As a somewhat shallow boobed person, I thought that unlined bras were just not made for me. Then I found a Marcie clone that worked for me. And now this. This gives a wonderful round shape, with no padding! I love the vertical seams and the swirly mesh lace. And the dark plum color, of course. I also have tall roots and this is open on top enough for me.
tl;dr: A wide root shallow friendly plunge bra. The cups have one vertical seam and are very open on top. Narrow center gore, wide wires, thin padding and soft cups that adapt to your shape. The quality is superb (red satin-y look & feel). The cups are true to size, the band is on the stretchier side of 30.
This is my most expensive bra to date (US $60), but it basically fits perfectly, and is a really pretty, high-quality bra, so I'm happy!
I have a shallow shape with wide root, and this doesn't give me any quadboob at all! However, my boobs are relatively low-set, so I have the shoulder straps as long as they will go.
It's tied with the Betsey Johnson Eyelet Lace demi (also 30DD) for my ideal bra. I like that it's smooth satin (the Betsey is mesh), and that it's a plunge.
It has padded cups (no push-up pads) with 1 vertical seam on the inside, and pretty sheer mesh with 2 smooth vertical seams on the outside. I would definitely recommend trying this if you have shallow boobs and are looking for a plunge bra. I think it could work as a T-shirt bra, due to the light padding, as long as your shirt isn't really see-through.
In my quest to try as many Masquerade bras as possible, I decided to give Delphi a try recently. Initially I stayed away from this bra because the reviews indicate that the fit is not super consistent and can be a bit tricky. Sadly, this didn't work out for me.
Based on the 2HC construction and measurements, I thought this would fit like a balconette version of Alice. Though some reviews indicated that the cup runs large, others said it is true to size, so instead of sizing down like I did in Alice to a 30D, I kept my normal sister size of 30DD for ...this bra. However, while the band works and feels decently TTS for a Masquerade 30 band, I had all sorts of problems with the cup, mostly due to the shape being a mismatch.
Delphi is a 2HC foam cup construction, and the outside of the cup is black mesh lined with opulent champagne couchwork embroidery of scrolls and flowers. The upper cup is straight, but the embroidered overlay has a scalloped edge. There's nothing to indicate from the measurements that the fit would be unusual, however the problem is that the wires on this bra are very firm. Thus the cups end up being extremely narrow and projected, and for that reason the wires cut into my side tissue and feel too short at the sides, while the cups gap horribly. Delphi is also cut with severe fullness right at the seam as well as a very vertically projected shape, so the lack of tissue here creates a visible pointy appearance. You need a lot of projected tissue to fill out these cups properly, and due to the narrow wires and open top, it is also designed for very FOT shapes. Note that the open top is relative to the wires, as it is definitely not an open half cup. The cup has a very projected center point that closes off again, but this is mostly concentrated at the center of the cup. As with most Masquerade foam cup bras, it is cut to be center-full.
The very open top compared to the wire width also makes the strap placement seem too wide on me, though they don't slip off. They just feel like the placement is a little bit off. The straps are made from tapered black satin, and only the back portion is adjustable. It is a firm and nice quality strap, but the comfort level may vary compared to a full elastic strap. Other than this, the rest of the construction and fit is pretty standard for Masquerade bras, as it has a satin band on this style that fits similarly to their other styles. The only decoration is a two-toned center gore bow.
This is a beautiful bra, but it requires a very specific shape to work. This is designed for narrow, extremely projected, center-full shapes. Depending on your size you may want to size down in the cup, but ultimately you need to be the right shape for Delphi as the fit is not very universal. Read more 424 more words
Argh, projected, narrow, and FoT - the very opposite of what I need!
Yeah, it was a bummer, one of the very few bras I've had to return to an eBay seller because there was no hope of it fitting despite the great price! My favorite Masquerade bra is the Angie, which is a nice 3HC that's suitable for more shallow shapes. Have you tried it? There's still a few sellers on eBay who carry it!
I picked up the Masquerade Medina a little while ago on eBay from a UK seller, but due to unforseen delays, it finally arrived in my mailbox today. I was initially interested in this style because of the rose print, and because Masquerade padded bras have been excellent quality and a pretty decent fit for blind buys. Upon looking at the 3HC styling and comparing the measurements I expected this to fit like the Angie, which suits me well, but Medina is slightly different, resulting in a less than ideal fit on me.
Medina is made from rose printed Masquerade satin throughout, and has a lovely dove grey base ...that extends into the straps and elastic. Like most Masquerade styles, the majority of the strap is fabric with decorative trim, and only the back of the strap is adjustable. The straps and upper cup have a dusty rose ball-type trim, and the only other adornment is a simple bow at the gore. As with many of their other bras, the band is quite narrow, and there is a gentle leotard back.
Medina seems like it would be a “normal” 3HC rounded shape, but there is something a bit odd about the proportions. The vertical projection of the cup feels a bit shallower and less bowl-shaped than Angie, and when viewed from above, the fullness of the cup is concentrated at the center gore, like on the Athena. Masquerade tends to do this with some of their padded bras, but this shaping really doesn’t suit my body as I don’t have inner fullness. Because of the odd shape of the cup, while the volume fits, the top is too open at the wrong part of my body, so it gaps slightly on my larger side at the center gore, and gaps all around on my smaller side. I also need to wear this bra on the tightest hook in order to get all my tissue to stay scooped inside the cups, which is always an issue with wide and shallow cups since it’s so easy for tissue to escape. If there were more immediate projection at the wire, a more rounded shape, and a more closed off top, it would be great!
I’m confused as to why this bra is cut differently than Angie, because the basic construction is the same. Both have the same 3HC cup construction, full band cradle, and similar band proportions. Medina’s wires are touching at the center gore while Angie’s is not, and Medina’s wings are just slightly narrower and made from single layer satin rather than powermesh lined, so it feels less secure. It seems like Masquerade should have just created one cut for both bras since you would not know without trying on that these similar looking bras actually fit quite differently.
I’m bummed that this didn’t work out because I liked the Angie fit a lot and had hoped to find something else similar. This bra is for someone with more upper and center fullness than I have. On me, the seams look quite lumpy and visible under clothing, but I think they would work better on someone who fills out the bra fully. Read more 419 more words
This is my favourite bra, I love it so much I own it in both colours (and would buy more if they existed!!) The Navy (sapphire) is great basic to wear under most clothes but the two tones/ different fabric makes it look like anything but a boring blue bra. The Berry is a rich magenta and lovely for days you want something that looks fancy but you don't want to go all out.
To begin the cups do run small so I had to size up (30DD from my normal 30D), but once I did this bra is wonderful! It is comfortable in every aspect (no wires ...digging in or wibbly straps) The band has a reasonable amount of stretch but it fits well for a 30 when it's on. The cups manage to simultaneously give just the right amount of coverage and lift, give me a great shape that looks good under clothes (bonus the seams do not show through making it a perfect Tshirt bra) and an unexpected amount of cleavage for a non pushup-bra. The straps are perfectly placed as I have small shoulders and find other straps constantly slipping off. As previously mentioned, the two toned/ different fabric give the bra a beautiful look without the hassle of lace and ribbons. PERFECT! I would wear it everyday (and some weeks I do https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":D" /> ) Read more 127 more words
I'm probably going to take the band in a bit on this, because it fits me perfectly otherwise. The straps are a good distance apart an have a comfortable padding (like the other two masquerade models I've tried). The band seems a bit stretchier than the others, however. This is the largest size I've gotten yet, but it seems to be a good volume with two vertical seams, wires that are wide enough, and cups that are open at the top (really good for my shape).
works for very wide root, the bra is far too shallow for me. although I have a wide root, it is still too wide https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> Should work perfectly for shallow boobs, very nice Plunge, good constructed if it fits your needs
First, this bra is gorgeous. I love the colour, the lace, the satin band and straps. Alice looks very discreet but if you take a close look, you can appreciate it's "cold" beautyhttps://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" />
I first tried my usual 30e, but it was a real disaster. The cups were far too big, too high on the sides it cut into the armpit, the underwires to wide (about 2cm). The top of the cups was empty. I decided to go down one cup size even though I wasn't sure if this style could work for me. Happily, 30dd fits perfectly. The underwires are much narrower, ...the cups lower on the sides. Alice gives a very rounded shape and quite a nice cleavage on my separate boobs.
There are two little inconvenients though : the first one is straps width, only 1.2 cm in my size, and they're not very stretchy. The second one is the satine band. Even though it's firm, it tends to ride up and wrinkle, it's not stable on my back. I would prefer the band a littler bit largerhttps://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> Read more 83 more words
Love this bra in appearance! It fits well in my normal size.
My only minor complaint is that the top rim of the cups is fairly thick and rounded (not a fit issue, just the actual fabric underneath the lace) which leads to a fairly pronounced line under a t-shirt. Works best under thicker/firmer/textured shirts.
This review is for the Masquerade Rhea size 30DD in the colour Antique.
Bra description:
(copied from my original review of the 28F version) A luxurious-looking bra out of matt satin and intricate detailed lace in a beautiful but difficult to describe colour. None of the images I've seen online does it justice. It's a kind of delicate greyish pinkish sandish slightly-darker-than-nude hue -- a light rose or mauve taupe comes to mind. Anyway, even though it's definitely not nude, it's an excellent and definitely more romantic alternative for a neutral-coloured bra, which is exactly what I was looking for. The centre gore is adorned with a bow and a ...tiny sparkly pendant. As said, the lace is intricate and expensive-looking. It's not entirely flat so it might show slightly under tight, thin, clingy clothes. The zigzag stitched seams are much less noticeable in real life than online images suggest although, again, they might show under tight, clingy clothes. The cups are only thinly padded, but the material feels quite sturdy, almost stiff. They are lined with soft and comfortable cotton. Straps are only partly adjustable. The non-adjustable part is completely non-stetchy and covered with the same satin the cups are made of, which feels quite comfortable. The wings are made out of two layers of a perfectly matching stretch satin. There is no boning in the wings.
Bra fit:
(copied from my original review of the 30E version) I must say, I am impressed. First of all, it kind of sort of fits!!! Secondly, this bra gives me the kind of shape I was expecting from Ewa Michalak's CHP, but that one didn't work for me AT ALL. The cup shaping keeps the breasts close to the chest, pushing them upwards for an uplifted, separated, and rounded 'Regency'-type cleavage. Compared to my Ewa Michalak CH there is slightly less projection, but the difference isn't as great as in the 28 band versions and it's actually really a very nice look. I do like the shape a lot: it's simply a bit more subtle than the shape I get in my CH and a bit more wearable for that reason as well. I know others consider this a look for 'special occasions', but I'm also happy with for a more everyday appearance. The cup height is quite perfect on me and there's only the slightest of gapping when I move my arms and shoulders, but as far as I know this is almost unavoidable with padded/molded cups, especially on smaller chests. The slight irregularity at the bottom of the front most cup seam that bothered me in the 28 band versions I tried is much less in this 30 band version, although it isn't entirely gone: for some reason there is a bit of diagonal pull in the cups that makes this part pucker. I'm very tempted to slip in a thin piece of boning to straighten it out as it's just such a shame in such an otherwise beautiful bra.
The wires are quite fine for me in this size, better than in the 28F. Unlike the Curvy Kate Tease Me I tried several weeks ago I do not notice the wires in this Rhea at all: no poking or pinching anywhere. The centre gore lies nice and flat and exerts zero pressure on my sternum. My breasts fill out the bottom of the cups reasonably well and the cups do not slip down like they did in the Tease Me and the CHP I tried.
The strap placement is wide but not too wide in this size. Again, it's decidedly better than in the 28F. The slight gapping of the cups when I move my arms is probably at least partly due to the wide strap placement, but then again, as far as I know this type of gapping happens in almost all padded/moulded cups, especially on smaller chests. The fact the straps are only partly adjustable is a bigger problem: as I have a very short upper torso I have to tighten them almost all the way to prevent them slipping off my shoulders.The material of the non adjustable part feels sturdy and comfortable. The zigzag stitching isn't the most aesthetically pleasing, but it doesn't bother as much as I thought it would.
The 30 band is suprisingly fine on my 69cm/27" ribcage, even though stretched it measures about 4cm more than what I've come to consider ideal. The brand isn't very stretchy to begin with and it doesn't ride up at all at the loosest hook. Still, if I wish I can still fasten it a bit tighter: I've noticed that switching between the hooks affects the fit of the cups somewhat -- moreso than what I've noticed in other bras -- which makes this 30 band much more flexible size-wise than the 28 versions I tried earlier. The band is shaped slightly funny in that it seems the wings to curve up rather than down. This makes it feel as if the band rides up in the back, even though it really doesn't. Simply takes some getting used to, I suppose. My only issue with the band is the lack of side seam boning and/or the lack of a powernet lining in the wings: tightness is less og an issue than in the 28 versions, but -- I think at least partly due to the fact that the satin the wings are made off is so much stretchier than the edging elastic -- the band wrinkles and most strain is put on the elastic edges. Side seam boning and a sturdier powernet lining would allow a more even distribution of the band tension along the entire height of the wings (not just along the elastic edges) and would almost certainly result in more comfort.
Conclusion:
Now that I've tried this bra in a 30 band as well, I have a strong suspicion that both the flattened shape and the puckering in the bottom of the cups I noticed in the otherwise fitting 28 band versions are the result of diagonal tension in the cup caused by a 'too tight' band. Don't ask me why -- I'm almost thinking it is actually a design or construction flaw that has to do with fabric grain or something. It is also slightly funny, because the 28 band certainly doesn't FEEL too tight on my 69 ribcage (it feels tight, but not TOO tight) and the wires don't really seem as distorted as I've seen them in other bras with much looser bands (Bravissimo Mademoiselle ... ?).
Surprisingly, a band size up seem to work just fine. The band is not very stretchy to begin with and I haven't notice this 30 riding up on me at all. At 27" I'm obviously just in between band sizes so maybe that's why it works for me, but for what it's worth, if you experience a flattened shape and/or pucker in the bottom of the cup, try going up a band size. I myself definitely got a better shape that way.
The Masquerade Rhea is a mysterious bra. I've now tried it on in four different sizes and for some odd reason they all seem to fit. My breast size and density fluctuates (due to breastfeeding), but even though there may be as much a three cups sizes difference between my 'smallest' and my 'biggest' shape, these changes are not very clearly reflected in my actual measurements. Believe me, I quadruple checked! True, these four bras may not all fit the same at the same moment, but for Bratabase recommendation purposes I cannot say of any one of them that it doesn't fit under the current measurements at all.
The Masquerade Rhea truly is an Almost Perfect Bra for me. I don't think the shape it gives is as glorious as what Ewa Michalak achieves -- although in some ways this shape does suit me better and I think this model certainly FITS me better than some of the Ewa Michalak styles -- and I do have some issues with the fit and construction, but really, despite its minor imperfections it is an amazing piece! Anyway, I'm now sorely tempted to get it in all colours available plus, of course the matching knickers https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" /> Read more 1271 more words
Extremely beautiful bra. I however have nothing new to say: one should likely get their own band size, not size up or down, and do the same in the cups if not really full on top, and make sure to note that it's likely to fit properly only with breasts that are full on top. It may still work however if you don't have noticeable assymetry, as the bra works for my bigger breast and gaps noticeably on the smaller one only, despite being full on bottom.
Hestia is very comfortable. Only the straps seem slightly uncomfortable at first (the front, embroided part does not stretch at all), but you can get used to them. Hestia is one of my biggest bras and I wear it only before the period, when my breasts are bigger than usual.
This was a bit smaller in the cups than I expected, but it still seems like a precarious strapless - the top and bottom of the side panels have some non-slip silicone lining (thin), but none on the cups or gore. There are panels covering the hook and eye closures - all 3 columns & 12 rows - with eyelets that would allow for lacing up the back over the closure. I'm about 5' and found the torso part too long. Crappy plastic boning that easily warps (not including the underwires - they're a bit pliable, but not flimsy), but that's expected.
Oh Masquerade, I am so bummed that I discovered this line well after it was discontinued. I liked my first Angie so much that I decided to grab another colorway of it, and was able to pick up Plum as well. I am very pleased that both bras measure extremely consistently and they fit identically.
I've tried a couple of other 3HC cuts since I originally tried this bra (Comexim Basic 3HC, Freya 3HC, Fantasie 3HC, Masquerade Medina 3HC), and surprisingly this is one of the only 3HC cuts that fits me well. For some reason almost all 3HCs are too shallow for me, so while ...they fit, they give me a really flat side profile. Overall, the cups fit me quite well. However, due to the shape of the cup, I would say that it looks a little different than 3HC cups from other brands. The fullness of the cup is a little skewed toward the center gore, which I also found to be true in the Athena. The horizontal center of the cup is not particularly projected and gives a slightly flatter look than you would get in a molded T-shirt bra. Vertically, the cup is also not very projected either. For a foam cup bra, this gives a much more "natural" look than other similar bras, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
The band on this bra measures the same as my Alice in 30D, which runs larger than my Rhea in 30DD. Even though the band is far from snug on me, I found it wearable and comfortable. I'd have to alter it down to get a true snug fit, but since this bra is so comfortable, I may just leave the bra as-is and wear it as a very beautiful and fancy "comfy bra." Though this measures the same as the Alice band, this style has taller wings and a leotard back, so it feels firmer and more stable, but would not be as easy to alter. One note about this is that the decorative straps of this bra extend quite far into the back, and the amount of adjustable strap is quite limited on this particular style. I have been wearing my straps longer than I used to these days, but I still had to shorten the straps the entire way.
Regarding the styling, this bra is much prettier in person than I had expected online. I have both the Raspberry and Plum colorways, which are both solid, but I think the most beautiful one is the black overlay with red. I'd love to hunt this down at some point in a 28E if possible! The cups are seamed foam cups with open floral lace overlay, and the seams are decorated on the outside with satin strips, but I didn't find them to be too lumpy under clothing. There is lightweight lace at the upper cup edge, which extends to the front of the straps. The decorative straps are made from the same satin as the seam detailing, underwire channel, and band. The cradle is also decorated with lace, hardware is gold, and the center gore is actually different between the two colorways I own-- the Raspberry has a cute little pleated bow, while the Plum has a plain bow with square amethyst charm. A thoughtful design touch that I appreciate given that Masquerade bras are luxurious without being over the top with trims. Read more 481 more words
Oh Masquerade, I am so bummed that I discovered this line well after it was discontinued. I've been picking up scraps and pieces from eBay, so I've mostly been relegated to my sister size of 30DD rather than my normal 28E. Usually sister sizing for me can be a risky prospect since I have a 26.5" ribcage, but while Masquerade 30 bands are a little big, they don't run nearly as big as other brands. Luckily, most of the cup shapes in this line have worked out for me as long as I do the proper research to identify the best size to order since ...they are a bit inconsistent.
Angie is another bra that has worked out quite well for me. Originally I was concerned about this style because the pictures made it look quite unappealing in the solid color, and the measurement info for 30DD suggested that the cups run a whole size too shallow. However, Angie eventually won me over, so I decided to order it. This 3HC cup does run a bit shallow, but not nearly as shallow as the measurement data lead me to believe. I found that the cup depth on my actual bra is much closer to the measurement of the 28E (expected measurement, since there are no measurements available), so I suspect that the listed info for 30DD is simply due to measurement error.
Overall, the cups fit me quite well. However, due to the shape of the cup, I would say that it looks a little different than 3HC cups from other brands. The fullness of the cup is a little skewed toward the center gore, which I also found to be true in the Athena. The horizontal center of the cup is not particularly projected and gives a slightly flatter look than you would get in a molded T-shirt bra. Vertically, the cup is also not very projected either. For a foam cup bra, this gives a much more "natural" look than other similar bras, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
The band on this bra measures the same as my Alice in 30D, which runs larger than my Rhea in 30DD. Even though the band is far from snug on me, I found it wearable and comfortable. I'd have to alter it down to get a true snug fit, but since this bra is so comfortable, I may just leave the bra as-is and wear it as a very beautiful and fancy "comfy bra." Though this measures the same as the Alice band, this style has taller wings and a leotard back, so it feels firmer and more stable, but would not be as easy to alter. One note about this is that the decorative straps of this bra extend quite far into the back, and the amount of adjustable strap is quite limited on this particular style. I have been wearing my straps longer than I used to these days, but I still had to shorten the straps the entire way.
Regarding the styling, this bra is much prettier in person than I had expected online. I have the Raspberry colorway, but I think the most beautiful one is the black overlay with red. I'd love to hunt this down at some point in a 28E if possible! The cups are seamed foam cups with open floral lace overlay, and the seams are decorated on the outside with satin strips, but I didn't find them to be too lumpy under clothing. There is lightweight lace at the upper cup edge, which extends to the front of the straps. The decorative straps are made from the same satin as the seam detailing, underwire channel, and band. The cradle is also decorated with lace, hardware is gold, and the center gore is decorated with an adorable pleated bow that I haven't seen anywhere else.
Once again, Masquerade has delivered another lovely bra. I ended up purchasing another one in Plum and am pleased that both bras measure extremely consistently and fit the same! Read more 585 more words
Oh Rosa, Rosa, Rosa! Though she may hate the reference, the name of this bra always brings to my mind the tough-as-nails detective Rosa Salazar from the comedy series Brooklyn Nine Nine. Actually, I can see Rosa wearing this bra that bears her name, though only in the floral print colorway--somehow it never made sense to me that this style also comes in a pink and white polka dot. In the floral print, this style is feminine but a bit edgy with the black seamed trim, and I was smitten with this thing the moment that I saw it. After much hunting, I ...found one in my sister size of 30DD available on eBay. I wanted it so much that I forked over way more than I would normally pay for a blind bra purchase, and shortly, it embarked on its transatlantic journey over from the UK.
I was really scared to purchase this bra blindly because of the horrible shape mismatch I experienced with Masquerade Athena, which I purchased in my normal size of 28E. The cups of that style were way too closed off for me and shaped to be very center-full. After doing much research, I was a little scared that Rosa/Amira cuts would have the same problem, but after reading all the reviews and not seeing any that mentioned the same kind of shape problem as Athena, I crossed my fingers and hoped it would work out for the best.
Actually, the cup shape didn't turn out to be the main problem in this bra. There are a myriad of fit issues present, but most of them stem from the fact that this is a style where sister sizing ended up a huge fail for me:
Band: The band is too loose on me and rides up. Though this measures the same as my other 30DD Masquerade bras, this band is made from the same thin matte poly fabric as the upper layer of the cups (the printed fabric) and backed with lightweight mesh. There is a strip of "Masquerade satin" along the bottom of the band about 1 1/8" wide, which is the normal material used on most of their bands, but this thin strip of firmer material doesn't make up for the flimsiness of the rest of the wing material. The elastic at the top edge is also on the narrow side. As a result, the band measures the same as normal, but clearly rides up on me. However, thanks to the very shallow leotard shape at the back, I should be able to take off close to 2" from the band rather easily.
Cup proportions: The cup proportions are clearly off for me. The cups on this bra are exceptionally wide, so while most of the wire fits well, the cups are at least 1 cm too wide for me under the arms at the top of the cup. The wires are also rather short for the channel because the plunge styling forces the wire to sit down at the gore, so the floppy upper edge of the cup is more noticeable. The height of the outer cup under the arms is too tall for me, so this part ends up chafing, and because it is tall and empty there, it causes gapping in the cup when I move although the I have no problem with the cup volume. Strap placement isn't uncomfortable on its own, but combined with the cup width and height, contributes to the gapping, and I can feel them when I move.
Cup shape: Thankfully, this is a better match than Athena, but still not ideal. The cups are cut very shallow at the outside and very center full, which I know is supposed to help the plunge cleavage effect, but on me a more evenly distributed shape would be better due to my splayed roots making me the very opposite of center-full. The upper cup is also too closed off for me while the center of the cup, being at the wrong place for my body, ends up too projected. I get a bit of orange in a glass here as the center of the cup is a bit empty but the upper cup clearly cuts into my tissue especially if I scoop. The good news is that if I don't scoop, it looks fine.
I also noticed a bit of discomfort from the gore before I adjust the bra properly, but since the band isn't a good fit on me, it's hard to say if this is a separate issue or part of the band fit problem. I usually do have trouble with low gores being a bit stabby, and need the stability from a gore of average height.
The fit of the cups kind of reminds me of the problems I had with the Ewa M plunges, though Ewa's bras didn't have the center fullness or closed upper cups. It seems that certain low plunges are rather tricky for my shape and a risky bet to order blindly.
Although I just described a ton of fit issues, the fit of this bra is actually quite passable, especially if I alter the band. I think this bra would definitely still be wearable even though it isn't a technical fit. I love the styling of the bra and I'm still glad that I went ahead and purchased it, since I didn't want to wonder about Rosa if she were gone forever. The aesthetic is similar to the other Masquerade bras I purchased, but much cleaner in terms of embellishment. Details on this bra really come from the contrast of floral printed fabric and black satin trim, which extends to the straps. The only adornment to be found on this bra is a simple ribbon rosette at the gore. I could actually see Comexim making a similar kind of style in their Standard Plunge cut, maybe because it bears a resemblance to their Rose Longline which you can order in different cuts. Since that is next on my Comexim list, maybe it's the best way to get a bit of Rosa in my life, as Comexim plunges and I get along much better. Read more 951 more words
The Masquerade Rhea is such a gorgeous bra! I had seen it come up on my Bratabase recommendations for a while, but hadn't felt like trying to hunt down this discontinued line until recently. Unfortunately, I have been unable to locate my correct size of 28E anywhere, so I decided to go with the sister size of 30DD. However, this is one instance in which the sister size caused some issues.
First, I've found Masquerade bands to be woefully inconsistent. Actually, the sizing overall is super inconsistent (I've ordered Athena in 28E, Antoinette in 28F, Alice in 30D, and Rhea in 30DD based on reviewing ...measurements). My Antoinette 28F band fit perfectly, Athena 28E band was way too small and needs an extender, so the 30 bands should run small, right? Not the case for this one. While it stays in place, it is really not snug enough to apply the correct tension to hold the cups in the proper position. Open top balcony bras like this need firm band tension on me to hold the tissue up in the cups, and when the band is too loose, the top of the cup gaps. So, looks like I am going to have to go ahead and alter the band at some point.
The cup shape and depth for me is actually almost perfect. The 3HC construction suits me well. It reminds me of the fit of my Cleo Maddie, though those cups are molded. The main problem with Maddie though, and this bra in 30DD, is that the cups are proportioned to be wide, with shallow wires. It's really a bit too wide for my frame, so that's another reason that I would do better in the 28E. The wires are a good shape and size for me, though the outer corner of the wires flares out a bit too much for me under the arms. The wide proportions make the wide-set straps noticeable for me, although they aren't terribly uncomfortable.
One other thing that was a little odd is that I found the gore to be a little uncomfortable and required a bit more work to settle in. I had the same issue with Cleo Marcie 30D at first, and this is a bit strange since I almost never have issue with gores or gore tacking. I can wear any gore width, though narrow gores tend to give me more trouble! I think this is more related to the loose band though, potentially causing the wires at the gore to slide around a bit and sit on tissue without being really secure, and the narrow width means that it is less stable and has more room to move around on my body.
Those issues aside, I do think that Rhea in 28E would be a great fit on me. The bra's styling is so pretty, and the Antique Brown colorway I got is one of the loveliest neutrals I have encountered. The cups are made from smooth satin and the seams at the front of the cups is nice and subtle, giving a smooth appearance. However, the upper cup is trimmed with textured lace that would certainly show under tight clothing. The lace is also used to trim the cradle, where I think it looks very nice. Straps are simple satin, and they taper into a leotard back. Cups are lined with soft cotton and the seams are cleanly finished on the interior. There is a very small and tasteful rhinestone heart charm at the center gore which I think is nicer than the other gore decorations of my other Masquerade bras.
I'd love to hunt down a brand new 28E in this style! Read more 526 more words
Note to self: the outer edge of this bra is 4 inches, which is shorter than many other bras in this size range.
This bra almost ticks a lot of boxes for me: it's less painful in the armpit than a lot of other bras, there's only a little gap at the top of my smaller boob, the gore tacks most of the way & is only crawling onto my larger boob. If the wires were narrower and the whole thing shorter on the sides (wires and fabric both), I'd actually like it.
This is such a cute bra! The lace is pretty and I love the lace on the straps. The straps are not fully adjustable and the front of the straps is not very stretchy, and they dig a little into my arms, even when I don't tighten the straps much. The adjustable part is very elastic, probably to make up for it.
This is a very wide and shallow bra and I think I finally know I really do need super wide, and not just wide, wires (even wider than this, actually). I get a tiny quad boob at the center when I scoop and swoop, but it's not ...visible under clothing, and doesn't bother me too much. The sides of the cups are shallow and I like it that my breasts don't "fall" to the sides as they did in the Lepel Fiore bra (http://bra.pe/XWoH/). The sides could have been shallower for me, and I do not completely fill the outer top part of the cup, but it's not very obvious, and the fit of this bra really does come close to what I need. The wires are not very flexible and do bother me a little. After wearing this for a couple of hours, the cups do dig into my armpits too much, so they are too tall.
... And on goes the quest of finding a bra that fits. Read more 124 more words
That colour is so pretty. I'll have to try this one.