This is the unpadded version of the CK tankinis, I think it's even the only style of their swimwear that they offer without padding... There is the top and then a "regular" mesh bra sewn into the top. The bra itself has a typical CK cut like their balconettes.The straps are full adjustable.
When I received this tankini back in march 2019 the cups were just slightly small for me. The cups are not very tall and a bit shallow at the center, that could be the reason. Now 3 months later it fits me quite well. I do have some slight gaping towards the straps, but nothing too ...noticable. All quadboob is gone and the band feels a bit loose but still okay. (I have not tested it for longer time because Summer only just started here) I think I could also wear a 32JJ in this style of tankini. The band is made of usual bra band "cheap" mesh so it is very stretchy. On the other side I don't like my swimwear to be too tight and constricting. I will update here once I tested it in water.
Some words about appearance: I think the shape could be a bit better. Especially from the sides, I think it doesn't look as uplifted as I would like. Although the tankini top fabric that lays over covers it somewhat. Also a good feature: the top of the bra and the fabric of the swimtop are not sewn together so you can move the fabric a bit upwards for more coverage and move down for more cleavage. I'm glad that this style is made up to K-cup it's a really good option if you don't like extra padding on your swim bras. Read more 182 more words
Amazon Prime Wardrobe: Swimsuit Edition! (Where I order bras/bikinis available on Amazon Prime Wardrobe to try on and add more data to Bratabase!) My shape: FOB, projected, soft tissue, narrow shoulders
So here's another case of mistaken identity/mislabeled bra/bikini. Luckily, it's just a try-on bikini, so I'm not out anything but the time it took me to try on/measure/take pictures, which I would have done anyways. This was listed on Amazon as a UK 32G, but I was sent a US 32G, which is several cup sizes too small for me. I don't know if it's because it was listed as a "Junior's" bikini? That would certainly explain how small ...this is in the cup! The label attached and on the bikini says UK 32F, which is more in line with the actual size, so I think there was some miscommunication on the website. Anyways, this is a well made, pretty cute bikini top! It's got a little ruched/gather effect at the middle of the cups, and the top edge has scalloping, which I personally think adds a little more cuteness factor. The cups themselves are 3 part construction, ((on diagonally horizontal and one vertical) but the outside has an extra layer of fabric so you can't see the seams. It's a nice alternative for someone who likes the fit of bras with seams, but the look of molded cups. I am really loving how cute the Curvy Kate bikinis are! They have so many different options. I just wish their bras/bikinis fit me. Read more 143 more words
I ordered Fantasie bra & panties from Prime this week. Just to see if it could possibly be fantastic (pun intended) enough to be worth the price and/or be an alternative to my beloved Polish brands. Nope. No cigar. I'll post it on the weekend.
Speaking of size conversions: I HATE them with a passion. Please, retailers, stop doing this. Well, actually, I don't care, but please still list or show the sizes as they appear on the manufacturer's tag.
Poor you and your bikini quest...I just wear simple triangle bikini tops. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Thank God. Bras are enough trouble.
I've got four other bikinis I have to measure and review, but yes, none of them worked. I wasn't surprised; it was more of a half-hearted hope that maybe SOMETHING would fit ok, but nothing remotely compares to the Polish bras and how well they fit me. I agree about the size conversions. It just causes more unnecessary confusion!
Thanks for posting the pics and measurements. The cup depth/width/height seems pretty close to my 32E size and the style looks cute. I might give this style a go if I don't like any that I ordered to try.
I've also been ordering some bikini tops to try (for bra science too and hoping I will eventually like one enough, lol) and it's hard. I wish they wouldn't convert the sizes either, I've made so many mistakes when ordering because of this.
mandapandarawks Oh honey, your bikini luck just doesn't end, does it? Sorry and big hugs. 💕 I hope the Peach on the Beach nails it for you. 🍀🍀🍀 You are so overdue for a bikini win!
braluv have you been using Amazon prime Wardrobe to order swimsuits? They have a LOT of them available, though I think they are a little overpriced if you buy through them. I only picked out ones that had underwire and came in my size or sister size, and that only amounted to 5 actual bikinis, lol.
This particular one is pretty cute! I would probably wear it if I could try on my for real size, but since they converted it wrong on Amazon, I don't even know what size I would be sent. They have it for $66, but I'm sure you could find it cheaper on eBay or somewhere else!
mandapandarawks I haven’t been using Amazon lately since I had such little luck before and I feel their prices aren’t as competitive sometimes. I have mostly been trying some stuff in store at Target, Nordstrom Rack, and ordering from Bare Necessities (BN) and Target (they have free returns). BN has some great pricing right now and send out coupons all the time, plus they usually have free 2-day shipping. There’s this new style from CK which I think is really nice: https://us.curvykate.com/curvy-kate-wrapsody-black-bandeau-bikini-top They also have this same style as a one-piece which looks really chic and classy.
Victory is one of my favourites for under t-shirts, surprisingly. It gives my boobs a nicely rounded, up-front and slightly separated shape, and doesn't cause necklines of t-shirts to ride up and choke me like moulded t-shirt bras tend to do! It isn't a perfect fit for me in 30FF, but it is good enough and offers good support on the middle to tightest hooks. If it came in 28G, it would be perfect! The wires are a good with for me, and encompass my breast tissue perfectly. I love the sleek, clean-cut lines - no frills or bows, instead a sleek 'V' charm and cut out detail ...to keep it light. The cups are perhaps a little shallow at the bottom, by the end of the day I get a little bit of an 'orange in glass' effect where the wire has dropped slightly and there's a crease in the bottom of the cup, but it doesn't affect the comfort or support - I actually only notice it when I go to take it off. I've had the latte one for a couple of months and black for around a year and a half and both are holding up well with regular wear and washing. Read more 98 more words
The 34HH is the best size for me in this style. The band fits just like a 32 band. The cups are only slightly too tall and wide but if I swoop and scoop properly I can almost fill them. It looks like there is light quadboob going on, since I would need a ...bit more depth at the gore. The gore is very difficult on this bra. It won't lie flat in any size that I tried so far. (Not even in sizes that were clearly too big like the 32K) I have to really arrange my boobs a lot in the cups to get gore close to tack. I think that is because the bra has a lot of room on top and on the sides but not where I need it the most: at the center.
The shape under a t-shirt is really good, no east west look from the front and a round not too projected shape from the side. I fear that it won't be supportive enough for a full day of wear. The construction is too weak for my boobs. I find the wires and fabric too flimsy and I really dislike the thin shoulder straps. I was really tempted to keep this bra as I have no bras that fit currently, but I think it's better to pass on it. Read more 173 more words
Oooh! It’s soooo good on you! Best I’ve seen! Sorry it’s not a perfect fit but it’s really close!
Thanks :) You know what? I almost removed tags and call it a good fit. Then I remembered how often I did that and the bra ended up being to weak for full day wear :/ I wore it für 30 min and if felt ok during that time. Then on the next day I wanted to do this again and it felt weaker already. I'm glad I can still return it.
Sorry it didn't quite work, but it does look really nice on you!
Ooh this is good, you're getting closer to a perfect fit! Sorry it didn't work out though :(
I second (or third?) veggiechic & Frazzleberry. It looks like the best fit so far. Progress is a beautiful thing. 💙
Maybe keep the tags on and try it some more. Maybe it’s not a perfect fit, but it’s good enough?
Hi Calluna Dear,
I think it's close to a good fit for an otherwise delicious bra. However...
The gore portion is too weak IMHO.
A flaw in scaling the design to such high cup letters.
Is the lower part of the gore elastic ?
The gore is an essential structural reinforcement. It must resist the downward bending momentum and other forces by anchoring underwires to a solid structure.
Otherwise, the gore will creep down.
I would try 4 layers of thin nylon mesh with grains oriented 45 degrees relative to each other. Then give it 3 - 4 finely spaced crossed "quilt" stitches, cut to shape and fine stitch on the inner side of the gore, well connected to the underwire pockets.
The aim being to shorten the lower portion of the gore and prevent it from stretching of flexing.
Hopefully the underwires have enough beef to take it ;)
A bit of overkill, lol Hon, I like experimenting ;)
Have a super day, best regards,
Mathy
Tagging alisa as she’s the owner of the bra, not me, and can answer your questions femineaaeterna. :)
I have immediate projections with tall shallow roots and more outer fullness then inter. My roots are close set and narrow. I heard the princess plunge was the most open of the ck plunges so thought the fit would be perfect for me. I still have wrinkling at the top but not as bad as others. The apex of the cups lines well with my apex. The wires are narrow. The gore is slightly too wide and sit on my right breast and can be a little uncomfortable. The band is nice and firm. I like the flower details at the top of the cups and the thicker fabric of the cups. I wish it came in more colors.
Yeah, this bra is just crap. I think my measurements underestimate the cup depth because I was doing the over-the-knee technique and seemingly ALL of the depth (if you even wanna call it that) is at the sides of the bra. My breasts are very center-full and certainly more close-set than wide, so it might work better for someone with wider breasts? The wires are pretty soft and flexible, and personally I think that + the extra fabric on the sides is responsible for the way the wires are wrapping nearly around to my back.
Oh, and the comfort cushion things? Nice idea, but pointless in execution. Possibly because the wires are so far back, the cushions just ended up sort of creasing and then flipping up and outwards away from my body. If they were sewed flat that might help!
Hoo boy. Well, it's still real depth--it's just totally in the wrong place for you! A bit like having a shoe with room for a 6th, 7th and 8th toe ;-) Depending on your breast shape and bust weight this particular bra might work in a size about 2 cup volumes down and 1 band size up--but only if it's not too short/closed and shallow for your center volume. Otherwise you'll overflow in the smaller cup even though you're only using about 70% of the volume in the 34J cup volume.
These wires are made of pudding! I thought Elomi Caitlyn wires were bad but this is worse. I wanted to ask you, do you stretch the band just very little when you do the stretched band measurement? Because I find that band really small for a 34 band? I think you could size up to a 36 band and a smaller cup and maybe get a better fit but I could be wrong…
wendybien You're absolutely right, it is real depth. In my head I was struggling imagine how anyone could have breast tissue all the way over there; but now I'm imagining someone with a much wider frame or broader shoulders and yeah, it could work for someone built like that. I don't think the bra would work for me in a smaller cup/larger band. You can see how it is threatening to cut in at the center already.
alisa I suppose I am conservative with stretched band measurements, especially on bras I know I am going to return. I didn't find the band to be particularly tight. I usually go for a 34 band in CK because they tend to stretch out quickly imo, I'm in between 34 and 36 to begin with, and I like a tighter band so I can loosen straps and avoid neck/shoulder pain.
triumphof if you are uncertain about band fit, you could just try this one with an extender (or two!) and then at least that would enable you to assess exactly what the deal is with the cup shape and depth. I agree that in these photos the cup edge is cutting in at the top but it also has that characteristic look of "cup too big pulled halfway round body by too-tight band" which typically will cause that edge to cut in anyway. The excess cup height and width is also causing the whole cup to slump down on you which falsifies the fit at the cup edge even more.
My bra also had a band like that. If you stretched it at all the wires bent back. I’m thinking of trying the bra in a 44G! 2 band sizes up from my last bra, 4 cup sizes down. O.O
triumphof Thanks for the clarifying about your band measurements. Yes it makes sense not to stretch the bands on bras you want to return too much. I also don't stretch them to the maximum, but I try to do as much as I can without having the band stretch out.
I'm petite (5'2") with a pretty short torso and somewhat short roots. My breasts are close-set and projected with a fairly even fullness. My most common problem with most balconette bras is that the underwire comes up too high in the centre and stabs me in the chest, and also often sit on top of my breast tissue since the wires are too far apart. However, many plunges are padded and far too shallow, so I often have to choose between getting stabbed or overflowing in the centre.
This bra is an unpadded, sheer plunge, and is pretty much the perfect plunge for me. The band is stretchy enough to be comfortable but still supportive. The cups have the perfect amount of projection for me and give me really nice cleavage without cutting into the breasts and the gore sits very comfortably against my chest. No more chest stabbing or wires on boobs!
It's a very pretty, sheer, light and sexy bra. It's not supportive though. I know for a fact that if my breasts were 100% real, I'd never ever consider it. There is no side support - meaning the outer third of the cup doesn't have any extra netting or anything and the straps aren't thick. The materials are soft and the band, because it's mesh is very stretchy. I didn't pay a lot for it, so if I could fill the lower cup, I'd keep it...but, alas, with my projection, it's wrinkly on the bottom and I know that in 15 minutes, it would be sliding down, leaving me with wire welts about an inch below my breasts. In Curvy Kate, I know I'd need a F-cup wire on an FF cup. CK FF cups are too wide https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" />
Your excellent photos perfectly demonstrate why this bra did not work for me and felt very painful. Unlike you, my breasts sit unusually close together at the base. The wrinkles you are seeing may be related to the center-shallowness of the cup design. When they radiate from the gore, you can almost bet you need more center projection. Sigh--so many center-shallow options.
Love4Pollinators I'm so glad that my photos are good for demonstrating fit problems ;) I can't wait to post more with a GOOD fit lol
I wanted this to work soooo bad https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" /> I guess it kind of does, this might be the closest I got to a good fit with a bra that is not Ewa Michalak.
I decided to try Ellace because it seems to work for everyone. The colourway Mulberry was on sale, so I was like... eh... can't hurt, right? Right? WRONG.
Ellace in 32FF is the first bra in which I can't get a firm gore tack. The wires overall seem more flexible than any other bra I have tried apart from, maybe, 34E - Bravissimo » Dina Bra (LN578) . So ...there's a first for everything. It's still a soft tack, it's sitting against my sternum, just the very top of it feels more like it's floating rather than sitting on it. The wires are also more narrow but not narrow enough for me, if I was looking for perfection. Maybe average width?
You can't see it in the pictures but as is usually a problem for me with stretch lace on any but EM bras (seriously, what DOES she do that others can't figure out? I am so confused by this), I get in cup quadding due to change in tension. In Ellace it is not that extreme as it usually is, though, which makes it workable. Maybe it won't show in thicker shirts. Three part cups, with the top obviously being stretch lace. There is an elastic along the top of the cups (a la Fantasie, but it's stretchy) that also slightly cuts in. I know I am aaaaaalways going on and on about my very soft tissue but it's an actual real problem with bras! It's devastating to have a bra fit so well and then all of a sudden there's random bulges everywhere due to it just being so soft it gets moulded by whatever is trying to mould it. There is zero resistance. More than anything about my boobs, I wish they weren't like this. But anyhow. I don't think I need larger cups, as my smaller side also quads so I think it's just a tension/tissue mismatch.
The band is snug, not tight. The additional elastic they added along the bottom of the band really does work to provide more comfort. I was surprised there's some really nice lace between the cups. Unfortunately, it feels like there's some weird tension going on in the band. Like maybe I need to close the top of the band on a tighter hook than the other two. I am not sure that this is something I want to do. The top of the band just feels loose -- maybe that's why the gore is not tacking. Omg I just closed it on the tighter hook and the tack is a little firmer! That's so weird. I think for optimal fit I'd need top tightest hook, middle middle hook, and bottom loosest hook, but my fingers are just not that athletic right now. Maybe it's a colourway thing? edit: managed to do the finger gymnastics. Yes I can confirm the gore now tacks.
The straps don't adjust long enough and it bothers me. On my larger side it's definitely pulling down more than on my smaller but ya know? Story of my life. The straps are also reeeeally wide set and as they have the scallopy edges it might take some getting used to. edit: nevermind, the straps are a world of pain. They are so short actually that putting on my 70FF - Ewa Michalak » Sf Blueberry (1420) was a relief! Lol
I don't know if I'll be wearing this bra out. The longer I wear it, the more the quadboob is pronounced. I don't wanna return it as it's an annoyance having to return stuff, I didn't pay much for it so eh, whatever.
This bra gives a very very pretty round shape btw. I would recommend it to anyone who doesn't have the same issue I do with most stretch lace bras. I think the stretch lace would work great with cyclical changes as well!
I had that same issue with the in-cup quadding (and out but that's another issue). It wasn't that noticeable for me initially under clothes, but I wonder if I had some growth spurt around that time, because it was really pronounced a few weeks after (which was then compounded with quadding outside of the cup)
I didn't recall having that issue with the band, so maybe it is a colourway thing? I do remember the bands feeling more comfortable. So I think that elastic really does help.
It honestly feels like the lace kind of makes a little bulge all around. Squeeze on one side, squeeze on the other = bulge. It goes from being barely visible to being very very obvious under anything but a sweater. I'm thinking of maybe sewing some stretchy tulle under the lace, maybe that would fix the issue...
Ooh, probably the tulle will give it some structure? So it's not bulging?
This is what I'm thinking. The folded over tulle like EM does in some of her bras should provide more structure. Now I only need to figure out how to do it lol.
I love the comparison to Ewa bras! After Ewa, is there really anything else that can work?
And the dreaded V back band design. While awesome for those with a V frame, it is a nightmare for those of us with a | | or / \ frame since the top of the band flares instead of supports. :-\
This has to be some extreme V back cause the top of the band is like an 34 while the bottom is a 30! Crazy
And honestly, I would really really like to know what it is that she does that is so different than others! In all of Ewa bras I have tried, there is only one that gives me some semblance of in cup quadding (Baklazan) and even that is barely visible unless I really really puff my chest out. But it's all stretch lace! How is it so different?! I can't figure it out and it's really frustrating me lol.
With Ewa I think it's more than just the reinforced tulle, as I have several models that aren't reinforced and still no in cup quadding. (SF Szaron, the half lace BMs etc) all work beautifully with just the lace.
It may be that Ewa provides more depth at the apex instead of tapering back in like many brands do? So the bottom of Ewa cups are like a shelf while CK here is like a lipped ledge?
Yes exact same thing except I can't take a photo from the back to show it! It's like loose all around the top, first time I have experienced such a thing.
Her cups seem to have a different shape overall, which might make a big difference. The little cut and sew piece that attaches the cup to the strap seems to also be absent from any other bra I've tried, it's either strap directly to the horizontal part of the cup, or the side support panel which goes vertically throughout the cup. It just might be that this little piece makes a difference :/
Could be! It may be a combination of all ideas too, like a domino effect. All aspects needed to create the bra to perfection! :D
I have the same fit problems with my latté and crimson Ellace bras. The lace bubble is worse on the crimson than the latté and the uneven band tension is a pain. I have to use extenders with both of the 30s I have because new, they only stretch to 28.5" for me, which is my snug ub measurement (28-28.5") though I did wear the crimson for several hours the other day without the extender and was ok. It was definitely tight and left thick reddish pink marks at the lower band area, though the marks didn't stay. I get them even with the extender though. I'm torn. I really want to try a 30F in it to see if it fits better than the 30Es I have.
I honestly don't see this fitting any better on me in cup size up tbh. My smaller side is already gapping at the top of the cup near the strap, and I cant even imagine how much wider the wires will be in 32G.
I don't see red marks as a bad thing, I get them from panties, socks, jeans so I figure a bra is also normal. If it bothers you, though, then it's definitely a problem!
@sovavosi I just saw this but gosh that seems way out of my capabilities!
brasaremean that is kind of what I worry about if I try a 30F. The cups would have more room though, so the band might not feel as tight, and the cup is a little bit taller which might help some. But I do worry about my small boob having too much space. I'll have to take some updated pics for my albums. I think that I might redo my site measurements and re-evaluate the bras that I have for the fits, since so many of them are not fitting me now.
Yes I think much as it would aif with the tight band too-large cupscome with its own problems, such as fabric bunching up along the wire, empty at the apex, lace gaping, pointy shape etc. I'd say if you have a chance to try it to see you should, but ordering online nah.
Oh gosh mobile fat fingering.
That loose fabric in the corners because the top of the band is not quite as tight/taut will still be a problem and the elastic band at the bottom is still likely to leave the same thick mark...but I'm still curious to try because it has good immediate depth and the style looks great on me. But I think that I want to buy new so I can return it as needed rather than buy used here. But I have considered buying the one here....it's just that I really want to try a BM and am trying to save the money for one. But I'm tempted by a few of the listings here that I could get 2 bras for the price of 1 new. I'm having that struggle right now.
You can see the mark I mean here. I'd been wearing the crimson Ellace prior to trying the latté on. Look just below the band.
Honestly, I regret spending money on anything other than EM bras now, even regret buying the one SF instead of just buying another BM, lol.
And yeah, I see the mark. Does it hurt? Does it go away fast? Are you seeing any permanent indentations from it? I think no matter how severe the marks are they should be gone within 15ish minutes from the body. The indentations will depend on how easily your skin/body 'imprints' (I really cannot think of a word in English for it-- does it even exist?) I can for example just lean on something textured and within a couple of minutes my skin will take on the texture and look all red and angry... then it takes about 10-15 minutes for it to go away. Again, it depends a lot on your dis/comfort. If you feel uncomfortable because of it, then it's definitely an issue.
BTW, if history repeats itself a black friday sale should happen in the EM store in less than 15 days eh? Might be cheaper to buy that than to order from CA/USA stores?
Honestly, I've never paid much attention to how quickly it fades, but it does kinda hurt, though I am not sure if it's because it's too tight or simply the material used for the bottom of the band.
I was thinking about the Black Friday sale, though I don't know what to expect for discounts and I don't know if I will have enough by then. I'd also have to get it shipped to someone in the states as I don't want to deal with DHL. But it's something to consider. Thanks! Maybe Broad Lingerie will have a Black Friday sale too.
Honestly, I've never paid much attention to how quickly it fades, but it does kinda hurt, though I am not sure if it's because it's too tight or simply the material used for the bottom of the band.
I was thinking about the Black Friday sale, though I don't know what to expect for discounts and I don't know if I will have enough by then. I'd also have to get it shipped to someone in the states as I don't want to deal with DHL. But it's something to consider. Thanks! Maybe Broad Lingerie will have a Black Friday sale too.
Honestly, I've never paid much attention to how quickly it fades, but it does kinda hurt, though I am not sure if it's because it's too tight or simply the material used for the bottom of the band.
I was thinking about the Black Friday sale, though I don't know what to expect for discounts and I don't know if I will have enough by then. I'd also have to get it shipped to someone in the states as I don't want to deal with DHL. But it's something to consider. Thanks! Maybe Broad Lingerie will have a Black Friday sale too.
Dang duplicate comments, sorry!
I think that Curvy Kate has actually updated this model since this colorway was available. Alot of people were complaining about the uneven tension of the band and how stretchy the stretch lace was and that it caused a lot of issues with the firmness of the bottom cup. If you do try again you may want to try the new release color, navy and wine i think it is called. You definitely might want to invest in some good strap elastic (or pre-made straps) to make your straps longer when not purchasing through EM. Also, I think EM uses really good quality limited stretch lace instead of the fairly cheap super stretchy lace that most companies use. Sometimes the biggest difference in fit and wear is simply the quality of the fabrics. Then also the methods used to attach it to the non-stretch portion of the bra. Sooo many things go into many quality lingerie that things like CK & many bra companies just don't think of or do. You know, they send a pattern to a cheap manufacturer to make the most $$ and it ends up how ever it ends up. The color is very pretty on you.
I love the colour! I wish I could find a quality review by someone in new colours and a comparison with the old ones to see if they actually did fix the lace and the band. I wouldn't mind cashing out for the bra if I knew 100% they fixed this because otherwise it is a great fit.
Straps being short is just how life is for me, lol. Idk if it's that I'm really low set or above average height (I don't think I am at 171-173cm--can't remember if it's either or-- there's a ton of taller girls than me, at least where I live), or maybe a combination of both :/
Yeah, even I agree that the straps are short and that never happens. 😂
this video makes me thing the lace is about the same tbh. You can even see it bulging on her slightly, which means for me it would probably be just as extreme as Mulberry
Yeah I totally see it there. But at least the band looks better. XD
And opening up two tabs one with this bras pics and the other with the BM from Ewa I can easily tell a huge difference. The Ellace has ALOT more stretch lace than the BM. The BM cut goes over the apex of the breast and then the lace is attached to give support and comfort to the only the top section of the breast, the BM also isn't supporting the center/inside of the breast with stretch lace like the Ellace is. It's always so interesting for me to study the build of the bras. I look at it and can almost see the pieces turn into little pattern pieces in my head.
Atleast you have a very pretty bra you can wear on lounge days and during the winter. And best of all, if you ever decide to play bra-engineer this one was cheap and you could easily play with attaching different fabrics under the lace to see how it works. ^.^
brasaremean You can always take the wires out of this one and make it into a bralette too :)
And totally, thanks for the link. I spent like the next half an hour just watching the different lingerie.
Calluna It is not just you experiencing the discomfort in the band btw. I was wearing it today just to see how it feels wearing it for longer and I swear the actual lower part of the band is a 30, while the top is like a 34. It's been really tight and uncomfortable at the loosest hook on the bottom.
I love this bra in every way except that I think I need a 34G instead of GG. Although Curvy Kate is known for stretchy bands, it seems that in recent years they have gotten less stretchy. Their cup sizing used to run small, and it appears that it runs more true to size now.
I have also lost weight (& thus breast volume) and gotten fitter, so it seems my ribcage has gotten more muscular & thus thicker.
Cups are smaller than my other 30DD in Crimson (I was banking on it being smaller since it's darker and dark dye usually means smaller) but damn are the wings stretchy!! Even worse than my other! It's WAY too big right off the bat, you can see wrinkling cup fabric under my arms since the underwires didn't spring. Being big to being with, and having super duper stretchy wings (what is with the one layer of weak mesh??), and stiff wires, it takes a LOT to get the wires to spring.
Cups are great accept that the lace is looser than the lower cup portions, but then the top ...elastic is tight, so it creates an in-cup quad effect when first scoop and swooped, but then the top cup edge slides down within a couple seconds of movement, causing it to create a bubble.
I love the style even though the wires are a bit too wide even not being sprung, but I definitely knew sizing down in cup would be disastrous as I've already tried that, and by some fluke it was $14.89 on Amazon Prime (now it's $72???) so I took a chance. Ideally I'd want to try this in a 28E, but it's $54.95 which is a HUGE price difference. I need to just bunker down and sew some freaking black powermesh onto the wings, and it will all be good!! Also might remove the narrow elastic along the top of the lace. What's the point of stretch lace if you're going to have tight elastic along the top edge??
If they could create a slightly narrower-wired version of this bra, with actual powermesh as the wings, and didn't tighten the top edge of the cup, it would be the perfect bra for me. If anyone knows of one matching this description, let me know. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
Update after a full day of wearing: the wires are too wide, so my boobs settle into the armpits, and the cups end up puffy and empty in the upper part of the cup throughout the day. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" /> It's obvious under tight or thin or clingy shirts, and I continually feel the need to readjust. This bra might have to be a large project: add powermesh to wings, adjust armpit elastic, put in narrower wires, and maybe have to take out some center cup depth. We'll see. Read more 297 more words
I have wrinkles at the strap/side of the cups as well. I think it's some kind of flaw because my 30Es are both tight (28.5" stretched) which is right around my snug ub measurement. As for the bit of ribbon on the lace, I completely agree and have toyed around with removing it. I think that it's there to make the stretch lace cups appear more closed in. Your assessment of the flaws is exactly the same as mine and yet I love the bran and plan to try a few sister sizes.
Interesting that this fits so different from your Crimson red one in the same size. Black and Champagne was the first version from AW 2015. Maybe they fixed a few things in later colorways.
Also agree with Calluna that the wide wires are probably a flaw. I have wide set boobs and get the same wrinkling on the sides in both my 28F (http://bra.pe/XY3C/ less, but the wires are distorted) and 30F (http://bra.pe/XYt0/). You see this on so many girls.
If you are planning a big surgery on this thing anyway, you could try to shorten the elastic between the straps and the band a bit, although I'm too afraid to do it on mine.
Callunaaboobaccount Thanks for the input! It's good to know it's the original design. They must have made the armpit curve too large or deep or something, or didn't pull the armpit elastic tight enough in the older style. Yes I could try shortening it, oh boy, haha. I do know that in my crimson I didn't like that the underwires seem a lot shorter than the channels and I always had to push them away from the center so I wouldn't get gaping at the side. (and also prevent painful gore digging) This one seems to have slightly longer wires, and a more U shape and more stiff, which is also contributing to them not wanting to spring. I'll have to hold the bras together to compare!
Slava-Zone check out my reviews for both Ellaces and the Florence bras. I get the wrinkles on both sides and all three bras (though I returned the Florence). In the Ellaces and Florence bras, I thought that maybe it was because I'm center full and the sides are a little bit empty as a result, or the tension of the band is tighter on the bottom than top go accommodate a v shape torso, but a user on one of the reviews said that she has a v shape torso and it still wrinkles. So I can only see it as a design flaw.
Very short-waisted, center full, close set, somewhat narrow, immediately projected, shallow apex projection,...
Of the four recent Curvy Kate purchases (32G Princess, 32F Atomic, 32FF Atomic, and 30GG Portia), Portia fits my breast characteristics most comfortably. Comparing measurements, the comfort is likely attributable to Portia's .25" wider wire and a slightly narrower lower gore.
Still, CK's gore width remains too wide despite my "sizing up." And, I instinctively choose wireless bras over wired bras because wires HURT my unpadded ribs.
Overall, the short wing height works well for my very short-waisted body. But, the materials in CK Ellace are so much softer and easier to wear. Additionally, I prefer the support of Ellace's band.
That is lovely, and looks like not a bad fit if it wasn't for the gore. Sorry it doesn't work for you.
I really liked the saturated aqua. It fit well enough I should have just kept it, but I thought I could purchase one from a Bratabase user. Someone purchased it before I could ;-)
Such a gorgeous color! Sorry the gore didn't work for you. :-(
I fix the gore problem by sewing it. It adds extra depth for my insane central fullness - not sure it would be a good solution for you, if the cup fits well otherwise...
BlackieBird It is so strange for me. When I have narrowed the gore, the cup becomes too narrow. My breasts are not, apparently, as narrow as many of our users' breasts.
Center full, close set, immediately projected, shallow apex projection, short-waisted, somewhat narrow
Flamingo is, perhaps, unusual among Princess colorways. What an unpleasant surprise: this is NOT a wide, shallow Curvy Kate. This 32G UK is only 5.5" wide and offers 11.25" of depth. This is a deep and narrow bra. Sigh. What happened to the wide, shallow model with the 6'+ wires? Enter expletives. Some of us are NOT "narrow." Growl.
Like a 30GG Florence I previously tried, 32G Princess wires require a disproportionate amount of band length when compared to smaller cup sizes. It is a bit bizarre and most assuredly a design miscalculation. From a physics perspective, ...this design characteristic creates fantastic cantilever support. Perhaps that is precisely why the band/wire proportion seems "off." On my 28' underbust, however, the wires pull over 6.3" wide. The cup distorts significantly, and it doesn't look like it fits at all. Adding an extender simply creates a much too loose band. Strange.
My prominent nipples are vividly visible above the lower part of the cup. And, my larger breast is torpedo-shaped because one wire sits on 1/2 its circumference. This is due to the standard .8" Curvy Kate gore. Admittedly, this is a typical experience for my close-set, center-full breasts. Wacoal is the singular manufacturer who has created a flexible, adjustable gore. You can view how this design change fits very close set breasts in the 34G photos: http://bra.pe/IiFF/ And, the same bra on less close-set breasts in 38G: http://bra.pe/IdHM/ Curvy Kate, we need solutions.
This bra, I purchased hoping I could easily alter for a summer gardening bra. Adding a wider wire will shallow the cup too much for me. Summer is such an uncomfortable season for this avid gardener with way-too-sensitive nipples who regularly encounters thorns and branches. Searching for a summer bra for my breast characteristics reminds me why I never wear wires: wired bras are not designed for my physique.
Although I have sensitive skin, the materials did not irritate my skin as others have reported. For this, I am very thankful.
The colorway is vivacious and smile-generatingly cute. Generally, I dislike pink and kitsch, but this colorway is fresh and quirky. Fun. The embroidered polka dots did show through, but it looks like a cute swimsuit. I did not find the show through offensive. And, the straps? Well, I'd love to show them off.
Three x three fasteners, .75" straps, soft materials, fun colorway, this bra has everything I prefer....excepting a 6"+ wire https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";-)" />
See I like that their balcony bras are narrow now, but the memory of the awful combination of steel wool and ass hairs the Princess I once tried on was crafted from makes me forever avoid any incarnation of this bra like the plague.
lcl0706 I had avoided Princess for two years because of the multiple complaints about "steel wool" cup edge. Perhaps in addition to changing the wire width, they also softened the materials. Sounds like they are listening to their customers :-) :-) Finally ;-)
"...the memory of the awful combination of steel wool and ass hairs the Princess I once tried on was crafted from..." LOL, lcl0706 !
Where have you been all my life, darling? This bra is my new favourite and I'm never taking it off, for real. It's more comfortable than anything I ever had. The shape under clothing is the best: gathered forward, projected, lifted to the moon, with a defined peak, not too round (which I love). The cups fit me like a dream, but you might need to size up like I did as they come a tad small. For reference my breasts are FOB, short roots, average width roots (not too narrow or wide), projected, tons of center fullness. Cons: the gore is too high/wide which means it sits ...on my breast tissue, but this bra is so soft that I don't mind. Straps are too far in my armpits even though I have broad shoulders and never had this problem with any other bra. Once again, this bra is amazing so I forgive. It's the first bra that doesn't give me cleavage, something that is almost inevitable with so much center fullness; the separation is so refreshing! The Indigo colourway is so much better in person than it is in the pictures: the perfect mixture of casual minimalism and the right dose of spice. I already ordered the Apple colourway too, and can't wait for CK to release more and more versions of this fantastic gem.
Edit: the Apple colourway arrived, the band is quite a bit tighter than the Indigo (which is great), but the cups are also smaller: I'm quadding out of the middle so much that it pushes the gore away from my sternum. Read more 160 more words
Me: Short, narrow roots, splayed, very projected at wire, average apex projection, even FOT/FOB, extremely center full. Wide on top, omega on bottom? Cleo Lily/Marcie fit me best.
I've recently tried a few beigeish bras from Curvy Kate to supplement my rainbow of Cleos.
Here's a short review of the 30F Florence in Blush, largely compared to my usual 28FF Marcie.
The materials and fit are similar to the Marcie, with lower wings and gore. The horizontal seam on the cup is about a seam height lower than the Marcie, with the upper cup section correspondingly taller, so a slightly lower apex?. The band on the ...30F Florence is fairly tight, only slightly (maybe one hook?) larger than the 28FF Marcie. Had I been able to buy the Florence in a 28FF, I would probably be wearing it with an extender in the beginning.
Overall I'm happy with this bra. I'll probably take the gore in a bit as the band is a little bigger than I need, and it's generally a good alteration for my center fullness.
It's appearance is similar to the pictures. My bra arrived missing its gore button, but I'll keep it anywayhttps://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" /> Read more 99 more words
My breasts are center-full, pendulous, FOB, and I have a lot of squish in my band measurement. My center-fullness is usually my dominant fit requirement. I suspect I have somewhat short roots, and narrow-to-average roots for my size. I also have narrow, somewhat sloped shoulders.
I think this would work better for someone more even or full on top, or possibly with more self supporting breasts. I just couldn't fill out the loose mesh at the top. I did really like the amount of projection it offered though! I definitely suggest it for someone that can support the mesh cup upper portion and needs a ton of projection.
My main ...complaint (as in, not simply a fit mismatch) about this bra is while the triangle cut out is cute and on trend, on my body it just looked awkward. I'm chubby and have plenty of fat in this particular area, so it just pressed down tightly and gave me a lil' fat triangle right int he middle of my bra. Not "tightly" as in uncomfortably, but sort of like what happens to the skin on your arm if you put a tight rubber band around it. Just not super sexy or attractive. I have a Ewa SF with a similar cutout that has a thin layer of mesh over it. Still sexy, cute and visually interesting while working for more body types. Read more 123 more words
I had the same problem with this bra but more so. It's definitely for someone with roots that are much more spread out, I think, especially vertically. Which is fine as CK has many bras great for short roots.
My shape: Projected, narrow, shorter roots, even/functionally full on bottom, soft tissue. Cleo Lily fits me best.
Unfortunately this fits a whole band size large (32). It fits about true to size in the cups if you have short roots; it cuts in a bit on my larger side. Sadly the straps are painfully too short on the longest setting. I'm so bummed!
My shape is low set, soft, slightly pendulous, and narrow and short rooted.
I got the blue colourway, and it's a really gorgeous colour. There is some pretty lace that is nicely laid out on the cups and on the sides of the band, and there is a lighter blue strip on the lower band that compliments the navy nicely. The band feels pretty 'true to size' for me, not too stretchy, and the straps adjust long enough on my tall frame. There is stretch lace along the upper cup edge, and on the inside of the lace, there is a thin elastic lining along the upper edge of ...the lace cup. This lace elastic bit cuts in a bit on my larger side. I could probably get away with it, especially since it fits my smaller side, but I'm a bit self-conscious of how it looks.... It makes it looks like I'm getting in cup quadding and bubbling on top. I'm on the fence as to weather or not I'm keeping this bra. I sized down in this bra since some of my unlined 30Fs have slight gaping. I have a feeling I'm in between a 30E and 30F though.
The bra is very comfortable overall, and I could probably wear it all day without any discomfort. It's lightweight and would be nice for summer. The material is soft and non-irritating. The shape it provides is not as round a cleo marcie but still nice (somewhat more natural looking on me anyway).
I do get some side boob/fat rolls that I'm not too fond of. I'm not sure if it's because the wings are too short for me, or if it's because I need a bit bigger size. It could also just be the way my body is these days since I'm a bit out of shape, lol....
Overall this is a lovely bra that would be ideal if the size was right.
I sometimes find that sort of bulginess smooths out after a few wears and washes. Is it visible through clothing?
dbmamaz I was wearing a sweater when I tried it out, so I'm not sure, but it probably wouldn't show too much. I haven't decided if I like it enough to keep it or not. It looks better in pictures than I felt it looked like in real life. We'll see... it's either I keep this one that's a touch too small on one side, or a 30F that's too big on the other.
I just got this one last week in the crimson colour (30E also) from a user here who’s also a friend. I have the exact same bubble issues from the lace that you described. But I don’t think it’s visible underneath my clothes. For me, I feel like the band is a bit too snug. I can do it up on the loosest hook, but it will hurt behind the gore after a while. I’m wearing it with an extender on the middle hook and it’s comfortable, so I think I might need this one in a 32 band. And cup wise, I also have a tiny bit of in cup quadding but feel like I might have gapping if I size up. I think that we might be boob twins. I feel like you described my shape, though I think I might be more pendulous?
I think this bra looks like a great fit on you. And, I assure you, we always look worse in photos (that aren't a professional photo shoot) than we do in real life. Perhaps you should post the 30F and we could help you choose which one to pick? I think Ellace is supposed to be a lower coverage bra any how. Seriously, if your comfortable KEEP it! It's so hard to get a beautiful bra and a great shape like this that is also really comfortable.
Gorgeous!!
One of our users has tightened the upper panel successfully. This creates more tension and eliminates the bubble. I haven't tried this myself.
It looks perfect on you. I wouldn’t even have noticed the quadding on your larger side if you didn't mention it.
I just ordered the exact same bra in a 28F.
Thanks everyone. It is definitely a pretty bra, so I may just keep it despite the minor fit issues.
Calluna yes we do sound like boob twins. Interesting that you had the same result with your bra. I think I get the bubbling because of my soft tissue. I also hate being between sizes, don't you?
LeProfessor I don't actually have a 30F right now to try. This one took 3 weeks to get here from Belle Lingerie, so I probably won't be able to try a 30F before having to decide if I return this 30E or not.
Love4Pollinators that sounds interesting, I may have to pin it to see if I can achieve that same result before attempting to sew it.
aboobaccount thanks. Hope yours fits you also!
LeProfessor you inspired me to get a 30F from amazon prime so I can compare the fit. If the 30F fits then I can return my 30E or visa versa :)
Wilderness1 yeah I think that it's a soft tissue thing as a girl I'm in ABTF on fb has the same issues. I'm curious about the the 30F for you. I'm thinking about trying the 30F and 32DD. I think that the 32 band will be more comfortable.
Calluna I'll post some pictures once I get the 30F in (unless it's an obvious fail, then I may just return it quietly, lol). My comfortable underbust is closer to 27.5-28", so I can see a 32 being more comfortable for you. The stretched length of this 30 band was around 29" before the wires started to distort, so a 32 probably stretches to around 30.5-31" I'm guessing.
I know that I have been measured in a local boutique at 28-29" and the one sales person insisted that I had to be in a 28 band for a technical fit. Ugh. I mean, I did get it on (Panache Envy) but holy hell it was tight! And every 30 I tried she said that it was too big! I think that I might have to go remeasure the stretched length of this one (Ellace) once I take it off later. I'm still trying to figure out what the bra looks like and feels like when it is properly stretched. I'm still not really seeing when the wires start to distort. Anyway, I think that you're right on that the 32DD of this bra is probably what I need.
I did a quick remeasure of my under bust (and over bust) after your comment, admittedly with the Ellace still on, and I got 28.5-29" under bust which maybe it's because the band is snug in the bra and it's pulling me tighter (though the fitters locally measured me 28-29" on/in two other bras) so I'm possibly going to redo my measurements here. I'm wondering if this is different because I was pre-period when I did the initial measurements. Anyway, I suspect that I'm in between both band and cup sizes and it will be dependent on how the bras are sized. Such a pain sometimes. Over bust, in bra again, was 35" which should put me in a 28F UK like the fitter lady locally said that I am. But there's no way unless it's a really loose or generous 28 such as Freya (I have a 28F Fancies Plunge and 30E Kiyoko Half Cup waiting for me in LA for when I am there later this week). If this 30 is fitting more like a 28, then it's definitely too tight and I have to break technical for comfort instead. I look forward for your thoughts on the 30F. Im trying to decide on what size of this one to try next...30F and extender, 32DD or 32E...the latter of which seems to have a significantly deeper cup than the rest. I'm leaning towards the 32DD but I'm not sure her. What colour is the 30F you ordered? Can't wait to see it.
Well your new measurements point to a 30 band being a good fit in most bras. Like you said, 28 bands will be too tight unless they're loose. The stretched band in Ellace is about equal to your snug underbust measurement though, so sizing up may be more comfortable... However, your best bet may end up being the 30" with extender, so that you can still wear it once the band stretches out. All depends what you're most comfortable in. I like a good hug from my bands. Just try out an extender with your current bra before deciding. I'm not sure what cup size you should try, sorry. I ordered the cherry (ish) colour. Can't remember what it's officially called. won't be here until Friday though.
I'm searching for a decent fitting, inexpensive nude with great projection while I wait for a 65J Comexim Elena two seam half cup.
This bra has not only great lift, but also a surprising amount of immediate projection. Short-rooted twins rejoice: the cup will not swallow you or present an open field near the strap. If, however, you are full on top and/or have tall roots, I can nearly guarantee quad boob. Even my short-pair quads a bit.
The band is shorter than what I expected; stretching to 27". Great for those of us who need sub 28" bands.
The seams show. Full stop. I'm recovering from "seam aversion."
If you have both close-set and center-full breasts, this is an unlikely fit. The gore wires are simply too wide at the base. Nonetheless, it may be worth trying if you can easily return it.
FWIW, this isn't a true molded cup. It's a cut and sew foam cup, evidenced by the 3 part design and the seaming pattern. Truly molded cups are one piece foam cups (think VS, the Deco...) and aren't very projected because one piece of heat molded foam simply cannot do what a seamed pattern does for projection and uplift.
Good point. The foam is stiff like a molded. I will ammend my review. Thanks!
Love4Pollinators (and anyone else who might happen to read this), I was wondering if you could help me decide which size to order for this bra. It's on sale on Amazon for $20, but through an independent seller, so I won't be able to return it. I normally wear 28F but the cup depth seems to be small in this model, according to the measurements on Bratabase. There is only one entry for this size, though. I have a 9" breast perimeter, but my breasts are very soft and I usually do best with a cup depth of about 8.5ish. My measurements are 25" and 33/33.5/35". I wear 28F in Cleo and Panache (and sometimes 28E in unlined models), 60H and 60HH in Comexim and 60F and 60FF in Ewa M. Thank you!! :)
Just saw this comment. Hope you found a size that worked for you, Sonya
That looks nice on you! It’s exciting when something fits that didn’t before, it’s like a surprise gift!