A Strange Thing Happened on the Way to the Fitting Room

I previously tried the Alex in 36HH and was impressed with the comfort, but not the shape or fit. It was a little wide-set and the gore didn't quite tack. I wasn't really planning on trying another size, but it was available on Prime, so I tried this 36J and a 34J. I was in a hurry when I first put them on and just noticed that this one was a bit wrinkly and saggy in the cups and the other was a bit tight, so I re-bagged them and set them aside in the return pile. But ... I wanted to take pictures and enter the measurements here, so I got them out again today. And something strange happened.

The cups were still wrinkly on the tops near the strap and on the sides and the bottoms had major creasing due to too little projection. But then I walked into the other room and noticed it... no jiggling! I thought I was imagining it, but no! I put my Elomi back on, and it was still allowing all the movement that is part of my daily existence. So I had a mystery: why was this seemingly poor fitting bra holding the girls so steady?

Turns out there are probably a few things. First, I had accidentally fastened the bottom hook onto the middle loop. This seems to have changed the angle of pull, allowing the wire to anchor more firmly against my bottom rib. But my bottom rib is not in my IMF, so that's not necessarily a good thing. But weirdly, the folding of the cup bottoms does fit in my IMF, and so snugly and with such faithful contour, and the fabric of the cups is so sturdy, that it seems to be functioning as a second underwire of sorts! This is somehow the first bra I have tried that fits and stays tucked in my IMF! Just not the wire.

Another thing is that the wires are wider. But I'm not sure why that is helpful here, because they are definitely wider than my root on the outer bottom cups where there is some empty space, even on the larger side. So,???

Regardless, the feeling of support is an amazing, rare sensation for me, and I put this bra back on and just walked around for 10 minutes enjoying the stillness. Other bonus: the Alex is still quite comfortable. The shape is still not my favorite, but it's a little better and more projected than the 36HH was, despite the wrinkling, and the gore tacks, so I think I'm moving this puppy into the keep pile!

The construction feels really solid, and the fabric is thick, sturdy and soft, if somewhat utilitarian in appearance. The upper cups are a two-layer, non-stretch mesh with an attractive but simple lace pattern embroidered on the front. The bottoms have vertical seams and a side-support panel.The straps are subtly decorated and fully adjustable. This one is the Sand colorway, which is a bit bland, but a necessary staple in the wardrobe, and it will make a very good everyday and work bra. Like an ugly duckling, this little bra that seems quite boring and fits all wrong turns out to be the most supportive "fit" I've found so far!
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Sand colorway

Updated on Jun 24, 2019 Flag this

Definitely not the right size for me. I don't really think white bras in general are all that cute but this is on par with other white bras. Maybe I've just been lucky with some other higher quality brands but with panache and even elomi the wires have better padding and the bands would be impossible to hook smaller or imagine getting a smaller size without an extender so they feel like they'll last longer and are more sturdy. No stretch at all in any part of the cup. A lot taller in the cups that I want or think most people want

white colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on May 16, 2023 Flag this

I measured as 32E/F and tried the 32E in white. I have tall and wide roots, and full on bottom, close set.

I really wanted to keep this bra. It is really sturdy, fit very well compared to everything else I tried. The straps are not very widely set, and hence do not fall down. It filled well with FOB, and even took in most of the breast tissue migrated to my underarms.

The two issues I had with this bra was 1) the gore was really uncomfortable - even after scooping breast tissue that was going under the gore
2) some wrinkling on the side, and gaping on top when posture isn't correct.

I tried cleo Marcie princess balcony, curvy kate princess balconnette, freya francis plunge, cleo lucy - all of which had major gaping on top. Compared to that, fantasie alex was a really good fit if not for the gore. I guess FOB, tall and wide roots are hard to find a good fit bra for. The search continues! Any recommendations would be welcome!

White colorway

Updated on Nov 27, 2020 Flag this

I generally wear a 32J in Panache, Freya, and Curvy Kate bras, and I ordered this in a 32J in both black and sand. Once I adjusted the straps and swooped and scooped, this fit fairly well, although the gore doesn't quite tack. This is a side support bra, so it pushes all the breast tissue to the front and give a very projected look. I can wear this to work even under a T-shirt.

Black colorway

Updated on Oct 20, 2020 Flag this

Likes:
- This bra is SO pretty
- The cup width!! finally a bra that doesn't sit on breast tissue
- It is comfortable. I can get through the day without discomfort
- This is my favourite bra that I own

Dislikes:
- The gore is too high and because of that it doesn't pin perfectly to my sternum
- The lace and stitching make it very noticeable under shirts

Updated on Aug 20, 2019 Flag this

The two things I love about this bra are its softness and the low wing height! The white colorway was perhaps a bit boring, but quite comfortable. The gore wouldn't quite tack on me, so I would need to go up a cup size. Maybe I could go down a band size, too, to see if that helps keep it up in the IMF. The shape is not great - too east-west with not enough side support for my outer heaviness.

White colorway

Updated on Jun 07, 2019 Flag this

I find myself reaching for Alex a lot because it is incredibly comfortable. However, this bra does not fit. There are many, many issues with it for me, most of them, I believe, stemming from the fact that my breast tissue is very very soft.

Usually 32 bands work great for me, but it's something about the fabric they used for this band that is weird. Some days, it will work fine and not ride up on loosest hook, other days, I have to fasten it on the tightest hook. Most days, I wear it on the middle hook. The band stretched out fairly fast, I'm talking within hours.

The ... cup is really sturdy at the bottom and has great lift. It has three vertical seams on the bottom, with the most outer one going all the way to the top (the side support feature), and a horizontal seam where the lace connects. That being said, the cups will give you more of a east-west than front and center shape. This doesn't bother me with Alex. It looks pretty nice and has a somewhat minimising effect. The 'side support' seam will cut into my tissue when I lift my arms, and give me some vertical in cup quadding, lol.
The real issue with the cups for me is the lace. It's non-stretch tulle with beautiful geo embroidery. Unfortunately, the change of tension between the lace and embroidery makes for the weirdest cutting in I've ever seen on me. I believe on firm breasts this bra fits beautifully. On mine... not so much.
The cups are also a little too closed and on top of lace cutting in (even where it fits), I get some quad boob (especially on my larger side).
I highly doubt any of these issues would be solved with going up in cup.
That being said none of this is uncomfortable, just doesn't look good and is very very obvious under anything but thick sweaters and hoodies.

The shape of wires I do love. It must be in the way Fantasie does wire channels but holy crap they are comfortable. The gore is really wide and tall. I do find that the very top will sit on my breast tissue at times, but not after I do the gore scoop and swoop. I can see this being a problem for pretty much anyone who doesn't have at least 2, maybe even 3 fingers between their breasts.

The thick straps are very comfortable, and I can adjust them as long as I need.

So overall, even if Alex doesn't fit, I still wear it whenever I don't feel like fussing about my looks. It's just so comfy https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" />. Because of Alex, I've bought two other Fantasie bras trying to find a similar fit, minus the weird cutting in. Unfortunately, that did not work.
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Sand colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Oct 12, 2018 Flag this

Have you ever had that feeling of real need for a certain colour or cut of the b

http://miskidwie.pl/en/fantasie-alex-side-support-70hh/

Updated on Mar 27, 2018 Flag this

MiskiDwie

6201 reputation

586 bras

This bra is wrong in every way for me in theory but I find myself, at the beginning of my bra journey, reaching for it often. It's supportive and comfortable and on me gives a kind of pointy east-west silhouette, which I honestly don't mind as much as others appear to, but I usually wear vintage clothes. I'm a moron and accidentally bought a bunch of UK J-cup bras (I measured myself at a US J) but this one fit well enough to keep. It's not very FOT-friendly, and I can't tell if the bottoms of the cups are bunching up because the cups are too big or because my boobs are scrunching the fabric down.

Updated on Dec 12, 2016 Flag this

I previously reviewed this bra in black--see 32J - Fantasie » Alex Side Support Bra (9152) for my full review.

Sand colorway

Updated on Jan 25, 2021 Flag this