I am a big fan of the Freya Fancies line and would like to try all of the available options. As I am currently exploring Freya's padded half cups, I wanted to give this one a try. Unfortunately, while I like this bra a lot, I couldn't justify keeping it at the price that I paid, as the fit was comfortable but less than ideal.
The main issue is that the Fancies Padded Half Cup doesn't come in 28 bands, so instead of ordering my normal 28E, I had to try the 30DD. This is the second Freya that I ever ordered in a 30 band ... and predictably, it's too big. On the loosest hook it is absolutely riding up, so it fits similarly to many of the Fantasie 30 bands that I complain about. However, the problem is that this band is not firm enough for me, so even if I considered altering it down, I don't think it would give me the firm, supportive feeling I like. The wings are firm single-layer powermesh, but something about them doesn't feel quite stable enough for me, even on the tightest hook.
The second issue is that while the cups are the right volume and fit, I get the feeling that there's a shape mismatch going on, but it's hard to diagnose when the band is too loose. First, the cups are on the wide side, and they are also quite deep. The wide cups means that the wires actually sit a little further back on my sides than normal, though the cups sit flush against the body and I don't feel any emptiness in the cup from this additional width, which is probably because I am filling out the cup completely. The cup construction reminds me of a foam-lined version of the Panache Andorra Wireless bra that I tried a few months ago, which is also very wide in the cups but doesn't show any emptiness at the wide sides. Thus, I think there is some influence from a soft-cup bra in the construction and that's why it feels a bit different from a traditional underwire bra to me.
The cup is a 4 piece cup construction with a 3 piece bottom cup and a horizontal upper panel. Once again, this is the soft foam batting used in Freya and Fantasie padded cups, not the firmer foam used in Comexim, Ewa, or Parfait padded cups. I actually find the foam to be quite comfortable, but it does make the fit a bit trickier as the foam has no inherent structure on its own, and tends to magnify fit issues in a similar way that unlined bras do. The cup shape fits me reasonably well, but I get the sense that the shape distribution is not quite right. My impression is that the cup is a little too projected and closed on top for me, because the shape it gives me is not as rounded as I expect, but once again it's hard to tell due to the incorrect band size.
The lace used on the cups is exactly the same as the new generation of Fancies Unlined Plunge from 2019 onward, which is softer and not scratchy like the old Fancies lace. The trims are the same, with a long ribbon bow with micro dots. The straps are the only different feature, other than the different band construction. Unlike the standard wide straps found on the Fancies Unlined Plunge, the straps on this bra are quite narrow. I'm not sure why this change was made, as I think this bra would be improved with a firmer band and wider straps.
I found this to be a super comfortable bra for me, and I think I could even lounge at home in it (and I never wear underwire bras at home), but unfortunately this size on me fails at being supportive. Maybe if I can find this for super cheap, I would consider altering the band and seeing how it fits. I think this is a nice option that fits a little differently from a traditional underwire, but it is not for everyone.
Update: I’ve now tried the Fancies Longline in my normal size of 28E, and it fit perfectly. I think the issues I am having with this bra are due to the difference in proportions between 30DD and 28E, and the much more supportive band in the 28E Longline style. Unfortunately, the single layer powermesh band and narrow straps in this style are just not supportive enough for me.
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Updated on Jun 06, 2020 Flag this