A year ago when I was first entering 30G+ territory, I was obsessed with the bright tropical print of this Freya Flourish. So I bought the longline, briefs, thongs and the balcony bra (good discounted deal on brastop). First I had the balcony in 30G, but that turned out to be too small pretty quickly. Did love the bra so decided to re-order in a size up.

When the 30GG arrived I was in for a surprise: it looked like a LOT of bra compared to the 30G!
(As I didn't know back then but found out the hard way https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" />, Freya tweaks their balcony designs after a certain cup size, mostly 30GG. Meant to hold up larger boobs. They are sturdier but look and feel pretty different!)

Industrial width reinforced straps, a wider band (3 hooks instead of 2) but my biggest issue was the double lining in the cups.. While the 30G was a very 'airy' bra, this one felt more rigid and constricting. Also the reinforced cups made it look more pointy and the black lace part of the cups didn't have any give or stretch, unlike the see through lace on the 30G. Although the 30GG was deeper, the firm closed off lace part made me quad practically as much as in the 30G!

(Don't worry, since then I've also realized - and accepted - that Freya balconies are not my friend; being FoT their designs are just too 'closed' for me. It's either a larger size with the 'Freya pucker' in too deep and pointy cups, or quadding and gore not tacking in a smaller size).

Anyway, back to Flourish: With all those issues, why did I keep her?
Very relevant question; truth is a year ago I knew less than I know now; and I really wanted to make it work, because the Flourish longline wasn't working on me for daily wear (different story, band flipping up, see other review). This balcony I did wear quite regularly, but only under thicker clothes to camouflage the pointiness and quad. The sturdier band and straps actually do feel nice, the bra is not uncomfortable to wear and I still love the print! So more of a winter bra: nice to wear something tropical under all those layers when it's cold https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_razz.gif" alt=":p" />

But over the last 6 months other bras (e.g. Jasmine, much better for my shape) forced Flourish out of my bra roulation. This summer, clearing out my closets I inspected Flourish' double lining on the lacey part and decided I could easily cut it away. So that's what I did and it looks much better now, imo. Fit issues are sill there but I'll hold on to her for a bit longer. We'll see!

Tropical colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Aug 12, 2015 Flag this

• 1

  Interesting hack! Would you be willing to post pics of the finished product? I'd love to modify some of my older, poorly shaped balconies - make-do bras that I no longer wear.

  Re: changes in construction from sub-G to G+ cups: *mind blown* when I was a 32FF the Freya balconettes shaped me beautifully, but now I'm +/-28J/30HH+ my FoT boobs also point & quad. I never made the connection that it was the cut - not me!

• Pics are there already? Should be visible! :)
  First picture is with the thick black lining, next picture is after cutting it out, making the lace see through. Try to convince myself it also made the quadding less obvious ;)

  Yeah please don't think it's you: it's Freya! Here in Holland they're the best known / most advertised full bust brand but I've found out Freya plunge / balconettes are generally NOT ok for me. Padded half cups are better but they only go up to G :( In larger cups I think they might work better for FoB breasts?

• (Edit: last sentence by 'they' I mean the upscaled GG+ plunge/balconies, perhaps working better for FoB)

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