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
This bra/swimtop is extremely comfortable, other than having this slanted plastic clip at the back that you have to angle in just so in order to close, and I always have problems getting it aligned before latching it (The clip is extremely comfortable and sturdy once you fasten it, and is probably well suited to staying on in the water).
It sortof "fits" but for my narrow ribcage and shoulders, the cups extend too far around my ribcage, halfway to my back (although of course it's not nearly so bad on me as the 34JJ was).
With my narrow shoulders, I would do much better if it had a ..."racerback" hook like some sports bras do.
I would not recommend this for people with a higher, rounder shape or narrower shoulders because this shape seems more geared to wider shoulders and build.
I rated it as "too much separation" because the cups extended so far out around my ribcage and that was my best guess for how to encapsulate that in the fit notes.
I don't think it is nearly as flattering on me as it could be, because of the preceding and because the center gore does not lie flat. For builds like mine it would need more fabric across the top edge of the cup. It did feel extremely comfortable, though.
I suspect that the non-adjustable band could pose a problem in time, but it feels great now.
If you are potentially interested in one, I would make sure to check here and other places for "real" pictures because the photos shown by Freya seem to have a very different appearance than the product does "in real life" (not least because they seem to show the shape of the version for the smaller cup sizes for both the smaller and larger sizes, even though the larger sizes are shaped differently)
Pros: I like the appearance of the "blue"(navy-ish) color top better than the "reef"(aquamarine). It can look slightly cheap when off but looks better on. It feels sturdy like it would be a real swim top (unlike some that are advertised as such). I find it extremely comfortable despite not really fitting and plan to keep it.
Cons: It can appear somewhat pointy. Doesn't fit my build; shoulders and cups too wide, giving me a sortof high "boxy" appearance, whileh center gore does not lie flat and top seam does not have sufficient material for me. I suspect that the lines on me would look better without the buttons to draw the eye outward although the buttons are otherwise cute and help signal that this is a bikini top not just a bra. One-band-size may become a problem over time.
I am not sure how to rate bra appearance below. The blue top itself I would rate "Good;" on me it was "Meh." Read more 361 more words
