Fantasie Bridgette Basque #6880 30E

Band Length - 24"
Stretched Band - 28"
Cup Width - 6"
Cup Depth - 9.5"
Wire Length - 9.5"
Cup Seperation - 0.875"
Strap Width - 0.625"
Hooks - 9 (7 after mod)
Body Length in front center - 13" (6.5" after mod)
Bottom hem/Waist Length - 26"unstretched, 30 stretched (after mod - 21.5", stretched 25.5" )

Purchased from eBay several years ago. It always fit in cup and band but I never wear this type of item because garters never work with my body type (they dig into my backside and cause unsightly indentations), the waist is almost always too short, and rarely do I dress up in a basque with thigh-highs. ... If the garters were removeable it wouldn't be as much of an annoyance. It looks good under clothes and I'll get much more use out of it as a retro-style long-line bra, similar to the Freya Edina and Cleo Sadie.

For being a size 30 and from Fantasie, the band on this is quite small, as noted in the measurements. This fits more like a true 28 and I actually close this on the loosest setting. Except for the very bottom of it, the last half of hooks I can close on the smallest setting because my waist is quite tapered. (After the mod I am able to close this on the loosest setting around my waist because I took it in 4" - and it's just tight enough, my waist is 24" so I still have enough breathing/eating room after taking it in. If you have a sinched waist these types of bras will not work for you because the back will stick out. As a basque, because the waist was so loose on me, the band was riding up my back. Now it's not.)

The cups fit great. Normally I cannot wear balcony styles because they're too tall almost (like the Freya Rio for example). But I think the combination of this being a basque (more supportive band than a 2-hook/eye bra) and the cups are actually sewn correctly, it works. I have a lot of trouble with the seamed styles like this and plunge cups because the top piece of fabric in the cup is always the wrong size for the remainder of the cup, hence pinching, quad-boob and a very unflattering look. A lot of people attribute this to "orange in a glass" but from examining lots of bras and their construction (once in awhile I'll make my own based off old bras) I've come to the conclusion they're just poorly sewn and better suited to angular breasts. This one gives a rounder profile than most, though still a little pointy, and the fabric pieces are appropriately sized to each other. And I think the top of the cups being cut straighter across helps too. Balcony mixed with a plunge is just a BAD idea - unfortunately, that's the style you see most often in these brands.

This has been sitting in my dresser for several years, and now I can finally wear it as a functional bra, probably under looser tops though, since it's still not quite the profile I'm after. But the support is great, especially if you have a screwed up back - it actually feels like the bra is supporting you!!

(Added 2 new photos that have a rounder profile. I didn't have the straps snug enough in the other side shots so they look a little more pointy because the cups were sagging just a little.)

Update - 11/2012*
It's too small now ='( I get definite quadboob, on top of the wires not sitting flush with my ribcage and bending in an odd way. I'm still going to hang onto it though...
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Updated on Nov 27, 2012 Flag this