When viewed from the side this bra gives a really nice rounded shape, but from the front, it's wider than I like...the cups are wide and shallow, and they kind of splay my boobs out to the sides, inside of keeping them front and center. The shallowness of the cups means my bottom heavy shape can't fill out the bottom of the cups, resulting in the wires sitting lower than they should on my ribs. I also get wrinkling fabric in the cups underneath my armpits, as the cups/wires are just too wide.

Aside from being the wrong shape, the cups seem the right size, and the gore sits on my sternum, UNTIL I do "the scoop", and then the cups are too small (I get quad) and the gore sits away from my sternum.

Unfortunately the bra is not lined or padded, so it has no protection for show-through. One thing I do really like about this bra is how the straps are attached to the back band: they are more centered in the back, which completely eliminates slipping straps (at least for me).

I purchased this when I was first figuring out the whole "proper fitting" thing, and it worked for me for a month or so until I gained more bra wisdom and found a better fit. If the bra is compatible with your shape, I can see how it would be quite comfortable. Unfortunately, it's found it's way into my unusable pile, and I'm currently looking to re-home it to a more compatible wearer.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Jan 07, 2013 Flag this

• Could you please explain what differences you found between the Fantasie Esme and Smoothing 4520? The two seem so similar in design (barring the center-pull straps on the Esme) that I don't understand why the same brand would offer both. I have the Esme in 30F, and it's almost perfect; However, I wish the gore was a bit narrower and that the shape was a bit perkier.

  I'm wondering whether to try the 4520, since you said the gore tacked better on you. Can you comment on the specific fit differences between the two bras?

• I actually haven't worn the Esme for a couple months now. I came to realize the cups on it aren't deep enough for me; as I wear it the wires and cups slowly ride down (even though the band is tight enough), which is caused from the breast tissue pushing it down to get a deeper fit for the bottom of the breast, if that makes sense.

  The 4520 is a decent fit on me as the cups are deeper...I do have to adjust it a bit more than my molded Cleo's (favorites!), but I mainly wear it just with shirts that need a tan bra underneath. It does tack excellently, whereas the Esme gore does not touch my sternum at all.

  The Esme gives me a very round, yet somewhat minimized appearance from the side, but looks wider when viewed from the front. In contrast, the 4520 is less round and more projected when viewed from the side; I feel it's a tiny bit pointy, although I asked my mother and she doesn't agree with me. Anyway, the 4520 from the front does not look wide at all, which I really appreciate. Thinking about it, I do think the 4520 has a perkier shape.

  This is all from memory, but if you have any other questions I can always dig Esme out of the drawer. ;)

• Thanks! That's really helpful. The Esme was the first bra I got in my "real" size, so I was really happy with the fit at first. Like you though, I've noticed that the gore almost but doesn't quite tack. The bra doesn't exactly slide down me, but it does feel a bit odd as the day wears on. It sounds like the 4520 might work better for me too.
  

• Are there any other bras that you don't have the sliding strap issue?
  

• Are there any other bras that you don't have the sliding strap issue?
  

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