I didn't know if it would work because I had heard that some of the Deco line didn't work with a lot of breast shapes. I tried on several plunge bras at the store (The only demi was a multiway in 30E and I didn't need a multiway). The wires don't cut in, the straps don't want to fall of my shoulders, the gore tacks, I only gap when I bend over etc. as to be expected in a molded bra, but fill it properly with no quadboob when I'm up straight. And I actually have cleavage! In something that's not 3 cup sizes too small!
Me: Average projection. Fuller on bottom. Slightly wider left breast (I suspect this breast is also 1-2 ml taller than my other breast). Usually wear 28DD or 30D.
I decided to take a chance and buy this bra again in a larger cup size. The previous bra (28DD) fit me really well with a bit of quadding. Unfortunately, I couldn't size down the band since they didn't have anything smaller than 28. I'm really glad I took a chance on this bra, because it fits me so well! Well, I'd say the cups fit me 95% which is pretty darn good. There is a very slight wrinkling at the ...top of the cups, but it's barely noticeable and you can't even see it through shirts. I imagine it's there because I couldn't go down a band size; I also have to wear the bra on its 2nd tightest hook because of this. It's such a pretty bra and I'm glad I found it.
Only other con is that I can't wear tight shirts or the lace shows through, and that looks a bit weird. I remember someone on Reddit saying that lace bras makes it look like you're hiding popcorn in your shirt, and that describes my situation pretty well. Read more 100 more words
I really really,really wanted to love this bra. But I can't. I like it a lot, but as the other reviewers/owners mentioned, the cups feel really wide. In actuality the wires are narrow. I'd say the wires literally stretch an inch when worn-- measures 4.5 inches (which is too narrow for me), but leaves marks behind my tissue, around the 5.5 inch range.
See my post for more on how this fits someone with tall roots
This color is gorgeous on you!!! Sorry about the wires :-(
Ugh, seems like Freya's wires are either too stabby or too flexible :/ Thanks for the thorough review, gave me a very good impression about the bra!
Such a cute design but such a disappointing fit. I guess we all have a pretty good idea, with your review to confirm it, about this bra's fit flaws. Hope Freya fixes them!
I see you tried replacing the wires with harder ones but they were TOO hard; maybe try with other wires to try to get in the middle?! I feel like a sister size up would stretch out too quickly, and the straps would be even wider. Such a bummer! :/
Btw, I'm so grateful for your reviews, you happen to review all the bras I'm interested in and we're similar in size. :)
Update: For me, this isn't working. I tried to make it work but I just hate this bra for my body and have found better ones. My issues were:
The tops of the cups gap. The bottom of the cups have wrinkling going on (I don't fill out the bottom). The front of the bra slides up. My breasts are just too wide for this bra shape, it seems. I fit in soft cup 28E Freyas and Curvy Kates so I am pretty sure that 28e is my size. Oh well!
The bra is seamless and smooth, which is good for t-shirts. While this bra makes nice cleavage, there is ...no push-up padding in the bottom. Very round cups make sure everything is covered. However, this would make wearing the bra with wide low-cut tops an issue (the top of the bra will probably peek out before we see cleavage) and this bothered me (why call it a plunge when the bra is cut so round? just because the center gore is low? meh). The cups meet very close together, which is good for me but possibly a problem for others. However, the gore seemed a little too high for my body shape. The cups are thick enough to prevent nipple show-though. The band is firm and not very stretchy. The straps are wide, too wide for such a petite bra size, in my opinion, so keep that in mind if you like to/have to wear tank tops often. It's not discreet.
Overall: Band was decently tight but cups seemed to narrow for me. Not keeping. I think I need a wider cup so the underwires and gore will sit flat and my whole breast will be contained--maybe the 28F. It's a stiff bra so it just does not work with my shape, no matter how many times I wear it and how much I pull and tug different things. Read more 209 more words
Look and feel: The fabric is nice and not itchy at all. The fabric lining the cups is quite smooth, and I can't even feel the seams on the cups.
The bottom (vertical) seam is quite flat and not at all noticable under t-shirts, although the top seam is more visible.
The wires are acutally 2.5cm shorter than where the cup ends at the sides.
Overall, the bra provides a rounded shape that looks natural and I don't get any bounce when I walk up and down stairs.
Fit: The band is slightly tight which causes the wires to press really firmly against my body, but I think going up a cup size ...would be too big.
The cups fit great, I'm totally enclosed, no spillage, no gaping. There is some wrinkling at the tops of the cups, although very minimal (but more on the smaller breast). I don't know if I need to go down a cup size or not, since the wrinkling is minimal.
Overall, I don't notice that I'm wearing this during the day, although once in a while I'll really feel the wires.
Update: I've worn this bra a few times and handwashed it once. The band is still firm and I can't feel the wires at all now. It's very comfortable.
Update 2: I'm finding the tops of the cups on this bra are digging into me now. They're definately too small. I only wear this bra when my other 3 well fitting bras are waiting to dry.
Update 3: I no longer wear this bra. The cups feel too small now. Read more 159 more words
Did the cups shrink after washing? funny because you mentioned that you thought on getting a smaller cup and ended up being too small
No, I don't think they shrank since I hand wash them. I actually bought the same model in white and that's when I noticed the cups. I guess I thought initially the cups were fine because it felt snug and there wasn't any spillage. Maybe it's breast tissue migration or maybe I'm just putting my bra on properly now, I'm not too sure.
I'm thinking it may be the shape of my breasts as well. Initially I thought I was fuller at the bottom, but I'm actually wide all over but not too deep so I think that affects how cup styles fit me.
Basically what I'm saying is that I'm learning more about my boobs. :)
I bought this bra in ivory because I thought that ivory would be less noticeable under white shirts. Turns out, ivory is not like a nude at all, so it will show up under white shirts (it won't be as bright, but you can definately see it).
Unlike the white and black colours, the flowers on the ivory are just a darker shade of ivory as opposed to a completely contrasting colour. The details on the band and the straps are actually really pretty. The fabric on the cups feel really smooth, as well as the lace.
The fit on me was really fantastic, like the Freya Jolie. I would say that this bra is very similar to the Freya Jolie in cut, style, and size; I would even say identical.
Edit: I no longer wear this bra as I find the cups too small.
It has an average to good projection and works for full on bottom ladies. It has a cute lacey design thats chic but comfortable and not over the top. Sadly the wire was much too wide for my narrow roots and the gore sat uncomfortably tight against my sternum. If it didnt poke at the center it poked under my arms. Also it was riding up at the front, I suppose because the band was too loose and the cup not immidiately and normally projected enough so the wires did sit on my breast tissue sometimes. Writing this I realize how bad this review sounds, that wasn´t intended. I do really like and still own this bra, after some time it gets more comfortable while still giving okay-ish lift. I do think this works better for shapes with wide root width and maybe only average projection.
Last summer, I tried the Freya Summer Haze Unlined Plunge, and it still reigns as my most hated bra of all time. In fact, it's the bra that made me suspicious of all Freya fashion styles, as it just had the most horrible shaping possible in an unlined bra. Based on other reviews, I'm not the only one who felt this way. Thus, I had absolutely no expectation that the Summer Haze Padded Half Cup would fit. The only reason I chose to try this style is that it appears to be the same cut as the Patsy Padded Half Cup, which I've wanted ...to try for a long time, but can't get my hands on easily. I figured that if the Summer Haze HC cut works for me, I should be safe to blindly order Patsy. Surprisingly, Summer Haze HC has turned out to be one of my favorite bras that I've tried recently!
Just like how Freya has several different versions of Unlined Plunge fits but doesn't label them as different fits, I've discovered that there's several versions of the Padded Half Cup as well. The first I tried, Rhea, is a shallow, short, and very open 3HC that gave me a minimized look. Fearne and Fancies are a 4 piece cup with a 3 piece bottom and horizontal upper, and is much more closed off. Summer Haze and Patsy have what I typically think of as a 3HC, which is a rounded cup shape with 2 vertical seams, no upper panel, and a slightly closed off top.
This cut actually works the best for me, as the shape eliminates gapping at the top, which I experience with tall, open cups since I am not particularly FOT, while giving a very nice rounded shape similar to what one would get from a molded foam T-shirt bra. The wires are a nice and even curve instead of the wonky J curve or Nike swoosh shape that many Freyas have. The cups are very similar to Fantasie Sofia or Fauve Aurelia in shape, but are more closed off and rounded at the top. The angle of the cup is also cut at a slight plunge angle, which allows it to sit closer to the inner part of the breast where I am quite empty. The Fantasie and Fauve half cups are mostly constructed with straight cups. Despite the slightly closed top, this can certainly accommodate tall roots or more upper fullness, as there is plenty of room in the upper cup on me, and it works well when I tried it on with inserts. The only criticism about the fit is that the cups are a bit tall for my frame, leading to some gapping when I move, though I don't get this issue in similar bras that are cut with lower cups.
The wires on me are perfect on this bra, so I don't experience any discomfort like I did on Fearne, where the cup fit well but the wires were narrow and intolerable. Based on my experience so far with Freya Half Cups, the wires are all firm instead of the flexible ones used on their Unlined Plunges, so any mismatch in wire shape or size can be very painful. The bra band is printed powermesh and moderately firm. Freya's bands typically run large and this 28 is comfortable but not snug on me, though I might have to alter it down in time.
The appearance of the bra is nice, but a bit plain. It's the perfect kind of styling for an everyday bra. One of the purported features of Summer Haze is the lightweight mesh fabric used for the cups, which is a firm structured mesh rather than the standard stretchy mesh (like used on Cleo Marcie and Lucy), meant to be cool and breezy for summer. Indeed, the combination of this fabric and the lightweight foam lining in the cups makes this lined bra feel so much cooler than wearing a stuffy foam T-shirt bra in the summer heat. The little white dots on a solid base are similar to the Japanese traditional shibori print, and are reminiscent of tiny bubbles on an aqua background. The upper edge has a bit of simple lace decoration and isn't visible or lumpy under clothing. Though the bra is seamed, it isn't nearly as noticeable under clothing as many other bras of similar construction. Straps are plain wide satin, and a simple white grosgrain bow adorns the gore with no wacky charm.
I think this is a fabulous bra for everyday wear, and is a bra you can really live in. Overall, I love this bra because it gives me a great shape without a molded cup, and is supremely comfortable on me. This ticks all the boxes for what I am looking for in a padded (not foam cup) bra--the natural, easy shaping and lightweight feel of an unlined bra, with the rounded shape and additional modesty provided by a foam bra. I have very high hopes for Patsy and will be looking out for more similar 3HC styles from Freya in 28E while they are still available, and will probably pick up another Summer Haze in another color if possible.
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Update: I have received Patsy and it is very, very similar, though Summer Haze is slightly more closed off at the top than the new Patsy fit. It is much more closed off at the top than the old Patsy fit. Read more 832 more words
My ABTF size is 30E, but I found the 30E in this model to be too big - the band was loose, the cups tall, and lots of gaping was happening.
Sizing down to a 28E was a good choice. The cups fit much shorter on me, so i fill them out better and gapping is minimized. Sizing down also made the cups pretty narrow for me. The band is a bit tight for me now, but wonderful with an extender. I know the band will stretch and fit me.
The color and print is cute and playful - a perfect response to reviews that call these Decos basic or boring.
Update: despite having a decent fit, the thick seams on the top of these cups make it unbearable under most of my t-shirts. Very sad.
Lovely sexy bra great for a projected, narrow shape. Runs huge in the band so size down if you're able. This makes me think that I'll have luck with other unlined Freya plunges.
It looks good! I'm surprised it has enough projection in that size.
I bent the wires narrower to add projection, but it wasn't terrible to start out with. It would be pretty much perfect with a smaller band
That's the best trick ever.
Yay I'm so glad it worked out pretty good on you!
Love Arabella! It looks like a great fit :)
Minus the band of course. Freya needs to get their act together on those stretchy bands. :(
I have one in black in the same size, but looks completely different on, sits lower and with less coverage. Curious to compare the bands, whether the black is any tighter. Need to add it to BTB with some pics soon. Love the 3piece cup Freyas.
Queequeg0925 I think the stretchy bands may be intentional on their part for "comfort", but I'd definitely like to see them go. erispe I think it's so weird how the same bra can look so drastically different on different people and in different years. I've heard that black generally is tighter because the dye makes it shrink, but that may not be true.
Here are the pics of mine in the same size, diff colour: http://bra.pe/XP4c/ The band feels tight enough, so it is quite possible that the black is tighter than the red. Well, our shapes are different, and the bras can't really drastically change our original shapes, I guess. Also being at the lower or upper threshold of a certain size can affect the fit. There are some brands I cannot wear if between sizes, the smaller being too small with quadding, while the bigger having too wide wires and cups too separate.
I can't see your pictures, but the measurements are fairly different. They could be different seasons maybe? Or maybe mine is stretched out? I tend to be sort of in between 28E and 28F. But yeah, unlined especially is going to be dependent on natural shape (which is why I'll never be perfectly round in it).
Out of all the Deco variations I have ordered, this one is my favourite. If you normally have trouble filling the top of the cups in the Deco, the J-hook in the back may help alleviate that problem and eliminate said gaping. It fits like a normal Deco (a cup and band size large). Ideally I'd get this in a 26F or even 24FF for my 26 inch underbust, but of course these sizes are not produced. However, this doesn't ride up on me because the J-hook tightens the band without pulling the straps and cups upward. I'd say this bra probably suits those who have evenly shaped to FoT ...breasts. The shape is definitely not compatible with my full-on-bottom boobs. Although the depth is ridiculously small, the top of the cups sort of have a straight line instead of curving towards the body. This bra demands quite a bit of upper fullness, which I lack. However, they have fixed some fit issues caused by past Decos by adding a new piping at the top of the cups. I have to note that this bra does run a little bit smaller than the Deco and Deco Honey (Topaz colourway with the piping on top too), but not enough to size up. The stock photos leave something to be desired, but in real life this bra is very pretty. Simple with a few feminine flourishes. P.S. the strips are still considered fully adjustable since the J-hooks aren't static. You cannot take them out easily, however.
I have now altered the band on this to a 26 (and all my other Decos). While I get minimal gaping with my regular Deco and perfect fit with Deco Honey, I now quadboob with my less fuller-on-bottom breast. I definitely would not recommend this bra to those who are full on top. Read more 194 more words
This is a nice, well-made bra, though I'm not sure if it's the best shape for me. The cups seem to be the right size although there is a bit of wrinkling; I'm not sure whether I should have ordered the DD instead or if it's just because my breasts aren't that full on top. The underwires seem to come up quite high in the centre and I can feel the ends against my sternum, but it's not uncomfortable. The band seems to be a good, snug fit, with no scratchy lace or uncomfortable elastic.
The one thing I don't really like about this style is the way it ...pulls my breasts in towards the centre, flattening the sides, though this is probably just a matter of preference. It does give very good uplift. I love the muted pale pink/mauve colour and the lace and ribbon details.
Side note: I ordered this from brastop.com using their standard delivery option, and it was shipped out the next morning and arrived the day after. Great service.
ETA, October 2012: I bought this bra in summer 2010 when I was in the very early stages of figuring out my size, so in my original review I failed to recognise some fit issues that became glaringly obvious later on. The wrinkling in the cups has happened to me in every single Freya bra I've tried, because the cups are too deep and pointy for me; the overly deep cups then caused the wires to press into my sternum. I'm just not a Freya person but I don't think the Claudia is a bad bra, although the heavily textured, picot-trimmed straps are very hard to adjust. Read more 173 more words
Addendum: after wearing this bra a few times, I have a rather different impression of the fit. The underwires are so tight against my ribcage that my ribs ache after a couple of hours. I think this is because the cups are just too big (I definitely should have ordered DD) and the wires are too long.
This was my first bra bought in a size 28 and i’m so glad i purchased it! All the 30 sized bands i’d been purchasing were too loose so i stopped being in denial that I needed a smaller band size. I love the narrowness of the cups, a lot of my other bras including a 30E that i have that i’d say fit pretty well have wires that are too wide for me which causes empty space on the sides. I feel like that tends to make my breasts look wider and less projected. I do get lines from wearing this bra but they go away quickly ...after removing and are not sore, honestly it’s a breath of fresh air after only wearing bras with a too large band. All this being said i think the fit is pretty good, from a side angle I notice some overflowing tissue so i’d like to try going up a cup size to see if that resolves the issue. Other than that a pretty good fit for me https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> Read more 74 more words
At the beginning of my bra journey in summer of 2019, I had purchased the Freya Starlight Hero Side Support Bra in sizes 28D and 28DD to try, back when I was a smaller size. 28DD worked for me at the time, but I ended up not keeping this bra because I just didn't need it, and because I wasn't satisfied with the appearance or comfort of the style. Freya has added this to their current permanent collection, so I picked up their newest version in the fashion color Slate. Although I am currently measuring between 28E and 28F, I ended up getting the ...28E because it was cheaper, even though I know that their Side Support styles tend to run about a half size small.
This is a 4 piece cup with side support panel. Compared to the Viva Side Support, another one of their newer styles, the 28E is not quite so small. Viva is at least a half size small and nearly a full size small, but Starlight is somewhere between true to size and a half size small. Other than this, the fit and construction between the two styles are the same. I have also tried the Rose Tapestry Side Support Bra a while back, and concluded it is the same. If Fantasie's standard side support styles (the balanced ones, not the ones for extremely projected shapes) work for you, then this is a good option, especially if you need the 28 band.
Overall, Starlight fit me pretty well, but I just have this feeling that the cups overall are just a little bit small. Everything feels fine, but the proportions look a little off on my body (unlike the Viva that I purchased in 28F). In addition, the fabric here is quite rigid and doesn't have much stretch, so it won't sit as smoothly on your body if the fit is not perfect. The band is not snug but is comfortable and decently TTS. It is made of solid thick stretch knit with decently firm elastic, and has a gentle leotard back.
My main criticism from my original review of Starlight was regarding the scratchiness of the fabric. Unfortunately, it still hasn't been remedied here. It feels a bit like the fabric has been stiffened with starch, however I noticed that while the upper and lower cups are made from the same combination of mesh backed-lace, the upper cup is two separate layers, while the bottom cup is fused together into one fabric. I suspect the fusible interfacing used is what is causing the fabric to be so stiff, so I am not sure that this would soften with washing. I understand that they would fuse the layers together for stability, as the bottom of the cup gives nice support, but I wish they would find a new version that wouldn't make the inside of the cup so scratchy! Note that because the upper cup is two separate layers, it has some natural stretch, and the upper edge elastic is stretchy as well, so it should not cut into upper tissue.
The lace design seems to have been updated from the original, if I remember correctly. The current design is of polka dots on a webby-looking background. This fabric is lightweight yet supportive. Both the mesh and lace have stretch, but the bottom cups do not stretch because of the fusible interfacing. The same fabric is used throughout the cups and cradle, while the back of the band is solid. Straps are plain medium width elastic, though they could benefit from a bit of texture to avoid slipping during wear. The hardware is attractive gold-tone in the front and dyed to match in the back. The only trim on this bra is simple and tasteful-- a small folded ribbon with a rich gold-tone round stud. Read more 553 more words
Expression is another new Freya style. Sometimes Freya's unlined plunge styles don't work for me because they can be too tall in the cup for me, so my lack of upper center fullness makes the cup look pretty empty. Thankfully, this turned out to be the Fancies Unlined Plunge cut, which is their only Unlined Plunge cut that works for my shape. The main difference is that Fancies is made from completely rigid lace, while Expression is stretch lace lined with mesh, so the cups have some give.
One big difference I've noticed in Freya's new styles is that their bands are much more TTS. ...Gone are the 28s that feel like 30s . . . this 28E is very snug on me because it's so firm, though the measurement doesn't look unusual. I suspect that they have switched elastic qualities, since the Viva I tried has a similar snug fitting band, despite both styles having short wing heights. This is so snug on me that it'd be more comfortable with an extender to break it in, however there's no issues with wire distortion, so I wouldn't personally go up a band size.
The cups are made from a very unique stretch lace that gives the look of round crochet flowers. It gives off a 70s vibe, especially in the Ruby colorway I purchased, which is more of a wine red than ruby. The upper cup is delicate diamond pattered mesh. Both upper and lower panels are lined with mesh. I find this to be a very nice combination as it gives support but is still stretchy. Since I am currently between sizes 28E and 28F, many of my existing non-stretch 28E Freyas are now too small in the cup. This still works for me, both in the cut and fabrication. The upper edge is trimmed with open mesh elastic, though the elastic is stretchier than the seam connecting it to the upper cup, so tall roots may still feel a bit restricted by the seam rather than the elastic. Note that the wires are basically the same as on the Fancies Plunge as well--on this particular bra, they are a gentle shallow curve with longer sides. Wires are comfortable and have good flexibility.
I don't have much upper inner fullness, so sometimes this Fancies Plunge cut works for me, and sometimes the upper inner cup is really empty on me. Right now it looks pretty good. If you have very little fullness in this area, however, you might want to skip this cut entirely, as the cup will just be baggy and empty in this area. Many of Freya's unlined plunges are designed for a round breast shape with lots of upper inner fullness.
Since the crochet lace is the star of the show, the rest of the styling is kept simple. Straps are wide satin elastic with picot edges and are fully adjustable. There are no bows, simply a folded piece of ribbon at the center gore with a small rose gold hoop charm. For once, I find the metal charm on this style to be appropriate, and add to the vintage vibe. This would've been even lovelier if they had kept rose gold hardware throughout!
Expression is a nice update to a Freya classic. Skip it if you can't stand the Fancies Plunge, but if you're a Fancies lover, give this a try! You may want to size up in the band depending on how current Freya bands fit you. Read more 494 more words
The Freya halfcups have generally treated me well, bit I might have sized up (put on enough weight) to need a 28f these days. I am somewhat shallow to averagely projected, and very wide and tall rooted. I think I might like a tiny bit more projection here and a little more width would not hurt either. The bra itself is very pretty. Many would be thrilled to hear that the straps are fully adjustable. My boobs are very close set and you can see in the pic that even though the wires are practically touching at the top, one is still resting on boob. It's not uncomfortable though.
This is a really hard bra to measure because of the lack of wire. I would say that it fits pretty well for a 28e, but I am so used to wearing wires at this point this bra feels weird. I think the shape is great for wide and shallow types with little boob separation. I got great cleavage in this, and now understand why people love the deco. The regular deco didn't work for me (I'm def not full on top). There is a fair amount of padding in it (by my standards) which contributes to the idea that this bra is just not for me
So the Ooh La La is definitely NOT as similar to the Arabella as I was hoping. It's sort of freakishly deep for this cup size, and I'm not sure what's going on there. The one I have runs about 1.5 cup sizes large. The good news is: this gave me the perfect opportunity to try some alterations out. All of the measurements I took for Bratabase were pre-alteration.
The wires on this are very narrow and the shape is definitely FoB and immediately projected. The mesh is soft and cool and the straps are quite wide (but fully adjustable). Overall, I'm a bit disappointed that it didn't fit to begin with (WTF is with the sizing on this Freya) but it ended up working out well.
Hmmm. This is a bra I've been wanting to try. Do you think you have an oddball, or does the style just run deep?
I did buy this one used, so it's possible that it's larger than it should be. The other measurements here look closer to Arabella (around the 9" depth mark). Overall the style is definitely cut differently than Arabella. It's more immediately projected and the stiff patterned section is larger. It's supposed to be more open on top than Arabella. Maybe try it in both 28DD and 28E?
http://bra.pe/CHN7/ just compared my 30DD (black/henna) with your 28E - seems like the cups of the blush 28E are narrower and deeper than the 30DD black/henna. so if you run into a 28E in black/henna it is likely to work for you.
Oooooh. This bra has been in my Amazon shopping cart for a long time, I just haven't decided on it! Thanks for the detailed review.
I had very high hopes for this bra, but it doesn't fit at all. I have a Freya28E - Freya » Flourish Padded Longline Bra (1543) that fits really well and that I like. However, this one, for some unknown reason, quad boobs a lot!! Despite both being a 28e, this one is clearly too small. I think it has less bottom projection, resulting in my boob being lifted up a lot. On the positive side, great cleavage enhancer!
It also only has 2 rows of eyes, which given freya's tendency towards loose bands, is disappointing...
I will upload the 28f when I get it after the returning of this one...
(The bra itself is fine accept for being tiny in the cup! Being a longline does help mitigate freyas loose bands)
A good push up bra, but it seems just too wide for my frame, causing fit and comfort issues. I get slight quad boob, and the band is definitely too big You may want size at least one cup size up from your regular Deco size, maybe two if you're full on bottom.
This color is gorgeous on you!!! Sorry about the wires :-(