I usually like to start my reviews with a few facts about the bra. The Caitlin is a full-cup bra, with quite a lot of coverage. The cup is constructed from 4 parts, with 3 satiny pieces making up the bottom, and a triangle of mesh lace making the top part of the cup. It fastens with 3 rows of 3 columns of hooks.
I've said to myself that I'd wear a bra even if I hated how it looked if it was comfortable, and I feel like this may be putting me to the test. I think that both satin bras and mesh bras can look sophisticated and ... classy or sexy, but satin and mesh together to me says kind of frumpy. The very high coverage of the cups doesn't score any points when it comes to appearance either. I got the 'nude' colourway, which is a warm honeyish beige.
I measure less than 28" around snugly, so I'm clearly not the target for this band size, and it shows with how much the band rides up. The main reason for trying this is the full coverage cups which just aren't available in smaller band sizes. Basically any balcony cut bra I try cuts in slightly on the top unless it's far too large elsewhere, but the cups which are taller on the inside and the outside seem to fix this problem. Even Jasmine in 30K with its stretch lace cuts in on top, but at least unaltered, this seems to sit flat despite being two cup volumes smaller. The other positive with this design is that the straps seem to be more centred, so they are better positioned on my shoulders than most bras I've tried recently. I wouldn't mind the straps being a smidge closer together, but I can actually mark these as not being too far apart for once! The straps are quite sturdy and fully adjustable. The gore is quite wide and tall, but tacking gores is very hit and miss with me owing to my mild symmastia and very close-set breasts.
The cups are both too wide and tall for me, in the sense that there's quite a bit of space top and sides, but even so, the bra feels quite supportive.
Edit: I've taken in the band to a more appropriate length, and the cups are too small and much too wide for me, and will cut in if I scoop more than very lightly, but this bra is both supportive and comfortable. Especially thanks to adding an extra set of hooks (I have 6 rows on the back now), I can wear the bra all day without wanting to tear it off. I wouldn't mind trying a 34HH or 34J in the Caitlin, but this is quite wearable as is, and I'm not sure if sizing up would cause different fit issues. Not a bra I'd choose for a stunning shape or a lower cut outfit, but great for a busy day when you just want to be comfy. I'd like to try a full cup cut in something which has a narrower cup. I think that there's definitely a market for full cups in very large cup sizes even in smaller bands.
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Updated on Feb 16, 2014 Flag this
