I have average-width, even breasts with tallish roots.

This bra cuts in slightly at the top of my breasts due to an incompatibility with the slope of my breasts/them being slightly tall. I got this lingerie set not as an everyday set, so I cannot comment on how well it goes underneath shirts. Might work for tops that are cut slightly lower than other bras will allow, as there is a slight plunge style shape to the bra.

Seems fairly true to size. Very stylish!

Updated on Aug 20, 2017 Flag this

I love this bra and it fits! Hooray! My first one.
It's got some issues here and there but I would still call it a fit.
The wires were unwearable. They were the most painful wires I have ever come across. I couldn't leave it on more than a few minutes at a time, and it still left my rib cage tender to the touch the next day. It made the stabbing wires of the freya crush longline feel like a relaxing spa massage. Once I was sure it fit, I replaced the wires and it's fine now.
It was slightly too wide and shallow for me ... so I bent the wires. This fixed the slight quading and width issue. Both of those were minor enough so that this worked.
The straps are too wide and dig into my armpits. I make the straps as loose as possible to try and compensate for this. If I'm feeling brave enough, I might try to move the straps inward or replace them with thinner straps.

I like the oversized bow and how tall the sides are. The 28 band is tight enough for my 26 rib cage. I thought the contrast of the two different materials and the thick black lines were strange at first, but it looks better on. It gives a nice profile, not perfectly round, but still rounded and uplifted. Holds all swoop and scoop in place. I would get another one in a different colorway because I'm so happy with how this bra fits!

UPDATE
I replaced the straps with thinner softer ones, so no more cutting into my armpits. This bra needed modifications but it's sooo worth it!
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Updated on Mar 13, 2016 Flag this

This is definitely not a 28"- it's a very firm 26" - I recommend it to those needing 26" and 24" bands. Fit wise, it's pretty good- no quadboob or gaping, the straps are wideset, and the cup/wire width doesn't cause any problems. The problem however, is in the comfort: It's extremely painful; I experience both gore and wire digging, as if the bra's too small. It could also be the result of the tight band/rigid material combo.

Please read my full review for more info!

http://petiteplentiful.blogspot.com/2013/09/review-parfait-by-affinitas-charl...

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Updated on Sep 18, 2013 Flag this

PetitePlentiful

1004 reputation

115 bras

Was not immediately projected enough. I know that when this bra first came out in its color way, it was known to be immediately projected--much to many people's surprise. About a finger's width of space at the wire, where my boobs should have been (but couldn't bc no immediate projection). Also, some space at the top, where I am expected to be more center full (but am not bc splayed boobs). It fit better than the 30DD, which I had major quadboob.

floral shimmer colorway

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Updated on Jul 28, 2021 Flag this

I was never happy with the first Charlotte in 28E Wild Pink that I purchased, but as my Charlotte collection grew, I realized that this style actually fits me quite well. The ones I tend to have an issue with are specific bras that are too tall in the cup for me, because the outer cup ends up too high and chafes under the arms, and the taller cups translate to some emptiness in the cup as well. Luckily, I was able to find another Charlotte 28E Wild Pink, and this one fits me much better.

The fit on this one is almost identical to my ... best-fitting Charlotte, the 28E Peach. These are slightly shallower and shorter in the cup than some of the other Charlottes in my collection. However, the Peach is a bit narrower than this Wild Pink, which is the only noticeable difference in measurements other than a slight variance in the cup height. Thanks to the slightly smaller cup, it fits quite snugly and I don't get issues with gapping or chafing.

The only downside to this bra is that the Wild Pink visually doesn't look as high quality as the other colorways, since the color contrast of the matte cup fabric and the satin frame is too obvious to look intentional and ends up looking mismatched. I also found that this particular bra had a lot more loose threads than usual. While Charlotte bras tend to have some sewing issues, this one had more loose bits floating around than normal. Despite this, I am still happy with this bra, and will repeat my advice: make sure to order from a returnable source, and try on multiple ones if your first Charlotte doesn't fit quite right! Though this bra has its inconsistencies, it has become a style that I really like (in the old version with rainbow tag).
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Wild Pink colorway

Updated on Jul 17, 2020 Flag this

I ordered a second Icy Blue because I found it cheaper on eBay than the original one, which I got from Amazon. While the first one fit well, this second one is a little shallower and shorter in the cups, so it fits even better. It is somewhere between the other Icy Blue and the Peach, which is the smallest 28E Charlotte that I own.

I have also been curious to compare 28E Charlotte against the 30DD, since I usually order 30DD in Parfait as my sister size, and it's been fitting me quite well. I ordered the Icy Blue Charlotte in both sizes, and I ... also ordered a Purple Wine Charlotte in 30DD. I can confirm that the cups are exactly the same in both sizes, with no grading in the proportions, and the only difference is the band. While both fit and are comfortable, I find that I prefer the snug fit on the 28E band since it holds the cups better against my body, but I had originally hoped that the 28E would be designed for a narrower frame than the 30DD, and it is definitely no different in proportions.

Aesthetically, Icy Blue is one of the prettiest colorways for the solid Charlottes.

I have had 7 colors in my possession so far:
- Wild Pink and Purple Wine have much darker colored matte cups and lighter colored satin
- Red, Icy Blue, and Dusty Rose have slightly darker colored matte cups and slightly lighter colored satin
- Peach and Black have almost the same colored matte cups and satin

I really don't like the amount of contrast in the Wild Pink and Purple Wine bras, as I feel that it makes the bra look cheap. My background is in apparel design and merchandising, and we would frequently reject fabrics and trims that did not match closely enough because they look like a mistake. In the other colorways, I think the two-toned effect looks more intentional and not like they simply had trouble dyeing the fabric. Icy Blue is a beautiful cool blue, but is not so pastel as to be considered baby blue. I think it works really well with the black trim, so I am pleased to have gotten this for my collection.

Regarding the quality, I have once again noticed that my various Charlottes tend to have a lot of loose threads hanging off of them when I first receive them. Second, I've started to notice that the front of the cup where the upper cup connects to the bottom panel shows a lot of puckering where the seam crosses over the black trim. Since the outer matte chiffon layer is sewn separately from the foam cups it is an aesthetic issue and not a serious construction flaw that would show under clothing, but this still bothers me. Every single Charlotte I have is like this. So, while I consider this a well-made bra in terms of design and materials, the sewing could be improved. This second Icy Blue has better sewing than the first one.

I've also found that the interior foam cups are prone to creasing, which can distort the fit and make the cups look less than smooth. The cups can be steamed from the cotton side when it is turned inside out, and the foam stretched to smooth out wrinkles. Let them cool in this position before storing, though I feel that storing with the cups turned inside out is better for this style and will keep the foam shape better.
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Icy Blue colorway

Updated on Jun 25, 2020 Flag this

Icy Blue is my fourth Charlotte in 28E, and I am very happy that this one, unlike the recent fail with the Red colorway, fits as expected, and is exactly the same as the Wild Pink I already own. When I first got the Wild Pink Charlotte in 28E, I felt it was still a little too big on me, but I think my body has changed slightly, and now it no longer feels slightly too big, though my smaller side still has a little bit of gapping, which is totally normal. Now, I really like the fit of Charlotte in 28E, and just wish that ... the outer cup height were a little shorter and less wide, since I still feel a little discomfort under my arms.

I have also been curious to compare 28E Charlotte against the 30DD, since I usually order 30DD in Parfait as my sister size, and it's been fitting me quite well. I ordered the Icy Blue Charlotte in both sizes, and I also ordered a Purple Wine Charlotte in 30DD. I can confirm that the cups are exactly the same in both sizes, with no grading in the proportions, and the only difference is the band. While both fit and are comfortable, I find that I prefer the snug fit on the 28E band since it holds the cups better against my body, but I had originally hoped that the 28E would be designed for a narrower frame than the 30DD, and it is definitely no different in proportions.

Aesthetically, Icy Blue is one of the prettiest colorways for the solid Charlottes.

I have had 7 colors in my possession so far:
- Wild Pink and Purple Wine have much darker colored matte cups and lighter colored satin
- Red, Icy Blue, and Dusty Rose have slightly darker colored matte cups and slightly lighter colored satin
- Peach and Black have almost the same colored matte cups and satin

I really don't like the amount of contrast in the Wild Pink and Purple Wine bras, as I feel that it makes the bra look cheap. My background is in apparel design and merchandising, and we would frequently reject fabrics and trims that did not match closely enough because they look like a mistake. In the other colorways, I think the two-toned effect looks more intentional and not like they simply had trouble dyeing the fabric. Icy Blue is a beautiful cool blue, but is not so pastel as to be considered baby blue. I think it works really well with the black trim, so I am pleased to have gotten this for my collection.

Regarding the quality, I have once again noticed that my various Charlottes tend to have a lot of loose threads hanging off of them when I first receive them. Second, I've started to notice that the front of the cup where the upper cup connects to the bottom panel shows a lot of puckering where the seam crosses over the black trim. Since the outer matte chiffon layer is sewn separately from the foam cups it is an aesthetic issue and not a serious construction flaw that would show under clothing, but this still bothers me. Every single Charlotte I have is like this. So, while I consider this a well-made bra in terms of design and materials, the sewing could be improved.

I've also found that the interior foam cups are prone to creasing, which can distort the fit and make the cups look less than smooth. The cups can be steamed from the cotton side when it is turned inside out, and the foam stretched to smooth out wrinkles. Let them cool in this position before storing, though I feel that storing with the cups turned inside out is better for this style and will keep the foam shape better.
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Icy Blue colorway

Updated on Jun 17, 2020 Flag this

I don't know what happened here. This is a gorgeous bra, and the Red/Black is a lovely deep ruby style that wouldn't be out of place at a cabaret, but the measurements on this bra are totally off. What a disappointment!

I have not seen any indication that the Red/Black should be part of the new fit that the Floral Shimmer seems to be, but the tags on this bra are the new style (new tags are purple, old tags are rainbow), and I remember that the Black Charlotte in 30D that I ordered last fall from Nordstrom was also tall in the cups and too tall/projected ... for me to fill. However, the measurements for this bra are very close to the 28F, with the cup height of 28FF, so I really don't know if this is a new fit or a manufacturing error.

Because of the weird measurements on this bra, it fits like a large 28F or small 28FF, and therefore it is too projected and tall for me. The cup width and wires are fine, as is the band. But the cups are absolutely gigantic on me, so this won't work out.

Strangely, I now have 3 Charlottes in 28E (Wild Pink, Peach, and Red), and they all measure and fit differently. Wild Pink and Peach both have the older tags and fit similarly but one is slightly bigger than the other. Red is obviously gigantic. I have also tried size 30D from two different eras (Dusty Rose is older, Black is current), and they also both fit differently. I am interested in collecting more Charlottes, but I am rather wary of the wide variance in consistency between these bras, which I haven't experienced from any of the other bras in this line before.
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Red colorway

Updated on Jun 09, 2020 Flag this

Charlotte in Peach just made her way to my mailbox, and she's lovely! After revisiting the fit of my Charlotte in Wild Pink, I decided to try more of this fit in 28E. I ordered Red and Peach, and interestingly all three bras measure and fit differently. However, Peach is the star of the bunch, as she fit me perfectly!

The original Wild Pink I had was good in the cups, but a bit too tall, so the upper cup was a little empty, and the sides of the cups are too high under my arms. Cup height on the 3 bras is as follows:
- ... Peach: 13.5 cm
- Wild Pink: 14.5 cm
- Red: 16 cm (???)

This kind of grading is usually only seen in different cup sizes, so it's really bizarre that there is so much variance. Peach and Wild Pink are both of the older generation with the multicolor "Parfait" tag instead of new purple tag, so the rest of the cup fits similarly, but Peach is about .5 cm smaller in cup width and depth than the Wild Pink. This means that all the issues I had with Wild Pink being close, but a little large, are solved in the Peach!

The Peach colorway is a lovely color, though it is a bit yellower than what I would typically consider peach. The color is very vintage-looking and makes for a great nude option on lighter skintones. Though Charlotte is a thick, heavier style that isn't suited for the current hot weather, I am looking forward to wearing it when the weather gets cooler, and the seams can be hidden under heavier tops.

Due to the unpredictability in sizing for this style, however, I would avoid blindly ordering this bra if it cannot be returned.
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Peach colorway

Updated on Jun 09, 2020 Flag this

Gorgeous! A bit stiff. I am very projected and full on bottom. The 30E was too big in the cup and the 30dd was not available. I tried the 28E but it is too tight in the band. The cup sits sort of flat at the top sometimes but the upper part of the cup is not filled in all the way.

dusty rose colorway

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Updated on Jun 08, 2020 Flag this

I first tried Charlotte 5 months ago in 30D when I was a true 28DD and shallower on top, and I remember hating the bra with a passion. However, since the 28E Charlotte frequently comes up in my Bratabase recommendations now that I am a fuller 28E, I decided to grab one on deep discount from Breakout Bras after checking that the measurements seemed to be reasonable.

My original review of Charlotte was quite harsh, and from what I remember, the bra was heavy, stiff, and fully covered in thick satin. It was a newer generation that I purchased from Nordstrom. However, the bra I ordered ... this time is the Wild Pink colorway from SS '14, and my understanding is that the bra's measurements have changed between the older ones and the new ones. The cups on this bra are mostly made from lightweight matte crepe, with an outer sling and cradle made from thick, heavy satin. The band is still powermesh and fits very snugly. The fabric of this bra feels much more comfortable than I remember, and it looks nice under clothing.

The band is nice and snug, and while the 30 band worked for me before, I prefer the 28. My challenge with this bra is that the outer cup height is taller in this style than in my other similar padded bras with similar measurements (like the Comexim Magic Plunge), and the fullest part of the cup is slightly higher. This means that the bra has more fullness on the outer upper cup than most of my other bras, which I have some trouble filling. In practice, this means the bra feels about half a cup large although the measurements would make it seem true to size.

My larger side is a full 28E, while my smaller side is a full 28DD. In most bras, the difference between both sides is manageable, but in this style it's really obvious. I marked this bra as fitting since it fits my larger side well, but when I move, I can see gapping at the upper cup of the smaller side. The seam is also pointier and more noticeable on the smaller side since there isn't enough tissue to fill it out. However, the bra was final sale, and I think it would be good to have a slightly larger bra for those times where hormones cause me to need a larger size than normal, so I don't have any regrets about keeping it. It gives me a really nice rounded shape under clothing, although anything too thin or tight may cause the seams to show.

I do have to dock points for both quality and comfort though, since the padding is much stiffer than what I'd consider comfortable, and the taller cup height near the arms can cause some chafing, especially combined with the wide-set straps that are too wide for my frame. In terms of quality, I think the fabric used could be much softer, the color matching between the cup fabric and cradle fabric could be better, and my bra came with a lot of random loose threads.
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Wild Pink colorway

Updated on Jun 07, 2020 Flag this

Not well suited for narrow breasts with immediate projection. Plus, it's too small.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Apr 29, 2017 Flag this

I am normally a 28f, but read that this bra runs large in the cup, so I cupped down twice and bought a 28dd according to Petite Collegeite. I had quad boob on my larger side. I reorder it in size 28E and it fits great. The band is tight enough on my 26 in underbust. The gore kinda sits on my breast tissue because it is so close set, but I like the bra so I'll keep it.

Floral Shimmer colorway

Updated on Mar 22, 2017 Flag this

This bra is on the shallow and wide side of average, and the band is Parfait snug.

The design can show through clothing depending on how light or thin the shirt is, but my biggest complaint is the stiffness and thickness of the cup edges. It makes the bra unforgiving for my even breast shape, either gleefully gapping or cheerfully quadding. I find the bra serviceable enough to wear.

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Updated on Sep 25, 2015 Flag this

This bra is highly padded, but comfortable. Band runs true to size. I feel like the cups are somewhat deep (I'm more shallow), so I went down one cup size. I wish the bra didn't have the black stripes through the cups, I would be able to wear it under more shirts without showing.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on May 26, 2015 Flag this

It's a pretty bra that keeps the girls nice and snug. The only problem that I found is that the center gore is a little pokey for me. But after having it for a few hours through the day, it lessens to the extent that I don't even feel it poking me anymore. The band is quite snug, and it takes a little time to adjust to the tight fit, but it doesn't move at all.

Red/Black colorway

Updated on Apr 24, 2015 Flag this

I like the look of this bra though it is very "heavy duty" feeling. I guess according to bratabase it's a pretty poor fit; the cups are too wide and too separated, and the wires dig a little. I tried the 30E at first according to herroom's advice but found the cups too big and the bad snug at the tightest hooks, so I returned it and got this 28E. The cup fits well, other than being too wide, on my larger side, but is too big on my smaller side which is not quite as full and therefore the cup gapes on top. The band is just a little too tight for my liking but as I mentioned, the 30 was just a bit too loose. Hopefully, it'll stretch out a bit. Again, not the best fit for me, but I like the sturdiness and the shape. Plus it's the best fitting bra I have right now, I'm new to this right-bra quest.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Jul 21, 2014 Flag this

This actually didn't have a size listed on it. The person who sold it to me said it was a 28E, and based on the measurements I agree. WAY too much of a shape mismatch for me. Very, very, VERY stiff wires. Uncomfortable as heck. Too tight.

Updated on May 30, 2014 Flag this

Looks great from the front and is very comfortable to wear but profile is too pointy for my taste. The "new" version runs very true-to-size.

Full review on my blog.

http://mybradventures.blogspot.com/2014/01/parfait-affinitas-charlotte-in-red...

Updated on Jan 13, 2014 Flag this

missnymeria

157 reputation

23 bras