The Fantasie Frances seems to be a new style for Spring this year, and I was drawn to the bold but feminine pink and green floral print that reminds me of abstract tulips. Nordstrom happened to be carrying this style and had it on sale, so I gave it a try. I didn't have high hopes because so many of my Fantasie purchases have been fit fails, but this one happily surprised me! Except for the band, it basically fits!
I marked this style as fitting as the band is definitely too big, but not too problematic on the tightest hook as it is rather firm ... and stays in place. Because of the mesh wings and the gentle leotard back, it will be relatively easy to alter to fit. I am happy that the cups fit, as the Side Support styles have been a tricky shape for me so far. As far as I can tell, this is a slightly different cut from Nadine (Nadine has slightly longer wires, slightly shallower cups, and the proportions are slightly different). This seems to be the closest in fit to Elsie, which I have in 30D. Both share the same fabrication, and the proportions and construction seem to be very comparable.
Both Frances and Elsie are made from a thin and lightweight silky fabric that is rigid and provides a lot of support. I think this fabrication works best for me in the side support style as there is no need for the cup to be double lined. The single lined cups seem to be easiest to fit. Like Elsie, this style has a lace upper cup and decorative fabric topped on to the straps. Elsie's upper cup was single layer mesh with embroidery and stabilizing elastic on the edge; Frances' upper cup is mesh-lined sheer black lace with stabilizing elastic on the edge. Unlike many other brands, the elastic that Fantasie uses on the upper cups is really just there to give stability to the edge of the cup. It is not very stretchy, and it isn't sewn with much tension, so it's supposed to just make the edge of the upper cup a bit thicker and firmer so it stays in place on your body. The purpose of this elastic is not to make the upper cup fit your tissue if it is not the right shape for you.
Compared to the 30D cups in Elsie, these fit me much better. The wires are a bit narrower than other brands, but not so tight that I can feel them pinching. In this size, the side support panel worked just fine and didn't give me any kind of weird shape although there is a bit of wrinkling due to the seam from this panel. Putting on this bra is a little different from my other styles though, because I have to really bend over and completely scoop into the cups. I believe the cups on this individual style run a bit small, as the slightly wider Camilla fits me a bit better, and the 30E in this cut is too big (see my Elsie 30E review). I was able to try this bra with inserts as well and found that it worked best with inserts either at the top of the cup or at the center of the cup, so I think this shape would suit FOT and even shapes. FOB shapes will probably find that the cups look bottom-heavy and the top will be empty.
I like the lifted natural shape that this bra gives me, and the fabric is super comfortable for summer. It gives a really nice shape under clothing. Overall the bra is very soft and breathable. Like Elsie, the printed fabric is used throughout the cups, cradle, and band. The band is printed powermesh rather than the same satiny fabric used on the body. The straps are simple black satin straps with a picot edge with printed fabric topped on the front half (Frances' straps use a slightly narrower elastic than Elsie and Camilla, which both have wider straps). The only thing that I don't like about the appearance of this bra is that while there are tiny bows at the strap attachment, the center gore charm is a folded ribbon with a weird geometric charm. Seriously, I'm having flashbacks to Freya bras when looking at this bizarre gore decoration. Other than that, I am pretty pleased with this new Fantasie find!
Update: After additional comparison, I can confirm this is the same cut as Elsie and Camilla, and it is the Side Support cut that best fits my shape (except Illusion, which is a different type of fabric).
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Updated on Apr 14, 2020 Flag this
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I 've seen alisa also has a Fantasie side support with similar style. She has a FoT shape and it fits her well.
I purchased an Elsie 30F, just because on Bratabase the fit b.perimeter of other similar Fantasie side supports in 30F can be up to 28cm. I don't know if this is true: http://bra.pe/SCeH/