To start with, for those unfamiliar with Molke, they're a sustainable brand with a huge size range and their own unique sizing systems. This is their flexi-size style, which covers a total of 6 UK sizes, at least in theory. This one fits 26JJ/K, 28J/JJ, and 30HH/J. My usual bra size is between 28HH and 28J, depending on brand, style, time of the month, etc. In Molke, I wear a XS Super original and a 28H/HH swim top.

I previously tried this bra in size 28H/HH and found it functional as a lounge bra but too loose in the band to be supportive. I was expecting the same with this one, and went up a cup mostly to see if I could get more use out of the adjustable neckline. I'm pleasantly surprised by the band this time around! I'm not sure whether they did a bit of a redesign or if my black one was a fluke, but this one is a lot closer to a correct fit in the band. It's still on the loose side, as you can see from the measurements. I'm not sure whether this would fit someone who wears a 26 or not; it's measuring 26 inches unstretched (though it does have more columns of hook&eyes than most bras, which adds length), and I can comfortably wear it on the tightest hooks as a 28. It will definitely fit someone who wears a 30 band, and might fit a 32.

Along with the very adjustable band, the bra has drawstrings to adjust the neckline where the gore on a wired bra would be. As I expected, sizing up in the cup let me make more use of this feature. With the 28H/HH, I could only wear the bra with a straight neckline. With the 28J/JJ, I can tighten the strings, which not only adjusts the neckline but also creates separation between the cups. The more the string is tightened, the better the separation. Based on how the H/HH and J/JJ fit me, I'm guessing that if I went up to a K/KK, I could tighten the strings all the way and achieve separation on par with a wired bra. Not sure if I could wear it with the neckline straight across in that size, though.

There is definitely some wiggle room in the sizing on these. If you want a lounge bra, follow Molke's size chart and go up in the cup if you're between sizes. If you want a fit closer to a wired bra, size down in the band and up at least once in the cup. That may vary depending on how close you are to the top/bottom of the size range and how you prefer to wear the neckline. They're doing free exchanges now, so experiment a bit and see what works.

No matter how I adjust the bra, support is moderate. I'm getting a bit less lift and more bounce than I get with my Molke originals. I haven't worn a wired bra in a while, but trying on my Freya Offbeat (28J) for comparison, lift and bounce are pretty close to that, maybe a little less lift and a more minimized shape. It feels less supportive than the wired bra, but significantly more comfortable. Unlike my firmer Molke original bras, I would not wear this for any kind of exercise. I would wear it out of the house, and probably will get a lot of use out of it in summer since my usual wireless bras aren't great under tank tops.

In terms of appearance, I find the cherry lace pattern very pretty. It's a pattern I was skeptical of (it isn't real lace, after all!) but have ended up really liking. It would probably look nice under a sheer shirt. The materials are all very soft. I'm especially fond of the elastics they're using for the band and straps. Also, it's machine washable, which is always nice.

Cherry lace colorway

Updated on Jan 23, 2022 Flag this

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