Fantasie Sofia is my best-fitting Padded Half Cup style from the brand, but I still experience some gapping at the upper cup because I am not FOT. I was curious to see if trying a size down would help alleviate the issue, so I went ahead and tried this in a 30D.

Sizing down to a 30D gave me a very pushed up effect and rounded cleavage, however this is purely due to the cups being too small. The cups are both too short and wide, and I can see that they are proportionately too small for my body. One major difference between the 30D and the 30DD I already own is that the 30DD had really firm wires (actually the wires are a bit uncomfortable on me), but I found that this 30D had pretty flexible wires. This explains why the cup width actually fits ok on the body despite being obviously too narrow, because they are actually flexing. However, while the Sofia 30DD did not have the issue with pulling from the straps, I get some pulling on my smaller side.

The cup depth of 30D is not super shallow though, and between the slightly deeper cup depth for the size and the open top, it resulted in the push-up effect instead of causing massive overflow. So, if you are a narrower shape and struggle with open half cup bras being a little too gappy at the top, it might be worth trying to size down in this style. The cups still gap if I move though, so I think this is because of my narrow frame and short proportions rather than any cup depth issue.

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. 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.

Ivory colorway

Updated on Jun 19, 2020 Flag this

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