The Salsa is an unlined 3-part balconette bra. It's pretty, but too bad it doesn't fit! The cup runs large in this size, at the top of the cups. After scooping and swooping, I was able to fill the bottom of the cups, but I had lots of wrinkles in the top half of the cup. I guess I just don't have enough fullness on top to fill it. Maybe this would be better for more even breast shapes. One factor that probably contributes to the upper half wrinkles is that the height of the cup is really tall: the Salsa is about 17 cm from the strap straight down ...to the bottom of the band/cup, including the underwire when measured with the bra flat, compared to about 13.7 cm on a 30F Cleo Melissa. The cup depth of the Salsa is deeper than the 30F Melissa, so when filled, the Salsa definitely requires more volume. The band is just a bit too large/stretchy, as I can fit four fingers between the band and my back. The straps are half-adjustable, and the material seems sturdy. The flower design is a light peach/pink shade (and the design is really cute), and the bra's color is a dark, dark grey (charcoal). There are little bows where the strap meets the cup, and the center gore has a cute bow. Read more 115 more words
My previous experience with Fantasie wasn't that great: I felt the cups were too deep and the wires too narrow for my shape. However, I recently got a nice set of Fantasie swimwear and a quick in store try-on of a different model suggested not all might be lost. I read in reviews that this model is generally thought of as 'slightly minimising' which should work well for my shape so ...I decided to give it a shot ...
Bra description:
A simple, yet nice looking bra. The cups are completely plain and made out of moulded spacer knit of a slightly stiffer kind than the Chantelles I've come to love, yet nowhere near as stiff as 'regular' moulded foam. They come up quite high and are quite full coverage. The centre gore is also high, which I actually prefer in a bra. The cradle part of the band and front part of the straps are decorated with lace embroidered in a geometrical pattern, giving this otherwise plain bra a feminine yet modern touch. Small, 'straight' bows decorate the centre gore and the points where the cups connect to the straps. The wing parts of the band are made out of a completely opaque stretch material that looks a bit like swimwear lycra, but is much much firmer. The back closes with three sets of two hooks and eyes.
Bra fit:
Unfortunately this bra doesn't fit me. It almost fits my larger breast, but it is laughably big on my smaller breast. The cups of this model are clearly meant for someone with rounder, fuller breasts than I have. My breasts are conical and slightly shallow and just don't fill them out the way they should, especially towards the top. The wires are *spot on* which means I'd actually like them a touch wider as I'm oddly enough just not comfortable in wires that sit this close to my breast tissue.
The band on this bra is slightly odd on me. It feels firm enough (although I can easily close it at the tightest hooks, but as I can do this with all the bras I consider comfortable fits that doesn't really say anything), but no matter what I do to the straps, it keeps angling upwards. It's not the same as a band 'riding up' -- it's the shape and design of the band that makes it LOOK as if it's riding up on me. My conclusion is that this band is designed with a slightly 'straighter' or simply less conical torso in mind. My torso is very very conical and I have this same problem in a number of bras, including the 30DD - Masquerade » Rhea (6121) that I love. It makes the band feel weird and uncomfortable and somewhat throws off the fit of the entire bra.
Conclusions:
A nice, simple everyday bra that I really really wish would fit me. Alas, as it doesn't even come close to fitting it will be returned to Bravissimo ASAP. Read more 426 more words
First of all, my crappy iPhone pics do not do this bra (or my breasts in it) justice. Maybe I will try to shoot some better ones later.
Let me tell you about the Savannah. When I first put it on, I said to myself "Finally, a non-padded bra where I like the shape of my boobs! Wow!" It lifts and it brings things forward without the pointy east-west tits of doom! So it IS possible.
Is the Savannah comfortable? Hell, yes! At least, for me it is. Nothing feels weird or pinched. The gore seems to come up high, but not as high as some full coverage ...bras. And it feels so supportive. I'm a noob to these things, so maybe it's all in the band, or the way the cups are shaped. The side fabric kind of scoots tissue along, bringing me front and center. I have the same experience I do with this band that I do in most of my Freyas, in that it seems stretchy and I'm not using the outermost hooks. Or maybe it's not stretchy at all and, again, maybe it is time for me to go down a band size. :/
The color is a subtle in silvery pink shades with lovely embroidery accenting the tops of the cups. It is not so overwrought that I couldn't wear it under a t-shirt or something. I think it would make a fine everyday bra.
I got the Savannah around the same time that I got a Freya Lyla, and I've got to say when I compare the two, the Savannah comes out on top, just for the shaping factor alone.
However I would like to try the Savannah -- or another Fantasie "side support" model in a 30G, or if they make them, a 28GG to see how that fit compares. The cups, while comfortable, seem a little tight. I probably won't be able to wear it in the middle of my cycle.
In conclusion: I want all the side support bras. ALL OF THEM. Read more 232 more words
When viewed from the side this bra gives a really nice rounded shape, but from the front, it's wider than I like...the cups are wide and shallow, and they kind of splay my boobs out to the sides, inside of keeping them front and center. The shallowness of the cups means my bottom heavy shape can't fill out the bottom of the cups, resulting in the wires sitting lower than they should on my ribs. I also get wrinkling fabric in the cups underneath my armpits, as the cups/wires are just too wide.
Aside from being the wrong shape, the cups seem the right size, and the gore sits ...on my sternum, UNTIL I do "the scoop", and then the cups are too small (I get quad) and the gore sits away from my sternum.
Unfortunately the bra is not lined or padded, so it has no protection for show-through. One thing I do really like about this bra is how the straps are attached to the back band: they are more centered in the back, which completely eliminates slipping straps (at least for me).
I purchased this when I was first figuring out the whole "proper fitting" thing, and it worked for me for a month or so until I gained more bra wisdom and found a better fit. If the bra is compatible with your shape, I can see how it would be quite comfortable. Unfortunately, it's found it's way into my unusable pile, and I'm currently looking to re-home it to a more compatible wearer. Read more 148 more words
Could you please explain what differences you found between the Fantasie Esme and Smoothing 4520? The two seem so similar in design (barring the center-pull straps on the Esme) that I don't understand why the same brand would offer both. I have the Esme in 30F, and it's almost perfect; However, I wish the gore was a bit narrower and that the shape was a bit perkier.
I'm wondering whether to try the 4520, since you said the gore tacked better on you. Can you comment on the specific fit differences between the two bras?
I actually haven't worn the Esme for a couple months now. I came to realize the cups on it aren't deep enough for me; as I wear it the wires and cups slowly ride down (even though the band is tight enough), which is caused from the breast tissue pushing it down to get a deeper fit for the bottom of the breast, if that makes sense.
The 4520 is a decent fit on me as the cups are deeper...I do have to adjust it a bit more than my molded Cleo's (favorites!), but I mainly wear it just with shirts that need a tan bra underneath. It does tack excellently, whereas the Esme gore does not touch my sternum at all.
The Esme gives me a very round, yet somewhat minimized appearance from the side, but looks wider when viewed from the front. In contrast, the 4520 is less round and more projected when viewed from the side; I feel it's a tiny bit pointy, although I asked my mother and she doesn't agree with me. Anyway, the 4520 from the front does not look wide at all, which I really appreciate. Thinking about it, I do think the 4520 has a perkier shape.
This is all from memory, but if you have any other questions I can always dig Esme out of the drawer. ;)
Thanks! That's really helpful. The Esme was the first bra I got in my "real" size, so I was really happy with the fit at first. Like you though, I've noticed that the gore almost but doesn't quite tack. The bra doesn't exactly slide down me, but it does feel a bit odd as the day wears on. It sounds like the 4520 might work better for me too.
Are there any other bras that you don't have the sliding strap issue?
Are there any other bras that you don't have the sliding strap issue?
I had high hopes for this bra. When I tried it on, it is really comfortable, too. But, when I looked in the mirror, I was very disappointed. I started looking at more pictures here and elsewhere and I realized the SMALLER cup sizes look great... larger cup sizes - meh. NOT the shape I'm looking for. Seems kind of pointy, east/west, and droopy. Really disappointed in this one, so it's going up for sale.
Also, this is also a strangely NOISY bra, at least when new. There is a lot of creaking and groaning as the wires move in the channels even with small movements. Hopefully this is something that would stop after a break-in period, but I haven't noticed it with others before.
Thanks for the review. I thought I posted a comment after I first joined Bratabase but obviously didn't.
Over time, did the fit improve or get worse? The Belle is the one bra that has been on my radar for so many years yet I would not pull the trigger because I'm convinced this design as a little too east/west, a little too splayed and will become less supportive over time - was this your experience?
Band is fits firmly on loosest hooks. Underwires are not uncomfortable, and sit right where they should. The center gore fit is amazing, it sits right where it should and the separation seems just about perfect. The cups fit pretty well, I get a tiny bit of wrinkling at the top or just a wisp or overspill (depending on the time of month), but overall it's good, and I'm positive this is the best size for me.
View from the front is a tiny bit wider than I like, but not bad. Profile view is nice and rounded, and actually fairly lifted as well. Unfortunately the cups are not ...lined, so there is no protection for show-through...but that's what DIMRS are for! https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" />
Straps are placed too far apart, which is a common problem for me. While not ideal, using a strap accessory in the back stops strap slippage. It's worth noting that I often have a problem with straps/the side of cups cutting into my armpit, but this is not a problem at all with this bra.
This has become my go-to bra for days when I need a tan/nude bra. It's not my favorite in my drawer (I prefer molded or foam cups), but I'm very glad to have it. Read more 108 more words
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... Read more 507 more words
My absolute, absolute favorite bra of all time. Looks great under everything, keeps them up and in front enough for my waist to be defined when I'm wearing something that isn't clingy, but doesn't have the effect of "push up" being obvious. I'm obsessed, I've owned four or five and I wear those bad boys out; even after it's time to replace them, they tend to be better for me than a brand new bra of a poorer shape or quality!
Pros--very comfortable and secure, gives you a fantastic shape Cons-- very date-night under an outfit, but doesn't look all that fancy once your top comes off.
Dewberry (pinkish purple) color. Bought from Brastop, tried on for fit then measured.
This bra fits comfortably in the band (the band runs tighter than the Freya bras I've tried on, which is good), but the cup is too large, I could probably go with a 30FF. I think the issue might be more that the cup is designed for breasts that are more full on top than mine, which are soft due to weight loss (even though my breasts only went down one cup size with 40 pounds of weight loss). Even though there's an empty space on top, the molding is VERY firm, definitely more firm than ...the Deco, and therefore, you cannot tell that I don't completely fill this bra. I actually get a small amount of quad-boob if I don't have it adjusted right, because my breasts fill the bottom of the cup well but don't quite have the shape for the top of this cup.
The straps are fully adjustable, and I have them adjusted almost to the shortest they can go. That might be because the cup is a bit too big, though, rather than that the straps are unusually long.
I'm not sure yet if I'm going to keep it or not, the quality feels very good, it gives a good shape under clothing, and it's a pretty color. It was also affordable. However, it isn't the right size. Brastop doesn't have a cup-size down, so I'm probably going to try it on again tomorrow, see how it looks under tee-shirts, and see how I feel about it then, before deciding if I will return it or not. Read more 164 more words
Ava in Black. The fitting lady at the store told me people sometimes find this bra has TOO MUCH uplift, so I knew I had to try it. It isn't too much for me, but I like a lot of lift... it might be too much on someone with high breasts or someone short? The moulded cup is very hard and keeps its shape very well. The shape is also far less round from the side compared to a lot of other moulded cups, which I like. The bra is fairly comfortable during the day, but not so comfortable that I'd happily wear it as one of my lounging-around-at-the-computer bras. It looks great under t-shirts and shirts! As you can see in one of my photos (I didn't realise at the time), the straps can sometimes be a bit wide, but that's a problem I have with bras in general.
Edit: Now that I'm a 28 back, I have to do it up to the tightest hook but it is quite a firm band regardless.
It's non padded. Unfortunately it gets mixed up with the Fantasie Moulded TShirt bra because when you look at photos the two look identical!
I find this bra is so comfortable all day. The band is very stretchy but very firm. I often switch between a 28 or 30 band when I go from one style to the next but in this one the 30 is perfect - on any hook. It never constrains my breathing. And no wires or seams dig into my flesh throughout the day.
I have round boobs that are soft and fleshy at the center of my ...chest. This bra separates the boobs at the center gore but doesn't push my boobs out under my armpits (I get this affect easily since I have a narrow chest and closely centered breasts on that chest). In fact the shape of the T-Shirt version pushes my nipples outwards unnaturally.
The straps are super stretchy and comfortable. This bra is no frills but it's very smooth and comfortable on the body.
The only downside is that the top of the cup is nearly impossible to fit into perfectly. In a size up it wrinkles with the elastic laying flat but the fabric not, and in this size (my best Fantasie size) the fabric is smooth but the elastic digs in just a tiny bit.
I've had this bra in several sizes for the last 5 years or so. They stand up to normal machine washing really well. After a few years the elastic starts to pill and warp from wear. The rest of the bra looks no different. It's a work horse. And it's comfortable.
Could it be? A perfect bra?? I ordered this bra from Nordstrom because it was on sale, it's a sister brand of Freya so I figured it would fit well. It fits amazing on me and makes my boobs look great! It's a balcony cut, so it's higher up than I'm used to but it's not a problem at all. The embroidery on the Vivienne is absolutely gorgeous and doesn't show through in t-shirts.
The size seems true to what's on the label (with a relatively stretchy band of course). Unfortunately, the elastic strap at the bottom of the band has started rolling in on itself and created a sharp edge, which gets quite painful after a while.
Other than that, it is comfortable and the underwires/band don't come up too high under the arms. It does show under clothing quite easily due to the high contrast of the pinstripes.
This bra is labelled as UK 30E, but it was purchased as and is comparable to a US 30DDD.
It's a plunge style, so it does not work for me. The cups ARE NOT padded. They are lightly lined. (Seriously, what is up with certain European brands calling 1/16" padding??) It's a pretty bra, but just doesn't work for me. If this were a balcony style, and the band was a few inches smaller it would have fit better. Someone that isn't as full in the cup, very shallow with shorter boobs can wear this. It does a good job with lift, and the band feels supportive in the ...front, not so much in the back as the material is overly stretchy and flimsy. The straps are thick and soft so they take the weight nicely.
The quality is not that great. You can see a small amount of fraying fabric on the inside of the cup underneath the seam bindings. Also the outer fabric on the cups have small little pills. I've never worn this a whole day, only tried it on a couple of times. Read more 77 more words
This is the strapless "equivalent" of the 4510 & 4515. It's a molded, smooth cup bra, and colorwise works well under anything. As far as fit, though, that's where the similarities end.
The center gore on this is substantially higher than the 4510, and the cups come up quite high in comparison. It's obviously not a true full-coverage bra, but it very nearly felt like one. It did not move *at all* while worn, likely due to the rubberized strips in the top line of the band. I don't think it'd be half as supportive for anything larger than, say, an F, or for very heavy breasts. The underwires ...poked under my arms, but they kept everything in.
I felt like the quality of this bra was far lower than the 4510 or 4515, because (at least on mine) the top part of the wings where the rubberized strip is ran *into* the cups a bit (see photos). It does what it needs to, and given the general lack of alternatives for a smooth, molded, strapless bra in small band/large cup sizes, it works well. But it's not something I'd wear unless I really, really needed to for a given outfit. Read more 91 more words
Amazing projection for a non-lined and non-padded bra, especially at my smaller size... was quite impressed with that. This reminds me of bras I used to wear in high school in the late 80s and early 90s (before t-shirt bras were the norm!). The lower cup fabric is between gloss and matte, sort of satin finish, and the lace is beautifully textured -- more so than it looks in the few online pics I've seen of this model. Great bra for when you don't want padding or bulk. Does have somewhat of a retro look, but I find that cute. Purchased Spring 2010 from The Lingerie Store USA.
I bought this at the same time as the 4510 T-shirt bra, which I bought in a 38E. The seamless smoothing bras in Fantasie are really all over the place in terms of sizing. I followed the sizing advice on both Her Room & Linda the Bra Lady - both advised going down in the band as it runs large, & up in the cup. This was accurate. I normally wear 38F in this brand, & the 36FF fit very well. Love the straps: perfect placement - set further out on the shoulder, but not as far as Freya, which are often too far out for me. And ...very comfy, perfect width.
Surprisingly, I liked it much better than the T-shirt version, which has much shorter wires. Usually, that's a good thing for me, but in this, the higher wires actually rested more comfortably under the arm. Gives a nice, rounded lifted shape. And I like the non-padded style. However, the wires are still a bit too narrow for me. I find Freya has a much broader wire, which fits my wide breasts well, but I don't care for the shape they give. Fantasie's more narrow wires start to irritate me after about 5 hours. Read more 96 more words
This bra fits pretty nicely on me, with two minor exceptions. 1)The underwire of the cups is a little wide for me, and sometimes seems to dig into me because of this. 2)My ribcage is much closer to a 28 than a 30 band size, but this particular bra only starts at a 30 band size. I already ended up fastening the bra on the shortest hook in order for it to fit me, but this isn't a big deal at the present moment.
Other than that, I liked the bra... Very nice lift. It held me up exactly where I should be and provided plenty of separation. I'm ...not bulging from the ups, it's a good shape under clothing, and is seamless under thin shirts. As to the appearance, it looks very functional--not sexy (at least in this size/color). It's very full coverage, so I don't think it would work with many low cut tops. Also, I may be imagining it, but I think I notice a bit of a minimizing effect. This would make the bra a good choice under my button downs. Overall, I'm very satisfied. Read more 80 more words
This bra fit very much like its utilitarian model, the 4510. Unlike the 4510, it came in cute fashion colors and had feminine embroidered details around the front along the underwires. The band is made of double-layered powernet, and was a bit stretchier than the 4510.
At first, I found the embroidery to be itchy, but after a wash or two it was no longer a problem. Like the 4510, it gave me a very nicely rounded, forward-projected, lift-and-separated kind of look (not too far separated, it pulled in and gathered breast tissue out from under my arms. I found the chocolate color (from Fall '07) to be just fine under medium or darker colored t-shirts and anything a bit thicker that wasn't white. It was great under all necklines except the widest squares (the top corner could show) or the deepest plunges (center gore could show).
All in all, a great everyday bra with just enough extra touches to feel sexier when I put it on without sacrificing anything in wearability.
Could you please explain what differences you found between the Fantasie Esme and Smoothing 4520? The two seem so similar in design (barring the center-pull straps on the Esme) that I don't understand why the same brand would offer both. I have the Esme in 30F, and it's almost perfect; However, I wish the gore was a bit narrower and that the shape was a bit perkier.
I'm wondering whether to try the 4520, since you said the gore tacked better on you. Can you comment on the specific fit differences between the two bras?