This is my first underwire bra that I've bought since being properly fitted. Based upon my measurements, I should be a 40KK in Bravissimo sizing, but after reading reviews on it that it runs a bit small, i decided to size up to the L cup. Great thing i did! This bra is very supportive and very sturdy. I've been able to wear it all day and not worry about unnecessary jiggle or having to readjust my breasts in the cups. The only issue i've had with this bra is that when i wear it on the loosest row of hooks, its still a little too loose, and straps end up digging into my shoulders.Luckily on the tightest setting, the band is tight enough... i dont need my straps trying to support the weight of my boobs lol. Other than that, this is a great bra!
Purchased in June 2019, this is the 1st of 2 Selina Lace bras I own. The fit and comfort are naturally the same. My boobs are front and center while also being lifted just a little bit higher than what my Alana's give me. Like my other Selina's, I feel like this minimizes me, more than my Alana's yet when I measure, my breast perimeter is nearly identical. This blush pink colorway is a light creamy pink that is growing on me more and more. This Selina Lace looks luxurious with the lace covered wings and the copper/gold colored fasteners and I now consider it to be my favorite ...non Alana bra. Lately though, I do notice the gore to be folding onto itself but since none of the gores tack on any of my bras, this isn't a major problem. I find my arms brushing the side of the bra a little, which I do not recall happening when I first purchased it. I also own the Selina in both a white and white/grey colorway and they are both not as luxurious as this Selina Lace. I also have the matching high waist panties and the combination just adds to the luxuriousness of the bra. In spite of the bras name, the cups are not lace covered and makes for an acceptable t-shirt bra with the seams generally not visible. I find this bra retains body heat a little more than I prefer so it's not a good bra for a very warm day but then again, what bra is.
June 2020, I am beginning to regret acting on my initial reaction to new bras. This Selina Lace was not a favorite of mine when I first purchased it but the more I wore it, the more it stretched and molded itself to my body. Had I worn this more often early on, the sooner I would have developed my appreciation for this Selina Lace. I have parted with many bras over the years, not having given them a chance to be broken in, as it were. Perhaps the 38K and 40K Bravissimo and Panache bras I no longer have might have eventually fit.
Sep 2020 I thought it would be interesting to compare my original measurement data for this bra to what they are today.
.......................................... original / current / difference band length un-stretched..... 34.00 / 33.00 / (1.00) band length stretched........... 40.00 / 39.50 / (0.50) cup depth.............................. 17.75 / 18.25 / 0.50 cup height............................. 12.00 / 14.00 / 2.00
The (1.00) inch change seems normal as hand washing may have caused this shrinkage. The (0.50) inch change in stretched band length may be the result of my being older and weaker haha. The 0.50 inch increase in cup depth is possible The 2.00 increase in cup height seems excessive, I must have initially measured this incorrectly.
This Selina Lace is softer, more comfortable and as supportive as it was when I first got this in mid 2019. This is 2 bras in a row now where the re-measured stretched band length is less than the original data, a curious result.
Jan 2022 Just want to add a comment on the straps of this bra. They are, without a doubt the most comfortable and supportive of any bra I have ever had. The "straps are too thick" crowd will not like these but unless they have to carry as much weight as I do... Read more 519 more words
I really love the color of this bra and it does fit more or less but I prefer the shape and comfort I get from my Alana's. I do like the way this bra minimizes compared to the Alana though so I can wear more of my tops than I can with the Alana. I am not crazy about the fabric texture on the wings though.
Just want to reiterate how much I like the straps on this bra. They do look a bit wider than average but there is absolutely no tendency for them to fold over like some my Alana's do. They are stiff and strong but soft at the same time. I am so happy these days to have so many bras in my size that are comfortable and supportive and not having to deal with straps that tend to slip off my shoulders.
I love this lilac/lemon color combination and I get my usual 40L Alana fit. But, the straps are a new material which folds over far too easily and even though the cups and band are doing their jobs, the folding straps are cutting in, making this my most uncomfortable Alana.
Sep 2020 A conversation with 2 fellow Bratabaser's compelled me to wear this bra again. I had worn this less than 5 times in the year since I purchased it, mainly because of the folding straps. The straps still fold over but, they did lie flat where they made contact with my skin. I think I am ok with this ...kind of folding straps. Before taking this bra off I decided to re-measure the cup height and depth and to my amusement, both were about a quarter inch bigger than when I first measured (all of my bra cup height and depth data is with bra on/boob in cup). It has taken a while but this bra has "grown" on me.
Sep 2020 I thought it would be interesting to compare my original measurement data for this bra to what they are today.
.......................................... original / current / difference band length un-stretched..... 34.00 / 33.00 / (1.00) band length stretched........... 40.00 / 41.00 / 1.00 cup depth.............................. 17.75 / 19.00 / 1.25 cup height............................. 14.50 / 15.00 / 0.50
The (1.00) inch change in un-strteched band length seems ok as I would have expected some shrinkage with 10+ hand washings. The 1.00 inch increase in stretched band length is not surprising. The 1.25 inch increase in cup depth is very surprising. The 0.50 increase in cup height is a bit surprising.
These results lead me to wonder whether Bravissimo deserves its reputation of being small in the cup and a buyer thus needing to size up. Yes, a bra will initially feel small/tight but will it expand with break-in? I plan to explore this further.
Note: I do not use the cup over knee technique to measure cup depth as I think a more meaningful and relative data point is when a cup is occupied by ones breast. I think it makes sense that depending on bra style, bra cup dimensions can also vary during the life of a bra. Also, the cup over knee technique does not take into account the distance and hence volume I gain from a floating gore. With this lilac-lemon Alana, I have 4 inches of floating gore today, I did not record this measurement in my original review. Read more 368 more words
I wore this Alana for the first time yesterday in close to a year. I had avoided it mainly because the last time the straps did fold over on my shoulders and really dug in but it was on a weekend so I was able to switch it out quickly. It had not been used in awhile so I washed it the day before wearing it so thankfully the straps did not fold in the shoulder area till much later in the day.
I was disappointed by the in cup drooping I saw and felt as I undressed as this was the first time any of my many Alana's had ever done this. This is the most recent Alana purchase for me and that was back in 2019 so I will not lose any sleep over this development.
It's weird that one bra can be so different in several colours! :( That color way was particularly lovely but I also never wore mine.
I like when a company is not afraid to innovate with a successful product, in this instance trying a different strap material but I think they forgot to test the straps on the largest cup before finalizing the design.
I am really liking Bravissimo's recent offerings but can't justify buying more bras since I have so many that I barely wear.
I'm absolutely in love with this sports bra! This is the first one I've bought in ages, and it did not disappoint! It has amazing support for my size without feeling like it's too constricting... a problem I've had in the past with other sports bras. I was worried that having the underwire might cause some physical discomfort while working out, but surprisingly, the only discomfort i felt was from the actually workout! And the padded straps are such a godsend. It feels great, gives my bust a flattering shape, AND has a gorgeous design. I'm not one to go for leopard print usually, but with the blue, I want to wear it out as my top!
I purchased a red Jenna about a year and a half ago, read that review as there was a lot I liked about the red but wished some things were different and hoped the narrow wired Jenna would address my issues
In a nut shell, the red was initially tight with significant quadding on top and an inch or two of empty space on the sides. Doing up the magnetic clasp was a chore and a second set of hands was always welcome. On the Bravissimo web page, the lace on the straps and back looked exquisite and beautiful but seemed a bit much on me, it wasn't ...as pretty or stylish as I thought it would be. It almost seemed more suited for a biker chic than someone like me. It took close to 6 months or 10 wears of infrequent use before I really started to appreciate the red Jenna.
I was hoping this new blush pink Jenna would eliminate the empty cup space on the sides and the muffin top that was hard to ignore. The wires on the blush pink use Bravissimo's narrow wires for J cups and up whereas my red Jenna does not. Cup depth for both bras measure the same but the eye ball test says the blush pink is much deeper. As a result, the narrow wires center more of that depth to the front so if you normally have unfilled space on the sides, these narrow wires will line up closer to your boobs. I had next to no empty space on the sides with this narrow wired Jenna and had minimal quadding on top and felt far less compressed.
As with my red Jenna, the band seems to carry 80% of the load but the remaining 20% seems to be spread evenly between the straps and the back. Moving as much as half of the weight the straps used to carry to my back while also helping improve my posture is mind boggling. I find I can stand up straighter without trying to. The blush pink does a slightly better job of spreading the support, not a significant amount but enough to notice. The blush pink also seems to minimize as much as the red Jenna does.
The wires on the blush pink Jenna are 1-3/4" narrower on each side and therefore 3-1/2" in total. I was thus fully expecting the pink to give me a narrower front profile so I was completely shocked at what I saw - I was wider in the pink than the red. Not by a dramatic amount but enough to make you wonder what was happening. The wires on the pink were the same length as the red so it makes sense that the pink had taller wires by about an inch on each side. The gore was also taller than the red by a little more than 1/2 inch.
My initial experience with this narrow wired Jenna has added to my confusion with Bravissimo's narrow wire products. When comparing this pink Jenna with the same sized Annie balconette and the full cup Gemma, the Jenna was more like the Gemma in terms of shape. The pink Jenna was similar to both as they all give me very little empty cup space on the sides and bottom and very little quadding on top. Both regular and narrow wired Jenna's though are much more comfortable because of these straps, a true godsend. Read more 465 more words
I performed the comparison back in June and submitted a comparison review but I suspect most members cannot view it so I have pasted a link to it here:
I am still disappointed the narrow wired blush pink does not have a significantly narrower front profile but nevertheless, both bras are so necessary for the big cup crowd.
Highly recommended.
This blush pink Jenna has stretched out a little and I think I now have a narrower profile than my red Jenna.
The last 2 times I have worn this Jenna, I have fastened the band and neck magnet BEFORE pulling it over my head. I know that sounds weird but I rarely fasten my bras the normal way and always front fasten and spin the cups around, something I cannot do because of the neck magnet. The most difficult part of this process is squeezing the straps over my shoulders but I prefer this to having to attach the magnets from the back. I doubt I could do this with a 38 band though.
Bravissimo has released a new bra named Alicia which is a balconette version of the full cup Jenna. The initial colorway is called emerald green, which is absolutely gorgeous but I don't care for the fabric pattern because it seems a little too busy for me. The same could be said about the Jenna for that matter.
Mar 2023
I wore this bra today and sort of amused myself after putting it on. I normally fasten everything together and pull it over my head but today I absent mindedly fastened the band in front, spun it around and reached behind me to fasten the neck magnets. EASY PEASY!
My front profile is an inch narrower than my red Jenna which tells me the cups have stretched and yet my over bust perimeter is 2 inches less than with my Alana's and Annie's. The cups seem taller but for me, that is a dimension I feel is less noticeable than any other.
Week 1 This Annie in blush pink is the second colorway released by Bravissimo for this bra, the initial color being navy. Annie is an underwired balconette, is unpadded and is unlined in all sizes. Annie is related to the Penny that was released a few months earlier and they both use Bravissimo's new wires for J cups and above. After unpacking this bra, I immediately noticed the wire shape, which was much more of a U shape than any of their previous wires. Before trying it on, I compared the wires to my existing bras, starting with my current fav, the Selina Lace and then with ...a 40K Satine that I ordered at the same time as this Annie. I found the comparison to be hilarious and have posted photos of the comparison here on Bratabase. I had no previous experience with Satine but ordered it when Bravissimo extended the size range up to K cups. I laid the 40L Annie inside the 40K Satine, with the wings folded in underneath to facilitate a comparison of the outside wires, with the gores centered on each bra. The wires on the Satine were 3 inches wider than the Annie! Both were unworn so the wires were the original shape. Perhaps the Satine is designed for those looking for a wide and shallower fit. I subsequently compared the Annie to my Selina Lace and also to one of my many Alana's and in both cases the Annie wires were 1 to 1.5 inches narrower, with the Alana being a little closer in width. I absolutely love the blush pink of my Selina Lace and was equally thrilled with this Annie. The metal pieces where the straps connect to the wings, as well as the hook and eye closure, have a nickel finish to them that are quite exquisite. The gore has a nice mini star adornment that is black and is a nice contrast to the blush pink. The wings have the same star pattern as the lower cup. The band is quite comfortable and I was surprised that these new, narrow wires were virtually unnoticeable to me. In fact I rarely notice the wires in any of my Bravissimo bras whereas I noticed and eventually hated the wires in every single Panache bra I have ever worn. Same with Elomi. Bravissimo recommends sizing down if you are a J cup and above but I chose to ignore that advice as my other 40L bras tend to be just ever so slightly small. This Annie was just slightly too big in the cups but it was not a deal breaker for me. To my eyes, I looked smaller, both from the front and from the side in comparison to my Alana's. So far, the Annie seems to give me a more rounded look, which is certainly a plus and although I seemed to get the weird shape that reviewers were warning about on the Bravissimo site, that weirdness seemed to be go away as the bra stretched out. On me, that weirdness was a cakes on a plate look that seemed to start an inch or two further out than you would expect but as I said, it appears to diminish over time. From the side, and aside from the weirdness I have described, the cups seem fairly normal but when I put my hands underneath the cups, the amount of projection seems to be far greater than my other bras. I found myself wondering why I wasn't seeing a torpedo shape, as some reviews on Bravissimo have described. On the straps off the shoulder test, I was much more likely to spill out of the cups with Annie. This may be the result of having narrower wires but I would find this acceptable as I really do like the narrow, upfront shape I get. In fact, my shape is narrower and more upfront than any of my other bras. I give this bra 5 stars as it ticks all the boxes for me. The one thing I dislike are the embroidered stars on the upper cups which are visible even under a medium thick top but this is not a big issue for me. I find nipple and areola coverage to be better than Alana and comparable to my Selina's which are lined.
Annie is now my new fav and I am looking forward to other Bravissimo bras that utilize these new wires. THANK YOU BRAVISSIMO!
Week 2 This may be my imagination playing tricks on me but my boobs feel lighter in Annie than in any of my other bras. I feel very secure in this bra and hardly notice either the wires or the straps throughout the day. I wore one of my newer Alana's 2 days ago and the Annie yesterday and the difference was certainly noticeable. It was almost as if I had lost a pound or two from each boob! As I said earlier in this review, my boobs seem to be more up front in the Annie than any of my Alana's and I must emphasize that the Alana's were the most up front bras I ever had. Very pleased with this Annie and I can't wait for the 38L I have on order.
Week 3 Before putting the Annie on today, I realized that I had not compared the wires to the 40L Gemma I got on a separate order. From what I understand, both the Annie and Gemma use the same wires for J-cups and above and I can confirm that after laying the Annie on top of the Gemma, the wires have essentially the same dimensions. I was somewhat surprised to confirm this as the fit of each bra is vastly different from each other. Read my 40L Gemma review for that side of the story. After my 3rd week of ownership of the 40L Annie, this is, by far, the best bra I have ever had. If I had to choose a bra as my forever bra, Annie would be it, and it would not be close. Sorry Alana...
Jun 2021 There have been many complaints directed at the the tendency for the straps of the Annie to fold over both here on BTB and on Bravissimo's Annie web page. I experience a very slight amount of folding but it is no where near as bad as my lilac/lemon Alana, not even close. Perhaps I am in the Annie sweet spot where the weight of my boobs does not tax the straps as much. When I view my side profile unclothed, I want to think I look smaller than my Alana's but when I wear a clingy top, I look substantially bigger! I think this is due to the narrow wires providing the same depth as Alana but that depth has been moved 1-2 inches further from my side since the wires do not go as far back. My bra on breast perimeter confirms this as I measure 1-1/2 inches larger with Annie than Alana. Read more 1057 more words
I have had this bra now for 2 years and can comfortably say that I have used it at least 20% of the time (well, this and my other 40 band Annie). That's actually a big % as I have close to 25 bra's in my rotation during that time.
The band has stretched out noticeably on both of my Annie's as they are now worn on the tightest hooks and are still very loose. I would say though that the straps on both of my Gemma's have more stretch in them, I mention Gemma here because I purchased both at the same time.
The torpedo shape I got when new has diminished significantly over time and I attribute this to the weakening of the vertical seam in the cups. It's still noticeable, however. The straps are folding over more and more and are becoming painful. I wish I could find shoulder strap pads like I had on bras I owned a decade ago. I can't remember but I may be thinking of the Elila brand.
I measured a dimension today that people rarely discuss - front profile width. I measured this by standing in front of my mirror with the bra on and visually line up the tape to the outside of the bra. The tape is horizontal and does not touch the cups.
I have mentioned in my Annie reviews that I really loved the narrow front profile I get with the Annie and today I measured 16 inches of profile width with the 40L Annie while my 40L Gemma gives me 18 inches. The Gemma is a full cup whereas the Annie is a balconette but still, they have the same wires so I would have expected these bras to be similar rather than 2 inches different. I also get 16 inches of front profile width from my 38L Annie while my regular wired 40 band Jenna gives me 18 inches and the narrow wired Jenna measures 17.
In the spring of 2019, I decided to give the Georgia a try. I really loved the mint Alana I purchased a few years earlier and I feel the same with this one. Comfort and support are quite good with very little quadding on either side. The cup material is a little thin, an observation that a fellow bratabaser also made.in her review so I generally wear the Georgia when I know I will have an extra layer or two. I prefer the Alana and Selina Lace over the Georgia but all 3 easily surpass anything else out there for me.
July 2020, I likely wore this Georgia fewer than ...5 times over the first year. The material is certainly on the thin side and that made me think that it would lose support the more I wore it. However, over the past 2 months, I find myself wearing this more and more and perhaps more now than any of my other bras. I have been wearing fabric nipple pads whenever my bra does not hide them well and that has given me some confidence, especially on hot summer days. The shape I am getting now is a little less rounder and not so high and I end up feeling more comfortable. Plus, this mint colorway is without a doubt my favorite. I recently noticed that my white Selina had a band whose wings were made of 2 materials, each of different levels of softness that I had never noticed before in any bra I have owned. This Georgia has 2 materials in the wings as well but unlike my white Selina, the inside and outside layers seem to be the same materials Less surprisingly, the cups are comprised of 2 materials and they also seem to be of the same fabric.
July 2020, I am so disappointed. Yesterday, after an above average day of stress, I got home and quickly undid this bra but was in such a rush and a bit distracted that I forced the clasps a bit too hard and heard and felt a thread (or two) snap. OH NO!!! I took the straps off and slowly examined the clasps to see if I had damaged them - I did (sob sob).I had pulled two of the eyelets out of position and they will need some repair. I did the same thing with one eyelet to my Bravissimo Erin and although my re-stitching of the Erin seems ok, it is visually annoying. Lesson learned.
Sep 2020 I thought it would be interesting to compare my original measurement data for this bra to what they are today.
.......................................... original / current / difference band length un-stretched..... 35.50 / 33.00 / (2.50) band length stretched........... 41.00 / 39.50 / (1.50) cup depth.............................. 17.75 / 18.00 / 0.25 cup height............................. 12.75 / 15.00 / 2.25
The (2.50) inch change seems unusual, perhaps my original measurements were wrong. Shrinkage from washing might cause some difference but not to this extent. The (1.50) inch change in stretched band length is also weird, see above The 0.25 inch increase in cup depth is possible The 2.25 increase in cup height also looks wrong
The results of this re-measure are quite puzzling. I tend to buy and measure multiple bras so I may have mixed up some of these measurements.
March 2021 Soon after the above measurements were taken, I stopped wearing this Georgia. I was worried about damaging it further but also because I had splurged on the following new bras: Annie and Gemma in 38 & 40 bands, Satine and the Jenna both in the 40 band. I wore this for the first time in over 4 months on Monday and I have to admit that this Georgia has been so comfortable and supportive that I am seriously considering wearing it for a 3rd day in a row, without a wash in between...eewwwww! Read more 593 more words
Purchased in early 2019, this white Selina seems very utilitarian. It is white. Very white. White all over. Fit and comfort is very good all things considered. My boobs in this bra are more front and center than other bras I have while also lifting just a little bit more than what my Alana's give me. Like my other Selina's, I feel like this minimizes me, more than my Alana's do. The one remarkable attribute of this bra are the wings, which to my mind are the smoothest, softest wings of any bra I have had. In terms of luxuriousness, these wings compare quite favorably with my Panache Melody's ...which I seldom wear. In spite of this softness, I cannot feel anything from the wings while wearing it. The Selina has potential as a great t-shirt bra but it is not boob sweat friendly. I also have the Selina in the white/grey colorway and they both not as luxurious as the Selina Lace.
July 2020 After another hot and humid day, I was taking/peeling this white Selina off and noticed something for the first time. I had mentioned in the initial review that the wings seemed extra soft and so fully expected to feel that softness after unfastening the hooks but what happened surprised me. I was able to feel the inside and outside of the wing material slide against each other, which suggested there were 2 fabrics to this wing. I am not referring to the upper and lower seams but the panels, if you will, of the wings. I have never noticed any of my bras, ever having more than 1 fabric unless there was a lace layer overtop. What was even more surprising was that there 2 very different levels of softness to the wings and perhaps even more surprising was the softer of the 2 materials was on the OUTSIDE of the wing. No wonder I could not feel anything different in the wings when I first reviewed this bra. The material the hook and eyes are fastened to are very special, the thickest and at the same time softest material I have ever noticed in a bra. It's taken a year but I have become very happy with all of my Selina's and especially with Bravissimo.
Oct 2020 I thought it would be interesting to compare my original measurement data for this bra to what they are today.
.......................................... original / current / difference band length un-stretched..... 33.00 / 34.00 / 1.00 band length stretched........... 39.50 / 39.50 / 0.00 cup depth.............................. 17.75 / 18.25 / 0.50 cup height............................. 11.00 / 12.75 / 1.75
The 1.00 inch change seems unusual, perhaps not originally measured correctly The 0.00 inch change in stretched band length is possible The 0.50 inch increase in cup depth is possible The 1.75 increase in cup height seems excessive but possible
The results of this re-measure are within the realm of possibility. This white Selina is softer, more comfortable and as supportive as it was when I first got this in mid 2019. Read more 456 more words
The band on this white Selina has the softest wings I have ever had in a bra although the softness is something I cannot feel while wearing it. The material supporting the hooks and eyes is to die for, it is so soft and luxurious to the touch. I do find it odd though that both the grey/white Selina and the Selina lace that I also have do not have the same softness in the band or the closure material.
I do get a very nice, round uplifted shape with this and my other Selina's. I used to think I this was a minimizer for me as it seemed to push my boobs further up and in compared to the cakes on a plate I get with my Alana's but if I measure my bust perimeter (bra on of course) I get equal measurements!
The one thing that does bother me though is the fact that I still get substantial wrinkling at the vertical cup seam. It's almost like this Selina is saying I can't fill the bottom of the cup... "are you serious Selina?" lol.
I rarely wear this white Selina and yesterday was the first time in over 6 months. This bra is still as sturdy and comfortable as when purchased. I do love the shape I get as it is not at all pointy and quite frankly seems to attract less attention than some of my other bras.
For the first time, I have noticed how much I like the straps on this bra which contribute to the sturdiness and are also very comfortable. They are wide in terms of width and carry the perfect amount of weight but they are also set maybe a half inch too wide on both sides for me. For this reason, I wish I had purchased a 38 band but am skeptical of the cups being good enough as the cups on this 40 band are already a smidge too small.
The Alana in mint colorway was my favorite until Bravissimo released the papaya . I purchased 2 in early 2016 along with a mint 38L and I wish I had bought more. As usual, Bravissimo refuses to re-stock their Alana fashion colors so once they are gone, they are gone. I get my usual Alana fit and comfort, including days where the 38 band is more important than the 40L cup, and vice versa. I also have Bravissimo's Georgia in mint and while I like this bra, I prefer the mint Alana more.
June 2020, The band is getting close to being stretched beyond comfort, the result of my wearing this ...colorway more than any of my others. I am thinking of moving the wings of my 38L to the 40L cups but my sewing skills are fairly poor and so I hesitate at the chance I may ruin both bras.
Aug 2020 The band and straps have suddenly lost most of their elasticity and so this bra has lost most of its comfort and support. Wearing this on the tightest hooks now results in a loose fit and can I easily fit 3 fingers underneath the band. Interestingly, the cups continue to provide comfort and support.
Sep 2020 I thought it would be interesting to compare my original measurement data for this bra to what they are today.
.......................................... original / current / difference band length un-stretched... 34.00 / 33.50 / (0.50) band length stretched......... 40.00 / 42.00 / 2.00 cup depth.............................. 17.75 / 19.25 / 1.50 cup height............................. 14.50 / 16.00 / 1.50
The (0.50) inch decrease in the un-stretched length was initially surprising but is likely the result of 50+ hand washings. The 2.00 inch increase in stretched band length is not overly surprising. The 1.50 inch increase in cup depth is very surprising. The 1.50 increase in cup height is extremely surprising.
These results lead me to wonder whether Bravissimo deserves its reputation of being small in the cup and a buyer thus needing to size up. Yes, a bra will initially feel small/tight but will it expand with break-in? I plan to explore this further.
Note: I do not use the cup over knee technique to measure cup depth as I think a more meaningful and relative data point is when a cup is occupied by ones breast. I think it makes sense that depending on bra style, bra cup dimensions can also vary during the life of a bra. Read more 358 more words
Purchased in early 2019, this white/grey Selina is my least favorite Selina. Fit and comfort are similar to the white Selina and Selina Lace, which is very good all things considered. My boobs are more front and center compared to the other non-Selina bras I have while also lifting just a little bit more than what my Alana's give me. Like my other Selina's, I feel like this minimizes me, more than my Alana's do. There really isn't anything remarkable about this bra and the pattern of this colorway can be visible under the wrong top. This somewhat indifferent attitude almost steered me away from .investigating the Selina white ...and Selina Lace but if you read my other reviews, you will see how much I love them. The Selina has potential as a great t-shirt bra but it is not boob sweat friendly. I also own the Selina in the white colorway and they both not as luxurious as this Selina Lace.
July 2020
I wore this Selina yesterday for the first time in at least 3 months, maybe 6, and was very pleased with how the day went. I had a bit of a hop in my step and I think it was because of how I felt wearing this Selina. I felt like I had boobs of steel! I had one of those days where I wore the bra the whole day and was in absolutely no rush to change out of it. The bra did not feel like a band with straps and 2 cups but rather like a complete, well designed mechanism for supporting my boobs. It was almost like my boobs were 2 pounds lighter and I felt like my posture was way better, more upright than usual. I have worn my Selina's a lot the past few weeks. With these Selina's, I have found some of my best bras ever and they were right here, sitting in my drawer the whole time! I am still not too fond of the star pattern though as they do show through on lighter colored tops. Read more 233 more words
Great review! Would you say there was a size difference between the pattern Selinas and the solid colored ones? I recently got the navy star print one second hand and love it. Ofc it's discontinued so I cannot get more... :(
Hi alisa. My initial measurements of my white & white/grey Selina's were identical. Since then, the bands have stretched out a little differently, with the white/grey stretching out about 1 inch more than the white, which hasn't changed much since day 1. If you like your Selina white/navy, I highly recommend trying both the White and the Selina Lace. The wings on the white/grey are pretty standard in terms of feel. For the Selina white, I simply love the dual layer material on the wings although I do wish the softer, smoother side was on the inside. The Selina Lace is a very different bra in terms of measurements and appearance. The un-stretched band of the Selina Lace is 2 inches longer while the stretched band is 1.5 inches longer. The un-stretched length difference is really obvious when I lay the Selina's on top of the Selina Lace yet they feel similar when I wear them. For me, both Selina's are great everyday bras but I find I get a little excited knowing the Selina Lace will be my bra that day. The Selina Lace is likely the most luxurious bra I have ever owned and given our size, there aren't many to choose from.
The Alana in mint colorway was my favorite until Bravissimo released the papaya . I purchased 2 in early 2016 along with a mint 38L and I wish I had bought more. As usual, Bravissimo refuses to re-stock their Alana fashion colors so once they are gone, they are gone. I get my usual Alana fit and comfort, including days where the 38 band is more important than the 40L cup, and vice versa. I also have Bravissimo's Georgia in mint and while I like this bra, I prefer the mint Alana more.
Getting close to the end for this mint Alana. The straps are no longer comfortable as they have lost most of their elasticity and the band has stretched to the point where the tightest hooks still leave me feeling a little unsupported.
I have no complaints for this mint Alana as it has been among my most heavily used bras in the past 6-7 years. Like all of my Alana's, this is definitely not the most luxurious bra available but it was comfortable enough, practical given the price I paid and reasonably long lasting.
I have 2 of these 40L mint Alana's and I think I may have confused them with my previous comment. Neither the straps or the band are close to being fully stretched out on one of them so I will conclude this one is currently ok after 7 years! I looked pointier than usual in this bra yesterday but my top was loose enough to mask this, more or less.
I have not purchased an Alana in close to 5 years (I think) and the price has gone up considerably, from £28 for my very first one to the current price of £36.
Purchased in June 2019, this is the 2nd of 2 Selina Lace bras I own. As one would expect, the fit and comfort are the same. My boobs are front and center while also being lifted just a little bit higher than what my Alana's give me. Like my other Selina's, I feel like this minimizes me, moreso than my Alana's yet when I measure, my breast perimeter is nearly identical. This blush pink colorway is a light creamy pink and I am appreciating this more and more. I also own the Bravissimo Erin bra which is described as being a pearl pink colorway. In comparison, the Erin seems ...like it is completely faded out. This Selina Lace looks luxurious with the lace covered wings and the copper/gold colored fasteners and I now consider it to be my favorite non Alana bra. Lately though, I do notice the gore to be folding onto itself but since none of the gores tack on any of my bras, this isn't a major problem. I find my arms brushing the side of the bra a little, which I do not recall happening when I first purchased it. I also own the Selina in both a white and white/grey colorway and they both not as luxurious as this Selina Lace. I also have the matching high waist panties and the combination just adds to the luxuriousness of the bra. Much to my surprise, I recently wore this bra with a medium dark blue t-shirt and was please with the result.
Wore this to work today and had a very good day in that I did not notice or even think about what I was wearing. No pulling up the straps, no shaking or tugging to put everything back in place and no pain whatsoever! I wish I had more days like this.
In my experience all Bravissimo bras are comfortable and are well built. They do not make my sizes so I tend to have the bras heavily altered. I had the straps removed by my tailor to convert this into a strapless bra that I wear around my hips. The bra texture is very soft/fine and looks great in person. Three hooks is a joke for a 40Q though.
White colorway
This bra's measurements have been altered
Altered straps,
Had straps removed to convert into strapless bra
Great Bravissimo bra. Like my blue one, this is also a first edition and is not sold anymore in this color. It does not fit me anymore unless I have the straps removed. Not a fan of the color and have not worn this for a long time. Open to selling.
Great Bravissimo bra. This is a first edition and is not sold anymore in this color. It does not fit me anymore unless I have the straps removed. Not sure I am going to keep this one, open to selling.
Blue colorway
This bra's measurements have been altered
Altered straps,
Cut straps off to make this strapless to wear around my vagina. My second (white) one is unaltered
Dec 2020 The first thing I noticed while putting the Gemma on was how vast the cups are. My goodness, there is no way these cups are anywhere close to the 40L Annie I purchased a few weeks earlier. I was astounded at how much room there was FOR MY HANDS as I tried to reposition myself in this bra after swooping and scooping. My god, the cups seem huge! Bravissimo recommends sizing down if you are normally a J cup or more in their other styles but I ignored this advice, much to my chagrin. Even with the narrow wires, the wires on the sides are at ...least a half inch outside of my torso. With a band this large and cups so tall and deep, I will not be surprised if this measures out to be a 42LL. All that said, this is super comfy, perhaps my most comfortable bra yet.
Jan 2021 I have loaded the measurement data for this Gemma and although a good portion of the measurements were similar to most of my other bras, there is no doubt that cups are very tall and very deep. If the Gemma cup depth and height stretches, this will definitely be my largest 40L by a long shot. That said, I have decided to keep it because it is so comfy and have ordered a 38L which, hopefully, will not be the wrong size in the other direction. I am puzzled by how round I was in this 40L Gemma. since a fellow reviewer had a far more pointier look than I was getting. Based on her review, which she submitted after I placed my order, I was kinda cringing when I started to pose in the mirror, expecting to see a similar result but, YAY!, a fairly rounded profile. Even with the new narrow wires, the cup extended out and a bit to the back from the sides of the wire. The sides of the cup were much further out from my torso than normal, leading to a lot of arm rubbing against the bra as I moved about. Hopefully my 38L will alleviate this.
Feb 2021 My 38L Gemma has not arrived yet and I am observing some significant differences with this 40L Gemma and the similar sized Annie I purchased a few weeks earlier. The wires appear to be identical and same with the gore yet the cups on the Gemma seem absolutely huge compared to the Annie. On the outer sides of the cups at the wires, the material of the left cup takes a hard left for about a quarter inch before projecting out while the right cup takes a hard right. I have never experienced this before and am not certain what is causing this. I think this may be caused by my being too small for the 40L Gemma and am hoping the 38L Gemma I have coming in proves this. More to come.
Mar 2021 Since receiving my 38L Gemma and Annie, I haven't had much desire to use this 40L Gemma. This Gemma is perfect though for lounging around at home as the amount of compression is far less than anything else I have which allows for greater comfort. If I am ever looking for the "boobs of steel" feeling, this Gemma is the last bra I would reach for, at least among my Bravissimo bras. I am still not that fond of darker colored bras though. I was hoping the 38 & 40 band Gemma's and the 38 band Annie in Navy I recently purchased would help me overcome this aversion but so far, I still feel the same.
Jun 2021 A fellow reviewer recently announced she was ordering a JJ cup Gemma. My initial reaction was to caution her about the Gemma sizing but I relented after she stated she had sized down by 2 cups. I hope the Gemma works out for her but I still wonder if sizing down another cup would have been better. This 40 band Gemma is definitely my lounging around the home bra as I rarely notice the wires and or feel excess compression. Both of my Gemma's are more rounded than my Annie's which are more rounded than my countless Alana's and Selina's. The straps on this 40 band Gemma is more prone to falling off my shoulder but that is not an issue as I only wear this at home and my 38 band Gemma is far less prone to this. I find the straps on the Gemma's and Annie's are ideal for me, soft yet firm with not much of a tendency to roll up and dig in. If Bravissimo comes out with a lighter colored Gemma, I may go with a 38KK although I am more or less convinced the 38L is the ideal stay at home bra for me. A 36L might be an even more ideal fit for me.
Nov 2021 This cups aren't rubbing against my arms anymore, YAY! I have put on a kg this year but I don't think that's enough to alleviate the arm rubbing, which was my biggest complaint with this Gemma. I suspect that the cups have stretched enough that my projection is now further forward instead of to the sides. The Gemma seems to have been discontinued as I no longer see it available on Bravissimo's site. Even the sale section has nothing. After a year of infrequent wear, I am noticing the band to be a little on the stretchy side. My 38 band Gemma, which I have worn maybe twice as much (but still infrequent) also seems a bit stretchy. I seem to wear both Gemma's on a tighter hook setting than any of my other Bravissimo's of the same band size so in this particular instance, their recommendation to size down a band was spot on, at least for me. In retrospect, I wish I knew then what I know now as I would have stocked up before they sold out. If you are familiar with the Bravissimo brand, you may have already experienced their practice of not replenishing bras that have become one of your favorites. Read more 910 more words
I have lost about 2 kgs since my Nov review update which now means this 40 band is simply too loose now. In hindsight, a 36L Gemma would have been the ideal size for me.
I have put the 2 kgs I lost 6 months ago back on and so this Gemma is wearable again. I still dislike the wide profile and the resulting arm rubbing I get. I think the biggest reason why I dislike it is that the rubbing reminds me how big I really am. The amount of projection is less than my many Alana's so in that respect it is a bit of a minimizer for me.
All in all, Bravissimo's narrow wired bras have been a godsend and so I rarely have the need to try something else, and that includes their new Oti-X line which was introduced a few months go.
I have been feeling kind of giddy recently as this 40 band Gemma has risen up my rotation. It seems to be more and more comfy with each wear. I suspect this is the result of the slow break-in period covering over a year of increased wear. I disliked the Gemma out of the box but it is so much better now.
My previous comment was posted after giving the Gemma a hand wash. The Gemma was reasonably tight and left me feeling happy with the fit but subsequent wears left me realizing the band was stretching more and more.
Today, I measured a stretched band length of 42.5 inches and it certainly feels way too loose. On the tightest hooks, if I lean over, the cups fall away from my body so the band ends up supporting the full weight of my boobs, not a good feeling for sure. Looks like I will need to wash this bra after each wear, either that or buy a Rixie Clip to "shorten" the band length.
Yesterday, I did something that was unusual for me - I tightened the straps about 1-1/2 inches more than usual and although the Gemma started off a little too tight, I was much better supported. Doing so also seemed to stretch things out even more and so the rest of the day was not noticeably uncomfortable. The side wires were still unnoticeable but the straps were stressing my shoulders a bit more than usual.
I purchased the Papaya in 2017 in both 38L and 40L I find the 38 bands are perfect, especially since the straps seem to barely need to contribute any support, a real shoulder saver and I definitely do not have to worry about the straps sliding off my shoulders. On this 40L, I am still on the middle hooks but the straps do tend to fall off. I get some quadding on the 38 band but essentially none with this 40. My perfect bra would seem to be an Alana in 38LL or maybe 38M. I continue to hope Bravissimo will one day add these sizes to their ...range. There seems to be nothing else in my range except the Ewa Michalak FB line. Although they have almost a dozen models, none currently appeal to me and at roughly twice the price or more, I simply cannot get interested in switching away from Bravissimo. My recent success with the Selina line pretty much locks me in with Bravissimo, perhaps forever. This is by far my favorite colorway, with the mint a close second.
Aug 2020 Still my favorite bra in terms of fit, comfort and color. I estimate this bra has been worn more than 100 times and still looks and feels close to brand new. In comparison, my 40L Alana in Mint seemed to hit a wall a couple weeks ago. By that I mean the straps suddenly lost much of their elasticity and the band did the very same. I am not looking forward to the day when this papaya does the same and am thankful that I have more than one of these.
Jun 2021 Bravissimo introduced new bras with narrow wires last fall which I bought and used almost exclusively since then. I pulled this old Alana out yesterday though and was both amused and amazed at how good it still was. The straps and band have still not stretched out to the point of being unwearable and thus held up well throughout the day. Read more 225 more words
Wearing on the tightest hooks now, hopefully will be a while before it becomes too stretched out.
June 2023
My previous comment was from May or June of 2020. I wore this Alana two days ago and although I am on the tightest hooks, there still is plenty of life left in it.
My narrow wired Bravissimo bras have made me realize that both my 38 and 40 band Alana's have always had some empty space on the sides. They also have me quadding over top with the 38 being more susceptible so in hind sight, these was a shape mismatch thing going on. Still, these were a huge improvement on the Curvy Kate's, Flirtelle's and Elomi Caitlyn's I had.
This papaya is still my favorite colorway and it led me to ask Bravissimo customer service if there were any plans to introduce a narrow wired Alana. Sadly there aren't any.
In the spring of 2019, I decided to give the Georgia a try. I really loved the mint Alana I purchased a few years earlier and I feel the same with this one. Comfort and support are quite good with very little quadding on either side. The cup material is a little thin, an observation that a fellow bratabaser also made.in her review so I generally wear the Georgia when I know I will have an extra layer or two. I prefer the Alana and Selina Lace over the Georgia but all 3 easily surpass anything else out there for me.
July 2020, I likely wore this, and my other ...mint 40L Georgia, fewer than 5 times each over the first year I had them. The material is certainly on the thin side and that made me think that it would lose support the more I wore it. However, over the past 2 months, I find myself wearing this more and more and perhaps more now than any of my other bras. I have been wearing fabric nipple pads whenever my bra does not hide them well and that has given me some confidence, especially on hot summer days. The shape I am getting now is a little more rounder and not so high and I end up feeling more comfortable. Plus, this mint colorway is without a doubt my favorite. I recently noticed that my white Selina had a band whose wings were made of 2 materials, each of different levels of softness that I had never noticed before in any bra I have owned. This Georgia has 2 materials in the wings as well but unlike my white Selina, the inside and outside layers seem to be the same materials Less surprisingly, the cups are comprised of 2 materials and they also seem to be of the same fabric.
June 2021 About 2 months since my last observation and for no particular reason, I had stopped wearing this bra. There has been recent discussion that focused on the straps Bravissimo has on their recent product line up. The comments seem to focus on the tendency of the straps to fold over which would lead to straps digging into the shoulders. Some of my Bravissimo bras have this weakness but the Georgia is certainly not one of them. At this moment, the Georgia straps are superior to all of my Alana's and most of my newer narrow wire bras. They are soft but firm with not even a trace of folding and they also do not slip off of my shoulders. I will send Bravissimo a note asking them to consider using these straps on their new bras. Read more 336 more words
I have gone a whole week without wearing one of my many Alana's. I have been neglecting or maybe ignoring all my other bras since the Alana's fit so well, at least compared to the many ill-fitting bras in my past. I have had this Georgia in mint for a year now and I may have worn it 2 or maybe 3 times. It gives a nice round uplifted shape although it tends to push my boobs into the sides where it then rubs against my arms a little. The band seems to be TTS although I have not worn this often enough to really stretch it out. The straps are soft but not overly stretchy so they do a good job of helping the band support my boobs. They are a bit too wide for me but that is likely due to my wearing this on the loosest hooks. As it stretches out, I can still use the tighter hooks to compensate. I recall reading a review on the Bravissimo website where one owner compared the material to a bikini. I do not understand the basis for that comment as this bra is not very close to any bikini I have ever worn. The Georgia does a better job at hiding my rather prominent nipples compared to my Alana's although there is still a bit of show through so nipples covers or a cami are still required. I find the Georgia to be very similat to my Selina, Selina Lace and Erin bras in terms of fit, style and comfort but they are very different than my Alana's. Overall, I still prefer the Alana to any of these and quite frankly, at this size, I am happy to have this many well fitting bras.
The Georgia's had dropped out of my rotation over the past year due my purchases of various Bravissimo bras that feature their narrow wires. I wore the Georgia to work yesterday and experienced all of the good qualities I remember previously having.
I was very disappointed with what I saw though when I took this bra off, not one but two of the eyes were close to being pulled out! It was the middle set that was affected so I can still use the loosest or tightest fasteners. Thankfully, I have worn my current rotation much more frequently than the Georgia and none of them have shown this problem.
Yesterday morning, I saw this bra in my drawer and decided to wear it on it's soon to be torn out hooks. Two of the three middle hooks looked ready to be pulled out and since I was going to be home all day, I figured there was little danger in being right. As it went, the day was quite normal with a little bit of heavy lifting so this Georgia with the weak hooks survived without incident. To be sure, I will not wear this bra, at least on the middle hooks, when I leave home.
The straps on this Georgia are indeed among the best in any bra I have ever had not named Jenna. I just wish they were an inch or so closer together to minimize straps falling off my shoulders. I think I will jump on a 38 band mint Georgia if I ever see one for sale.
I wore my other mint Georgia the day after I posted my previous comment with the same success although the fasteners are not coming apart on that one. I am very pleased but at the same time puzzled by why I more or less gave up on my Georgia's. I seldom wear these, especially lately due to my preference for my narrow wired bras and my Jenna's. I will likely wear these more often until they finally give up. I am regretting placing a recent order for new bras as my old Georgia's, Selina's and of course Alana's still have plenty of life in them.
June 2016 The daffodil Alana is bright and cheery. It also has that Alana fundamental rightness for me, I can put it on, go about my day and not be in a rush to get it off at the end of the day. As usual, the fit and comfort are spot on for me with just a little cakes on a plate and no quadding. The band is starting to stretch out and I will likely be on the last set of hooks before long.
June 2021 Wow, here I am 5 years later and this daffodil Alana is almost like new. Tbh though, I might have worn this 5 times ...a year since 2016 so it certainly is not in heavy use. I have been on the middle hooks for the past year so who knows, maybe I will get another 5 years out of this bra! Compared to Bravissimo's new bras that use their new narrow wires, I prefer this Alana less. The straps are not as soft as the Annie and Gemma but they do not fold over the way the new ones can, at least according to reviews here and on Bravissimo. For whatever reason, these folding straps are less of an issue for me as the folding is barely noticeable. The cups are smaller with a little less depth than the Annie and a lot less than the Gemma. My current cup depth on this Alana is 18" on my left side and 18.75" on my right side using the bra on method of measuring. I wonder if Bravissimo will ever release a narrow wire Alana? That would be really exciting. Read more 164 more words
Day 1 This bra is an epic fail for me. I had very high expectations for the Jenna and was so wanting for it to be the bra that finally gave the straps a chance to not have to carry the weight it so typically needs to carry. Sadly for me, the cups were far too small as I was quadding out the top and was leaking out the bottom and sides as well. This felt more like a J cup to me although I have never has a bra that was in that size range (I went from an H to K as for the longest time (5+ ...years) I did not know of any bras bigger than an H). With my boobs creating so much pressure on the cups, I was unable to properly connect the magnetic connectors on the straps. The bra is a very beautiful red but that alone is not enough of a reason to keep it long term.
Day 2 I think my frustration with wearing this bra on day 1 got the better of me. My day 1 review included not getting the magnetic fastener connected, even after trying for 3+ minutes. Today, I left the magnets connected, pulled the bra over my head and fastened the hook and eyes from behind. I have always been pretty clumsy and fastening the band at the back has always been a challenge and so I much prefer front fastening and spinning the bra into place. I also loosened the straps to maximum which lead to a more comfortable fit. I measured the Jenna before putting it on and was somewhat surprised at what I tallied. The cup dimensions were comparable to those I get with my Alana's (but not Annie or Gemma) and this convinced me to give the Jenna a chance. Today was a better day, with a lot less quadding on top and a much better fit in the lower cup. The Jenna felt less tight in pretty much all aspects so here's hoping the fit improves with each wear.
A month later Today, I feel like I am somewhere between my day 1 disappointment and the marginal success I had on day 2. I still struggle to put the Jenna on but the band, cups and to a lesser extent the straps, have all stretched just enough to make my struggles a little less frustrating. I am spilling out everywhere still so I still haven't worn the Jenna outside of home but then with Covid, I imagine most of us haven't gone outside much anyways. The benefit of this strap design is certainly noticeable. I feel like these straps are carrying more of the load than my Alana's do but the design of the straps is spreading the weight across the center of my back and shoulders so the weight of my boobs is less stressful on my body with the Jenna. The bra is without a doubt extremely beautiful and would be in my rotation if I wasn't spilling out everywhere.
Another 3 months later Since documenting my previous comment, I had not worn my red Jenna till a few days ago. The Jenna has stretched out a little more but while getting ready for work, I was unable to fasten the magnetic clasp on the straps. I was running a little bit late so I took a chance and left the clasp unfastened, reasoning that I would get it fastened at some point later that morning. It turned out to be a busy day but interestingly I only once realized that the clasp was still not fastened and I went the whole day unfastened! For me, the straps are capable of supporting me without the magnetic clasp being fastened. Bravissimo has released a black Jenna with their new narrow wires so I may get one. If Bravissimo releases this in a blush pink, I will likely get more than one!
Another 2 months later I had not worn this red Jenna since my previous comment, likely because the narrow wire Annie's were so good. I did wear this Jenna all day yesterday though with the magnets unfastened and I quite frankly had a very good day! The cups have stretched out enough that I am no longer concerned with quad boob but amazingly, the straps stayed between my shoulder blades the entire day, no adjusting required! No magnet required it would seem as well! Read more 626 more words
It's been 9 months since my last update and up until this past weekend, I had worn the Jenna once. The straps on my recently purchased narrow wire bras have become troublesome so I wore the Jenna mix things up. I went a whole day without realizing I had this on and there was no pain anywhere at anytime - YAY!
I'm still quadding but it's less than ever. I am still not filling the sides with 1 inch of emptiness but even that seems less than before. For my last two wears, I have fastened the wings and magnetic clasp BEFORE pulling the bra over my head! I pull my boobs in under the Jenna which is a little difficult but not impossible and certainly avoids the anguish of fastening everything the normal way.
I will be going for a black Jenna which uses the new narrow wires and should do away with the empty sides and muffin top this red one gives me.
The Jenna has become a minimizer for me! It currently gives me the roundest shape I have gotten in quite some time AND my bra on bust perimeter is close to 3 inches less than my other bras - this is very noticeable.
I normally avoid dark colored bras but this red Jenna is just so gorgeous.
Apr 2022.
Bravissimo has just released the blush pink Jenna I had been wishing for - YAAY!!! I decided to wear the red Jenna to work today and I have to say I am loving the shape and fit I am getting. I am feeling significantly minimized without any quadding on the top or sides. In fact, this round and minimized shape feels like the best I have ever had with the Jenna.
I had sent Bravissimo a note regarding the wires used on the Jenna and they say the narrow wires are now used on the new Jenna releases. The black was their first so that means the white and blush pink have the new narrow wires as well. YAAY, so, so excited, time for a new order!
Note to self - compare the wire width of the blush pink Jenna to the red, hopefully it is 1-2 inches narrower on each side.
I performed the comparison back in June and submitted a comparison review but I suspect most members cannot view it so I have pasted a link to it here:
I am still disappointed the narrow wired blush pink does not have a significantly narrower front profile but nevertheless, both bras are so necessary for the big cup crowd.
Highly recommended.
Since my last comment, I have had this red Jenna in my rotation and so have worn it once a week on average. The frequent use has helped stretch things out, so much so that I am now filling the sides much better with just a small amount of quadding on top. I am also able to fasten the magnetic clasp by myself with the bra on so after breaking-in the bra, the straps easily stretch to allow me to do this.
As I mentioned in an earlier comment, I love the rounded, minimizing shape I get and when I add in the supreme comfort from this strap design, this Jenna is a winner for me.
Thank you so much for your review and measurements!