I've been fascinated by spacer bras for a long time, but it's hard to find them in my size range. I've tried 3 models so far-- a random DKNY one that felt like normal foam, the Freya Muse that was way too full and tall in the cups for me, and now this one. This bra is the closest to fitting, but as I ordered the only size available instead of my normal size of 30DD, I'm not surprised this didn't fit.
Actually, while this has a ton of fit issues for me, it actually doesn't look that terrible when I'm wearing it. The bra itself ... is also better looking in person than I anticipated, because the images of the Rebecca look quite matronly, especially in larger sizes, because it's designed as a molded full cup bra. The Rebecca Lace actually looks more like a demi in this size, however the cups are definitely not shaped like a demi. However, I am very disappointed, because I find the Rebecca Lace to be a very poorly designed bra for a multitude of reasons.
The band is one of the biggest issues for me here. Since Fantasie bands run quite large, this is definitely a 32 band and has no hope of fitting me. While some of their bands are OK for me on the tightest hook, this one still rides up. I can feel that it's not secure, but more importantly, the incorrect proportions cause the band to pull the wires inward, meaning that the ends of the wires end up digging into my ribcage. This is because the band has a severely contoured shape, and the hooks are not set evenly in the band vertically, so tightening the band doesn't increase the tension evenly across the band's height, causing the wires to behave abnormally. This is definitely a design flaw, as the wires dig in even though the band on the tightest hook on me is still so loose it rides up!
The main portion of the band is made from firm stretch knit, but there is a wide lace overlay to create additional "wings" which I believe are advertised to give a back smoothing effect. I don't see how this is necessary, since the hooks should have also been made wider to evenly distribute tension across the back. Proper band construction and sizing eliminate any issues with bulging, so any additional wings should be added for aesthetic effect, not relied on for function. The straps on this style are also quite narrow, although this could just be because of the size. However, once again I must point out poor design-- the front of the strap has lace topped on, which is very common in Fantasie designs, but the designers failed to take in account the tall lace back panel, which shortens the overall strap. This leaves the adjustable portion of the strap quite short before you have to start adjusting over the lace. Skipping the lace detail on the strap would have made this bra more flexible for a range of sizes and easier for wearers to adjust.
Since this is a full cup bra, I found that the cups are a bit wider and taller than the Side Support bras in the same size. The cups are a little narrow for me but not too bad. The wires are workable on my size, but I would have preferred the normal wires from the Side Support 30DD. The wires on this style are extremely firm. Because of the unbalanced band construction, the wires dug in at both the gore and outer cup, while the bottom of the gore ended up floating. I can count on one hand the number of bras that do not fit me at the gore, so this is . . . unique. The cradle is made from floral lace overlay, and gives the appearance of being one continuous piece from the cradle to the band, though this is just the cut of the overlay.
Overall, the cups run a little larger than the Side Support styles. Looking at the cup's profile, one can easily see that it is shaped as a full cup bra, since it is quite closed off at the top, and taller than a demi. However, it is not nearly as tall as the Freya Idol cuts. On me, the cup is too shallow and the closed upper cup cuts into breast tissue. However, since I have a petite frame and short breasts, I think that full cup styles just aren't suitable for me as they come up too high. I suspect that the 30DD would be too large for me in the cup in this style, and half a size up would be ideal. The closed upper cup might be challenging for tall roots, though the spacer foam is quite flexible.
I can definitely tell that the foam used in the cups is something different. Unlike the Freya spacer foam, which was very thin, lightweight, and rigid, the Fantasie spacer foam is airy and stretchy, only slightly thinner than normal foam, but still very soft. If you are FOB, it can accommodate more fullness in the center of the cup as the cup will stretch to fit. However, note that the thinness of the foam comes at a cost. While I was trying on the second bra, I originally thought there was some kind of weird nipple shape molded into the cup before I realized that it was simply show through! You will get a smooth, rounded shape from this bra, but not the kind of structure and coverage you would get from a regular foam bra.
I ordered two of these to test for consistency, and at least, both bras are quite consistent. However, I simply cannot recommend the Rebecca Lace to anyone due to its construction issues. I think you would be better off in the original Rebecca, which has a more standard band construction which should reduce some of the issues I experienced.
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Updated on Jun 19, 2020 Flag this