. The fabric there is pretty harsh, and even though I didn't adjust the straps much they felt like they dug into my shoulders.
The band was very snug, more so than my other (non-fitting) bras, but it was actually parallel to the ground instead of riding up at the back. It felt like the gore tacked and my breasts were supported nicely. However, I didn't fill out the top since I'm apparently full-bottomed?
About 30 minutes went by before I got comfortable and stopped noticing it. It doesn't give me back issues like my other poor fitting bras so perhaps this is a start to a good relationship!
Bought it in a sister size, as such the band is too big causing fit issues. Nonetheless it's a very, very pretty bra, and I'm hoping to try it out in my true size soon. Cups run at least half a size smaller than the Deco, and seem to be less tall. You may want to size up from your regular Deco size.
Purchased a band size too big, cup is also slightly too small. I'd say cups run half a size bigger than regular Deco, you may want to size up. Please read my full review for more info!
This bra's cup width and depth are impossible to measure, because not only is it wireless, it also has no centre gore, really. I find it very comfortable, but I agree with laura_144 that the band digs in a bit after a long day. The bra gives my wide root shallow boobs a really nice round shape and it also creates cleavage https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";-)" />. Out of about ten t-shirt bras I tried on this was the one that fit me best.
(Novermber 2022) I finally!!! Tracked down one of these in 28H. After a whole year. The immediate projection is nice but there are some troubling closed off areas at the very bottom of cup just off the side (at gore and the wing, about 1/2" from the wire). Currently it's a pretty decent match for my fit needs... after tacking down the spare height at center, and swapping the nasty wires for thinner ones.
While it's not as vertically short as Bravissimo Alana or quite as closed in on the top as Alana, it's a similar fit/feel.
(October 2021) Pretty sure a size down in the band and at least a size up in the cup would help with the fit in this style.
The material bothers my skin just a little bit, but I have extremely sensitive skin so ymmv. I think the band runs a bit big according to how Bratabase asks you to judge. I can stick my whole hand under the band without it feeling too tight, but I don't experience it riding up in the back too much.
I'm not extremely sure, but I think I have immediate projection and am full on bottom. Overall I think the fit is pretty good, but I have some wrinkling near the top of the cups near where the strap connects to the bra. I'm not too concerned about it though and would say that overall this bra fits
We're there anymore available for 70% off?