General comments:

The cut of this bra is supposed to be a combination of the CH style (which I love) and the HP style (which I haven't tried). For some obscure reason I was a bit sceptical whether it would work for me, but as this CHP style is supposed to be one Ewa Michalak's new 'flag ship' styles I was willing to give it a try. Besides, the design wowed me when I first saw it presented online so even though I really don't need another padded bra, I went ahead and ordered it. Now, I was really 'craving' a CHP Cappuccino, but that one wasn't readily available ... in my size. This plum-coloured CHP Amethyst seemed quite delectable too though, so into my shopping basket it went.

Bra description:

A very beautiful bra of 'plum-coloured' shiny knit partially overlaid with a beautiful, black, floral lace. The centre gore is embellished with a black satin bow and a precious-looking ring-shaped 'jewel' threaded with plum satin lace. The straps are partially overlaid with black lace as well that is, again, threaded with plum satin lace. A small black satin bow adorns the points where the 'lace' parts connect to the elastic parts of the straps. The cups are lightly padded and the wings are made of a double layer of stretch mesh, the bottom one firm, the top one thinner.

It really is quite pretty, although it's somehow not quite what I expected. Maybe it's the colour that isn't as deep as I'd like, or maybe it's the fabric that isn't as 'satiny' as I thought it would be ... ? I don't know, but paired with the little sparkly centre gore embellishment -- again, it's really really quite lovely -- it just isn't quite 'me'. Also, I just hate the lacy parts of the straps. They are very similar to the ones on the HM Fioletowy Krokodyl I tried and they are equally uncomfortable: as they are quite wide-spaced they chafe me badly. I don't think they are wider spaced than the ones on the HM Gold, CH Onyx or PL Onyks that I have so it really is just the material that bothers me to no end.

Bra fit:

First, as to sizing, this CHP style seems to run BIG. I suspected something based on reviews I read and ordered it in what seems to be my size in the HM style: 65DD. Size-wise I think this indeed isn't that far off: it fits fairly similar as my PL Onyks in 65E, so compared to that one I'd say it runs at least half a cup size large.

The band is quite firm, but clearly looser than the band on my PL Onyks. It feels more or less the same as the band on my HM Gold (measurement-wise there indeed isn't that much difference), but somehow it feels more 'slippy'. However, I don't think I could consider going down a band size in this style ... it feels the band just isn't going to stay in place if I wear it longer than a couple of minutes, but one size down will probably be too tight. Ah, the curse of being exactly in between bandsizes *rolls eyes*

Sadly, my initial scepticism was proven right: this cut just doesn't work for me. Oddly enough it reminds me way more of how the PL Onyks fits me than the CH or HM, although the seaming pattern is almost identical to the CH. However, I get pretty spectacular gapping at the cup edges (worse towards the straps) and my soft-ish breasts want to spill towards centre -- somewhat similar to what happens with my PL Onyks, which just isn't ideal for my shape, although it fits significantly better than this CHP https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" /> It seems to fit reasonably okay when I've just put it on and adjusted myself (especially on my smaller left side), but as soon as my breasts 'settle' the gapping and spilling fest starts. Another strange thing is that the cups of the CHP Ametyst want to slip down and I end up with empty space above the wire and a fold in the bottom. I didn't really notice this happening on my PL Onyks, but the band on that one is clearly tighter and the cups seem to have more projection, so maybe that's what's keeping everything in place better? Anyway, I don't get any of these issues with my CH Onyx, so I don't really know what's up with that -- it suggests the cups of the CHP are shallower in the bottom than what works for my breasts OR the wires are somehow differently shaped causing 'orange-in-a-glass'. From what I can tell, the wires are quite comparable to the wires of my 60F CH and 65E PL, so it's more likely the first reason: cups too shallow for my breasts.

Conclusion:

This one is going back as it really doesn't work for me *snif* The cup edges gap in the way a size smaller won't solve: that would only make my breasts spill towards the centre even more. Besides, the wires in this size are quite okay for me -- I really don't want them any narrower or shorter. A size larger is no option either as that would just make the cups huge -- I'm very petite and the cups on this one already come up just a bit too high for comfort.

As far as comparing it to other Ewa Michalak styles: to me it seems most similar to the PL style, which is weird as CHP is supposed to be a blend of the two half-cup styles CH and HP. It has slightly less projection than PL though and comes up a little higher in the cups, which is maybe why I have gained new appreciation for the way PL fits me (I've been wearing it again today, and really, it isn't half bad!), even though it still isn't the most ideal style for me. The cut of the CHP just 'doesn't cut it' for me. Another real plus of the PL style over the CHP is that is comes with removable 'cookies' to correct my asymmetry.

I'm somehow oddly disappointed -- I am set to love Ewa Michalak as I have my HM Gold and my CH Onyx (one bandsize too small) which are close to yet not even entirely perfect. PL is a good third, although it comes with a couple more imperfections, but that can't be all there is, can it? (*) I grovel an beg Ewa Michalak: "PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT DISCONTINUE THE CH STYLE!!!" Although it has it's own issues, I have yet to find a padded half cup style that works even half as well for me and this CHP is nowhere near a 'fitting' replacement.

(*) And that's why I'm seriously considering getting into the business of bespoke bra-making https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" />
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This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Nov 23, 2012 Flag this

Didn't write a review

Added on Mar 15, 2013