When I was in Kraków, Poland for work recently, I wanted to visit a store where I could try on some Polish bras 'in the flesh'. Didn't have much spare time so I could only visit 1 shop for max. 1 hour.. Some googling led me to *Brafitteria*.

I was somewhat disappointed when it turned out they mostly sold regular / UK brands like Freya, Gossard, Cleo and Panache.. No Avocado or other Polish brands. But luckily they did also have a small collection of Ewa Michalak! My experience with EM so far was limited to the two bras I already owned (70H - Ewa Michalak » S Turkusowe Kwiaty (703) and 70GG - Ewa Michalak » Pl Kicia Szałowa and I had never tried any unlined EM bras.

I was especially excited to try Czarna Mgielka, as I've coveted that bra for years but was never sure which size to order.. and semi-cautious because I'd read about scratchy fabric / tight band, high wings and possible stabby gore; making me want to try it on first. The Brafitteria store had Czarna in 70H (too big) and 70G (too small). So a classic Goldilocks moment 💁🏼 but very useful to determine my size and confirming that the rest of the issues I could deal with. So YES I still want Czarna and I'll probably order it soon in 70GG!

Anyway, back to (edit: not Ty Wiesz but) Ja Wiem..: I had _not_ expected to fall for this bra. I'd seen it around on EM's website but I dismissed it as too boudoir (and too expensive to justify buying just for occasional wear) - and I didn't like the rhinestones. But at the Brafitteria store it was one of few bras in my size, so I did try it on and... WOW, epic uplift! This bra felt great, almost like it was made to measure. No straps chafing my armpits (hallelujah!), no wrinkling, comfy band, wires pretty much perfectly matched my IMF.. And I actually really liked the design. Very pale powder pink with contrasting black seam finishing, like a ballerina gone bad girl 😉

So, because I had allowed myself to get one bra as a souvenir from Poland, I bought the set!

I've worn it frequently over the past few weeks, with good results. This bra is really well-constructed and very comfortable. The 70 band fits snugly on the second (out of 4) set of eyes. Same as my other EM's in a 70 back, that I've been wearing on the 2nd hook from the start and progressed to the 3rd hooks on thinner days or between washings. Fine by me and as I've found Ewa's bands to be pretty stretchy-but-sturdy, I wouldn't go for a 65.

So in this bra's shoulder/armpit area, I don't know what magic they used but the straps do not bother my armpits - at all. On my first EM (Kwiaty, S style) the straps were wayyy too wide set and I've altered them since. On Kicia, my second (PL style) it was better, but on this SM the strap placement is awesome. Hoping Ewa will apply this to more future bras! Also, the wires are nice and low under my armpits! Chafing straps and poking wires often bother me, but this really is a happy-armpit-bra 🙂 Yay!

However this bra is probably 95% but not 100% perfect, some small issues considering projection / size:
The wires are quite narrow (feels like a smidge too narrow, perhaps?). After wearing, the wire marks on the side do align well with my breast root / IMF but under my boobs, the marks are a bit too low. This is often an issue for me (and usually much worse), with buckling / folds & 'orange in a glass' in bras with insufficient projection. In this bra, the projection angle is a bit weird actually. It doesn't project forward (like a 90' angle) but more upward (like a 50' angle), if that makes sense? I believe this is also what makes the wire slide down a bit. I'd almost consider a 70H for projection - and because on my bigger side, there's some in-cup quadding next to the black seams, where the powder pink fabric has more 'give' than the seam. But the cups in this size are already quite tall on me (the straps will definitely show under anything other than high-necked shirts) and the 70H Czarna was definitely big, confirming that 70GG is probably the best size for me in unlined Ewa's.

Oh and I also bought the matching strappy briefs, which look amazing on (with many laces & straps, great design!) and fit very well in size 40. So far I've experienced Ewa's briefs and thongs to run pretty generous, as in other brands like C'Kate, Gossard etc. I normally wear 14 (42) and sometimes even upsize to 16 (44).

So all in all, some nitpicking issues aside, Ja Wiem is great and I'm very happy with this unexpected purchase from Poland!


P.S: Sadly the rhinestone adornments cannot be easily removed like I'd hoped, as they are actually part of the sliders to adjust the upper straps. Guess I'll have to get used to them or attach new sliders. Removing the straps is also an option but IMO this would make the bra less special?

Updated on Oct 20, 2016 Flag this

• Show all comments (8)
• 1

  Thank you for the comprehensive review. I'm impressed with the lift you're getting, too.

• Great review. How do you feel about those doubled straps in the back??

• 3

  I suspect that doubled, harness-y type detail of the straps at the back is actually what is preventing the bra straps from bothering your armpit. It probably results in the straps sitting on your shoulders in a more comfortable position as they are angled more toward the center of your back.

• I believe the SM runs super shallow like that in order to lift the breasts higher - some people get amazing uplift in it, esp for FOT firm types, iir

• 1

  Looks beautiful on you! This particular bra never appealed to me either, until I saw your review and pics. I especially love the back strap detail - it really does look like it makes a big difference in comfort. The more even division of tension along the back of the band is so simple and brilliant if it directs straps and pressure to more comfortable positions. I wish she made it an option on all her bras now!

• 1

  wendybien , Stinkmouse & chirality , you're probably right I hadn't even realized! How the back straps are probably making a difference in the way the tension is distributed. So yes I really like the look and feel of this doubled back strap 😊

• 1

  And oops, browsing EM's site to see if there's more of this double back strap glory bras: I just realized this is Ja Wiem, not Ty Wiesz.. The black&white picture on Ewa's site confused me 😬 Edited review with the right bra name!

• LOL thats so funny - my first notification of update on this bra took me to the old one and the second notification came here

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