This was my first Ewa Michalak and I wish I had opted for a 32. I read later in reviews that this particular model tends to run large in the band. I find the metal sections that attach the straps in the back to be quite uncomfortable at times. In terms of shape, the bra gives a lot of upflift and an extremely round shape, almost like a ball. I wouldn't wear it under a sweater, as this shape looks a bit unnatural in my size, but it looks fine under a shirt. I've had this bra for a while and it holds up pretty well. Bear in mind that the large cup size PLs are not real plunges. The center gore is about the same height as my Panache Harmony and I don't have any problem with falling out of the cups.
A lot of my general comments are similar to PL Onyks, so see that review for more. I'm going to compare them a lot here, that's just the easiest way for me to do this.
The band on this bra is a little smaller than on Pl Onyks, enough so that I am happiest with it on an extender for now. I doubt it's enough that I would want a bigger size. (Note that the EM size calculator suggested 85/38. I generally wear 32 or 34, but 34 is probably more accurate.) Like the Onyks, I find that the elastic along the bottom edge of the band digs ...in, and I wish it were wider. Likewise I think this would do better with a 4-hook band, as it would be nice to keep more of the band width closer to the hooks. Also I find the band on this rides up a little, not because it's too big, but because it doesn't do a good enough job counterbalancing the weight of my breasts. I like the fact that the band is intended to sit lower on the back, but I can't get it to stay there. I think if I could get this bra with 4 hooks (or even 5 maybe), I would probably want it a band size bigger.
The cups on this don't fit quite as well as the Onyks, though I'm not really sure why. They are almost too small, but I think still workable. They measure similarly, though the underwires seem to be a little shorter on this Karmelki than on the Onyks (same channels, just less wire). I don't know if this is intentional or not.
The straps dig into the front of my arms quite badly (the cup is fine, it's just the strap attachement), and I will definitely need to move them closer in. Also the straps themselves roll and dig in. I hope that moving them so they are not placed too wide for my shoulder will help this. Although, really, I'd love to have the same comfort straps on this as the Pl Onyks comes with. I think the cups will fit a little better with a little bit closer in straps, too.
This bra works better for me after curving the underwires to follow my ribcage better, and bending the wires out a little at the outside. Also, I need to play around with the pads it comes with, because I think I can use them to shift the bulk of my breasts upward a bit, where they will cooperate with the bra better. (The bottom of the cups is a little too shallow for me. It's counter intuitive to add more volume there, but I think pushing them up a little will align the volume with the cups better.)
I haven't worn this bra very long yet, so I will try to come back and update once I've changed the straps and then worn it for any full days. Read more 389 more words
I think, based on your pictures, you would get more out of a 36LL. The Karmelki runs ridiculously tight and is smaller in the cup. You could definitely go one or two cups up and have better lift + coverage.
I agree with you, and I wish I could do that. Unfortunately they don't make 36LL, this is the largest cup size. (They stop at the set of sister sizes of 32M/34LL/36L/etc, as shown here: http://www.ewa-michalak.pl/Kalkulator-chelp-pol-10.html) I hadn't realized that Karmelki runs small in the cup, not a good choice on my part :(
I would love to buy this off of you if you still have it!
This bra pretty much fits the best of any bra I own, despite the small issues that will have it show as "doesn't fit".
This bra is really comfortable! I didn't understand how a bra like this could be so comfortable, but it really is. I especially love how the cotton lining feels on my breasts. (I'm used to various types of mesh and stiff fabrics.) The padding feels comfortable and protecting, but I'm a little concerned it will be too warm in the summer.
The padded cups are a different experience for me! I've never had a padded bra before. The plunge is not a problem for me, even ...with my soft boobs, due to the larger sizes having a higher gore, it's really not that plunge-y. I really appreciate how the cup has more sections in bigger sizes (in this size, 3 vertical sections), but I actually feel like at this size it could use one more seam, about in the middle of the outer section. This would make the projection and shape a little better, and help move some of the volume out from under my armpits where I can't use it as well. When I first put the bra on, the top of the cups gape some, however once I swoop and scoop, and especially if I lean forward at all, they are filled nicely, and I certainly wouldn't want them any smaller. I'm a little concerned that there's a bit of depth-related orange-in-a-glass going on at the bottom of the cups because they are a little too shallow at the wires for my deep-immediately boobs.
I would prefer if the cups were just a bit wider, though. The wires hit just to the inside of the outside of my breast root. However, due to the wires being padded and softer than some brands, it doesn't hurt or anything. It fits best when I stretch the top of the wires backwards a little while pulling my breast tissue into them, but they don't really stay like that. I could use the top edge of the band to be a little tighter/more pulled towards the middle of my back. I think the only way to accomplish this, really, would be a wider (4 or 5 hook) band.) Bending the wires to fit the curve of my body does improve the fit a little, both as far as where the wires hit, and the bottom of the cup issue.
The band is pretty good. Most 34 bands feel comfortable, or even loose, on the tightest hook right away, but this is comfortable on the 1st hook, so generally a good fit. I do wish the elastic along the bottom edge of the band were a little wider, it's pretty narrow and digs in a little. If it were wider, the pressure would be more spread out. Likewise, I think it would be better if this bra at this size had 4 hooks (much as I find more than 3 hooks impossible to close, the bra would definitely fit better like that). I think a wider band would help counterbalance the weight of my breasts better, and also distribute the pressure over a wider are of my back, and along the entire height of the wires. The stretchy material of the middle of the wings is very smooth and comfortable.
Ok, the straps. So this bra is supposed to be a multi-way, with regular straps, comfort straps (wide, padded shoulder section), and a halter strap. Ok, neat idea, certainly nothing else even close to this size comes with detachable straps. Except it would work better if the straps STAYED ON!!! I attempted to try on this bra and the straps kept flying off, mostly in the front, but in the back too. (It was kinda funny, actually https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" /> I seriously had to go and sew the attachment tabs tighter around the hooks to even be able to try it on. I think I'm just going to stick with the comfort straps (which are lovely, by the way, truly comfortable) and just sew them on, since I really don't imagine needing the interchangeable straps really (hah! halter? on me? Not a chance!) Then they will be secure, and also the attaching hooks dig into my arms, so sewing the straps straight on will fix this as well. I will probably attach them a tiny bit further in, if that works, to get the straps out of my arms, and have a little closer to center-pull for the cups.
I have only worn it for a few hours at a time, so far, so once I fix the straps and actually wear it for a longer period of time, I will try to update this review. Read more 690 more words
Thank you for your review. It's very helpful! I've got my first Ewa OTW in a 36KK as per the calculator (hahaha, yeah, we'll see about that). I was looking at the multi-way bras today and considering them for my shop. I thought it was good that Ewa did eventually make changes after buyers telling them that the straps were too wide, but my last experience with a multiway was some, oh, ten cup sizes ago and that didn't work out well then. Nice concept, though. I would sew them on myself, too. One less step from altering them completely.
I got this secondhand as I wanted to try out the Ewa Michalak bras and this was a good opportunity to try one out cheaply as I didn't really know what size to try first. This is an older Effuniak bra so the sizing may be a bit different.
Despite this not being big enough coverage wise, the support and wire size/positioning is amazing even with it riding up a bit. With this bra my boobs are no longer at my sides. This bra shows that my other bras are clearly a terrible fit so I have made sure they are marked as not fitting! Hopefully something better fitting can be made in the future.
There is a bit of gaping at the top because the centre gore won't lie flat. If I hold it flat, the gaping disappears (for the most part) without resulting in quadboob.
If I wear it without an extender, the underwire digs into my ribs. It still does a bit even with the extender, but it's not nearly as bad.
I think, based on your pictures, you would get more out of a 36LL. The Karmelki runs ridiculously tight and is smaller in the cup. You could definitely go one or two cups up and have better lift + coverage.