I bought the Ivory colorway of Sofia several months ago and had my eye on the Black. When this went on sale, I picked up another colorway. I was pleased to find that the Black actually fits me better than the Ivory, thanks to more flexible wires that feel much more comfortable for me, and slightly shorter cups (I tried the Ivory twice in the same size and found the same stiff wires/taller cup in both).

Sofia is a a very open 3HC shape, which used to be tough for me when I was a smaller 28E/30DD, and now fits much better that I am between 28E/28F and 30DD/30E. I used to get some gapping at the top with these types of styles, but now this problem is minimized as I am fuller overall, particularly on top.

The cup measurements on this are almost identical to Freya Astrid Padded Half Cup (comparing to 28E). The main difference is that the cup shape is a bit angular at the top of the Sofia, whereas the Astrid has a smoother, curved upper cup edge. Both bras fit very comparably except for the band, since they are different sizes.

I found the band on Sofia to be much firmer than Marianna, though both measured the same. One big issue I've found in these Fantasie Padded Half Cups is that the wires are very firm and become uncomfortable quite easily if the band is pulled snug, as the ends of the wires roll into the ribcage and sternum instead of stretching. Unfortunately this is bad news for sub-30 band wearers as Fantasie doesn't make smaller sizes than 30 bands, and altering the band would just exacerbate the issue. A true 28 band size like me would need different wires that are narrower and have more horizontal flex. This is one of the few Fantasie bras that feels OK for me though it isn't snug, but it has the same powermesh construction and leotard back as their other styles.

The 3 piece cup is made from light foam batting and provides a little bit of coverage, but no structure. In Mae and Marianna, I experience pretty intense pulling in the cup from the strap attachment, particularly on my smaller side. The foam on Sofia seems just a little firmer, but most likely it's the cup proportions that makes this fit better on me rather than the materials. The outside of the cup is covered in intricate couchwork embroidered mesh with gold and ivory filigrees. The embroidery really stands out on the black background and looks super luxe and unique. This bra looks and feels good quality based on the materials and embroidery, better than some other Fantasie bras I've tried, despite the fact that it is simpler and less ornate than other styles.

The upper edge is smooth and free of trims. Straps are picot-edged elastic with a small bit of embroidered mesh topped on to the front. Tiny bows are attached at the straps and center gore, and there is a small rose gold and clear crystal charm at the gore. The whole bra looks elegant and classy in a way that is totally practical for everyday wear, as there aren't extra bits or intense lace and embroidery that would be noticeable under clothing. I like Sofia and hope that there's a few other Fantasies that fit similarly. I'd recommend giving this a try if you usually have problems with Padded Half Cups being too wide and shallow as it is a little more projected and open than similar styles.

Black colorway

Updated on Nov 07, 2020 Flag this

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