3
Bravissimo Experience
So I thought I would post a wrap-up of my experience trying Bravissimo own-brand bras.
On the whole, their bras are very good quality and very pretty. I appreciate that they are pushing the usual limits on sizing, but I wish they would push more. Customer service was pleasant and prompt, but had an irritating tendency to assume things about what I want/need or why I was interested in something, without looking at what I had ordered, to see that their assumptions made no sense.
The reason I care about this is mostly because I would like the company to have a realistic idea of what their customers are looking for and why. For example, one customer service person said something like "The Fleur Bra is very pretty, I'm not surprised it caught your eye". I'm sorry but no. Granted, I like it, and I actually do think it's pretty, but, just no. The reason it caught my eye is because it is the 2nd of only 2 "full-coverage" bras Bravissimo is offering at the moment!!! I care way the hell more about that than what it looks like. And I wish they would understand this, because they should make more variety of styles (and sizes). Also their constant reassurance that I can exchange as many times as needed without incurring additional shipping costs (on the them to me end, anyhow) doesn't make me feel any better, given that there actually is nothing else left for me to try.
Ultimately, I will have paid an awful lot in shipping (approximately $25 so far, and I haven't sent the last package back yet, probably gonna be another $10) for the privilege of trying on 4 styles (7 bras total) out of the really very few that exist from *any* manufacturer in my size range (32/34 K/KK ish). Now, as it happens, this round of try-ons actually taught me a lot about what shapes and styles are going to work for me, and how certain types of bras will fit. (It allowed me to, for example, look at a good picture of the Panache Jasmine and say that it would almost certainly work really well, with the exception of the straps being too wide/outward angled. Which is exactly what it turns out to be.) Also, now I can use these bras for comparison, since many people have tried the Alana bra and others.
However, I will admit to being fairly frustrated at this outlay of money that is still going to leave me with no new bras, and feeling like obviously my boobs are just too big for reality. Knowing how well full coverage bras can work to support soft, full breasts, I do not understand why Bravissimo does not add this style to those that come in KK or KK and L. Why stop at K? Why is that the cutoff? If they came bigger, it's possible I would have come out of this with something to show for my money. I think I am coming to the same conclusion as a few others here that a bra that really, actually fits me completely properly probably does not exist at this time. (And maybe never will? Although I have hopes for the Elomi Rita, assuming I don't care that I will need to tighten the band.)
I've written individual reviews of the styles I tried, so I'm not going to try to summarize here (I can try to answer questions about the differences or whatever, if there's something I didn't cover in my reviews.) What I tried was:
Alana 32KK, 32L
Oriental Bloom 32K, 32KK
Linear Rose 32K, 34K
Fleur 34K
Incidentally, I currently have Linear Rose and Fleur in 34K that I will need to send back. If anyone wants to buy them from me instead, that would save me the shipping cost. (Although you'd have to be sure you want them, or ready to resell them if not, of course.) Let me know in the next day or two and I will put them up on a listing.
13 comments
Wow, that's the same experience I've had with Bravissimo! Prompt, courteous service that misses the whole point of my questions, limited selection of the style I want in the size(s) that might work, and, of course, horrendous return shipping costs from the US. (I feel sheepish complaining about the above, since my size and shape are far easier to accommodate than yours, but still, the money! And time!)
It's funny how we in the U.S. can buy almost anything we can think of, except for bras outside that 15-size range available at, say, Victoria's Secret. I met a Frenchwoman who moved here after marrying ten years ago. She said it amazes her how anything she muses would come in handy is already made and for sale here. I had just met her, so I couldn't ask her about bras, lol.
Thanks for reviews and pictures of these bras. Fleur and Linear Rose are on my wishlist. I recently got 2 Alanas and quite like them although I have the same problem with the seperation of the straps, they cut into my arms.
How would you compare Fleur and Linear Rose to Alana? Same size or size down 1 cup, since they are more roomy and open on top?
About bravissimo size ranges, I see more of a negative developement. They seem to produce rather less sizes than more on their new bras. The Lola Luxe basque used to come in a 28 band, but this season not anymore. The new Aleya bra comes only up to JJ cup in a 30 band, why that?! Couldn't they just produce 2 or 3 styles from 28D-40L? Also up to K-cup in 28 band? That would be great.
This thread has 13 comments. Log in to read them