I bought the Ivory colorway of Sofia several months ago and had my eye on the Black. When this went on sale, I picked up another colorway. I was pleased to find that the Black actually fits me better than the Ivory, thanks to more flexible wires that feel much more comfortable for me, and slightly shorter cups (I tried the Ivory twice in the same size and found the same stiff wires/taller cup in both).
Sofia is a a very open 3HC shape, which used to be tough for me when I was a smaller 28E/30DD, and now fits much better that I am between 28E/28F ...and 30DD/30E. I used to get some gapping at the top with these types of styles, but now this problem is minimized as I am fuller overall, particularly on top.
The cup measurements on this are almost identical to Freya Astrid Padded Half Cup (comparing to 28E). The main difference is that the cup shape is a bit angular at the top of the Sofia, whereas the Astrid has a smoother, curved upper cup edge. Both bras fit very comparably except for the band, since they are different sizes.
I found the band on Sofia to be much firmer than Marianna, though both measured the same. One big issue I've found in these Fantasie Padded Half Cups is that the wires are very firm and become uncomfortable quite easily if the band is pulled snug, as the ends of the wires roll into the ribcage and sternum instead of stretching. Unfortunately this is bad news for sub-30 band wearers as Fantasie doesn't make smaller sizes than 30 bands, and altering the band would just exacerbate the issue. A true 28 band size like me would need different wires that are narrower and have more horizontal flex. This is one of the few Fantasie bras that feels OK for me though it isn't snug, but it has the same powermesh construction and leotard back as their other styles.
The 3 piece cup is made from light foam batting and provides a little bit of coverage, but no structure. In Mae and Marianna, I experience pretty intense pulling in the cup from the strap attachment, particularly on my smaller side. The foam on Sofia seems just a little firmer, but most likely it's the cup proportions that makes this fit better on me rather than the materials. The outside of the cup is covered in intricate couchwork embroidered mesh with gold and ivory filigrees. The embroidery really stands out on the black background and looks super luxe and unique. This bra looks and feels good quality based on the materials and embroidery, better than some other Fantasie bras I've tried, despite the fact that it is simpler and less ornate than other styles.
The upper edge is smooth and free of trims. Straps are picot-edged elastic with a small bit of embroidered mesh topped on to the front. Tiny bows are attached at the straps and center gore, and there is a small rose gold and clear crystal charm at the gore. The whole bra looks elegant and classy in a way that is totally practical for everyday wear, as there aren't extra bits or intense lace and embroidery that would be noticeable under clothing. I like Sofia and hope that there's a few other Fantasies that fit similarly. I'd recommend giving this a try if you usually have problems with Padded Half Cups being too wide and shallow as it is a little more projected and open than similar styles. Read more 502 more words
I already own this in Ivory, but recently I repurchased this in the Black colorway as well. The Black fits slightly differently from the original Ivory I own, which digs in a little at the gore because the wires are too stiff, so I decided to reorder this in Ivory to see if the first one I got was a fluke.
Unfortunately, this second Ivory is a poorer fit than the first, because the wires are even stiffer. I can feel the wires dig into both the sternum and outer tissue because of stiffness, though the shape of the cups is fine. Because the wires don't stretch enough, this particular bra also shows a little bit of pulling at the outer cups.
If you need stiffer wires, try the Ivory. If you need more flexible wires, go for the Black. Both are beautiful bras, but note that the fit is not identical between the two.
I love this bra. Technically, the gore is too high for me, but I think the wires might be soft enough for it to work. Otherwise, it fits perfectly. The wire channel is lined with very soft material. The cups have a beautiful lace that feels like cotton (although I know it's not), and are lined with a sheer mesh that is very comfortable and soft. (Often when I try on lace bras, I find them itchy, and have to soak them for hours in baking soda to soften.)
This one is a bit big on me....wrinkles on the top more than the 30F. 30FF is my normal size, so you might want to size down a cup. The band seems TTS, a bit on the firm, non-stretchy size, which is good for a soft cup, I think. It doesn't seem to have a lot of depth at the "wire" (band in this case).
I could probably get away with wearing this bra. It wrinkles a tiny bit due to my full on bottom breasts. But the main issue is that I don't think it has quite enough depth at the "wire" (band in this case). I think it might end up sliding down during the day. I can see a little wrinkle there at the bottom. Also, I sized down in the cup for this one. Band seems TTS; it's pretty firm.
I like this bra a lot. As I read on other reviews here, the cup runs large. I normally wear 30FF, but this 30F seems to have the right cup size for me. The band runs large. I have to hook it on the second column.
This is a high quality double layered, bra sized swimsuit. The material is patterned in a navy and black and textured to the touch in "wave like" patterns. I thought it was so beautiful, so I gave it a shot. Take a look at the internet pictures, as mine are dark and don't do it justice.
I bought this swimsuit last summer, but I've only worn it once, as I'm too tall in my torso and low set (I'm 5.11") and I had to adjust the straps too long for comfort in order to get the cups in the right place. The cups themselves are wired and there is ...padding. The bum has good coverage with no slipping. Something that I really appreciate about this swimsuit is that the inner cups are sewn into the swimsuit so that they don't flip. I've tried so many cup sized swimsuits that have wired cups inside that can flip upside down, which is really annoying when you're trying to put it on and take it off (especially when wet). I couldn't figure out how to measure the band, but it does up like a regular bra, and it has 3 rows with 2 hooks. You can wear this swimsuit with straps or as a strapless.
The cups were projected enough for me at the wire and at the apex, and the cups were a bit wide but didn't feel too wide when on (especially compared to other swimsuits). I would actually say that this swimsuit is not very shallow breasted friendly.
I'm sad it didn't work because it's such a great quality swimsuit. As usual for swimsuits, I ordered a sister size up so it wasn't so tight to get on, but a 32" band on my 28" rib cage was a little sketchy as a strapless as it kept slipping down. Read more 198 more words
I really love this bra. I'm going to be honest - it looks super boring. It's just a plain beige bra with nothing fancy on it. But if you want the t-shirt bra effect without a molded cup, this is your HOLY GRAIL. It's perfectly smoothing and looks great under any shirt, even if it's thin or tight. Definitely a supportive workhorse.
I purchased this bra new at Journelle.com. It fit really well and was very comfortable and supportive. The lace is thicker, so it is visible through thin or tight shirts. The navy blue is rich and vibrant, and the band is nice and firm. I can no longer fit into it after my breast reduction, unfortunately.
The Fantasie Alex is such a nice bra. The fabric is smooth and slick; I didn't really have problems with seams showing under shirts (unless I wore a really tight shirt). The periwinkle color is super cute, too, and I love the art deco style lace at the top of the cups. The reason this didn't really work for me was the tightness of the band combined with the width of the cups. The band was too tight on me, which I think contributed to widening the cups, which hurt under my arms. I think this would work much better for someone with more projection and a smaller ribcage than me (I typically wear a 32-34).
This is a very pretty bra. Love the lace. The band has nice stretch. The cups are seamed in a way that provides good upward lift, and there is decent projection. The bottom edge of the band is a soft, smooth fabric that feels nice on the skin.
I’ve had this bra awhile but couldn’t remember why I never wear it. I just tried it on and remember... it doesn’t fit. 😬 If you have a wider breast root and a little less projection than I do, or if you’re definitely fuller on the bottom, then this is probably a great bra. I am more narrow and slightly ...FoB to even, so for me, it’s a shape mismatch.
The cups are too far apart for me in the front so the top of the gore doesn’t tack. (I tried sliding the wire up, but it slid back down.) The cups are way too wide, which results in the wire being too far back on the side for me (and it rubs awfully if I bend forward). I also have breast tissue trying to escape at the top of the bra, especially on my larger side, because the cup is too wide/shallow.
If you have the right shape for this bra, definitely give it a try. Skip it if you have narrow roots, more fullness on top, or greater than average projection. Read more 123 more words
This doesn't fit but almost fits. The gore is just a little wide for me so the wires rest on breast tissue and the wires are a little wide meaning there is empty space at the side. The band feels tight but looks ok (imo) but overall while it's close, it's not quite right.
This bra makes me look sort of flat horizontally (like a pancake sticking out), but it is very comfortable. I started looking into other side support bras so that I could feel this good more often.
I originally tried Jacqueline in my normal Fantasie size of 30DD, but found that it was way too big. I figured that sizing down to 30D would fix the problem, but this size almost fits, yet isn't perfect either. The main issue is that the construction of the soft cups don't hold everything forward and in place like an underwire side support bra does. So while the cup volume is OK for me, once I move around a bit, the upper cup ends up a bit empty as everything shifts to the sides of the cups. If you fill out the cups fully, then ...this is probably not going to be an issue for you, however Jacqueline runs at least a size big, so this is the smallest size I can get.
However, I can definitely wear it with foam inserts, which is how I plan to wear this bra anyway, as a comfort option for travel. With the additional structure of foam liners, the bra gives a nice rounded shape with no shifting, so this isn't a big deal. However, my Parfait Adriana Bralettes, which have a different cup construction, don't have this issue of breast tissue shifting around to the sides. I suspect that's the nature of this soft cup construction, which is very similar to the Panache Andorra Non Wired Bra. At least in this size, the cup height is appropriate for me, and I don't get the underarm chafing that I had with the 30DD.
The band of this bra is really unique. In my size range, Fantasie bras always have 2 hooks, but this one is designed with taller wings and has 3 hooks. The hook panel is cushioned just like on the Illusion Side Support Bra, which is a nice touch. The band itself is made from very firm stretch knit, but in lieu of a traditional underwire, we get a very stable full band construction with 3/4"/1.9 cm elastic at the bottom. This is why despite the full band measurement being slightly larger than my snug ribcage measurement, it fits securely and feels quite firm. There is also a padded channel covering the seam between the cups and elastic to avoid chafing. This is an excellent band construction, and I wish more brands used this as an example!
The cups are a 4 piece construction with a side support panel. Since it is wireless, it is obviously very wide, as there is no separate gore, and the side support panel takes the place of the section of cradle between the cups and the band, giving you more flexibility in cup width. The cup is built similarly to the Panache Andorra Non Wired Bra, but the shape is different. Andorra is built for bottom fullness, but the lower center horizontal seam gave it both a slightly minimized appearance and a slightly pointier shape. In contrast, Jacqueline has a shorter upper panel, giving it a much more rounded shape. Compared to the Andorra, Jacqueline runs bigger in the cup, as the measurements of the 30DD I tried previously are a little bigger in the cup than Andorra in 28F, despite the 28F being a larger cup size.
Aesthetically, this bra is also quite pleasing. I don't think it looks matronly or overly retro, as I think it has more of a bralette styling with normal bra shaping. The cups and cradle are made from a large-scale floral stretch lace with a nice bit of texture. However, the texture may show through thin clothing, so it isn’t totally invisible. The bottom cups are lined with lightweight tricot, but the two layers are independent, so the cups don't feel hard and rigid. The upper cup is single layer lace, with a strip of stabilizing elastic. The elastic is quite stretchy, so it shouldn't cut into breast tissue and should work with tall roots (though the cups are already quite tall). Straps are wide picot edged elastic with topped on lace trip at the front that blends in seamlessly. The only trim is a small bow at the center gore.
I wish I could try one size down, but unfortunately this is the end of the size range. Do give Jacqueline a try, but go down one size, and potentially two if you are on the shallower side. Read more 617 more words
Alicia was part of an order I placed in early April and received at the end of June, due to some mysterious malfunctions of DHL Global Mail that delayed its arrival from the UK. I had actually written the order off and did not expect it to arrive, but thankfully I didn't order a replacement in the meantime. Luckily, all of the bras in this Fantasie order basically worked out more or less. I was very pleased to discover that Alicia was one of the "good" side support fits for me, since I ordered it quite blindly.
Based on measurements, this seems to be the closest to Susanna ...in fit, but the cups are slightly deeper and taller. Because of this, the only slight issue is that the cups wrinkle a bit on me whereas Susanna and similar cuts like Frances fit pretty smoothly. However, the overall shape is the same, and it gives me the same, lifted, nicely rounded shape that I enjoy from these styles. The construction is most similar to Elsie or Caroline, with single layer printed silky tricot for the bottom cup, and floral embroidered sheer mesh for the upper cup. The upper edge is rather closed off and has a non-stretch strip of tricot backing, but I didn't find this to be tight, so I didn't have a problem with my tall roots. However, if you have a lot of upper fullness, it might be a little restrictive. The band is standard for these side support bras, made of printed powermesh with a gentle leotard back. Though Fantasie's 30 bands are all technically too big for me, this one stays in place ok.
Stylistically, this is really lovely, and is exactly what I expect from Fantasie. The overall print is of watercolor flowers in muted tones of mauve, dusty rose, and deep taupe. The upper cup embroidery is really unique and particularly lovely--entwined within white leaves and stems are satin-stitched blossoms made of variegated thread in slightly deeper versions of the same tones used in the print. This is also the only Fantasie bra I've seen that uses these mauve/taupe tones, and overall I think the look is soft, feminine, and very unique. Straps are textured satin with picot edges with no topped on fabric trim, attached with skinny mauve bows, and a double layer blossom bow decorates the center gore. Though it's not striking upon first glance, I think it's one of the loveliest Fantasie bras I own.
I highly recommend this style if Susanna and Frances are cuts that work for you, and if you are ok with a little more depth and height in the cups compared to those styles. Read more 350 more words
Angelina was part of an order I placed in early April and received at the end of June, due to some mysterious malfunctions of DHL Global Mail that delayed its arrival from the UK. I had actually written the order off and did not expect it to arrive, but thankfully I didn't order a replacement in the meantime. This was the one bra in the order that I had to mark as "didn't fit," but it works with foam inserts, so though it is a technical mismatch, it still works out for me.
Based on measurements, Angelina seems most similar to Estelle in terms of cut, though the cup ...height is just slightly shorter. I don't have Estelle in my possession anymore, but it gave me a horrible, wonky, misshapen shape. The cups also really push me forward and the sides of the cups are rather empty. Typically Fantasie Side Support styles with rigid tricot lining in the cups are challenging for me and give me weird shapes, but Angelina is not as bad. I believe this cut is designed for FOT styles, which is why I can't position the cups into sitting properly on my body. However, when I add either my Commando Takeouts or my foam inserts to add upper fullness, it gives a nice rounded shape. Therefore, I think this is no fault of the bra but it is simply not for my shape. Note that I tried the same inserts with Estelle and it still looked lumpy and pointy, whereas Angelina is rounded. I'm not sure if this is a variance in the cut or if the fabric simply behaves differently between the two styles.
Cafe Au Lait is creamy beige mesh with black and beige embroidery in a stylized poppy motif, and on my light skintone, it gives a tattoo effect. The bottom of the cups is lined with rigid tricot while the upper cup is single layer and sheer. The mesh fabric is not the softest though, so I think Fantasie could've done a better job of making it less stiff for the consumer, as the embroidery is perfectly fine and not scratchy. The same embroidered fabric is used throughout the cradle, although the band is plain, solid mesh with a leotard back. I found this band to feel a bit loose on me like Fantasie's 30 bands typically do. Straps are wide picot edged elastic with topped on embroidered fabric at the front. The center gore features a twisted two-tone bow and a teardrop crystal. However, I like the clean, graphic aesthetic of this style and think it is really lovely. Read more 342 more words
Erica was part of an order I placed in early April and received at the end of June, due to some mysterious malfunctions of DHL Global Mail that delayed its arrival from the UK. I had actually written the order off and did not expect it to arrive, but thankfully I didn't order a replacement in the meantime. Luckily, all of the bras in this Fantasie order basically worked out more or less.
I have not had success with Fantasie's vertical seam bras so far, but Erica was a pleasant surprise. The cups are a rigid sheer fabric with gorgeous multi-tonal embroidered flowers on a printed ...fabric base on the outside, and double lined with rigid mesh on the inside. It is a true 2HC construction, and the measurements are very similar to the Chantelle Pyramide Lace Unlined Demi. However, Fantasie's rigid wires and rigid cup fabric makes this a very supportive 2HC with good lifting ability. I typically have trouble with 2HC and 3HC styles being minimizing and giving me a flattened shape, but I am happy with the naturally lifted shape that Erica gives me (the Chantelle is very minimizing on me, see separate review for details).
I've also tried the Sienna Vertical Seam Bra, which is a bit deeper, taller, and more closed off, and it didn't work for me. Erica's cups are much better proportioned for my shape, so this is a good choice if you are petite. However, the cups do run a bit shallower than the Side Support styles in the same size, so if you are very projected, this might not be deep enough.
The band is made from plain powermesh, but instead of having a leotard back, this style has a standard straight back and is rather narrow. However, it feels reasonably firm even though Fantasie 30 bands are typically too big on me. I didn't have trouble with this staying in place, although the straight band will be easy to alter down if necessary. Straps are made of medium width textured elastic with topped on fabric trim at the front, and the center gore is a plain satin bow. While the details of this bra are far simpler than most other Fantasie styles, the intricate embroidery is the real focal point of this style. It is not the softest, but it feels better than some of their other embroidered styles. I love the unique color combination of soft pink, maroon, deep mauve, royal blue, and soft blue on the deep navy base.
If you don't typically have luck with 2HC and 3HC styles and need something with more shaping and support, give Erica a try. Read more 346 more words
This bra is really pretty, soft, and well-made, but it just doesn't fit me well. There is gapping at the top of the cups, but at the same time, the gore is resting on breast tissue and kind of "floats;" I think it is too high and wide for my close-set boobs.
The gore of this bra is too tall and wide for my center-full boobs, so it kind of tilts sideways and rests on one boob. There is also a lot of wrinkling in the top corner where the strap connects with the cup.
