This is my first bra that's anywhere near an appropriate size for me (used to wear 32A or 30B). Now I don't even know how I ever wore my old bras -- this one is so much more comfortable! With that being said, I have to wear it on the tightest hook, even though it's new; even then, it still feels like it doesn't stay in place (rides up slightly). However, I measure less than 26" underbust, so I think this would be perfect for someone who measures closer to a 28". I've read elsewhere that this model has a slightly bigger band than ...the other Curvy Kate bras, but I don't know that from experience. The cups create a pretty nice, rounded shape for my splayed breasts and seem best for those who are FOB. I would say the quality is great for the price I got it at and am hoping it doesn't stretch out too quickly. The racer-back feature is nice, for those who like having that option. The only thing I don't love about it is the mesh band in the back, just because it looks a bit tacky to me. One last note, I removed the bows and dangling rhinestone from the bra, which is why it looks a little different from the original. Read more 120 more words
Great to hear you're finding your size, bands vary in different brands so there are tighter ones out there.
Comexim makes smaller bands and it looks like they run on the small side, too. I haven't tried one of their bras yet but I covet the Comexim Laura (134) and its related models. Sigh.
From what I gather, several on here seem to think Cleo/Panache runs tight in the band. The Juna I tried I didn't find particularly tight, but I do find the cups to run smaller.
I would tell them, first off, to BUY IT IN THE RIGHT BAND. Just because it is there in the store, and just because it is pretty, doesn't give you any excuse to buy a band that is too loose on the widest set of hooks. Just because it fits at the middle or tightest settings is NOT a reason for purchasing it. That is obviously all my fault, it is just incredibly difficult to find a 28 band where I am. Luckily, I have found a boutique that has 28s a plenty and will not be making purchases like this again where I am compromising with my breasts and ...the available selection.
On to the review: Pros: -This is a BEAUTIFUL bra. I mean, gorgeous. Lovely. In pretty much every way you hope your bra will be lovely. -The band actually runs quite snug for a 30 (which is a pro for me and anyone else in a 28 that has trouble finding them) -Is close enough to a "peach" to be worn discreetly under clothes -The lace, with a proper fit, is invisible -It seems pretty sturdy
Cons: -The band is quite snug (pro and con, because if this is your true size you may have some mild discomfort at first as it stretches out) -The top sheer lace could be of a sturdier construction, it's just so malleable from a bra that looks like it would be a supportive construction. -The wires are TOO SHORT to effectively hold all of my breast tissue in the cups. They escape into the recesses of my armpits which simply will not do. I have to readjust the bra on occasion which isn't what I want to do. If this is an issue with the bra in the correct size and the wires just run short, this could be a huge potential issue. I have read CK's wires tend to run short.
I would recommend this to a friend if they were significantly smaller busted than I am and for whom rogue breast tissue isn't a problem. In something like a 28d I doubt the short wires would be as much of a problem as it is in an f and higher. Read more 253 more words
Man but I wanted to love the fit of this bra as much as the look of it. Ultimately, though, I couldn't ignore the cons:
- I absolutely could not get the underwires to nestle and stay in the crease of my boobs. Instead they liked to do their own thing and float and run down my chest and generally party. I expect this is at least in part because the firm elastic band you usually find at the bottom of the bra is at the bottom of the longline, with nothing really tacking it to you at the underwire but the weaker powermesh.
-The side boning bulged strongly out ...towards the bottom and I couldn't get it to lay flat. This exaggerated my current bumps and created new ones, and wasn't a particularly comfy feeling, although it didn't hurt.
-The whole mess felt very unstable and jiggly. The gore couldn't be convinced to tack, in this or the too large size up I tried. You wouldn't want to be running for a bus in it, and while I don't mind jiggle too much, I think it'd be noticeable in daily activities too.
-There's a mesh outer layer on the cups which poofed out and looked kind of odd, at least in these cup sizes. It seemed to lay flat under clothes, though.
-The longline bit in front didn't want to actually stay down when I moved. Note, I am fat, so there's plenty of tummy influencing this. The elastic at the bottom hugged well, so it didn't want to flip up like Evenden's longlines, but it rode up instead. It also felt weird when trying to tug it down to adjust, like there wasn't an even length of fabric all along it, so you had to put more pressure in some places. Also, it was pretty impossible to accomplish this tugging down without also moving the wires down.
It was really nice having a band that deep in back, but I had to ask the boyfriend for help with it. I did also quite like the shape with clothes on.
Oh Carmen, you're beautiful, but it just wasn't meant to be.
"Instead they liked to do their own thing and float and run down my chest and generally party." hahahaha,line of the century.I feel this way about my boobs. XD
I first heard that Ritzy was supposed to be in the tradition of the Showgirl line and, while from the styling aesthetic I can see why, the fit was quite different. The lace detail at the top of the cups does show through for T-shirts, so if that bothered you with the Showgirl line it is still a consideration here. There was certainly no need to size down in the band like with the Showgirl bras. In fact, the 36 Ritzy band was smaller than my 34 Tease Me! I found the band of the Ritzy to be wide, due to having three generously spaced hooks, yet it ...was firm and felt very supportive while wearing. I also did not find the mesh band to be at all scratchy. The center gore was quite comfortable despite its height, and felt fairly narrow. The Ritzy's cups do have more depth and initial lower projection than the Showgirls, though certainly not as much as an Ewa Michalak CHP. The wires were also narrower than I was expecting. In fact, they were only a little wider than my CHP Noc! I did not experience any east-west issues like I do with the unlined Curvy Kate bras. I have borderline shallow to average projection and hover between FF and G in cup size, but due to my soft tissue I found I got a nicer, rounded, uplifted shape with the FF while G gave me a more torpedo-like look. I suspect that those who need a lot of immediate lower projection will need to size up in the cup, as will those between sizes with firmer tissue. The straps are placed a bit wide, but nothing I wasn't anticipating given the bra style. I have not yet experienced arm(pit) rubbing or discomfort due to the strap placement. Overall, I REALLY like the Ritzy so far and hope Curvy Kate makes more styles like it! Read more 213 more words
Strange question, but has anyone had problems with the wire casing tearing away from the fabric with this bra?? I want to order it, but the reviews on Amazon is saying this bra's wire casing has torn away from the cup, rending the bra unusable. Any comments would be great! Thanks! :D
This bra is stunning to look at and touch - the fabric is a lovely soft satin and the bow detailing is very pretty. However, it's not just one for the bedroom! It's also comfy and supportive enough for everyday wear.
The band is ever so slightly too large for me and I would recommend that you size down in the band if possible (sadly it was not possible for me as they do not make a 26). The cups fit my smaller breast very well and my larger one with a small amount of overspill, but this is masked well by the frills and is not significant ...enough for me to want to size up in the cups. In terms of shape, I find this bra flattens me out a bit, but does give a nice amount of uplift. The frills flatten out under clothing so they are not too noticeable unless you're wearing a very tight t-shirt.
I initially found the centre wires dug in a little and the straps slightly too wide for my narrow shoulders, but both these issues seem to have disappeared with a couple of washes. I now find this bra very comfortable for the whole day and I will definitely be purchasing another colour. Read more 102 more words
The bra is very pretty, it's what attracted me to it in the first place. Quality is pretty okay too, I guess. The comfort isn't great for me because I felt the underwires at my sternum and my sides digging into me. Not great for someone with short and narrow roots. Would suit taller roots or upper and center fullness. Which is a trend I'm noticing with curvy Kate bras. Just too big for me before I altered it.
White Lace and mesh colorway
This bra's measurements have been altered
I reduced the height and cup depth. Used different underwires.
The Lifestyle is sheerer than I expected in person. The gore tacks, but this is a fairly low plunge. It looks okay right after I put it on, but my breasts tend to fall toward the center of the bra over the course of a work day, leading to quadboob. The mesh used for the cups is also on the flimsy side, resulting in noticeable jiggling while walking. I actually found the Curvy Kate Unwind bralette to be more "work appropriate" than this.
Another Victory bra... I tried a few before in different sizes but none worked. My boobs recently got smaller and I have 0 bras that fit. So I needed just one bra very quicky. The Online shop that ships fastest and is located in my country only carries very few bras in my size. Victory was the only one at a good price so it is really an Emergency bra. For that purpose it does well. I mean it is a bra. It does hold my boobs. I get a decent round shape.
The problems: Okay so... the straps are thin and flimsy and tend to fall off my shoulders ...because they are very seperate. I have rather normal - narrow shoulders, but the bra is made for a wider frame. I also don't tighten the straps too much because I have problems with neck pain recently. (I use 2 finger rule) The cups are very tall so that is good for me. The wires are too wide as usual on a CK bra. It look like I have slight quadboob. I took these pictures when my boobs were at their biggest size, so it is a bit better now on low tide. Also the bra is too shallow at the center, the gore gets pushed away. It just won't lie flat. The wires dig into my ribcage when I sit down. Also the neck pain does not completely go away so I think the bra is not that supportive. Usually when I put on a good bra my neck pain goes away quickly.
Honestly... If I had something else that fits, I wouldn't wear this bra. It's just not made for my shape. But I still think it's one of the best bras from Curvy Kate, I recommend this over any other but only if you like slightly shallow, tall and wide cups. Read more 203 more words
I like the cutout for added airflow! Oof that looks like a tall gore though, I can almost feel it poking me. It does look like a nice shape from the pics though!
The cut out is a good idea. But the gore is also quite wide because of that (and tall) so... it's not so good for close-set boobs. The shape is really good. The best I ever got in a Curvy Kate. Usually I get some the dreaded upside 7 shape in them.
Yeah I can tell by looking I couldn't wear it with that gore but I bet some people with the right shape will love it!
I'm not sure if the bra is really supportive all day :( In the last few weeks I had constant neck and back pain, that only got a little bit better with this bra but has not gone away. So I'm not sure if I can blame it on the bra or something else. :(
I was having crazy back pain, which is sometimes due to bras, but in this case was a combo of stress and my body being done with any heels higher than 1 inch.
I already exchanged my pillow to a better one. It got a bit better already. I have to work on my posture. I also never wear heels, my feet don't allow it.
Cell phone use? Monitor too low? I know I get "tech neck" from looking down at my phone.
I stopped exercising regularly for a year and am having back problems now. I need to build up strength in my abdomen again so my back muscles aren’t supporting all this weight.
I definitely also have more pain from computer use and cell phone use than I used to. Getting older sucks.
I was gonna add, not sure if its feasible for you, but my first stop with pain is almost always physical therapy. A good physical therapist can be a miracle worker! Theyve fixed so many issues for me and given me tools to keep things from getting bad again
Thanks everyone. I think it is a mixture of a few things. It's now winter here, so I'm not as active and sit inside a lot. Also my posture is not the best I'm aware of it but I often forget and slouch again :( Cell phone... I try to work on reduce my time with it, I mean it's just too much.
Physical therapy here has to be prescribed by a Doctor. I want to try to get it under control myself first before going to a Doctor. I had many times some neck pain on my weight loss / bra size change journey and it got better everytime I got a proper fitting bra. (I have to work on other issues above too, I got a bit lazy)
I also do notice that the straps on my Victory fall off all the time during the day! I wonder if that adds to bad posture... the straps feel like slipping all the time and I try to prevent it with "bad posture"? Does it make sense? Like when you wear a handbag over your shoulders and you lift that shoulders so it does not slip down? Then at the end of the day the shoulders hurts. (I switched to cross body bags most of the time despite big boobs vs strap issue, it's just better for my shoulders)
I want to make it clear first of all that anyone else who gets this bra should keep their expectations in the bralette sphere. This is not a wireless bra and it’s definitely not a wired bra. You won’t be comfortable running up and down steps but you might be ok driving to the store in it. I find it comparable to my Torrid and Forever 21 bralettes in comfort, shaping, and support except this one fits in the band and cup at the same time, meaning the second two items are a bit better.
Pay no attention to ...the cup measurements above. The cup and band have no real division so I measured from the side support seam. The cup and band are made from a soft silky micro fabric with a second layer of mesh under, and the very top of the cup has mesh only. Both are very stretchy. The band is of an illusion elastic, also quite stretchy. The straps are typical Curvy Kate- not my ideal wide Elomi straps and if adjusted too tightly the edges bite a bit. The straps and the underband are the only parts I find less comfy, though sizing and my body shape may play a role here- they are being stretched quite a bit and the band rolls up because my waist is bigger than my underbust.
I also can’t quite judge the size. Recently I’ve been fitting into 42HH or H so this may be too small in the band and large in the cup for me. I will test the band with extender tonight to see if it rolls up less. For those who feel the band is too big, I want to emphasize that this is for light structured support and would provide that stretched to a lesser degree.
For the cups I’m pretty certain they are a size too big and I know I would get more lift if the top section was smaller. The straps would be closer set too. If you feel like you might be in between sizes and you have shorter roots or are full on bottom, go with the smaller size.
The important thing for me is shaping and containment for a Bralette and this does both, comfortably and easily. I can’t complain at all as it fits and shapes much better than Torrid or Forever21, and so much more than the 3X - Cosabella » Never Say Never Extended Sweetie Bralette (NEV I tried as an alternative to this. If you find your UB/B ratio doesn’t allow for wearing numbered sizing, this is an excellent alternative. I recommend it as a Bralette, but again, not as a bra, even a wireless bra. Read more 367 more words
As someone in s similar size range, I really appreciate your review! I hadn't thought of bralettes as being in the realm of possibility.
I actually like my Torrid ones too if you want to try a few in stores. Think light shaping and lift with no real support- your boobs will move around but not be brushing your navel.
Overall do you like it?
Great review! Will you keep it? Would you recommend it as a sleep bra?
It looks lovely--minimalistic and classy. Thanks for the review!
So it’s finally here! I have been waiting for this bra for quite some time. It’s been on my radar for a while and I saw it on Bravissimo’s sale page and the 30FF was in and out and I finally bit the bullet and grabbed it while it was in stock before it disappeared again. It took 3 weeks and a day to finally get it. I was beginning to worry because I didn’t have any tracking.
The sad news is that it doesn’t work for me! Wah! I was really hoping that it would be a good everyday lightweight black workhorse bra. The sheer cups would ...be breathable, and it didn’t have any frigging bows. It was a clean and simple look. I still really adore the aesthetics of this bra even though it doesn’t work for me well.
In this size, I get the industrial 3 hooks closure, which I actually don’t mind as I feel like it is more anchored. It’s not super sexy, but it’s not really that bad. I think it’s actually what helps me with the band comfort in this. In true Curvy Kate fashion, or at least my experience, it’s a bit of a snug band. Maybe not as snug as some others I’ve had, but it’s possible that I have acclimated to snugger bands since my last CK spree. I do feel like I can get away with just a single row of extender hooks, however, I lack a 3 hook extender. And I feel like the wider band is making the tighter fit a bit more tolerable.
The wires in this bra are really baffling. They are QUITE WIDE! I’m narrow to average, and with my soft tissue, I can fit fairly narrow wires. I’ve got one review coming up with 4.5” wires that I can do (barely) and this is 5.5” iirc. I’m usually most comfortable in 5-5.25”. This one does actually follow my tissue, but I bet if I wore it all day, I would find the marks about 1 finger width further than the end of my tissue. In addition, most plunge bras have the wires higher on the outside and lower on the inside...sorts like a bowl tipping over some. Or like a crescent moon. Now, I initially thought that maybe it’s because the band is a bit snug and therefore I might have some wire distortion. But in looking at the fit on other people, I don’t think this is the case. Letting up on the band (holding it on but looser and not connected) does not change anything.
I’m simultaneously spilling and gapping in the cups. On one hand, it appears to be too small as I’m spilling, yet near the apex and the strap connectors, I’ve got empty space. Now with the straps, it’s a pretty normal affair with my soft tissue and shape that I gap there. It’s no longer a problem or concern with fitting. It is what it is. HOWEVER...this bra is very sheer, and the gaps are much more noticeable. Is this a deal breaker? Not really. But the cups just fit really oddly. I do kind of think that it is somewhat fob friendly. But maybe it’s just my boobs that don’t fit in the cups right.
Now the immediate depth is pretty good on this one, but I think it’s not quite deep enough at the gore, and the cups are a bit too wide set for me. I’m not really getting any cleavage, and I’m typically close set supported (splayed unsupported) so I feel like it’s maybe fitting my unsupported shape and therefore giving me a little bit of an unsupported look/feel.
As it’s a plunge, I do appreciate the lower gore, and really appreciate the circular gore detail. It’s honestly so refreshing from bows. I do feel like it could be a bit narrower.
As I mentioned, I really love the aesthetics of this bra. I’m sad that I don’t have a good fit in it and I don’t think it will change if I get a different size.
I’m going to list it for a bit before I send it back. Read more 589 more words
Such a pity it didn't fit to your expectations after all that waiting. Aesthetically, I actually really like it. I do think it's a fairly sexy bra actually, but it seems like it's just a shape mismatch on you. Good luck as you continue your hunt for the perfect (elusive) black bra.
Thanks Wilderness1 ! It’s really a lovely bra but doesn’t do much for me.
Oh, I'm so sorry that youre disappointed. However, when you said you had ordered it, I was very skeptical that it would - for no reason either than wire width - as I had tried it a long time ago. This bra IS S-A-F and I love it for all the reasons you mentioned - no bows, light, sheer, plunge shape, etc. I filled my need for this look with my Gorsenia Paradise.
Oh no, this is such a good looking bra, very sexy like AGBras mentioned! I do think the sheerness of it makes the "fit issues" more apparent, even if they're not so bad (to me looking at your pics). The wires do look a tad wide like you mention. There's no sense in keeping something you're not happy with.
Do you like the circle/connector on the straps? That's the only detail of this bra I'm not a fan of. Have you seen the Curvy Kate Victory Balcony (9001) ? I think that one looks sexy too, might be more flattering than this one, but I also think it can come up too high in the cup, like the upper outer portion...
I love the circular strap connector, yes. I’m so sad that it is not a good fit. :(
I tried this on today and it’s got me curious...anyone think that I might have some better luck with it if I bend the wires in some to make them more narrow and thus deeper at the gore? I recognize that it will make an already snug band even tighter, but I am ok with trying it with an extender. I’ve never done that before, but since I do really like the aesthetics of this bra, I wonder if I can save it somehow.
Also, I am going to take it to the local lingerie shop to see if I can try it with a little hook extender. Perhaps less tension will fix depth at the gore some and open up the cups a little bit. Just for bra science. ;)
I wouldn't bend the wires. You have a lot of gaping at the top of the cup. You're better off returning it and finding a better fit.
Only major gapping is at the straps. That’s par for the course in nearly every bra. Cups feel slightly small, if anything. It’s just more visible in this one because it’s sheer. I’m going to try it on again and see if I can get a quick 30 seconds or less video that I can post to an imgur album.
Err. I should have been more alert with reading the comments. I’m uploading videos now to imgur and will post shortly. They take longer to process.
Ok...so it’s slightly out of order (why does imgur do this?!) and it force uploaded before the last description was added which is pretty evident...it’s showing what a potentially narrower gore would do with the shape and fit.
I think my biggest fit concerns with this bra are the wide wires, wider cup spacing, and wrinkles at the gore. Aesthetically, the strap/upper quadrant gapping is not as pretty because it’s a sheer fabric, but under clothing, I’m less fussed over something that always happens.
I don’t think that I can do a smaller size...I don’t think that it’s going to change anything in the upper areas, only cut in and quad. I do still think that it’s probably best if I return it, but if it’s something that I can hack to make it work better, I am game for it.
Oh...i see better now. Much better. So good when you load videos. Its not too big - just not a great shape for you. Like you said, it gives east-west. And these wires have a pretty swooshed shape. Even if you bend these wires, you'll never get a nice up front shape. I don't think so anyways. I only bend wires when its just a little off and won't mean an extender.
Yeah, videos can be so much help sometimes. I’m just befuddled at why a plunge bra has such low and wide wires. Curvy Kate, why??
LOL! I gave up on Curvy Kate a long time ago. Especially when I say their models wearing bras that CLEARLY don't fit them. That, to me, says a lot about a company.
Plunges, by definition, have lower wires ;)
Lower wires at the gore but higher on the outside though. More like J than U. This one is like the J but like it’s not all the way up on the side. I’m not sure how else to explain.
Bah...You explained it correctly. Its a very lazy J, so it means its very wide at the top. It keeps the wings low but fails to push (narrow) breasts forward.
Maybe it’s lower on the sides because it’s a low wing?
AGBras you hit the nail on the head! I normally appreciate lower wings but on a plunge bra you need the higher height for the taller wires which push the tissue inwards. This one has a lower wing height with lazy j wires that are too wide so my tissue doesn’t get pushed inward.
It looks much better on your video Calluna ! I totally see what you both are talking about now... A little bit of height and curving up would definitely bring them more to the front and center.
Yeah, pictures are great but sometimes video is better especially if you can go hands free.
I gained band and cup weight so this is currently my best-fitting bra- previously my 38K - Curvy Kate » Poppy Balcony Bra (CK10011). The wires are low enough and the gore is not too high and they are an ok width, enough that I am going to try wearing them as-is. I will be overlapping the top of the gore. Obviously there is not enough center room and my breasts are pulling down the fabric, but the shape and support are pretty good for my size and shape- very full, full on top, short roots, firm tissue.
This bra will be made in blue with a lemon print on the bottom cup- I will be getting that version too of course!
This bra is the most comfortable underwire bra I have ever worn. Firm and flexible. Only fit problem is the mesh upper cuts right across the front of my boobs so I get the quad cup look.
I have this one in 28K and love it - although it is slightly too small and I have the same problem. Have you tried Ellace? The top part of the cup is very stretchy.
Construction: A typical Curvy Kate plunge bra with a cute halteresque fabric overlay. The band is super firm- probably closer to a 38 than a 40 when I first got it. I had to really yank it to get it to close and then it was a struggle to get the boobs and arms all in the correct configuration.
Once I was in, I just sagged. The bra part fit well, and the gore tacked, but the sides sagged because there was not enough tension from the straps and front material. Adjusting the straps wouldnt work because the ring portion was as high up in ...front as it would go. When I pulled the material up the swimsuit fit perfectly (I took a picture like this). Basically, this is built for someone with lower/longer boobs than me, which isn’t surprising considering how high set I am.
If it had been easier to get into, I would have just modified it myself, but it was such a pain in the butt to get on I decided it wasn’t worth it and sent it back. Read more 83 more words
Wearing this longline really cemented why I (and probably others) can’t wear longlines. At least not longlines with no elastic at the wire.
First, to contextualize, I have a short waist and either an A or straight | | shape. That means that my narrowest point is right under my breasts. In order to anchor the band to my body, I need my bra to grip right there: if it’s gripping lower or higher, it’s not holding the wires to my body.
What happens with these bras is, the band is narrower further ...down and wider at my usual band line. The band therefore doesn’t pull the wires against my body, allowing the weight of my breasts to pull the whole thing out and down. I experienced the same thing with my 44K - Wellfitting » Liftsational Longline Plunge. What’s interesting is, it can make it look like the cups are too shallow at the bottom and that’s why they are falling- but that can’t be the case because the exact same bra cut in a regular band is not shallow at the bottom at all. In reality, it’s the longline band not allowing the wires to be sprung against the body.
Great verbal description! Really helps to understand the issues so much better than photos alone can do.
That is an interesting pattern. Your description of the fit issues also is really helpful. I've never tried a longline, but have always wanted to and I also have an A shaped torso.
I thought it was roses, though I could be mistaken?
What you describe is the exact problem I had with any Comexim (therefore wellfitting) longline. It’s a construction error & I believe the reason Comexims longlines were all widely reviewed to run shallow.
Yeah, it always cracks me up that they describe that you can attach your bra below the breast line where you are smaller, and turn it around, and then move it up to your ribcage - no, cant, my natural waist is at my IMF. tall, thinner women, or women who carry their weight in the rear, actually do have that waistline that comes in. the hourglass. but if you have no waistline . . .
lcl0706 yes, and in fact when I shortened the band of my longline it fixed the “shallowness” issue. So it’s not that Comexim longlines are shallower, just that they will probably only work on women with a V shaped torso, and probably then only if they don’t have much fluff.
The pattern is really sed and it’s really lovely! I wish I could get the bra version of this but it’s sold out in my size.
Pattern is *roses
Love the roses. This looks amazing on you!!
Pretty! This is a great description. This is the problem I have as well, I am a straight line from my rib cage to my hips, so the longlines I try are cute for short term wears, but do funny things including trying to work their way back to my IMF over time, lol.
It is not as comfortable as Charm, likely due to scratchier elastics and slightly less soft mesh. I think it will be better after I wash it.
The blue print is very beautiful and I like the print over the sheerness.
I will be changing out the wires and the straps and adding soft foldover elastic to the bottom of the cup to make it comfortable. I know it’s a lot of work but I needed more mesh bras for the heat of summer and this works well for that as it is light and airy.
I have been hoping you would review this!! Beautiful!! Also, hoping washing softens the mesh because scratchy mesh and heat rash are an unbearable combination. Ugh.
The mesh is not terribly scratchy so I have hopes. The elastics, however, are nightmarish, so I’m covering them all up, lol.
I do like that everything’s a bit shorter too, because I’m able to replace the wires with my flat verticals I get from Porcelynne. I’ll have to take a picture once I’m done with bralterations.
The Great Amazon Prime Wardrobe Try-On, Pt 2! My shape: FOB, narrow roots/shoulders, soft tissue, 32G (though I'm thinking maybe more 30G since a lot of these 32 bands are too stretchy for me!) Fit: So this Curvy Kate feels like it is not as wide as other styles I have tried, though the wires are too wide for me. The straps aren't as wide, either, though there is fabric in my armpits, mostly on my smaller side. The fabric is really soft! The band feels true to size, though a bit stretchy for my tastes. As usual, I have slight gaping on the top of the cup on my ...smaller size, though it's not as big of a deal on this bra. Appearance: I love this black style! The color was black/champagne, though the beigey color is only on the bows at the straps and along the bottom edge of the band. The top of the cup is a stretch lace, the bottom a silky smooth mesh feeling fabric. The straps are the same soft material, as well; I have problems with itchy/stiff straps, but these are perfect. Overall: I like this style and the feel of this one, it just seems a tad too big. I'm going to see if I can try a different size and go from there. Not sure what is it about this particular style that makes it fit better on me than other Curvy Kates, so keep in mind it runs a bit narrower in the wires.
Ellace seems to be the deepest CK at the wire that I've ever tried.
Also, Curvy Kate designed it with more center projection than many other models.
I love mine although I feel like the band is snug for a 30 (and I have a 28-29" snug ub). Part of the tightness might be that I have 30E and probably need 30F instead. I want the black one next. And the burgundy. I have crimson and latte.
This bra is surprising, in a few ways. Firstly, the band is strangely just one layer of thin, stretchy mesh, not firm powermesh. Secondly, the bottom of the cup makes my boobs... Wavy?? Lumpy?? Not sure what's going on with the seam between the two lower parts of the cup, but you can see in my angle shots there's a strange dip in the middle. And the third thing is the cradle shape. By this I mean that the underwire channeling is super short, but the gore isn't a plunge. This makes the gore almost too high or wide, especially would be if you have super close boobs, ...and the under channeling end very shortly under the arms. What also doesn't help is that the underwires are over half an inch shorter than the channeling, so they're definitely too short in the underarms. I can push the wires away from the gore and into the underarms, which helps, but we'll see if they stay in place. Despite these few strange construction quirks, I like the fit and overall shape it gives me. I wish the 28E was available to exchange for. By the measurements and reviews here, I was afraid the 28 would be too small. But with the super stretchy fabric, it might be necessary. Then again, i find stretchier fabrics create less flattering back rolls, and would prefer firmer fabrics over tighter band with stretchy fabric. I LOVE the color... So much I bought the matching panty, which I rarely buy sets! Haha. It's a size 10 and fits without stretching much at all over my 38" hips. This would be fine, as it doesn't cause any cutting in, but it means there's too much fabric in the front and it wrinkles. Not sure if I could be bothered to exchange it for an 8 (granted it's available). Overall, I like this bra; the style is beautiful, and it gives my boobs a lift. The stretch lace upper cup helps with my tall roots despite the overall cup design being short. My right side is slightly too small, but fits the left nearly perfectly! Will wear for a day at home when I can before determining if it needs to be returned or exchanged. If I keep it, I want to add a layer of powermesh to make the band more firm! Read more 283 more words
I have the 30E of this one coming soon. I hope that it will work for me.
I found this one to look better once is bit too small. The cups give nicer and rounder shape . Also I found the band to be tight, my 32s feels like other brands 30 or polish 70. Size 30 I hardly could breathe and I’m 73cm under bust
Looks great on you! I have one coming in the mail too (30E). Can't wait to try it. I opted for the blue since I already have a red bra, but I do love that red. The other curvy kates I've tried didn't work on me (princess, gia, others I can't remember the name of), so I'm hopeful that this one does!
Crimson red is a really nice color on you!
This looks nice on you. I've seen a lot of ppl say this isn't quite right for them but they're keeping it because it's comfortable. That's my experience too.
Noob originally called my attention to this bra with her review( http://www.bratabase.com/browse/curvy-kate/tempt-me-plunge-bra-sg4001/) And once I saw it I had to have it! I went full on MY PRECIOUS! And I scoured the inter webs. As the style is discontinued, I thought it would take some digging, but I found a secondhand one on eBay within 15 minutes. My breast shape is wide, tall full on bottom and sides and slightly shallow on top, and this seems to work quite well with it. I originally was going to order a 30E, but bratabase steered me toward the 30F. I'm not sure if curvy kate runs small, but the recommendation seemed to be about right. Any who, the first thing I noticed is how soft this bra is. The cups are really comfortable, and the straps are a good thickness. Mine was a little worn, and as a result, I snapped one of the top buttons off. I don't think that is standard though. All in all one of my more comfortable bras.
Looks pretty good on you, maybe a little small in the cups. Yeah from my experience, the pink and black one ran really small in the cups so I'm glad you sized up at least!
Agree a bit small in the cup, but super great lift!! Perfect if you ever have a deep or swooping shirt neckline!
I really like this bra too! I hope there's one for the finding when I have the extra funds to get one! It looks great on you. I have to agree with everyone else, the cups seem too small for you. It also appears to be too shallow, it looks like there is some collapsed cup beneath your breast which is keeping the wire from being in your IMF.
Thank you so much guys! Wow i really needed your feedback! If anything i thought the cups were a little too big on the left boob. Do you think a cup size up or this is not the shape for me?
This is not the shape for you. This is much too shallow for you - the underwire is obviously far below your IMF & there’s lots of empty space above the wire where the cup collapses. You are not shallow. This bra is very wide and shallow - you are projected.
Ah, yep, now that I have the pictures larger in front of me on my computer rather than my small phone screen, I can see the very large empty area at the bottom and lower side of the cups. Agreed, definitely too shallow a shape. Too bad. :(
I agree this bra is too shallow for you. But if you really like it, try the size up, see if you like the way that fits. Remember, if you love it and it is comfortable, it doesn't have to be a perfect fit! You just want to avoid squishing your boobs too much or the tissue could migrate!
Ahh good to know! Thank you all. I'm still learning what to look for in a well fitting bra. Although geez how small are these cups if I have to move up a G. Good thing I didnt buy the E cup I guess. As far as the bra being in the wrong place in relation to my IMF, is that a byproduct of putting the bra on incorrectly or a byproduct of lack of compatibility with the shape?
I would try the midnight/black or raspberry/charcoal if you really like this bra. I had this colorway in 28F, and it was too small but the 28FF just got taller in the cups, and really wide underwires and fit the IMF worse.
It's definitely not you! You could try to put the bra on perfectly as much as you want, and try to shove the bra up, but the cups will always be too shallow of a slant directly above the underwires, so the shape will never be compatible. It will forever slide down and have that empty space and wrinkles at the bottom. And btw, the next size up is FF, not G. :) Some bra cups are shaped more like < while others are shaped like C and all angles in between. You gotta find the correct slant or curve to fit the slant or curve of your breast. No amount of forcing can ever change how the bra cups were constructed! :)
It's definitely not you! You could try to put the bra on perfectly as much as you want, and try to shove the bra up, but the cups will always be too shallow of a slant directly above the underwires, so the shape will never be compatible. It will forever slide down and have that empty space and wrinkles at the bottom. And btw, the next size up is FF, not G. :) Some bra cups are shaped more like < while others are shaped like C and all angles in between. You gotta find the correct slant or curve to fit the slant or curve of your breast. No amount of forcing can ever change how the bra cups were constructed! :)
Lol no idea how that posted twice, sorry!
Noob thank you! I will see if maybe I can find that size Slava-Zone Aha! thank you so much! (Still so much to learn) I need to get it out of my head that I am rather shallow. I mean to me my chest looks tall and shallow, but that is not really the case it seems. Do you have any brand recommendations?
Curvy Kate's bras are not all shallow EmmaOh , I've heard/seen really good things about their non-padded bras. I own their Kitty Padded Bra (discontinued) and it has a decent amount of projection and seems to have fairly stretchy cups instead of really stiff foam cups. Non-Padded cups really are the way to go in figuring out what you need in a bra and what shape you need and like the best. The constant recommendation is Cleo/Panache, Ewa Michalak, and Fantasie. Freya too of course. But Ewa & Cleo may be too narrow for you, Tutti Rouge could be an good choice. What exactly are you looking for in a bra? That could help narrow down recommendations. I just find bras I really like, research them on here and try them! Buy from somewhere with easy returns. I like buying off here because it's not retail price and feel more comfortable trying new bras that way. I can always re-list them if they don't fit!
I just got the Curvy Kate Ellace and it's pretty good projection. My Cleo by Panache Marcie has really good projection. And I agree with Ewa Michalak having a good shape too. Stretchier materials are better for firm breasts, because you would need a bra in stiffer fabrics shaped absolutely perfectly for you, otherwise the bra will always be fighting to reshape tissue that just doesn't want to budge. The breasts will fight back and win, pushing the bra around. :P You may not necessarily be super projected, as there is a spectrum between shallow and projected, but the bottom of your breast can still need a lot of immediate projection regardless of overall breast depth. Just look at a lot of pictures on here, even if it's not in your size, to see overall cup shape and how in general it fits on breasts and how breasts sit in the cups. If there are reviews written, try to see if the person wrote about their breast shape and tissue density so you can get a verbal as well as visual idea of how certain breasts fit into the cups. It takes some time, but by looking at a lot of breasts, you can eventually recognize density and shapes, which will in turn help you match up yours and know your own shapes. Then, if someone has a similar shape or size range as you, you can follow them and maybe try the bras that worked for them! If you follow those opposite shapes and density of you, you might be able to buy the bras that weren't compatible with them as well! Those are a few tips and tricks to picking out bras that might work better before you even pay for them. :) There will still always be a lot of trial an error. BUT, eventually you'll have a "no" list of shapes, styles, and brands, so at least you've used process of elimination to make the list of possible bras to wade through just a bit smaller and easier to navigate. :)
LeProfessor Thank you so much for your tips. I like things with a decent lift and not too much padding. I am still a little unsure of unlined bras. Is the only place to order Ewa from her website? I've been wanting to try hers. Slava-Zone Thank you so much for your help! I will be sure to spend time looking at all of the bras and all of the shapes! I took me a while to figure out mine is and I'm still not sure! Thank you so much for your help!
I know you can purchase Ewa from other places, I just can't remember for the life of me where. They sell them on the listings here from time to time. You might want to try a 70/32 in Ewa instead of a 65/30 because her bands tend to run tight, so I hear. I highly recommend non-padded cups for really figuring out shape, most women, including myself, are "afraid" of them and eventually find they are the best for fit and support! But I think you may really like Aerie bras. www.ae.com They have a wide variety of non-padded, lined, padded, and push-up. I've been wanting to try them myself but haven't gotten around to it.
I just bought this bra yesterday at the local boutique. It’s a pretty mesh bra with sheer mesh on top and a striped mesh on the lower half. It looks solid at first glance but if you look at the picture, there’s a part where you can see lines meeting the top panel of the cup. I thought it was wrinkling when I looked at the photo and then I looked closer at the bra itself and realized it has diagonal stripes.
It feels comfortable on and gives good lift. My band size recently changed, so I was looking for a comfortable black or nude bra. On me, it’s ...hitting a bit high on the front part of the armhole, but that might be because the saleswoman made my straps pretty snug during the fitting. I'm not 100% sure. It could be that the fit is just a tiny bit off or it might need a little breaking in.
I’ve had the bra on all day and it was mostly comfortable, but I did notice that the underwire pressed a little hard a couple times. It might just need breaking in.
It does gift nice lift and projection and gives a rounded shape. Read more 92 more words
I’m a little worried about the chafing of the arm hole. It is now digging onto my arm pit. I don’t know if that means an issue with the size or the construction of the bra. That’s never been a problem with any bra I’ve ever owned, even the I’ll-fitting ones.
Sorry, replying from my phone and I didn’t catch the autocorrect errors.
If my bands aren't tight enough, my breasts tilt the cups forward and the wires poke my armpits. So, does the band have enough holding power?
I'm not sure. I didn't experience any poking wires on the side or under the armpit. It's just the elastic curve that goes around the armpit and connects to the strap is chafing me. The band mostly stayed in place, though there were a couple times where I felt like the underwire chafed a bit and I wasn't sure if maybe something was off with the band. But the band mostly stayed in place, so I'm not sure. Should I try it on the second hook and see if it makes a difference? I'm not sure if that will make the issue worse on the armhole, though.
It's possible that the saleswoman was slightly off with the measurements and maybe I need to be looking at 38H and maybe my band size didn't change. It would be nice if there was a place where I could try on the larger size bras. The boutique is a specialty store where the salesperson picks out bras for you and measures you. You can't really browse at all. They keep all the bras in plastic bins based on size/style. You can only browse a few pieces of lingerie in the front by the register. There's a Nordstrom Rack in my area, but they rarely have the F+ sizes.
Can you measure this bra?
You could submit a fit request. I think this is the wrong size for you.
I can measure it tonight or tomorrow. I did wonder about the cup size not going up as both times I used the bratabase calculator this week, it suggested a larger cup (my breast perimeter went up about an inch since the last time I measured 5 months ago).
This bra was a close fit, but just a little off. I'm a little disappointed as I got a good fit in the past from this saleswoman, so I was really hoping she'd be able to estimate my size and then I'd be able to go from there. I don't think they allow returns, but maybe I can exchange the 2nd bra I bought but haven't worn.
Aside from the size issues, It might be that the curvature of the cup side is not angled enough for you. I have that issue a lot actually. The wing feels fine, the straps not bad, but that pesky cup curve connecting the two is simply not curved enough. Sort of like it's cutting/jumping the curb instead of taking the corner properly (to use a car and driving analogy. )
I'm really happy to see this bra on another person. It looks like a good design, if a bit tall as you might be experiencing.
MamaPagan Good analogy. It might be what you are describing. It’s not a terrible fit, but that armhole curve is wrong. I know in the past, I bought a Curvy Kate bra that almost fit and seemed okay in the store, but once I tried it on at home and moved around in it, I realized it was off and one of the cups seemed too small, so it could be that maybe I’m a half cup bigger than how they grade their sizes and then the band possibly being off.
I am worried about the second bra I bought from the boutique which was the Parfait Charlotte. I noticed the band wasn’t as snug as I’m used to (especially since Parfait usually runs tight on me), but I didn’t think to say something to the saleswoman as I thought maybe it was okay. So maybe the 40 band size is wrong. I probably should try the 38H or 36HH that the second bratabase calculation gave me. Today I’m wearing my tightest band bra which is a 38gg Pour Moi with a weird band that ran extra large so I to take it in. I think with the shorter band it is probably somewhere between a 36 and a tight 38 band and it works fine apart from the cup size. The band stays snug and doesn’t move around.
You could also try to re-measure the bands at full stretch on your older bras that aren't as tight as you need, and comparing that to what you bought as well. This would give you a bit of comparison to go by, and also allow you to compare those figures with the figures here on Bratabase. It might help you pin point the band that would be more comfortable for you. If you have those older bras already entered here, that will also allow you to compare the new measurements to your original ones to see if part of the band issue is really just natural wear and tear and not an indicator of you needing to up size the band. With the bra shop, I'm sure if you ask to try a cup or two larger in the 36 & 38, she'd be willing to let you. It would be to her benefit to let you try, with potential of additional sales.
I have had some success in removing the stitching that holds the elastic on the sides of the cup and lowering that curve & restitching the elastic in place. It doesn't alter the cup, wing, or straps but does allow the armpit to be out of that angle of incline & in turn allow for more comfort. It usually takes two small slits approx. 1/2cm long cut about an inch or below the strap connection & one just above where the upper and lower sections meet. Then I fold the cut section over which lowers that curve & then resew the elastic in place. The exact placement of these cuts will vary depending on the current angle and cup size, and may require 3 slits instead of two, but it gives you an idea of what I do. If you have a sewing machine & are comfortable with making alterations, it's something to consider trying. :)
I've added measurements for this bra. MamaPagan I do believe you are right about the issue with normal wear and tear/stretch. I just measured the band length on what was my best-fitting bra 4 months ago and it is definitely 1-2 inches bigger than what people have measured for the bra. I was lazy when I first added the bra and didn't take the measurements. But other people measured that one at 31-31.5 and currently my bra is about 33 inches. So it's definitely stretched out. Maybe I'll take it in a little and see if that helps.
I'm not sure if I'm confident enough to re-do the armhole, but I might try it since the I can't return the Victory and it's a cute enough bra to keep if I can make it workable.
We happened to go out to a restaurant that is at a big shopping center where there was a Nordstrom, so I did get to try on a few Elomi bras while I was there. I posted another review of a 36HH if you want to see. Not a fit, though the bra felt comfortable (at least in the fitting room). But the cups were not right for me.
vrwriter I looked at the pictures of the Elomi and for sure that's not a good fit for you. The wires are too wide at the sides and I think that's being exacerbated by the stretchy band pulling them back more. This is a pretty typical Elomi problem, most common on the Cate and its clones for me.
I found the Victory to have a pretty firm band. Have you tried an extender with it? That might help with the armhole placement. I have also cut away at/folded down an armhole before, with good results. The key is to use fold over elastic, sewing it without stretching the elastic, to bind the cup again. Make sure not to make too deep of a cut at first or you will end up with boob muffining over the armpit hole. :/
vrwriter I added a picture of the "after alteration" with notes on my Ewa Michalak SF Pinup so you could get a visual. I wouldn't recommend slits this deep (this was my first attempt at this type of alteration) but it does make for a good visual aid since I never trimmed the excess fabric off.
Thank you for the detailed pictures with instructions! And welcome back! I ended up returning the Victory even though I liked the style. Luckily the store took it back. I found out that they will exchange bras if you have only worn them once or twice. They just inspect them really well and steam clean them for the next customer. I wish I'd known that a year ago when I bought my Curvy Kate Ellace which fit in one cup but not the other. I might put it up for sale as I still have it and only wore it a couple times and realized it wasn't going to work.
Glad it worked out for you. :) Were you able to get a better fitting replacement?
MamaPagan Yes! I ended up with a Prima Donna 38I bra whose price made me cringe a little, but it fit! I tried on so many bras that week that didn't work, so I sucked it up and bought it and I also got the Elomi Matilda in 38H/38K, which works. It's more of a plunge bra and is cute and sheer and fits so much better than that Caitlyn bra which was so ugly on me. I mostly just tried that one on to see sizing. Turns out that I'm now a 38H-38HH UK Size. Not sure how the girls keep getting bigger every year, but I guess I got my childhood wish for bigger boobs. :D
That is great! I am glad you found two that work for you :) The price tag attached to bras can be a shock, I regularly cringe, but a bigger price is a lot better than a bad bra, right? Better on the back & breasts than the pocketbook. A lot of women experience the breast growth at different points in life, so you are in good company with the new growth here on Bratabase. Mine went up 3 cup sizes in less than a year & I'm in my 40s. I've talked with many on here that have experienced similar (& most with the same thought about the irony of getting them later in life!) :)
Great to hear you're finding your size, bands vary in different brands so there are tighter ones out there.