The Freya Lyla: what a pretty bra! I felt elegant when I first put it on. I have mixed feelings about the Lyla, though, but it's mostly due to my breast shape.

When the Lyla first arrived from Figleaves, I looked at it and was extremely skeptical. I wondered if I had made a huge mistake, because the cups looked taller and deeper than other 30FFs I've tried. I even looked at the label to make sure it was the right size! I also wondered just how supportive it would be, since it's all mesh.

But I was mildly surprised at the fit. I'm not going to sit here and ... say it actually fit me, it just fits me better than I expected. The Lyla is the narrowest bra with the deepest cups that I've tried in a 30FF. When I compare it to other unpadded/unlined cups I've tried, I like this fit better than certain Wacoals and Chantelles that, while they held my boobs in, they didn't do any favors for the shallow shape or bring them front and center. I feel like the Lyla attempts to reign in my wide set boobs and bring them on in to the front. What seems to helps with this is the way the fabric is cut at the sides, but I'm no expert with bra mechanics. It could also be the length of the wire. But that part of the bra seems to cradle the sides and nudge them forward. I'm not sure about the shape it gives my boobs. It actually seems to be a natural shape, not flattened, but the shape doesn't seem to be very lifted. I suspect it is due to my breasts being bottom heavy. While I question whether I LOOK supported in the Lyla, I certainly FEEL supported.

The band is firmer than other Freyas I have in a 30FF -- which is good, because it means I don't have to use the innermost hooks right away. I'm using the middle set of hooks, but before you say that I should try this in a 28, I suspect a 28 in this model would strangle me! In addition, I think if I went up a cup size (because the sides ARE spilling out a bit), I probably wouldn't be able to fill out the top.

Appearance-wise, as I mentioned before, it is very pretty. I was afraid that the mesh would itch, because the fabric felt a little rough when I first touched it, but it seems okay. It may be because I haven't washed it yet. I love the mesh style, and the embroidery is a nice touch. The sides of the bra peek through if I'm wearing something sleeveless with loose armholes, but for some reason, I'm fine with that.

In conclusion: the Lyla is a lovely bra if you are looking for an unpadded bra that isn't full coverage. It may not be the best match for you if you are wide set or have a wide root, or if you are bottom heavy, because the cups are quite narrow and deep.

I'm still putting the Lyla to the comfort test -- I'm wearing it right now https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> so if I have any additional thoughts, I'll update this review!
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Updated on Mar 01, 2013 Flag this

This is a VERY plunging bra that still manages to provide very firm support and great cleavage. The only downside is all of the seams are very visible not only through T-shirts but also thinner knits. As this is most of my wardrobe I returned the bra despite it's fantastic fit. I'll only buy one if I can find nothing else that works (I don't usually buy lace for the same reasons).

I had another of these bras under a different style # that I barely ever wore due to the seam showing reason despite the great cleavage it provided.

Also of note. The cups ... are firm fabric with no give which can be less comfortable than moulded cups. Also the back is very narrow, just strips of elastic going to one hook. This is good if you need it to hide under something, and I never found it less than comfortable, but I carry very little fat in my back even when I was obese. Someone with more might find it to produce a visible line or to be uncomfortable.

I didn't wash the one I had much due to wearing it very little, but looking at both that one and this one it doesn't seem like they would hold up to washing as well as others, they just seems a little cheap.

This bra has a subtle stripe to the fabric on the lower cups that makes it more attractive than a basic bra. If it wasn't for the seams showing through clothes I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
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Updated on Aug 30, 2012 Flag this

This is the first time I've tried a "lightly padded" Freya. I own and love the Deco which is a thermally-molded, padded contour bra so it is thicker, and I take 1-size up from the unlined styles (Deco = 30G, unlined = 30FF, hence my id name).

The band fits well and the cup feels mostly good however I wanted to try 2 cup sizes to tell the difference. The half-cup style sits lower than a balcony, it is basically a demi bra. For this reason as well as the light padding I went with the larger G-cup because the girls sit more comfortable without fear of falling out. ... The shape is overall very good, nice and rounded both parts: inside cup and tissue above. This FF has a slight quad-boob effect going on and the center gore is just a bit farther from laying flat than I would prefer.

The colors are stunning and seem appropriate for year round. Floral shades of reds, browns & oranges with olive green trim. Some images online gave me hope the trim would be dark yellow but it's really a soft olive green which compliments the red tones very well.

This one gets returned for slightly too small cups.
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Updated on Jul 25, 2011 Flag this

BustsOfGotham

1334 reputation

182 bras

This is a balcony bra with one vertical and one horizontal seam. It's unlined with a trim alone the cup's edge. The shape is natural. The straps adjust long enough for my tall, low set frame, but are fully adjustable if you need them short. Three sets of hooks (x2). Band is fairly firm. Same material as front of bra extends all the way around to clasps. It fits me perfectly, but after owning it for about 6 months....I have never once worn it.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Oct 17, 2022 Flag this

The fit is weird on me because of my short roots and soft tissue. The elastic on the stretch lace upper section makes it cut in. I wouldn't call it quadding, but it's not very flattering. The cups are also too tall for me, so I don't fill out the tops. I still kind of get the rounded shape I'd expect from a supportive bra, but it's hidden under the extra lace section at the top. I meant to get the side support version, not the plunge, so I guess it is my fault for not checking more closely what I was buying.

Updated on Apr 06, 2022 Flag this

I love the way it looks and personally find it fits and flatters my shape!

I normally don't like the way these bras with the extra decorative straps look when wearing clothes: they often connect higher on on the cup or somewhere along the shoulder strap, meaning the bra is often visible in ways it otherwise wouldn't be. However, this one connects lower down than the others I've tried.

Updated on Jan 07, 2022 Flag this

This was my first properly fitting bra, and I currently own both the nude and black ones. The gore is pretty high, so it might not fit people with close set breasts. I've also noticed that when I lie down while wearing it I get a little bit of gaping, so keep that in mind if your lying bust is smaller than your standing.

Updated on Jul 23, 2019 Flag this

About me:
• Height: 5'2" / 158 cm
• Narrow, close-set, center full, functionally FOB/short roots, immediate projection, annoying tail of spence
• Mild pectus excavatum (bottom of my sternum curves inward) with rib flare
• Typical fit challenges for my shape and body type are wires that are too long or too wide, not enough immediate projection, cups that are too tall and wide, wings that are too tall, straps that are set too wide.
• I have a connective tissue disorder and find that a tighter, firmer fit works best for me

About the bra:
• The cups aren't padded but are lined with thicker fabric. I have ... prominent nipples that like to let the world know I am freezing cold 24/7 so I appreciated the coverage this bra provided without the added bulk of thick, foam padding.
• The fabric is soft and flexible enough to the touch but firm enough to hold everything in, provide lift, stability, and a rounded shape.
• The wires were a bit too long and wide for my shape so it felt like the bra was trying to push my boobs down and to the sides. I'm not sure how to word this but the wires were about 1/4" too short for the fabric on the outside of the cups near the wing/side panel. This made the fabric feel even more irritating to my skin in the tail of spence area.
• I had heard that Freya half cups were a good choice for those of us who struggle with cups being too tall (seems to be a fairly common issue with smaller band/larger cup sizes). The cups on this bra were still just a bit too tall for me. If the too tall cups were the only fit issue I would have definitely kept this bra. The fit was really close in this respect. I had empty space in the bottom of the cups because they didn't have enough projection for my shape. I couldn't keep the bra in my IMF; it would slide down immediately after scooping and swooping. The cups were too wide so I wasn't filling out the sides of the bra either. My breast tissue stops well ahead of my armpits and these cups/wires were wrapping around my torso and digging into the sides of my ribs and armpit area. The tops of the cups cut into the very top of my breast tissue resulting in some minor quadding. The wires at the gore sat on breast tissue (I am close-set and center full) and I need more projection at the gore or a very low, close-set gore with more projection than this bra provided.
• The straps were too wide set for me. I would say the straps are long -- I had to tighten them all the way to get them to fit, but I am also pretty short at 5'2".
• The longline band bunched and folded up on me. I do have some unique issues that could be contributing to this like mild pectus excavatum and rib flare. I prefer a 28 band on Freyas but ordered this one in a 30 because I'd read that black bras are usually tighter. I'm not sure if a 28 band would prevent the issues I was having with the longer fabric in the band bunching and folding up.
• I have a lot of issues with gores being too wide, too tall, and too firm. They are almost always somewhat painful to extremely painful for me. I know my close-set, center full shape with pectus excavatum and a rib flare immediately below my IMF makes this a particularly challenging fit issue to overcome.
• I could easily wear the band on the tightest hooks but going down a band size would put me in a 28G and the larger cups don't scale well on my particular shape and size.

I really, really wanted to keep this bra but decided against it despite it probably being the best fit I have found so far in my search for a bra that fits. Having tried many different styles of Freya bras in sizes 28FF, 28G, 28GG, 30F, 30FF, 30G, 32E, 32F, and 32FF I have yet to find one that is "perfect." I basically need the cup height, cup depth, wire length, wire width and wing height of an F cup with the projection of a GG cup.....thus my search continues.
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Updated on Jul 23, 2019 Flag this

I really wanted this bra to fit, but alas, it is not the bra for me. The top of the cup cuts into my breast with the 30FF and there is wrinkling in the cup under the arms on the 30G. 😐

Updated on Feb 18, 2018 Flag this

Great bra for younger women wanting cleavage. However, for the band size, the cups come up way too high under the arm. I had to cut and sew the bra to alter it to fit (not the much work honestly!) and move the straps into the center more. Now it is perfect!

white colorway

Updated on May 11, 2017 Flag this

I have a love-hate relationship with the Freya Deco. On one hand, it gives unbeatable cleavage and a high, rounded profile to my even-to-FoT boobs. The lowish gore is great for my close-set shape, and the cups are pretty much completely seamless beneath thin knits, whereas the newer Decos have prominent edging that lessens their usefulness as T-shirt bras (I ended up selling my Deco Delight, Vibe and Charm because of this). On the other hand, the cups are a little too shallow at the bottom to stay in my IMF all day long, so the wires migrate down slightly and DIG at my ribs in what would be my optimal size (28G). However, the increased band space in the 30FF seems to mitigate this problem well enough to make keeping Deco around worthwhile. If only it had more immediate projection (almost an impossible task in thermally molded foam cup bras!) it would be perfect. Still, despite its downfalls, it is an exceptionally useful and versatile bra in the beige colorway, and I find myself wearing it a lot.

Beige colorway

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Updated on Aug 01, 2016 Flag this

What a beautiful bra!
Lovely bra, green with white dots, very good material, supportive, the padding is not too thick, so no complaint.

Well, I think it's one of the most comfortable bra I've tried, but my boobs have got bigger so the fit wasn't perfect. The cups indeed seemed a bit small, I would probably need a 30G.

The band was obviously too large for my 26-28, but I am used to alter all of the cute bras I can't find in my size.

Overall, one of the cutest bras, I will keep it even if there's a quad boob effect, it's just too comfy!

---------------------------

Update :
The Freya half cups are just not for me.
I tried most of them in the past 2 years, and can't find anything that isn't cutting into the sides or the top -or both-, or making my boobs look shapeless.
I've reluctantly decided to stop trying half cups.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on May 22, 2016 Flag this

Originally purchased in size 28G and had to return due to overly tight band. Just received 30FF in the mail today, so I haven't had the chance to take it out for a test run... but so far I'm very pleased with the fit, definitely runs smaller in the band and larger in the cups than the regular Freya Deco Plunge.. I also find the cups to be a little shallow (I have high-profile style implants) but, at the same time, this also helps give a little more of a "push up" effect which I don't mind at all. Overall am very pleased... will update after I've worn it out for a full day!

Updated on Mar 25, 2016 Flag this

This is my third Deco purchase is a short span of time. It follows my 28G - Freya » Deco Vibe Moulded Plunge Bra (1704) and 28G - Freya » Deco Rebel Moulded Plunge Bra (4234) . I was debating between the Deco Lagoon and Deco Spotlight. I read the latter had a very stretchy band and couldn't find a 28, so I ordered the Lagoon in 30FF. More explanation on the size choice to follow.

As noted above, I have two Decos in 28G. The Deco Rebel fits really well - snug on the band, which I like, but some days I need to ... wear it with an extender on one hook. They are known to stretch out fast, so no big deal. I've worn it a handful of times and washed it, and have since had days when I could wear it without an extender comfortably. It did not start out that way. I think my underbust measurement fluctuates a lot during the month. It was after I had one quite painful day the first week I wore the bra that I began considering a 30FF. Fast forward a few wears, and one other issue I have with the Deco in 28G is some rubbing/chafing in the armpit area from the cup edge beneath the strap. It is pronounced when I put my arms out in front of me. In a standing position, the bra fits great with minimal gaping, but when sitting, it can sometimes gape a lot.

I have a similar issue with the Vibe in 28G as far as the rubbing and gaping. The Vibe band is also super tight in comparison, and I wear it with an extender on at least 2 extra hooks. The Vibe band is a different material. It actually doesn't "cling" tightly to my back. I have at least 2 finger space beneath the back, but since it doesn't stretch so easily, it constricts when I breathe, making it too tight on my bony ribs.

With these things in mind and considering that darker colorways can run tighter, I decided to go with 30FF for the Lagoon. I am reasonably happy with it. This review will probably continue to compare it with other Decos, but I will try also to review it in its own right.

The Deco Lagoon is the softest and most comfortable-feeling bra I own. It is more comparable to the Rebel and than Vibe (as to be expected). Of course, the band is bigger, but it is also a much softer and stretchier material. I tried it on a few times before deciding to keep it for this reason. I can already start it on the second or even third hook and it's comfortable. My ideal band in Lagoon is probably a 28.

HOWEVER, and this is why I am keeping it, the cups on the 30FF do not invade my armpit area like they do on my other Decos. Sadly I don't know if that's because Lagoon cups run shorter in general or because it's a sister size. When I was a 30G, I used to size up to 32FF in other brands for less cup coverage at the sides, so it seems to have worked here as well. I am very happy with this as the cups otherwise fit identically to my 28G Rebel in terms of volume, but without the discomfort.

My only worry is the band possibly getting loose quickly. I am well contained by the cup edging and don't spill out over the gore, but this changes rapidly if the band is too loose. Since I have very soft tissue, I need my Deco bands to be firm to keep me in place and keep the cups pulled in against my chest. I'm prepared to get a Rixie Clip when the time comes and fingers crossed it won't stretch out too badly.

The quality of the bra is very good. So smooth and soft. The pattern is okay, and I love the deep cobalt blue. I would have bought the solid Deco in Cobalt if I could have found one, but I'm late to the Deco party. I wear a lot of blue shirts, so that works for me, and I haven't had any issues seeing the pattern through thin shirts.

In sum, I thought that losing weight might have fixed my "between sizes" problems, but they have just reappeared, putting me between a 28 and 30 band.
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Lagoon colorway

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Updated on Mar 10, 2016 Flag this

letstalkaboutbras

1933 reputation

143 bras

Patsy was the first bra that ever fit me. I cried when I found it. I have owned the ink and black colorways since then. However, I recently lost weight. I ignored the gaping at the top of my 30G Patsy for a little too long. After finding some new bras that fit in 28G and 30FF, I decided to replace my beloved Patsy because I really need some lightly padded bras that are suitcase friendly, quick-drying and will work for warm weather. I couldn't afford the full retail price of the continuity colors, but I found a deal on the magenta colorway. I sadly also couldn't find ... an affordable 28-band. The band on this one is a little big. I've had my other Patsys for over a year and wear them on the third hook. This one is almost that loose already, so I wonder if the magenta colorway runs large.

I have discovered a few lingering fit issues that are more than just "I need to go down a cup" as I thought would be the case. I thought the 30FF would get my perfect Patsy back, but it hasn't. I have lost some upper fullness and I think this had led to a shape change as well as reducing my cup size. For instance, the 28G - Freya » Deco Moulded Plunge Bra (4234) fits me now when I previously had no luck at all with Decos because of my upper fullness. There is still a bit of room in the cups on this Patsy, again I think the colorway may be affecting this because it gapes only a little less than the Black 30G I already have. I have to tighten the straps nearly all the way. Still, there is a tiny bit of gaping when I relax my shoulders fully.

Because the FF fits my frame better (G cups were always a little wide and armpit invading), I can tighten the straps more than I could with my old Patsy. I have to tighten them nearly all the way to accommodate my very short roots, but thankfully since the wires are shorter than in a 30G, they no longer poke me.

I notice more than before that the gore is a little wide for me. It's not that bothersome, but it does poke a little towards the top. I probably had this with my other Patsys but have worn them so many times that it softened up.

All in all I will keep this bra unless I find a 28G rapidly and will probably have to use a Rixie clip before the year is out. I am now considering trying one of the other Freya half cups with the horizontal panel at the top of the cup. I prefer the very rounded shape of Patsy, the level of padding (I find it to be thicker than the 30G - Freya » Eden Padded Half Cup Bra (1813), for instance, and don't want any thin cups) and hope I can find something similar that is more closed on top and still summer friendly.
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Magenta colorway

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Updated on Feb 28, 2016 Flag this

letstalkaboutbras

1933 reputation

143 bras

The cups on the bra fit quite well for upper fullness. The band is very tight as a strapless should be. I don't have an issue with only two columns of hooks. I absolutely love that the bra has two placement options for each strap in the front and the back for a total of 8 different strap placement options with also being able to do the regular multiway bra options.

I was fully expecting this bra not to fit as the cups looked like they would cut in. Thw cups are quite tall and curve high enough up that there is not an issue with cutting in. You ... would need A LOT of projection and tall upper fullness for there to be an issue. I think I could have gone down a cup size and still been able to fill the cups because of how open they are.

The longline part doesn't sit flat and nice on my ribs - maybe the fat on my ribs? Not sure. If it was an inch or two longer That would have worked nicely.
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Updated on Nov 11, 2015 Flag this

I really love this bra. It looks delicate and lacy but is strong and firm. It is just as supportive as it is lovely. I must say the images do not do this bra justice. Particularly in regards to the frosted green color.

The band is very soft and plush, but remains firmly in place throughout the day. It doesn't cut in and create unattractive back bubbles or dig in at the front. There is no side stay-boning, but it feels fine without it. So don't be turned off by that.

The material of the cup is a heavy weight non stretch power mesh with delicate geometric top stitching. ... The cups do not bother me, however they may seem scratchy to persons with very sensitive or delicate skin types. However I have fairly sensitive skin and it does not bother me.

One thing to watch out for is the size. This seems to run 1/2-1 cup size larger. This is not an issue for me as I really need a 30G. While the bra leaves a touch of quad-boob it's not enough of a quibble for me to size up.
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Updated on Oct 15, 2015 Flag this

This bra was recommended to me for its projection and narrow wires. I definitely agree that this bra has way more immediate projection than most other UK bras that I've tried. It's very beautiful and the wires are great (finally something that will stay in my IMF!), but sadly I don't quite have enough fullness on top / inner fullness to pull it off.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Oct 09, 2015 Flag this

I had been waiting for this bra to come out this season and was happy to find that the "spacer foam" was nothing like others I had tried (e.g. the Fantasie Rebecca that fits me well but leaves my pendulous boobs without support). The material is actually soft and nice and gives somewhat more decent shape/support despite no seams. But the cup was way too big in my usual size, 30G. The band was also a tad big and I had to start on the second hook. I recommend sizing down in the cup, particularly if you are more even or FOT. I think the style might better ... suit FOBs. I tried a 30FF, which was a better fit in general, but I still had a full hand worth of empty space where the strap meets the top of the cup. I'm high-set and petite torsoed, so it was far too tall in the armpits (not so much the wire alone, but all the excess material up there). It's supposed to be a balconette (?), but it has more cup coverage at the sides and lower at the gore, more like a t-shirt bra. Another big problem is that the gore is wayyy too wide. Probably the widest gore on any bra I've ever tried. Finally, the straps are a smooth, satiny material, which feels nice, but means that they slide looser very easily. When I adjusted the strap length and then put them over my shoulders, they slid out again and I had to re-tightened while on.
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Black colorway

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Updated on Sep 15, 2015 Flag this

letstalkaboutbras

1933 reputation

143 bras

hyvä plunge. tissit halaa ja on mukava päällä

Updated on Jul 30, 2015 Flag this