I've previously tried the Bravissimo Contour strapless in a 30J, which was laughably small on me, giving both overspill and absolutely no lift or shaping, so I wasn't expecting much from this bra. But, shock of the century, this actually fits me reasonably well (at least based on my quick try-on)! The band seems to run on the firm side (possibly slightly under 30 inches), so combined with the smaller-than-my-usual-size cups and the grippy silicone, it's a little hard to put on properly, and I can't fully scoop and swoop, so keep that in mind for my review.

My usual CK size is around a 30K (30JJ in Eden, ... 32J in Ritzy and Carmen), so I wasn't actually expecting this to work. As a strapless, this gives me an extremely round, nicely uplifted shape, despite technically being too small. I get minor overspill when worn strapless, which becomes much more obvious when I wear the straps (as the cups are lifted more). Being strapless, it's kind of like when you wear a too-small bra with loosened straps to hide it being too small - except in this case, the shape is still good. One problem I did notice was that the section of the band under the gore quickly rolled and flipped under itself. This wasn't particularly uncomfortable, and may be due to me wearing the wrong size, but I don't think it's how it should fit, and it could possibly lessen the bra's staying power.

The bottom of the cups are too shallow for me, and I get slight buckling there, as well as being unable to pull the bra right up into my root. However, this isn't really too bad, and is more cosmetic than anything. I also find the sides are slightly too short for me, and I feel like I'm not properly contained, though I think this is exacerbated by this bra sitting slightly too low on me. In 1-2 cups up, I imagine I would be able to fully scoop into the cups, pull the bra up slightly more, and hopefully rid of the overspill. Overall, though, it's much better than I was expecting, so I'm fairly happy with it. It's definitely a very solid bra, and one to try if you're in the size range (or possibly even for those just outside, if you need a strapless and can't find one).
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Updated on Oct 04, 2014 Flag this

brasandbodyimage

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I really like this bra. I generally wear a 30JJ, but the fitter brought a 30K as it seems to run small. It gives good uplift and separation, though it is slightly pointy, but it looks very youthful under clothes. It is cut lower than some of my other balconette bras. It fits well on me, aside from very slight overspill at the top and very slight wrinkling at the bottom, apparently due to fullness on top. However this is barely noticeable, and it is very comfortable, I've had no problems with the band or wires, and it looks good. The only real problem I have had is that the eyes have started, for lack of a better word, "wiggling" - they haven't stayed in place very well. I doubt this is a general fault, though I may have to go back to Bravissimo about it.

Today. I went to Manchester's Bravissimo! For the first time. Slightly embarassingly... I was rather excited. What can I say, it's not every day I get to try on bras made for my size! Though the s...

http://brasandbodyimage.com/2012/01/15/a-little-late-to-the-party/

Updated on Apr 21, 2013 Flag this

brasandbodyimage

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The Angel is definitely a pretty bra in terms of pattern and design. I love the contrast of teal on black, and I adore the criss-cross ribbon on the band, my favourite detail of the whole bra. The band is one of the firmer amongst CK bras - it stretches to 30", making it quite a "true" 30. I had to size up to a 30K from my "usual" 30JJ in this, which I also have to do in other unpadded CKs such as the Princess.
In terms of shape, though, I really don't like it - I find it very east-west, and, though fairly supportive, it doesn't give ... a profile that I like. Though my breasts are lifted off my ribcage, they are not rounded - it almost gives my breasts a sort of upside down "7" shape. It seems like the bottom section of the cup is not large enough to really give a well-rounded shape. I can get a better shape by tightening the straps, but this results in quadboob, and as this is a 30K I can't exactly size up again. As well as this, I'm sure the wires would be too wide if I sized up again, as they are already slightly too large in a 30K. I'm very sad this doesn't work on me, as it's just so pretty. From what I've gathered, CK styles are best suited to GG and below.
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Curvy Kate is an amazing brand I've admired for a long time. Their body positive nature, their use of everyday women as models, and their dedication to making beautiful, girly lingerie for the full...

http://brasandbodyimage.com/2012/06/19/my-curvy-kate-sets/

Updated on Apr 21, 2013 Flag this

brasandbodyimage

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88 bras

This bra is looooovely, it feels really supportive, very much like sexy scaffolding. The wires don't feel too wide on me, I think because they don't get warped when the band stretches, so they're pretty mid-width. I'd prefer a touch narrower, but they don't dig or irritate due to the width. The band is a bit big on me (I think I'm about a 30K in most bras now) but it doesn't ride up much, I think due to how wonderfully wide the four-hook band is.

I have fairly even upper/lower fullness and it works well for me on that count, but from what I gather it isn't ... the best for very full-on-top, so I think it's more a bra for in between or full-on-bottom breasts. It isn't particularly deep or shallow, it feels more mid-depth all over, which means I have slight overspill towards the centre and some empty space at the straps (I'm more centre heavy). The gore is quite tall, so it lifts very slightly due to me being close-set, and I get a bit of empty space at the bottom. I don't think this is a depth thing, I think it's down to the main issue with this bra - the very tall sides. I don't think I've owned a bra so tall at the sides before, though it doesn't dig so much as slightly irritate and get pushed down.

I'm a UK 14-16 in clothes (medium in Freya briefs, 40 in Ewa Michalak, 16-18 in Curvy Kate.) and I found the XL high waist briefs to be a good fit, if anyone was considering getting the full set. It's a lovely set, I think I will keep it, though I might have to see if it's possible to lower the armhole.
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Recently, the lingerie world has been buzzing after a certain announcement from Parfait by Affinitas. Until now they have stocked 30-40 D-G, but in June they announced that they would be expanding ...

http://www.brasandbodyimage.com/2013/09/07/feeling-peachy-in-parfaits-charlotte/

Updated on Sep 07, 2013 Flag this

brasandbodyimage

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88 bras

This is the most comfortable and well-fitting bra I've found. I think I fit into Bravissimo bras quite well, as their underwires are fairly close together. As in the Alana, I have slight overspill at the top and slight wrinkling at the bottom due to fullness at the top, but this isn't a huge issue for me. This bra is sultry and gorgeous, with a lovely rounded shape. It has "additional lining" above an H cup (the black upper panel), which I personally prefer to the sheer. It has gorgeous detail of heart-shaped beads on the ends of the bow on the central gore, which I really love. ... It is valentines themed, so I hope they come out with more colours for this. Some people find the material scratchy but I don't find it a problem - it is made of a stiff material which I find very supportive. The straps are only partly adjustable due to the ruffle decoration, which is ok for me but won't work for everyone. The band seems to run slightly tighter than in the other Bravissimo bras I have, but not enough to size down in.
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Today. I went to Manchester's Bravissimo! For the first time. Slightly embarassingly... I was rather excited. What can I say, it's not every day I get to try on bras made for my size! Though the s...

http://brasandbodyimage.com/2012/01/15/a-little-late-to-the-party/

Updated on Apr 21, 2013 Flag this

brasandbodyimage

1043 reputation

88 bras

Gorgeous set - I love the black stretch lace over the "nude" base, giving it a silvery look in different lights. I think it's very sophisticated-looking.

I thought it was slightly too large in the cup, but it is in fact too small. I've had it for a while and thought it fits, but have realised that I've been wearing it with the straps completely loosened because it's so tall at the underarms. The underarms/straps dig in terribly on my narrow shoulders when actually tightened, even moreso if I tighten to where I would actually need them. I also get deceptive gapping at the top of the cup/strap, which ... made me think the bra was too big when it wasn't. I went into this issue more on my blog review.

I usually wear a 30JJ in most bras, but I was told PLs run small and to size up, so this is a 30K. I thought it was too big, but as I said above, it's actually too small. I would likely need a 30KK/L, with alterations to the straps/armholes, for it to fit properly.

It is quite firm in the band, I would say it's a true 30. The wires are quite narrow, and it has four columns of three hooks-and-eyes, which are good as the bra stretches out. I've had this bra for about half a year now and it's barely stretched at all, though I've only really worn it a couple of times (due to it being too small).
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http://brasandbodyimage.com/2013/05/14/s-wisniowka-review-and-pl-comparison/

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Updated on Jun 24, 2014 Flag this

brasandbodyimage

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88 bras

The Dotty Spot is said to run slightly larger in the cups in the original aqua/red, and I think in black/café the cups are closer to being true-to-size. It is pointier in the black/café than aqua/red. I found the central gore puts just slightly too much pressure on my sternum in both colourways, and I'm not quite sure why, but it isn't a huge issue. I wore my usual size, and it isn't too loose in the band at all.

I was recently my 19th birthday, which for me means I have rather a few new bras and clothes to write about, the first of which is the Bravissimo Dotty Spot. I have previously tried out this bra in...

http://brasandbodyimage.com/2012/03/18/going-dotty-for-bravissimos-dotty-spot/

Updated on Apr 21, 2013 Flag this

brasandbodyimage

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I've reviewed in greater detail on my blog, but I love this bra and would strongly recommend this bra, IF you fit into it. Each cup in KL is 2cm rather than 1 inch, and KL use an I cup between HH and J. So using the UK cup progression this is a 30K, but due to the 2cm cup jumps and the very loose band, I think it fits more like a tight-banded UK 32GG/H. Based on measurements and shape, I would say this is very much like a Bravissimo Alana, but with slightly narrower wires. It is unbelievably comfortable and beautiful, but it isn't one for J+ women.

Kris Line are a Polish brand, stocking bras in 65-100 (30-44) bands and A-KK cups. The brand has their own sizing system - each cup in Kris Line is based on a 2cm increase, compared to a one inch d...

http://brasandbodyimage.com/2013/07/16/a-taste-of-kris-line/

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Jul 17, 2013 Flag this

brasandbodyimage

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88 bras

I love the look of this bra. When I saw this I had to get it, mainly because it looks so much like the fashion-bras available on the high street, which is pretty unusual at these sizes. However, it definitely runs small in the cup. As with my other PLs, I thought it was slightly too large in the cup, but it is in fact too small. I've had it for a while and thought it fits, but have realised that I've been wearing it with the straps completely loosened because it's so tall at the underarms. The underarms/straps dig in terribly, even moreso if I tighten as ... needed. I also get deceptive gapping at the top of the cup/strap, which made me think the bra was too big when it wasn't. I went into this issue more on my blog review.

The cups are 1-2 sizes small, which was hidden by me wearing with the straps loosened. This means the uplift I have from it is awful. Though it's a very rounded and fairly central due to the narrow wires, the apex is somewhat low and can look a bit saggy. Oddly, I found my PL Black and PL Carmen better for uplift, despite having the same size issues, so I don't know if it's partially due to the material used.

I found the sizing similar to my PL Black, so I'll repeat the same: I usually wear a 30JJ in most bras, but I was told PLs run small and to size up, so this is a 30K. I thought it was too big, but as I said above, it's actually too small. I would likely need a 30KK/L, with alterations to the straps/armholes, for it to fit properly.

It is quite a firm 30. The wires are quite narrow, and it has four columns of three hooks-and-eyes, which are good as the bra stretches out. I've had this bra for about half a year now and it now stretches to about 31 inches, which is still firm enough for me on the second hooks.
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As anyone who has learned about proper bra fitting will know, there are some bra sizes that are hardly manufactured, if even made at all. In particular, women who need sub-28 bands and J+ cups will...

http://brasandbodyimage.com/2013/05/14/s-wisniowka-review-and-pl-comparison/

Updated on May 27, 2013 Flag this

brasandbodyimage

1043 reputation

88 bras

Ridiculously gorgeous bra, even if it is rather pointy on me (apparently it's a lot less pointy under a J cup?), though I found the black/café pointier than the aqua/red. It takes a lot of jiggling to get into the right place, but settles over time. Good fit and comfortable, although the central gore does put a bit too much pressure my sternum - I'm not sure if it's slightly too long or short, but it isn't a huge issue. A lot of reviews say it runs large in the band/cup, but I've found my regular size to be fine - it's about half a cup larger in the aqua/red than a usual Bravissimo 30JJ, I think, and I found the black/café more true to size in the cups.

I was recently my 19th birthday, which for me means I have rather a few new bras and clothes to write about, the first of which is the Bravissimo Dotty Spot. I have previously tried out this bra in...

http://brasandbodyimage.com/2012/03/18/going-dotty-for-bravissimos-dotty-spot/

Updated on Apr 21, 2013 Flag this

brasandbodyimage

1043 reputation

88 bras