So...the highly anticipated Curvy Kate full figure bra....has a lot of problems. There are also some really great things about it. It is a complicated bra. Let’s dive in.

First, the materials are super soft in the hands, really nice feeling. Nothing is hard or scratchy. Neither the band elastic nor the strap elastic has any nasty plasticky loops that are so common on Curvy Kate bras. The bra is lined with a firm but lightweight tulle on bottom and the same mesh as the band on top, under the lace, so there’s no internal quadboob anywhere. The ... design is a pretty typical 4 part cup where one part is a power bar up to the strap. The shape is more of a high apex plunge than a balconnet, although the gore is a similar height to a balconnet I have in the same size- this is not shown in the numbers, however, because while the wires match up, the gores overlapping A shaped bottom shortens the gore at the bottom. This is possibly my favorite part of the bra and others with high stomachs will love this. Most of my bras cut in at the bottom of the gore so I might be doing a new alteration on my bras from here on out.

The general shape of the bra is good. There is finally enough center and top room and the shape is right for me. The stretch lace is nice and firm. The higher strap attachment in theory allows more centered straps. The cup is plenty deep at the center and deepest part. The gore is not too tall or wide.

There are two main problems with this bra:
1. The bra fits about 1-2 cups bigger than other Curvy Kates I own or have tried in 40JJ. It is both much wider and deeper. I wonder if there is vanity sizing going on, or an actual fit problem, as described below.
2. The bra materials, besides those mentioned, are pretty problematic:

The wires are probably the worst part of the bra. They are the most flexible I've ever experienced. Combined with a firm band, they stretch back to my back. If I stretch the bra at all they begin flexing back. This may be intentional- when I hook the bra on the tightest hooks, they are really at my back, but the front of the bra is fairly smooth and fits pretty well. The sides of the bra don't gap as much. But the straps are then pulled too wide. The wires are also too short for the bra, causing a lot of gapping and loose floppy material at the top of the cup edge, which is exacerbated by the cup edge elastic being incorrectly sewed without stretching it enough. The wires actually end before the comfort cushion part, which means that the cushion does nothing. However, I will say that I can imagine the cushion would be really excellent protection for the chubbier-sided bra wearer. Certainly I can see its benefit for me.

The overlay fabric is likewise terrible. It is very stretchy and loose, and because it doesn't match the tension of the non-stretch tulle lining there are a lot of sewing errors and a ton of strange wrinkles. If I were to keep the bra, I would remove this layer of fabric as it does literally nothing except cause problems.

The straps are not great either. Although I love how wide and soft they are, they are a little too stretchy. I have to shorten them very short indeed to get any lift at all.

I want to compare this bra to my 40JJ - Curvy Kate » Curvy Kate Poppy Balcony Bra (CK10011) and my 40J - Curvy Kate » Dragonfly Plunge Bra (SG5411) , both of which are really excellent fits and pretty great feats of engineering in my mind, to say nothing of their beauty. Curvy Kate can make a really good bra when they spend the time and effort to engineer a good fit. This bra falls short, but there are concepts and qualities that can be improved on. My hope is that, with feedback, Curvy Kate can create something spectacular for the larger band + cup size that marries the elegance and excellent fit of their last season's best bras and the ingenuity and promise of this one.

As I typically switch out bra wires anyway, I almost want to try this bra in a 40J and change the wires, cut off the top fabric, and take in the sides where they gap if needed. Maybe when it goes on sale, or is sold used somewhere I could try it. It has a lot of potential, even if I would never recommend it for anyone to try off the rack.
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Updated on Feb 23, 2019 Flag this