Alex was a surprise for me, because I had always thought this looked like a frumpy, rather unattractive bra based on pictures online. However, I found it on Amazon for about $16, so I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately while it fits, it doesn't flatter me, and the wires are too firm for it to be comfortable. Still, I think this is an excellent quality bra and could be a good option for the right shape.
I was really impressed by the quality of Alex, because it is made from soft, smooth yet slightly peached microfiber that is cool and comfortable on the skin. ... The lace upper cup, embroidered in an Art Deco-inspired arch pattern on mesh, is nicely done and isn't overly scratchy. Straps are wide, fully adjustable, and have a really interesting texture that helps to maintain grip. The band is heavy stretch knit with a firm feel. Trims are simple with bows at the gore and strap attachments. All of these construction details are excellent, and feel much better than some other Fantasie bras at a much higher pricepoint. Honestly, if Fantasie made more of their bras like this, I would be so happy! Even though their 30 bands are typically way too large on me, this one is much firmer and stays in place.
The problem for me is that the fit just isn't suited for me. After comparing the measurements, this style seems to share a cut with Estelle/Harriet, which were an absolute disaster on me. The biggest problem with Estelle is that the band was so loose it was riding up, so it affected the fit of the cups. The lace cups also behave differently from the knit microfiber cups on Alex, as the Alex cups have a bit of natural stretch and flex. Harriet was not made of lace, but the fabric is also rigid and fits differently from the Alex fabric. Thankfully, the more flexible fabric used on this bra means that I didn't end up with the dreaded pulling in the cups at the strap attachment or side support panel that sometimes happens with these side support styles, since there is some natural stretch in the seam of this panel as well.
So, Alex fits me much better in the cups and looks better, but the shape is still not quite right. I can't explain it exactly, but it just doesn't give me the same rounded, lifted shape that my favorite Fantasie Side Support fits provide. The appearance is still a bit pointier and more projected than I like. The lace upper cup is a taller panel on Alex/Estelle/Harriet than on many other Fantasie styles, so this changes the projection of the cup and lowers the fullest point of the cup. This is what creates the pointier shape. Note that this style is fairly closed off at the top.
The other issue here is once again, unforgiving wires. The wires are borderline too narrow for me, but they do flex just enough to not press on breast tissue. With the band hooked properly though, there is too much tension on the wires and they dig in at the ends. This also causes the bottom of the gore to float a little bit as the top of the gore is pulled inward. Since this is not really a full band style, there's not enough elastic at the bottom of the cradle to hold it stable. I do not remember having the same problem with the wires on Estelle, since I actually commented that the cups were too wide despite the cup width measurement being the same on both styles. Perhaps Alex just has firmer wires, or the fit of the band make a bigger difference than I thought?
This is an excellent quality bra and would be a supremely comfortable everyday option if this is the right shape for you. I think that this is one of the best Fantasie bras I've come across in terms of construction and fabric quality. It's a bummer that it didn't work out for me!
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Updated on Jun 28, 2020 Flag this