I absolutely fell in love with this bikini when I first saw it. I love the pink with white polka dots, and the ruffle across the top of the cups and up to the strap. I love that it's a halter top. It is just *so* feminine! I'm ecstatic. Yes, my boobs don't quite fill the cups, and if I were to buy it again (and I'm definitely lusting after it in the black with white polka dots) I would size down in the cups.
The fabric is terrific, with enough elasticity to fit the shape of my boobs, and to give ...some jiggle and bounce. The underwires are stiff enough to make this bra feel very supportive.
As it is, though, this is my very first bikini and I'm loving it. I am definitely keeping this one. The briefs fit great, too, but I'm not quite ready for putting up photos of my butt.
I wish this were a better fit. I'm mostly even projected, but slightly full on top. This seems like a better swim top for someone who is full on bottom.
The material is wonderfully soft and the design is very nice. I like the look of this a lot, but the fit isn't good on me at all.
The gore digs directly into my sternum (very very uncomfortable on me) unless I move the band down so low that the wires are an inch lower than they should be. Probably mostly because it is a halter top, nothing fits quite where it should on me.
I wish the random gold detail on the straps was fixed rather than mobile, as it slides around a lot when you're putting it on.
Thanks for the review! I'm sorry the shape did not work out for you. Would you say the cups and band were true to size otherwise?
renemy I would say the band was true to size. It's a little difficult to say on the cup volume, but it is probably close to true to size. I couldn't fill the bottom and was overflowing on top - but that goes back to the shape issue again, rather than the cup volume.
Thanks! I am FoB so I think it might work for me :D
This swim top fits great and is very comfortable. It has enough coverage and support for larger women while still managing to be flattering. Make sure you buy the right size though. If it is a bit big, you will have pointy boobs!
Someone just pointed out that it didn't look like it was fitting me correctly. I'd forgotten the underwire does not sit flat on this one. The other four like it I own do so I assumed it was a flaw in this one. I'm glad they pointed it out and am happy to share that tidbit with everyone.
I think you need a bigger cup size! It doesn't look like you are tacking properly.
Does that mean because the wires aren't sitting flat? I agree, they are not and I'm not sure why. The other four I own all sit flat and I assumed it was a flaw in this one. I got it for a great price and it is comfortable so I kept it. The cups themselves are about perfect - snug with no muffin-top or gaps.
Yup! I noticed the same thing on the Cherish you reviewed. I think for a better fit you should go down in the band and up in the cup. :) Maybe even two cups.
Basically the whole cup should encase your breast tissue... with the underwire resting in your underbust crease!
Looks like the Pier I have is right. And as I mentioned in the post, it is a bit more snug. I appreciate your insight.
I now own five Freya halter bikini tops (two Cherish, one Pier, one, Charleston and one Calamity) and all of them are awesome! This one is no exception. The fit is perfect and provides enough coverage and plenty of support. Did I mention how flattering this top is? My husband, who seldom has an opinion on my swimsuits, saw the first one I bought and he bought me the next three because he thought they looked so good. That's the best testimonial I can provide. This top is very comfortable and supports nicely. I would buy any of these Freya tops again!
Does this brand put underwires in their swim tops? Because I am pretty close to that size myself, and I was just wondering. I would prefer a bra and swim top without wires, even with the added support they provide, because I hate wearing a bra as it is.
Oops, new to the site, and just read the post below. That answered my question, but thanks anyway!
I love this swimsuit top. It is very comfortable, has great coverage (not too much or too little) and stays put in and out of the water. I have several Freya halter swim tops all in the same size. The Pier seems to run just a bit smaller. It fits but is a bit more snug than the others - mostly in the band.
Fits well enough. The cups are wide but stretchy and not shallow, so it stays up well even when running and jumping (and swimming). I wouldn't play beach volleyball in it though. The cups have one vertical seam each, creating a nice, smooth but not entirely spherical, uplifted shape. I like it better than Freya's unpadded plunge bras. I feel fairly secure while on the beach, at most I get minor quadboob/centre spillage if I do any heavier activities involving a lot of boob shake. The pattern is kind of fun, brown base with pink, yellow and aqua lollipops or berries or something. Very hippie retro. I got it in a sale at Figleaves (£16.50!) and it was well worth the money. I wouldn't mind paying full price for a future replacement cut.
The color of this bikini top is really nice. I was afraid it would be too neon or cool toned, but it has a nice hint of orange, which I like. Not too loud, but not too soft, either. The little charm on the halter tie says Freya, which is actually kinda cute and doesn't feel cheap.
I would consider myself a 28H, but as sizes were limited, I bought the 30H. I figured going up a cup size wouldn't hurt since I'd gain a little more projection. It seems to have been a good choice because my breasts still force the cups down a bit, leaving empty space ...at the bottom and a GG would have been worse. I can live with this.
The band is comfortable and doesn't ride up or move much at all, which is surprising, but good. Materials are soft and the mesh lining isn't scratchy. Unfortunately, the gore doesn't tack completely and the right underwire also seems to occasionally twist a little, pushing away from my sternum, while the left one sits mostly flat. I imagine these things are caused by shape incompatibility (not nearly enough immediate projection and wires are too wide) and the fact that my right breast is a little bit larger than the left.
The shape it gives from the front isn't too bad. More east/west than I'm used to getting from EM or Cleo bras, though. From the side, it's almost upside down 7ish, but meh. It is what it is.
All in all, I'm not disappointed with it as it's still cute, serves it's purpose and fits better than any S, M, L bathing suit I've owned. I won't wear it all that often or for long periods of time, so it works out in the end.
The band feels bigger than all of my other 30 bands. It just feels a bit big in general. The straps are convertible, but are kind of weirdly set up. You can't wear it with the straps "normal," as they slip right out of the adjustable slots. So you can only wear it criss-cross or halter. The pattern is bright and fun.
I bought this bikini set in summer 2008. Here is the review I wrote at the time (with some adjustments to reflect current fit--note that the photo of me in the suit is from then, not now):
This is the sixth swimsuit I've ordered online, not to mention the dozens I've shortsightedly tried on in shops. With other suits I've ordered, I had to experiment with different sized tops and bottoms. With this suit, I think, I will be spared that trouble.
Seeing this suit online, I was a bit skeptical at first. It seemed too loud for my tastes (I know - it's nearly solid colored and has, ...O horrors!, a couple buckles, but I'm very shy in my fashion choices). But I was desperate, so I ordered it, anyway.
I normally wear a 28FF in Freya. I've tried two other bikini tops from them, both of which were two small in a 30F. According to Figleaves reviewers, though, this one is a lot more normally sized, so I went ahead and ordered the 30F. The cup fits very well, especially considering that I have to take a 28G in Freya plunge styles. The band is, of course, slightly bigger than I'm used to, but it's not noticeably riding up my back, and I feel adequately supported (definitely supported enough to swim or walk; definitely not supported enough to jog or play volleyball). My biggest complaint would probably be that the seams on the cup create an odd side profile: quite pointy. (I've found this to be the case with a few Freya bras, even: the seam is the most prominent/pointy part, even though that's not where the nipples rests.) I'm guessing that most people aren't going to be investigating my chest enough to notice this or the cup-wrinkling.
The bottoms were a lot skimpier than I'm used to or would normally be comfortable with (I got the retro brief). They're full coverage in the front, but in the back the corners of my bum are exposed. I normally wear a 0-1 in American jeans, and the XS is a bit too small for my tastes. I've gained weight since buying it, so I have a bit of a 'muffin top'. It's really difficult for me to find bottoms that aren't saggy in the bum and/or up to my navel, though, so all things considered I'm quite satisfied with these (if only I hadn't gained 10 lbs. since 2008, ha!). Read more 301 more words
This bikini top is perfect. I love everything about it. The band is firm, the gore is high enough to contain my soft breasts, even with motion, the straps are central enough to stay on. The padding is quite soft and flexible. Why doesn't Freya make this cut as a bra ?!?
The cups run a bit small. I ordered a cup size larger than my regular Freya bra size and I'm glad I did. Band size is my usual. I chose to pair this top with a coordinating patterned swim bottom from a different manufacturer. I cannot abide Freya's various 3-4 inch rise choices in bottoms, not even to match a top this nice.
The Freya Pier really seems as though it's the best of a bad bunch when it comes to swimwear over a J cup (Curvy Kate cup shape not that great on me, Panache wires far too tall). It's an underwired bikini top, and it fastens with a swimwear clasp. The straps are fully adjustable.
Personally, I like my swimwear to have some coverage, and I also don't care for dark colours, but I wanted to be able to swim and feel contained, so this is what I've opted for. Polkadots are cute, but I would prefer a brighter background and really wish the Pier tankini came up to a ...K cup.
The actual lift the bikini provides is great and the shape is quite flattering. I'd prefer a much thicker back band, and could honestly pass on the swimwear clasp and go for something which is a bit more adjustable to prolong the wear. I may be slight, but I'm not skinny, and the thin band creates some back bulges I could live without. The band is a little on the long side, but I like my bands to be quite firm, and I also think that possibly a wider band would answer just as well for support.
The cups are borderline too small on me, and so the gore doesn't tack. The wires are very wide, and like most Freya offerings, a bit on the flimsy side, but I don't hold swimwear to the same standards as things I'd wear everyday, so this isn't the end of the world. I think that in an ideal world, I'd get my best fit in a 28KK in this top, but that size isn't made.
I tried the matching bottoms for this, which I found to be a very poor cut for me. As they're neither long enough to be true high-waisted pants or short enough to be briefs, the smaller sizes I'd take in briefs (XS/S) cut into my tummy, but the larger sizes I'd take in high-waisted pants (M/L) hang off my legs because the legholes are cut too wide. This situation isn't uncommon for me in pants because of my aggressively heart-shaped hips, but it does mean I plan to get some swimmer bottoms cut in briefs style to wear with the top instead.
I'm planning to add some more notes to this review after I've worn the top for a while. Read more 290 more words
I am undecided about the quality of this bra/bikini top. It looks and feels kindof cheap and rough, but it is a swim top, too, and I suspect that it is good in the water. It looks slightly less cheap on than it does off (Also, I have tried the "Reef"/aquamarine and "Blue" colors, which don't seem to look as sophisticated as the black one, but I couldn't find a black one that I could afford).
For my shape, this does not fit at all. This is the biggest 34-band I have ever worn (perhaps it needs to be looser as a swim top?), and the cups are ...too wide for my narrow shoulders and ribcage. The cups extend halfway around my ribs (this doesn't quite show in the pictures).
The straps are far too wide for my build, as well; the shoulder straps want to fall off of my shoulders and although it is fairly comfortable, it almost looks as though my breasts are shoved into my chin -- I think this is exacerbated by the extra-wide cups and straps.
Pros: it feels very sturdy, as if it will last in the water, and it looks better on than off.
Cons: the cups can look a little pointy, it can seem a little cheap, and it just doesn't fit me at all. I think it would be better for builds with wide shoulders (Swimmer's shoulders! Makes sense!) and wide-set appearance. For all I know, it might be better for lower-set, as well.
I am not sure how to rate "bra appearance." In itself the "reef" color top I find maybe "Meh" or "Okay." On me it was "poor." Read more 169 more words
It fits me well (although the cup depth measurement would suggest I'd need to go down a size - however, my 30D Circus Circus Sweetheart top cuts into breast tissue at the top now, giving me quadboob), and I'd say it's generally well-suited to wide root shallow boobs. It gives mine a very nice round shape and it also looks much better in person than in pictures. The colours are much nicer, more summery than they look in photos: there are aqua, spring-green and light blue streaks in the pattern. I tried to show this in the detail shot. So far I haven't swum in it, but if it's ...as good as my Circus Circus Sweetheart Bikini top I'll be very happy with it. Edit after swimming: Okay, the band doesn't seem to be tight enough, or my books didn't stay in place for a different reason. I've shortened it now and will report back if this has worked. (My ribcage measurement was taken as tight as possible, btw., my regularly tight measurement would be about 70 cm / 27.5 inches) Read more 72 more words
I love the fit of this bathing suit top, it's very comfortable. I wear it as a bra sometimes because of how comfortable it is. The center gore lies flat but in the 32 the band is really too big. Also there is a strange excess of materials in the outer layer of the cup. This might be fixed if band was my normal 28 rather then 32. But the cup fits fine.
The cups run very, very small. The top gives me enormous quadboob in my regular size. I wear Freya Sweetheart tops in a 30DD, and they fit me well. Freya halfcup bras fit me well in a 30D. Apart from the cups being too small, they also wrinkle unattractively along the vertical seam.
This swimsuit looks really great in person. I was hesitant to get it based on the online pictures, but it looks much better in person. The color is lovely- it's bright/bold but not tacky.
It's overall very comfortable- the band is snug for a 30. I think the cups are probably a little on the large side- I'm a pretty solid 28F right now, and it fits fine. This top gives great cleavage, without being padded (it has a foam lining though )
I loved the images of this print and I had previously purchased the Pier in Black & White last summer so I snapped the Jitterbug up when it went on sale close to Christmas 2012 (there has to be some advantage to having summer at the complete opposite time of year to the northern hemisphere! https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":D" /> ).
Overall, this is a true to size fit with a slightly wide center gore and slightly wide cups. I say wide, but I have very centered breasts and compared to nearly all my other Freya bras, these are the widest underwires I've owned in that brand.
They ...are not high under the arms however so I can mostly ignore them.
Otherwise, the fit is excellent, the band is nice and comfortable and I don't feel that too much weight has to go around the back of my neck to wear this bikini.
The style is somewhat minimising, it's certainly not a push up bra, and I think this makes it quite appropriate for the beach where I feel that I'll blend in nicely with all the string bikinis.
As for the print... it's more garish in person. It's more clumsy. From far away it's very pretty but I think it's a bit chunky up close and it cheapens the bikini. I feel that Freya Swimwear could certainly use some finer lyrca and finer lycra pattern printing, but that's a small complaint.
Because there is a black and white houndstooth trim this will also go really nicely with my plain black bottoms, a black rash vest or even a white beach bag...
Now if only they could bring their fabrics up to the quality of JETS or Isola by Megan Gale... Read more 179 more words
Well, it doesn't EXACTLY fit because my breasts are about one cup size apart. The top is a tiny bit tight on my larger breast, and a tiny bit loose on the smaller one. If this were a regular bra instead of a bikini, I would probably buy a 28E instead of DD, and pad the smaller boob, but that would slide around while swimming or show through, so I decided the slightly-off fit is OK. It's not noticeable unless you're looking for it anyway.
Very cute fabric and print, and it seems well made.
Yay! it is very cute!