Now this really is a bra with a bit of a story for me (it's a lengthy story, but bear with me, the review will come at the end). I remember I was in a big department store a few years ago on a mission to find a bra for under tight T shirts. At the time I absolutely hated bra shopping for 2 very good reasons.
a) there was hardly anything in my size, which meant I had to go through all the racks and racks of bras (usually the bigger sizes hang at the bottom of the rack, so there was a lot of squatting involved), getting ...my hopes up whenever I saw a cute design and then being disappointed when my size was not available, yet again. This made me feel like a big boobed freak. Mind you, I was still wearing 34E's back then, but I didn't know any better than the bra alphabet pretty much ended with E. b) when I finally was so frustrated and desperate that I would ask the shop lady to find some stuff in my size for me, the only things they would bring me were awful granny bras, and I mean the kind that immediately KILL the sex drive of anyone within a 5 mile radius. And those granny bras also tended to fit me poorly (full cups are not my thang I have learned since), but the shop ladies would insist that this sad empty-tea-bag-pointing-down look was completely fine, and that this was just the way things were for people with my size. By the end of the fitting I was usually so deflated that I didn't put up a fight anymore and ended up buying least horrible one.
So on that day the whole fitting episode was heading in that same direction once again, when I saw this Freya Totally Tartan half cup bra hang on a rack. It was not what I was looking for (too much color and visible seams, and back then I was under the impression that anything padded would add bulk so I avoided them like the plague), but I somehow decided to try it on anyway. And lo and behold, it was actually pretty great! It fit me properly! No quad boob! It looked attractive! No tea bags in sight! Like a breath of fresh air for my boobs!
I still have no idea why I didn't buy it straight away, I was probably suffering from severe and acute post traumatic bra fitting stress disorder, but I left the store with another ill fitting ugly bra. The Totally Tartan bra kept popping up in my mind every now and then as a glimmer of hope that there might be bras out there that would fit me better.
Then I discovered this website, learned about my boobs and about bras in general, and found out that there are plenty of great bras out there that will fit me. I quickly found out that half cups seem to be my best bet, so I went through the search results for half cup bras, and the Totally Tartan jumped off the page. I recognized it right away as The Bra That Got Away. Granted, it is not the most attractive or sexy looking design, although it has a certain fresh-faced, cutesy charm, but I decided I had to order it anyway for old times sake (in my proper size 32G this time).
And I still think it is quite a good bra for me. It fits my wide set, somewhat shallow, short rooted boobs well. It lifts and gives my boobs a nice round profile. It's very, very comfortable, the fabric is soft and the straps are too. The cup padding is nice and light. It does not add any bulk, but it does cover the nipples (I don't care about this so much, but I know others do). The band runs a bit large and it's extremely stretchy; for the moment it is still ok on the loosest hook, but I think I could even go down a band size. The cup also runs a bit large. When I compare it to my Freya Marvel, which I find quite similar in terms of fit & shape, this TT in 32G feels more like the Marvel in 32GG. My only issue with this bra is the same issue I have with the Marvel: the under wires seems to drag down a little bit, mainly in the center. Still not entirely sure why this happens, but I don't mind it too much. It's not a bra for under tight t shirts though, the seams are showing too much.
So that was my bra adventure! Read more 676 more words
I have two bras of this model, the oldest of which was purchased in February, 2007. The bras are washed by hand and are worn infrequently.
This is not an everyday bra. The plunge is quite pronounced, and the padding and shape give you a lot of cleavage. It's a good bra to wear with a low-cut shirt, if you really want people to notice your breasts. It is by far the most supportive plunge that I have ever encountered, and the cups are quite comfortable. But because there is only one hook, it just doesn't support well enough to be a daily ...bra.
By now the cup is a bit too small for me, so I have to carefully adjust to prevent overspill. It fit perfectly well when I bought it, however, so this is just a case of my breasts having grown and the cut being especially unforgiving for that sort of thing.
I did notice that the bra has stretched considerably, and it is now a bit too loose even on the tightest hook. I have not yet seen the need to have it altered, however. Read more 86 more words
Strange... I have 3 retro basics, and none of them are the least bit padded, nor are they what I would consider plunge bras. They also all have two hooks, not one. That said, all of them were purchased in 2008-2009, so maybe they've been redesigned.
I believe the 'retro basic' term covers both full-coverage and plunge bras. I noticed the same thing looking at another bra--they had both a full-coverage and a demi that went by the same model name. I think they had different model numbers, however--in this case the two you pointed at certainly seemed to have different numbers. It's somewhat frustrating that for the company the model refers to the look of the bra rather than the construction (which is by far more important in determining if the bra is good for you).
I just searched Figleaves for 'freya retro basic' and it comes up with both the bras as well as two sets of panties. One bra is "Retro-Basic padded plunge bra" and the other is "Retro-Basic full coverage bra". So both should be available in the US.
EmmyS, I think you're talking about the Freya Retro Basic *Full Coverage* with code 3421, as this the "regular" Retro Basic is plunge and has only one hook :)
This is the first half cup that has really worked for me! Having big boobs, I really thought I'd never be able to pull one off. Also, I didn't realize how helpful padding can be for support and overall great look under clothes. The Freya Unchained looks great under low cut tops and is my go-to for date night now. I definitely wouldn't sleep in it, but I can go 5-6 hours without being even slightly bothered. Also, the daisy embroidery on the black version is just to die for. Freya has so much attention to detail in their designs! On my blog I show a picture of what it looks like under a shirt. Check it out, I hope it's helpful to you in your bra finding mission!
I'm not fond of unlined bras but I bought this one as kind of a bra experiment. Maybe I dreamed it but I had read somewhere that this bra had good support for larger breasts. I liked the gateway back and low gore. It was also on sale and very inexpensive, I think $19.99. It is a smaller size then I usually buy but Freya bands are often too big for me.
It mostly fits. There is a tiny bit of wrinkling in the cups which is very visible under tops. There might be some support but no lift. I've tried to wear it a couple of times but I hate the fit and appearance. So it is off to the reject pile!
I have two of this bra in black, one in beige and one black bikini top - I just love it! It is the perfect fit and makes my boobs looks spectacular. An absolute must have if you wear low cut tops/dresses, want to look smoking hot for any occasion, need to seduce someone etc. Best bra ever.
Just bought this in the orange animal print and I have to say that it's VERY firm - esp. given that there's only 1 hook and eye. The band is boned - firmly - and this provides a lot of support and substance. The cut is quite attractive and the fabric is soft (though I'm not sure if I love this particular animal print). The 32 band fits true to size - it's not overly tight (like Cleo) or overly loose (like the Freyas between 2008 - 2015). I like the keyhole. I do think I could have sized up in the cup - it does not fit large but I'm quite projected. For someone less projected, I think it would be true to size. The undies are particularly luxe-seeming, both short and thong (I bought both). I really like this style and I hope they bring it back in other colourways. I'll certainly try it again.
Because my 32G - Freya » Flourish Padded Longline Bra (1543) is a bit small, I ordered Crush in a 34G, planning on taking in the band. Well, the 34G was too large overall. Re-ordered it in 32G and while this fits better, I'll still have to take in the band.
So yeah, the band runs really large. Even larger than your average Freya I would say, because normally in longlines I don't mind a 32 band. Also, for some inexplicable reason there's only 2 rows of hooks?? Lame, because this decreases the options of tightening (or loosening) the band and I'm pretty sure most customers ...won't like it. So Freya - móre rows of hooks please, not less!
Cups: For a Freya padded halfcup, these run a bit large as well. My 32G Flourish is noticeably smaller. Cup shape is still wide and shallow (too wide & shallow for me) as usual in this style. Maybe a bit more projection than previous Freya halfcups. Cups are somewhat tall as well - there is some minor gaping on my smaller breast, which doesn't happen to me often as I have tall roots.
Straps: are firm and I like how the print continues on them. Straps do require more shortening than I'm used to. For example in Panache Jasmine and Envy, I keep my straps at almost the longest setting. Maybe because of the loose band and large-ish cups, the straps need more adjustment.
Somehow despite not fitting 'properly', this bra still manages to be comfortable. And what originally attracted me - Crush's design - does NOT disappoint in real life! Vibrant print, bright colours, well made and the materials are soft.
Matching shorts are slightly big in size Large (43 inch hips). The border at the leg holes has the annoying tendency to flips outwards, showing the white lining. Think I would prefer the briefs over the short.
If you still have the 34G and it doesn't fit, I'd also be interested in it (and the Retrolution that I also mentioned). That said, I know it's been a while :)
This bra has a weird shape and very wide cups. It doesn't work well for full-on-bottom breasts, either. The fabric is nice and silky-soft, and the patterns are fun and nonconventionally interesting. It's a thicker fabric, too, so it'd be good for prominent nipples and/or colder weather.
This bra has always been a bit too big for me in the band. But is a close fit in the cups. It is very pretty and very comfortable. IIt does not show through clothes and hasn't stretched after a lot of wear. I think I would need this bra in a 30 band and probably one or two cups up.
I only tried this on and didn't keep it as it was a little bit too small in the cup for me.
This lacks enough immediate projection to accommodate quite projected breasts. It also caused bullet-boob for me, which was not a good look. It did seem comfortable and the extra, decorative straps look very nice, but you can't really adjust them very much.
Idol and the similarly shaped Fancies and Starlight might be the worst possible thing Freya could have done for my shape. Imagine taking a 32G - Freya » Deco Moulded Plunge Bra (4234) , making the cups bigger and the gore higher as a t-shirt bra (sounds okay, right?), and then spreading the gore out an extra cm so the breasts sit toward the sides of the body, closing off the tops of the cups so it shoves them downwards, and making the apex of the underwire curve not at the midpoint of the breast, but again, off toward the side. I thought molded Freya was ...a safe bet since I get along pretty well with the Deco (though the bottom of the cups is too shallow on me and folds even in those), but this was tragically bad. I finally took the gore in because it felt so much like someone had just rotated the cups wrong, and this made it /tolerable/, but unfortunately it took up space in the band that I needed and this is uncomfortably snug now. Not good for immediate projection, not good for tall roots or full-on-top, not good for narrow roots, not good for close-set breasts, and not good for people with sensitive ribcages - the wire sits hard against the skin. Read more 113 more words
The band, gore, and straps are perfect. The cups are entirely too small, shallow, and have low coverage. The long-linedness of the bra is cozy and supportive, and I wish all my bras had such a wide, tall band. The quality and finishing are quite good. The strap adjustments and hooks are easy to operate. The color is a serious f---weasel fuchsia, with a true teal and tangerine accents: lots of pop. If I didn't pop out of the bra as well, I would certainly keep this one.
Wow this is at least two cup sizes too small. From you other pictures it looks like your shape is full on the bottom (hard to tell). You may have better luck with the Cleo Piper ( http://bra.pe/MFhB/ ) in a 32H. The Cleo Breeze could also work if you are more full on top ( http://bra.pe/MFFz/ ).
Thank you! It is a comically poor fit, isn't it. :) I will check out your suggestions!
You could try going up a couple cup sizes as well if you love this bra! Looks like it could potentially fit well. I think you would really love Comexim and Ewa!
Weightless, no structure, stretchy nylon and stretchy lace. Fits pretty well. Does not control bounce but it lifts and shapes a bit. White printed pattern has faded off black fabric over time (a couple of years of hand-washing.) I could probably use an H cup if they made one.
Nice bra with easy clasps; spacer material. Bought both this size and the 32GG. The gore tacked on the 32GG but it was too big in the cup; whereas this (32G), the gore doesn't tack but I am not having tissue compression on the bottom, sides, or top so it generally "fits"; it does squish tissue when I'm closer to needing to nurse again and getting engorged. Currently 3 weeks postpartum. Shape is wider than my non nursing bras, but fine, and my main complaint is just the gore not tacking.
Would work better for someone with a more even fullness, as I am pretty full on bottom, which I think is why the 32GG was big, especially at the top; the bottom fit with a little more "engorgement room".
Because of my shape and being so full on bottom, I think I want to try one of the EM nursing bras since they are half cup/balconette style. Just trying to figure out what size to order.
I have a similar experience with this bra, Comexim is my HG bra when not nursing- I'm FOB, and have all the things that mean Polish is a better fit. I just ordered an EM from Zathiya, fingers crossed!
The Freya Deco has been my go to bra for a long time... but now I'm starting to grow out of it, I guess? I've always found that my breasts get pushed together and spill out the front of the cups. I also get wrinkling at the bottom of the cups becasue they are too shallow (I guess? Or my breasts are just too heavy, lol.) These issues seem to be getting worse. I still love the shape the Deco line gives, and it had solid padding without feeling like you are adding to your cup size. I think the width of ...their cups is perfect for my shape, ad I don't get poking under the arms liek with so many other bra. All in all, the Decos are awesome but I'm currently exploring other bra options, so see if I can find other favorites. This is the basic Deco model. I find this model to be the most open on top, compared to other Deco versions, and so I have the biggest issue with spillage on this one. This particular bra has been well loved, but is in good shape. Read more 91 more words
I will preface my review by saying that the bras I wear most frequently are the Freya Patsy half cup (in a 30G) and the Freya Thimble Cottage half cup (in a 32G). I was hoping to find another lighter colored bra with a similar shape and snapped up an Eden in a 32G while they were still available. Not having too many reviews here to go on, I assumed the fit would be more similar to the Thimble Cottage because they both have the smoother cup fabric and the wider band of lace across the top of the cup. I had high hopes because the Thimble is ...currently my best-fitting bra (I quad just a little bit in my Patsys). Unfortunately, I was mistaken. The Eden is cut slightly differently and that makes just enough difference to ruin the fit of this bra for me.
At first glance, the measurements of the two bras are similar. But you can see that the wings are significantly taller in the Eden....nearly an inch. The cups are also taller, which is not something Bratabase asks for, but I measured both the Thimble and the Eden along the outer of the two vertical seams and the Eden is 1/2" taller. One of the things that makes half-cups work best for me is the fact that they *don't* have a bunch of material above the apex of the cup. I recently lost a lot of weight and don't have an abundance of tissue is the upper part of my breasts. So, any bra with a tall cup is usually just a wrinkly mess of empty fabric near the straps. I haven't had this problem with a half-cup until I got this Eden. *sad face* Speaking of straps, the ones on this bra are much wider than my other Freya half cups. I have an athletic build and really broad shoulders but I feel like these straps would fall off. That is an issue I *never* have with bras.
All in all, I'm disappointed in this bra and in Freya for not being able to make a consistent fit in bras that are supposedly the same cut. Like many Americans who turn to UK bras for the sizes we can't find in the US, I am unable to stop by a local store to try on bras before I buy them. Instead, I research and I read reviews and consult the measurements here and then order something and HOPE it might fit. When they do, it's like the clouds part and the angels sing "Hallelujah!" and I want to order 50 more of the same bra. But when they don't, it's really a bummer. This bra is too pretty to be a bummer, but it is. Read more 353 more words
There is a place to enter bra height on Bratabase.
It's not something I have ever been prompted to enter in the standard measurements. So, if there's some alternate page for other measurements, I'd appreciate it if you could direct me there, Prettyncharmeuse ...
missval24 when you go to add measurements there's a button at the bottom that says "I like measuring" if you click on that there's a spot all the way at the bottom for cup height. http://imgur.com/mAM982N
Eden was an anomaly among Freya half cups for me, too!
MissV I have a lot of success with Freya half cups too - like you, the Thimble Cottage and Patsy are my two most worn bras! (both in 30F) I tried the stunning Kiyoko and Zentangle earlier on the year in the half cup cut and they are both even more different from these slightly older styles. They are both cut for fuller on the top especially the Kiyoko which gaped hugely on me. Very disappointing as like you say if something is called the same cut you assume it's going to measure/ fit the same.
This is a polarizing bra - the waffle-y fabric is a texture that really puts some people off. And the shape, while very front and centre, is more on the natural end of the equation (than round). It's not a feminine bra but it is one that reminds me of the supermodels in the 80s. It gives great support. The straps are slightly wider set than I'd prefer but it's not deal-breaker. I really love the fit though I don't think it's my sexiest bra. (Note: I do find it to be an attractive bra even though I don't think it's sexy). Works really well under clothing. The weave fabric is not detectable and I don't find that the seams show through.
I really wanted this bra to work for me - I love this fabric, it's nice and stretchy, not too thick or thin, and cute! But, the cups are just too wide and shallow for me. It gives a great shape under clothes, and side support is awesome, except the straps are so far apart on me that I don't think I'm getting any side support anyway. I keep thinking I can make this work somehow, but I'm pretty sure it's useless. Sad face.
I think today is the day I've realized I need narrower wires, not wider.
This bra gets a lot of shade but it's one of the first I ever bought (that fit) 15 years ago. Back then, all of the Freya bras were really well made and the bands were firm for size. The only Freya bra that hasn't changed in construction (and that's still manufactured) appears to be the Rio. It's also "classic Freya" when it comes to quality.
No question, this bra gives a pointish shape. It's not super pointy but it moves in a firmly pointy direction. It's also very sturdy - the fit is full for a balconette. It's not delicate. It reminds me of the kinds of bras .../ shapes that the supermodels wore in the 80s and 90s (albeit in "regular person" sizing). If you can't get with the retro look, and some people don't like the waffley fabric OR the shape, then it's really not the bra for you.
It provides excellent support. It gives great lower cup projection and is good for even to top fullness because the upper lace has a bit of give. It's best for centre-projected shapes that are close-set. The only thing about this bra that I don't like is the wideness of the straps. They're really just too wide, and the pewter metallic hardware that attaches the front cup to the front strap really calls attention to this. Nonetheless, it's great under a slim fitting sweater. Read more 125 more words
*Ok there's some 'golden oldies' in my bra collection - bras I was truly obsessed with, have hunted down like crazy and even if I don't wear them often, they are doomed to be mine.. Forever! XD*
Second of them is this Flourish longline: for me this was an instant 'OMG-must-have'. Really really love the bright tropical print https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":D" /> Stalked it untill it was on a discount. When I bought this (over a year ago?) it fit a bit better, I've gained some boobage since then. So now it's technically too small, but I still love it.
About the fit: ideally I would get this ...in 30GG/H - but it only goes up to G. So I had to get a 32 and unsurprisingly, the band is a bit large. Guess I would consider this bra true to size. As with all Freya padded halfcups, this is a wider and shallower style. Wires are a tad wide but since the cup is so snug / overfilled, it seems like the wires still encase my breast tissue. My main issue however is how the band flips up. Same as with my 32G - Fauve » Bronte Padded Longline Bra (0331) . Aesthetically I adore longlines, but for long days of wear they don't work great on me https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" />
Looks wise, I'm somewhat disappointed with the back band: it is completely unembellished, boring black mesh - what a shame on such a gorgeous bra! They could've at least added a panel of the floral fabric? Also the cut of the back + set of the straps are kind of strange, and not very flattering for back/shoulder chub. On a more recent clone, Freya Pansy Padded Longline Bra (1683) , they've committed the same crime - shame on you Freya! Pansy is still sort of hovering on my wishlist though https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" />
Because of the issues I had with this longline, I also got the balcony bra (review to come). Read more 235 more words
Strange... I have 3 retro basics, and none of them are the least bit padded, nor are they what I would consider plunge bras. They also all have two hooks, not one. That said, all of them were purchased in 2008-2009, so maybe they've been redesigned.