The Princess Balcony is one of the most popular Curvy Kate styles, and since I've had good luck with three-piece cut & sew unlined bras, I had high hopes for this one, Unfortunately, I tried two different sizes, and I don't think this is the right fit for me.

Bratabase most consistently recommends 28DD for me, but I found that the 28DD band was far too small, thus it pulled the wires right into my ribcage and into the sternum. The Princess Balcony has very firm wires, so they didn't give when strained, and caused me a lot of pain. It is really important in this ... style to find the right band size for you, because the wires won't flex if the band is too small for you!

However, I do appreciate that Curvy Kate uses a really firm elastic on these bands, giving them a solid degree of support. The wide straps and U shaped leotard back also contribute to this feeling of strong support. Straps feel really secure and stay nicely in place.

I didn't really care for the styling of this bra in person, although I liked the idea of the design. The flocked polka dots made me worry that they would attract clothing fibers from different colors and look dirty. The floral embroidery at the top of the cup is cute, but I didn't feel that it looks expensive and elegant, especially since this bra costs more than similar styles from Freya or Panache. The ribbon detail, embroidery, and polka dots did not feel cohesive to me as part of the design, and I felt they would be better off on separate styles. They also are all quite textured and look like they would be visible under clothing. This particular bra in the Flamingo colorway is a bright, gaudy hot coral.

The main problem for me with this bra is the fit of the cups. While the measurements of this bra aren't too different from other similar cuts from other brands, the cup depth is deeper, so it's designed for someone with more projection. I fill out the majority of the cup, but the top portion under the lace edge is pretty empty on me. You need more upper fullness to fill out the bra as intended. However, the upper edge is a narrow 1/8" elastic, and I think this would be flexible enough to suit tall roots without being too closed off. The cups are also lightweight, comfortable powermesh that give great shaping and support. Much softer than Panache Tango brand new!

My opinion of the bra is that this is an excellently engineered design, and if it works for your shape, it would be a great functional piece. Aesthetically, I am not a fan of the design elements.
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Flamingo colorway

Updated on Apr 21, 2020 Flag this

The Princess Balcony is one of the most popular Curvy Kate styles, and since I've had good luck with three-piece cut & sew unlined bras, I had high hopes for this one, Unfortunately, I tried two different sizes, and I don't think this is the right fit for me.

Bratabase most consistently recommends 28DD for me, but I found that the 28DD band was far too small, thus it pulled the wires right into my ribcage and into the sternum. The Princess Balcony has very firm wires, so they didn't give when strained, and caused me a lot of pain. It is really important in this ... style to find the right band size for you, because the wires won't flex if the band is too small for you!

However, I do appreciate that Curvy Kate uses a really firm elastic on these bands, giving them a solid degree of support. The wide straps and U shaped leotard back also contribute to this feeling of strong support. Straps feel really secure and stay nicely in place.

I didn't really care for the styling of this bra in person, although I liked the idea of the design. The flocked polka dots made me worry that they would attract clothing fibers from different colors and look dirty. The floral embroidery at the top of the cup is cute, but I didn't feel that it looks expensive and elegant, especially since this bra costs more than similar styles from Freya or Panache. The ribbon detail, embroidery, and polka dots did not feel cohesive to me as part of the design, and I felt they would be better off on separate styles. They also are all quite textured and look like they would be visible under clothing.

The main problem for me with this bra is the fit of the cups. While the measurements of this bra aren't too different from other similar cuts from other brands, the cup depth is deeper, so it's designed for someone with more projection. This particular bra seems to be an anomaly, since I measured it at an 8.7" cup depth and the average is 8.2", so I think this one was wildly off-spec. I fill out the majority of the cup, but the top portion under the lace edge is pretty empty on me. You need more upper fullness to fill out the bra as intended. However, the upper edge is a narrow 1/8" elastic, and I think this would be flexible enough to suit tall roots without being too closed off. The cups are also lightweight, comfortable powermesh that give great shaping and support. Much softer than Panache Tango brand new!

My opinion of the bra is that this is an excellently engineered design, and if it works for your shape, it would be a great functional piece. Aesthetically, I am not a fan of the design elements, and I am wary of the inconsistencies in measurements across individual bras.
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Black colorway

Updated on Apr 21, 2020 Flag this

About me: close set, center full, tall, sloping roots, full on bottom (though combined functionally even in some respects), narrow and projected.

Width and depth we're good, but I couldn't fill the top of the rather closed off cup. It requires more overall fullness and shorter roots than I have I think.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Feb 14, 2020 Flag this

About me: narrow, projected, full on bottom with tall, sloping roots. Also close set and center full.

The wires, band and straps all fit well - wires aren't too wide, band is snug but doesn't cut in, and the straps aren't so far apart that they cut in at the front of my arm/shoulder/chest. The top of the cup, however, cuts in. I'm not sure if it's just too small or if it also closes off too abruptly for my upper tissue. I plan to try the 30F soon and find out.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Feb 02, 2020 Flag this

This bra is just way too big for me in the cup. I have a 26" snug underbust, 30" standing bust, lying bust of 30.5", and leaning bust of 31.25" and ABTF says I'm a 26DD or 28D. There is so much extra material at the top. It fits nicely around the bottom of my boobs. I just don't think brands like Curvy Kate and Freya are meant for my petite frame and shallow, wide breasts. I'll stick with The Little Bra Company and similarly sized and designed brands.

Black colorway

Updated on Jan 22, 2020 Flag this

Comfy and flattering. The lace edging has a tendency to bend outwards, however, and after less than a year, a wire popped. I get a little bit of a quadboob on my biggest boob, but overall, nice enough bra.

Updated on Aug 24, 2019 Flag this

ABOUT THIS BRA
This is an unpadded, seamed, half cup, underwire bra with polka dots.
Note: The purchasing and construction details of this bra are identical to the 32F.

Purchasing:
* $68 on Amazon with free Prime shipping & returns
* Also available with Amazon Wardrobe.
* Available in black, beige, white, yellow, blue, and purple -- all with tone-on-tone polka dots.

Band:
* One layer of smooth (not dotted) stretch mesh.
* Wing support: seaming.
* Continuous band - wires lower than wings.
* Back close with 3 columns of hooks.

Straps:
* smooth elastic with outer ridges
* soft (don’t stand up on their own)
* full adjust
* leotard back

Cups:
* 2-seam (3-piece) half cup
* unpadded, average strength underwire
* Inner top ... edge of cup is edged with elastic. Outer cup edge is non-stretch seaming.
* Top panel is stretch lace (unlined).
* All other panels are constructed of non-stretch mesh over a non-stretch, semi-opaque knit.
* Soft cups (no padding or molding).


ABOUT ME: petite with wide horizontal oval, slightly conical breasts
* average projection
* average-set (one finger width of space between breasts)
* very wide roots (extend past the mid-axillary line)
* even horizontal fullness (just barely outer full)
* short root height, average vertical placement
* mix of firm & soft tissue (front molds to shape of bra, sides push wimpy wires away)
* conical shape (but will squish to round)
* full on top (2/4 shape, not even or very full) - BUT functionally even to FOB due to short roots and soft tissue
* petite (5'3") so have narrow frame
* front (anterior) rib flares


FIT DETAILS

Band:
* length: stays in place with wear but feels slightly loose (suspect will need to move to middle hook sooner than usual)
* wings: way too short

Gore: Tacks. Height & width fine.

Straps:
* Way too far apart. Slip.
* Adjust short enough.

Cups:
* Wires wide enough (unlike the 32F).
* Top of cup: wrinkles or gaps (expects more upper fullness)
* Bottom of cup: wrinkles or gaps (not enough immediate projection at wire)
* Cup apex: too deep
* Strong wires aren’t pushed down or out.
* Just covers boobs, doesn’t provide much shaping.
* Outer edge of cup cuts into Tail of Spence.


Assessment & Plan:
* Cups wide enough but too deep. Also tried -1 cup size (32F) which was too narrow but not as deep (still too deep). This model is too projected for me. STOP, SHAPE MIS-MATCH (too projected).
* Also, when will I stop trying half-cup styles? The straps are too wide-set for my petite frame -- slip and cut into tail of Spence.
* This style is recommended on r/abtf for FoB/even, wide-ish roots, above average projection, and rounding horizontal oval breasts. This should have checked so many of my fit boxes, but it didn’t.
* I recommend this model for FoT/even with above average projection and average (not narrow, not wide) roots and average to broad shoulders (not narrow). It probably would round-out horizontal oval breasts, if it is the correct width and depth.
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White colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Jul 16, 2019 Flag this

ABOUT THIS BRA
This is an unpadded, seamed, half cup, underwire bra with polka dots.

Purchasing:
* $68 on Amazon with free Prime shipping & returns
* Also available with Amazon Wardrobe.
* Available in black, beige, white, yellow, blue, and purple -- all with tone-on-tone polka dots.

Band:
* One layer of smooth (not dotted) stretch mesh.
* Wing support: seaming.
* Continuous band - wires lower than wings.
* Back close with 3 columns of hooks.

Straps:
* smooth elastic with outer ridges
* soft (don’t stand up on their own)
* full adjust
* leotard back

Cups:
* 2-seam (3-piece) half cup
* unpadded, average strength underwire
* Inner top edge of cup is edged with elastic. Outer cup edge is non-stretch seaming.
* ... Top panel is stretch lace (unlined).
* All other panels are constructed of non-stretch mesh over a non-stretch, semi-opaque knit.
* Soft cups (no padding or molding).


ABOUT ME: petite with wide horizontal oval, slightly conical breasts
* average projection
* average-set (one finger width of space between breasts)
* very wide roots (extend past the mid-axillary line)
* even horizontal fullness (just barely outer full)
* short root height, average vertical placement
* mix of firm & soft tissue (front molds to shape of bra, sides push wimpy wires away)
* conical shape (but will squish to round)
* full on top (2/4 shape, not even or very full) - BUT functionally even to FOB due to short roots and soft tissue
* petite (5'3") so have narrow frame
* front (anterior) rib flares


FIT DETAILS

Band:
* length: band rides up
* wings: way too short

Gore: Tacks. Height & width fine.

Straps:
* Way too far apart. Slip.
* Adjust short enough, but already at shortest setting so won’t be able to tighten when elastic relaxes.


Cups:

* Wires very narrow.
* Top of cup: wrinkles or gaps (expects more upper fullness)
* Bottom of cup: wrinkles or gaps (not enough immediate projection at wire)
* Cup apex: fits (not too deep, too shallow, nor off-center)
* Strong wires aren’t pushed down or out.
* Just covers boobs, doesn’t provide much shaping.
* Outer edge of cup encloses Tail of Spence (and it stays there).


Assessment & Plan:
* Band too big. Cups too narrow and deep. Also tried +1 cup size (32FF) which had wide enough wires but is even deeper. This model is too projected for me. STOP, SHAPE MIS-MATCH (too projected).
* Also, when will I stop trying half-cup styles? The straps are too wide-set for my petite frame -- slip and cut into tail of Spence.
* This style is recommended on r/abtf for FoB/even, wide-ish roots, above average projection, and rounding horizontal oval breasts. This should have checked so many of my fit boxes, but it didn’t.
* I recommend this model for FoT/even with above average projection and average (not narrow, not wide) roots and average to broad shoulders (not narrow). It probably would round-out horizontal oval breasts, if it is the correct width and depth.
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White colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Jul 16, 2019 Flag this

The detail lace is a little too much at first wear. It's a little itchy and the lace details that go up the strap, while pretty, make the strap feel thick. It fit so well, and was a decent steal of a price, so I decided to use it as my guinea pig bra. For me, after a day or two of wearing this bra and washing, I didn't notice these things nearly as much. Surprisingly enough, the lace detail at the top of the cup does not seem to interfere with any tops I've worn. YMMV though. The cup is definitely too small and the stitching on ... the panel sort of gives me quad-boobing inside the cup when I move certain ways. I have not tried this in a 36GG, but I imagine it would fix that issue (as upsizing the cup did with their Princess plunge). White is also a terrible color if you wear 99% black shirts (the dot details pick up color like crazy!), but I found this on Amazon for about $23 and I wasn't going to argue for that price!
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White colorway

Updated on Jun 08, 2019 Flag this

This the 2nd of this model of Curvy Kates I've added to the database. As with the previous 'Princes (CK6001) this bra is too big for me in the band and cups. I only borrowed it from my friend Tara to add to Bratabase. But from what I can tell the Princes seems like very nice quality bra. Also very pretty.

Updated on May 16, 2019 Flag this

DarianaWheeland

1163 reputation

131 bras