Bra description:

This is, in my opinion, a truly beautiful and refreshing take on an otherwise ordinary T-shirt bra. As every item in the Rive Gauche range, with the lace and contrasting 'pin stripe' stitch details, its appearance is an interesting mix of 'romance' and 'business-like' attitude that really appeals to me.

The cups are moulded and lightly lined/padded, but the foam is thin and pliable and I think it will soften up further with washing and wear. It isn't a concern to me, but if it is for you, I'm pretty sure despite it's thinness it is still substantial enough that it prevents nipple show-through. The foam is overlaid ... with a smooth, satiny knit fabric and a narrow strip of lace finishes the cup edge. The lace is flat and soft and neither irritates (me) nor shows through clothing. Except for a small part near the gore it seems to lay flat against my skin. The cradle and wings are made out of the same lace. The lace is surprisingly firm, with still a pleasant amount of stretch. The cradle is lined and stabilised with a very sheer, smooth, non-stretch mesh. The wings in this size have side seam boning and although the closure is only two hooks high, they are spaced somewhat further apart than normal, which makes the back slightly higher (note that this type of closure is not compatible with regular-spaced extenders). The inside of the cups is not covered in cotton as I would have preferred, but in a smooth and soft knit material that still feels pleasant against my sensitive skin.

NB: from what I can tell, the side seam boning and wider back closure are only available in cupsizes E (DD) and up. Smaller cup sizes (regardless of band size) do not have side seam boning and have a 'regular' narrow-spaced closure.

The wires are actually fairly sturdy, and definitely not as flexible as some (Bravissimo, I'm looking at you!). The whole bra feels surprisingly light and seems to conform well to the body, especially considering the fact it has moulded, padded cups. The straps are only partly adjustable, which can be an issue if you are as petite and high-set as I am. The non-adjustable part of the straps consists of two narrow strands of elastic decorated with contrasting 'pin stripe' stitching. The bow that adorns the lowered centre gore -- the wires come up higher than the fabric piece that connects them -- has the same contrasting 'pin stripe' stitch detail. All findings -- sliders, connectors, hooks and eyes -- are made out of silver-coloured metal. A little silver-coloured metal tag with the brand name 'Chantelle' is attached next to the closure.

Bra fit

Believe it or not, but this is my best-fitting bra at the moment. It is not perfect, but for me it certainly seems a step up from the T-back and Demi versions of the Rive Gauche range (the T-back actually fits me well enough, but simply isn't entirely my style. The Demi is nothing short of a disaster as the cups are so tall and so very deep in the bottom).

The band is perfect for me on the loosest: snug, but still with enough give to not feel restrictive (for a variety of reasons I cannot wear my bands very tight). It stays in place well and doesn't irritate or cut in anywhere. The side seam boning and slightly higher back closure make it feel more supportive than most bands in this size range. Oddly enough, tightness-wise, the band of this bra feels quite the same as the band of the aforementioned Rive Gauche T-back which is labelled 70D. Rather than say that the band of this T-shirt version runs loose though, I think the T-back runs small.

The wires are perfect too: they hit me in all the right places and feel very comfortable. They are reasonably firm and don't seem to distort easily. Again, this may not be the same for cup sizes below E (DD).

Unfortunately the cups are, as all cups on all bras but especially the ones made by Chantelle, designed for someone way taller than I am. I have a petite upper torso, high-set and 'short' breasts and it shows: this bra is supposed to be a demi, but on me it covers significantly more. There's a very slight amount of empty space in very the top of the cup (more on my smaller side), but a size smaller would definitely be too small as I need this (horizontal) cup depth and wire width. The tallness of this bra (or my petite-ness, for that matter) is also where the two main fit issues I have with this bra stem from: I have to adjust the straps all the way if I don't want them to fall of my shoulders and the cup-part of the armhole is just a bit too 'tight'. When I move my arms forward or slouch even the slightest bit the gapping is absolutely phenomenal, suggesting the cups are way to big for me, which volume-wise they aren't really, especially not on my larger right side. I'd have to lower the armhole -- or better yet, take out 2cm or so out of the bottom of the cups -- to make this bra truly fitting, but it is not a disaster as it is. I might actually look into the possibility of making some kind of alteration as I like this bra enough to go the extra mile.

A problem often reported with this bra is a flattened-out bottom of the cups. When I first put on this bra I encountered the same issue, but when I adjusted myself properly and hiked the bra up far enough the crease disappeared (due to the smooth fabric overlay the crease wouldn't have been visible on the outside though as it only affected the moulded foam). In my case the initial crease seems to have been a matter of putting the bra on too low. Oddly enough, wearing the bra higher also made me fill out the cups better -- not sure where the added breast volume comes from, but hey, I won't complain https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" /> As said, though, in smaller cup sizes the wires may be more flexible, which may also contribute to more easily flattened out cup bottoms.

The shape this bra gives me is very very round and lifted. Unfortunately though I don't get the lovely 'mounds' the model photos suggest and the result on me seems a bit closer to BIHAL's 'green' shape than the slightly 'purple' shape I usually prefer (yeah, I'm weird like that), but it definitely looks good enough https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" /> I would absolutely love it if could get a similar fit in the unpadded Rive Gauche version, but in order for that to happen alterations are absolutely inevitable. I'm definitely working on that though.

Conclusion:

As said, my best fit straight out of the package yet, albeit absolutely not perfect. I'd have to shorten the cups somehow to make it truly 'mine', but the bra is definitely wearable as it is. It's a quality item (reflected in the price ... ) that looks good, is ridiculously comfortable to wear -- even under hot and sweaty conditions! -- and does all the things it is supposed to do. So, shall I "just get five of them and be done with it?" https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" />
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Updated on May 27, 2013 Flag this

The Rive Gauche T-shirt bras are great for ladies in the shallow spectrum. I've realized they're actually a smidge too shallow for me; my projection tends to cause some fit issues - like slipping straps. These bras are really great for under t-shirts, and I find them very comfy. This bra has wonderful little details - I love the stitching and lace.

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Updated on Apr 13, 2015 Flag this

This bra is one of my favorites so far. It's a great T-shirt bra; it doesn't show at all under clothes but it still has some nice details to make it pretty and feminine. I measure as a 28 band, and while I would definitely buy a 28 if they made them, the 30 isn't so loose as to be unsupportive. Wire width is pretty average, which is good for me, and has average depth as well.

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Updated on Jul 21, 2013 Flag this

This is a pretty and flattering bra. Unfortunately for me, the band is too loose, so I don't feel supported adequately. Otherwise, it might have been a nearly perfect bra for me.

Pink colorway

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Updated on Sep 19, 2018 Flag this

Wonderful fit! It enclosed everything with no gaping. The martial is super soft. True to size. I just can't afford a $78 bra right now.

black colorway

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Updated on Jul 09, 2015 Flag this

The shape and fit of this bra are perfect, however there are a couple of flaws that will keep me from repurchasing this bra in the future. This bra is very cute and soft, but the band not stretchy enough. I have it on the tightest hook brand new and while it doesn't move around it still feels too loose. It won't last very long. If this bra came in a 28 band size it would be brilliant! The straps are also not fully adjustable. I can adjust it easily to my size, but the double strap detail on the front part is slippery and rub/tangle against each ... other. Annoying more than anything; doesn't really effect fit. The last issue is that the underwire is too flexible. I can feel it pulling wider when I bend over, etc. Which is why the band probably feels too lose. If the underwires were firmer, it would fit more like a 30 band. I will wear this bra until it becomes too lose because it looks nice under T-shirts and I have yet to purchase a nude T-shirt/molded cup bra that fits better than this.
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Updated on Aug 13, 2014 Flag this

This bra fit well - I didn't keep it because I didn't like the color of stitching (taupe colored) on the black bra.

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Updated on May 26, 2014 Flag this

Edit 2/25/14: This was my first bra that fit - originally I barely liked it. Now I think it's my best fitting despite the issues I have with the band. I've adjusted my ratings accordingly. The cups are great for my shallow breasts, and the wires are the perfect width (haven't nailed down my narrow or wide-ness yet). The band has stretched a bit and become more comfortable, although if I inhale all the way the band will creak as though it isn't meant to stretch! The lace is nice, though along the top of one cup it folds outward a bit (not because of quadding, probably from ... my incessant slouching). You can also see in my pictures that the lace along the bottom edge in the front also folds up, probably also from slouching. The wings are a nice height and this bra doesn't squish me anywhere, making it very attractive to wear (although a little constricting due to the stiffness of the band - seems like a contradiction, too constricting and not stretchy enough yet also too loose, but it's somehow true?). The straps are a bit wide set for me, and I'd love this in a 28dd, but it's still a great t-shirt bra (I really need to get one in nude) and I wish I could find more that fit like it for reasonable prices!

Original review: The band on this bra is really stiff and it makes the whole bra feel poorly fitting and loose even on the tightest hook. The cups are fine, the lace accents are nice on them. The lace along the bottom of the band, however, folds upward on me and is slowly sticking out more and more. The underwires poke me in the sternum and I'm often adjusting the center front to stop the uncomfortable feeling. The straps are fine, though they're very close to not adjusting short enough - I have about an inch left as they are currently. Overall, this bra feels kind of tank-like - heavy, stiff, and thick.
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Updated on Feb 25, 2014 Flag this

The bra in itself is fairly comfortable and really pretty. The quality is good too however, the band is too lose, the top of the gore cuts into the chest, the gore is too narrow for me and the cups peak open at the top, like all bra cups tend to do on me. Also, the straps can't be adjusted quite short enough.

Updated on Jan 29, 2014 Flag this

First off, the band is a bit stretchy on this bra, as it easily reaches 31''. However I don't find it to be an issue as my breasts are pretty well self-supporting. The lace at the top of the cups is visible under some of my t-shirts, but largely it's not bothersome. I adore the deep burgundy wine color, and the black detail stitching on the straps is a lovely detail.

Updated on Aug 15, 2013 Flag this