The Curvy Kate Portia Balcony is a very, very cute bra, with a cute contrasting ribbon woven through the upper lace panel. The three part cup provides moderate lift. The sling-shaped outer panel is much larger than the inner triangle that comes off of the gore, though, to it tends to push side-breast inward more than center-breast outward and give a slightly pointy shape. On my very soft boobs this resulted in a flattening of the outsides and a falling to the center. This is the same exact cup shape as the Freya Gem Balcony Bra (1361) .

Sensitive types may not love the picot edging on ... the straps, or the exposed seams and ribbons woven through to the inside on this unlined bra, though the fabric and materials themselves are soft. There are just a lot of textures. The thick elastic straps are sewn on to the apex of the cups rather than looped through a ring, so there is a sharper-than-you-would expect edge of cut elastic with pokey corners. This could be problematic for those with strap-boob bulges.

Short ladies will appreciate the low gore and wing height, and the minimal .6" underband, which is cut out under the gore to give room for tummies.

The wires are very rounded, with the outer edge just 1/2" higher and slightly straighter than the gore. They are 1/4" taller at the gore and wider at the outer tip than the sister size 28FF - Curvy Kate » Portia Balcony Bra (CK4001) . They also happen to be almost exactly the same wire shape and size as the 28FF - Freya » Gem Balcony Bra (1361) except they are 1/2" shorter at the gore and the Portia 30F band is 1" longer. The distance between the outer tips of the wires is 12.25" but they easily stretch wider, which could cause distortion and the consequent wire poking for ribcages larger than 27", unless you have wide roots and need the cup to go around the edge of your rib cage.

I am a comfortable 29" (27" tight) and the gore and wires did not contort enough to dig. The straps, though, were too wide for my petite 10" wide frame width and because they are not on rings in front, the top of the cups wrinkled when shortened and positioned on my shoulders.
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Black/Pink colorway

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Updated on May 27, 2015 Flag this

Sadly, this didn't fit me. I'm reviewing the lime version and it's supposedly narrower than previous Portias. I believe that to be true so if Portia almost fit you or could've fit if it was just a bit narrower, try it again in the newer colours https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> For me, a narrower fit is still not narrow enough. Had this been a padded bra, I would've probably kept it. My breast tissue is quite firm so when underwires are just a tad too wide, it doesn't matter. My boobs don't shift around as long as the cup fits well otherwise and the band ... does so too. When it's nonpadded, you're relying entirely upon the seams and them aligning well with your particular breasts, this does not align well enough to create a round flattering shape. It was a little sad shape ("saggy", although my boobs are far from saggy) and that's because of the underwires being too wide (consequently, the fabric connecting the strap is too far out to properly lift the breast to create that round shape, pulling from the wrong place/angle). The band was too big but it was a thousand times more comfortable than say the Freya Antoinette in terms of the band (more even band tension, the Antoinette may just be the worst case of uneven band tension I've ever come across!). If the cups would be perfect for me, I'd need this in a 28FF and I'm generally in-between band sizes (28 and 30) so if you are too, I definitely recommend sizing down rather than up. Too bad it didn't fit me... The colours are stunning and I *really* wanted a light bra for summer. Oh well, sweating in bulky molded bras it is....
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Updated on Jul 30, 2014 Flag this

I don't know what's not working for me exactly. The cup is wrinkly so I might be in a cup size slightly too big, but I'm not sure I could go down a cup and fit. Definitely gives a somewhat "rocket boob" shape. Also my nipple definitely comes above the more see-through border that runs across the cup

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Updated on Oct 28, 2016 Flag this

Copied (I got 3 Portia's at the same time) Cute, was an ok (but not quite) fit. Loosest cup of the 3. Fits my best friend (who is more full-on-top) much better, so I'm passing it on!

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Updated on Sep 13, 2015 Flag this

Copied (I got 3 Portia's at the same time) Cute, was an ok (but not quite) fit. Of the 3, this one fit best. However, it fits my best friend (who is more full-on-top) much better, so I'm passing it on!

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Updated on Sep 13, 2015 Flag this

Cute, was an ok (but not quite) fit. Fits my best friend (who is more full-on-top) much better, so I'm passing it on!

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Updated on Sep 13, 2015 Flag this

I bought this bra from a fellow Bratabase member. Unfortunately it didn't fit me, I didn't fill out the cups. I'm still figuring out what size I am. I really wish this bra fit right, as it was really comfortable when I tried it on. It is also really pretty, and you can't see it under clothes. I would keep it except it's not the right size for me.

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Updated on Apr 17, 2015 Flag this

I bought this bra from a fellow Bratabase member. Unfortunately it didn't fit me, I didn't fill out the cups. I'm still figuring out what size I am. I really wish this bra fit right, as it was really comfortable when I tried it on. It is also really pretty, and you can't see it under clothes. I would keep it except it's not the right size for me.

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Updated on Apr 17, 2015 Flag this

I bought this bra from a fellow Bratabase member. Unfortunately it didn't fit me, I didn't fill out the cups. I'm still figuring out what size I am. I really wish this bra fit right, as it was really comfortable when I tried it on. It is also really pretty, and you can't see it under clothes. I would keep it except it's not the right size for me.

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Updated on Apr 17, 2015 Flag this

A gorgeous bra, I really love the pattern. It doesn't show through most shirts, though it will show through very thin ones. The lace at the top of the cups is a really sweet touch. The bow at the center gore has come undone on mine but it's a very easy fix.

White colorway

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Updated on Mar 25, 2015 Flag this