I really love this bra. It's gorgeous, the fabrics feel like they're high quality, soft, smooth, and very comfortable. It took me quite a while to review this bra. I feel a bit off doing a proper review on something I've only worn at home for like an half hour, max. I did a fit check on this bra and was informed that the Helena Balcony Bra model from @Fantasie is one of their older models. @Fantasie is specifically a "bigger bust" brand and most their bras (especially the older models) are originally patterned around a size 32G (just a guess on my ...part) and are then sized down to the smaller cups/bands. I often hear that @Fantasie bras run larger in the cup compared to most brands (i.e. Panache, Freya, CK, Parfait etc.). Due to my lack of experience wearing the bra I had to mark everything as "Good" instead of "Excellent." But, IMO, I think the quality, comfort, and appearance would all be excellent if I had more experience with it. I hope I do! I am looking at more @Fantasie bras! Though they tend to be on the more expensive side and very rarely do they come in a size 30C. I have found the Helena in a 30C a couple times and hope to get my hands on it. The top of the cups on this bra are obviously too big for me. I completely fill the bottom of the bra and fully intend on removing the lace section and perhaps attaching it to the rest of the cup to stabilize it. I think this alteration will make me a really lovely low coverage, plunge style bra that fit very well and it super comfortable. The fabrics felt oh-so-nice and were really comfortable against the skin . Although I often wish they used the silky/satiny fabric they use on the outside of the bra on the inside of the bra because of it's lovely skin feel. Instead they tend to use some rougher cotton, cotton-like, polyester fabric for the inner lining of the bra if they use any at all. I can see this bra being very good for FOT, even full, firm breasted women. I didn't really like how the lace felt, but I don't see it being annoying to those with more sensitive skin than I. The band was nicely firm for a 30 band. I typically need a >28 band, so this band was obviously too big for me and I needed to hook it on the tightest hook. It certainly seemed tight/firm enough on this book and was definitely comfortable. The elastic definitely feels very high quality. The wires seem to be about an average width for this size. I really enjoyed these wires. They were not extremely firm, but they were not soft and flexible like Comexim's. They were...sturdy. Nice and sturdy. They were tall at the Gore and the sides. I could see some women complaining about the bra being too tall and poking. I also feel that the Gore is fairly tall but was comfortable for me. I really like that the wires are pretty freaking close together and the Gore remained narrow all the way down to the bottom of the gore where there is some widening. I can definitely see this bra being good for closer set women. I really disliked the straps. The base fabric didn't feel great and seems to be some sort of fold over elastic. This "elastic" was covered with the same lace that was on the cups. This made the straps really wide. I'm not a huge fan of wide straps. It also made the straps not fully adjustable, which can easily be a con. The lace does not look really good so it does nothing for the appearance of the bra IMO. Although it does match so it makes the bra look well thought out in design and aesthetic. What was nice about the straps was that they weren't very wide set, I am getting really tired of super wide set straps. Overall, I can't wait to try more @Fantasie and I certainly look forward to making my alterations to this bra and will post and update as the alterations occur. Read more 603 more words
I’m thinking of trying this as well as it’s come up a few times in my bra recommendations. It looks like Amazon currently carries 30C in white/black/nude. Have you tried this size or just the 30D?
Exceptional level of fail, for me, with this beautiful bra. It truly is beautiful, with it's fancy embroidery, and I'm sad it looks so incredibly terrible on me. Major lesson learned today, though. Even though I need a lot of side support, I need it to be in the wing area and not with the help if an inner side sling or panel. Ughh. The first bra I tried when I began this journey, had that problem, but I didn't understand it as well as I do now.
My breasts are very soft and deflated. I have yet to see an unlined bra look good on me. Every ...little thing shows. Inner slings like this one, and the seam between the different fabrics (with different levels of flexibility) of the Cleo Lucy, create all sorts of creases, indents, wrinkles, bulges and whatnot. I guess if I were to find one that does work, it would have equal support (fabric-wise) in all parts of the cup. It's hard to even describe what the Elodie did to me, but I will try.
Maybe "sling" is the wrong word. There is a panel on the side of the cup that is a thicker and firmer material than the others. This pressed on the tissue on the side of my wide roots, distorting the shape in a way that made everything else about the cups fit terribly. I never have the problem of wrinkling in the bottom or outer sides of cups, because my boobs totally sink to the bottom and fill them in. But, this bra made it appear that neither sides nor bottom were filled in. Adding insult to injury, I also wasn't filling in the tops and had tons of gapping all along the top edge of the cup, except....oddly enough...in my biggest problem area....the place where cup meets strap. There, the gapping was much less significant than it is in almost every other bra I have tried thus far. I also felt like the wings weren't quite high enough and the gore dug into my sternum painfully.
I can't even begin to say whether or not this runs true to size. Either the cups run big or the astoundingly bad fit just made it seem that way. The band seems about the same as the other 30s I have tried now (Panache, Cleo, Parfait by Affinitas), with the exception of the Natori True Decadence (in which the 30 band was nice and snug). This is one of the prettiest bras I have tried. And also one of the worst ones on me. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" />
The Fantasie Smoothing bra is SO comfortable and well made, that when it didn't fit me I just wanted to cry. The lower cups fit perfectly, as did the wire diameter and band, but the upper cups had awful vertical wrinkling. The cups are shaped such that you MUST have very full, round breasts (or fakes) for it to fit properly.
That being said, this is a superbly well constructed and again, super comfortable bra. The cup material is not like most molded cups I've seen. Material on this type of bra is usually thin and very stretchy. On this bra, however, the fabric has little stretch and is pretty tough. I can tell that it would offer great support and smoothness in the right size. Easy to see how this would be a hit. Unfortunately I ordered the smallest size offered so I'm out of luck. Purchased Spring 2010 from HerRoom.
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 wish the cup was one volume larger, as even tho it fits my tall roots, it just doesn't contain me properly. also the wires are too far apart/to tall for my close-set tissue.
I'm not extremely sure, but I think I have immediate projection and am full on bottom.
I think the cup may run somewhat large, but I also think there's a shape mismatch for me. I also didn't fill out the outer bottom corners of the cups. The top of the cup on my larger side also wrinkles a little bit, but wrinkles a lot on the smaller side.
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
Me: Average projection. Fuller on bottom. Slightly wider left breast. Usually wear 28DD or 30D.
I bought this bra to see if side support bras would help my wider breast not spill out on the side; my breast definitely doesn't spill out on the side with this bra but it gave me quad boob on top for both my breasts The lining of the cups are a bit too short on top for me. I do think the bra is for projected women that are full on bottom and narrow on top. I'm slightly full on top but more so on bottom, so the bra cuts into my breast tissue. The quad boob is very noticeable on thin shirts. Also made my breasts look like cones under a shirt.
Fantasie Sofia is my best-fitting Padded Half Cup style from the brand, but I still experience some gapping at the upper cup because I am not FOT. I was curious to see if trying a size down would help alleviate the issue, so I went ahead and tried this in a 30D.
Sizing down to a 30D gave me a very pushed up effect and rounded cleavage, however this is purely due to the cups being too small. The cups are both too short and wide, and I can see that they are proportionately too small for my body. One major difference between the 30D and ...the 30DD I already own is that the 30DD had really firm wires (actually the wires are a bit uncomfortable on me), but I found that this 30D had pretty flexible wires. This explains why the cup width actually fits ok on the body despite being obviously too narrow, because they are actually flexing. However, while the Sofia 30DD did not have the issue with pulling from the straps, I get some pulling on my smaller side.
The cup depth of 30D is not super shallow though, and between the slightly deeper cup depth for the size and the open top, it resulted in the push-up effect instead of causing massive overflow. So, if you are a narrower shape and struggle with open half cup bras being a little too gappy at the top, it might be worth trying to size down in this style. The cups still gap if I move though, so I think this is because of my narrow frame and short proportions rather than any cup depth issue.
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. 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. Read more 558 more words
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. Read more 925 more words
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. Read more 925 more words
Yes, this is a Fantasie bra in 30D, which we know is not my size given my experience with Elsie. However, the only reason I decided to give it a try in 30D is because the Annalise Padded Half Cup (HC) ran a cup size too large, so I thought the same just might hold true with the Side Support (SS) version. Sadly, this didn't turn out to be the case. Annalise SS is basically the same fit as Elsie SS, and they both fit me about the same in this size, which is too small.
The band on the HC was a bit smaller and ...fit me, but the band on this bra is really big, even bigger than on my Elsie 30D. For that reason, it's a bit difficult to judge the fit, but I can tell from the fit and measurements that it is more or less the same as Elsie, which is the same cut as most of my other favorite Fantasie bras (Frances, Camellia). See my reviews on these styles for more specifics about cup shape and construction. So, the cups for me would probably work in a 30DD if the size were available, but the band on this style seems to be all over the place, as the band on the 30DD Half Cup I tried was just massive!
Interestingly, the wires seem to be the same on the Elsie 30D, the Annalise SS 30D, and the Annalise HC 30D, but on the styles with larger bands, there's not enough tension in the band to pull the wires open a bit and make them wider. The wires on their own are too narrow for me and a bit too short on the side. However, due to the tighter band on the HC version, they ended up fitting me ok in terms of width.
The Camellia is printed throughout the entire cup with pink flowers on a white base, giving it a fresh springlike feel. The outer cups are made entirely from floral printed mesh, with the bottom cups and cradle having small scale embroidery detail, and the upper cup and center cradle with large scale satin embroidery. The bottom cup is double lined with tricot for additional support. The upper cup embroidery is nicely textured with long satin stitches, and the edge of the upper cup gives the appearance of 3D lace so prominent in Japanese styles. As is common for Fantasie bras, there is a bit of printed fabric topped on to the front straps, and the rest of the straps are textured picot edge elastic that is slightly narrower than usual. The band is fairly plain and made from standard powermesh. Back is a standard low leotard back, and the only decorations are simple satin bows at the gore and strap attachments.
If you loved Elsie, I think you will love this bra, but beware that the band runs large and is rather inconsistent. I plan to keep the Annalise Half Cup in my collection in 30D but pass on this cut unless I can find one in my normal size of 30DD. Read more 424 more words
I liked the original Annalise Padded Half Cup I reviewed in size 30DD, but it was grossly gigantic on me in both band size and cup size, so I decided to order it again in 30D. I was able to get my hands on the Camellia colorway, which is white-based with pink and green flowers. Based on my experience with the 30DD, I felt the cup shape was pretty suitable for me, but ran one size big. The band on the last bra was gigantic, and I am happy to report that sizing down fixed the issue (the band is still loose on me but ...it is true to size when compared to other Fantasie 30 bands as they all run large on me), so I would order one cup size down.
Unlike the other two padded half cup styles I tried, I like the shape of these cups. The cups have a 3HC bottom cup construction and one horizontal top panel, and give more projection than your standard padded half cup made from this light foam, so it creates a nice rounded shape. The upper cup is more closed off than the standard 3HC. Mae and Marianna were both made as standard 3HCs, though Marianna was too short and small, and Mae was too wide and large. The fullness of the cup is once again the center full side, but it isn't as prominent as on some other foam cup bras, so it didn't bother me a lot. The only slight fit issue is that when I am fully scooped, it gives the appearance of some overflow, but this is really because the upper cup is a bit too closed off for me and it's cutting into my tall roots. There is a slight bit of room in the upper cup so if my tissue were distributed evenly within the bra, this would not happen, so the cup volume isn't a problem.
I noticed that the wires on the 30DD were more of a short U shape, where the bottom of the wire is slightly flatter than normal. However, the wires on the 30D are pretty normal and look like the wires of my other Fantasie 30DD bras with a gentle curve. The wires on this bra are very flexible, so while it measures too narrow for me on the flat, it ends up fitting ok, however I would have preferred slightly taller sides and slightly longer wires as these days I prefer more side coverage from my properly-fitting bras.
Thus, the only fit callouts I have are band size, which will forever be a problem to me with Fantasie bras; slightly short feeling cup height/wire length at the outer cup, and slightly too closed shape on the upper cut that cuts in a little bit to tall roots.
In the Camellia colorway, this bra basically satisfies all my cravings for a pretty, frilly Japanese bra without having to deal with the ridiculous padding and V shape of a real Japanese bra. Unlike the Black colorway, which combined floral print and black lace, the Camellia is printed throughout the entire cup. The outer cups are made entirely from floral printed mesh, with the bottom cups and cradle having small scale embroidery detail, and the upper cup and center cradle with large scale satin embroidery. The upper cup embroidery is nicely textured with long satin stitches, and the edge of the upper cup gives the appearance of 3D lace so prominent in Japanese styles. As is common for Fantasie bras, there is a bit of printed fabric topped on to the front straps, and the rest of the straps are textured picot edge elastic that is slightly narrower than usual. The band is fairly plain and made from standard powermesh. Back is a standard low leotard back, and the only decorations are simple satin bows at the gore and strap attachments.
I paid pretty close to full price for this bra, but I might just keep it because I've wanted a frilly Japanese-style bra for a long time, and I think this is the closest I will get to achieving this aesthetic while keeping the cups lightly lined. This is not a bra for everyone, but could be a good option for those that find typical 3HC-style padded half cups too shallow. Just be sure to size down in the cups and potentially in the band if possible! Read more 644 more words
Elsie was my first Fantasie bra purchase back when I was a 28DD. I didn't have much interest in the Fantasie brand at that point, but I saw this from one of my favorite closeout sellers and just had to buy the bra to try. Aesthetically, Elsie is the prettiest bra I own. The Apple Blossom print just screams Anne of Green Gables, and it is feminine and girly without being frilly. It has all the appeal of a Japanese bra without the heavily padded cups and lumpy trims. Sadly, the fit of the cups didn't fit me when I was a 28DD, ...and it doesn't fit me now as a 28E.
First, the 30 bands from Fantasie run really large. The band unstretched on this style measures a full 3" longer than my best fitting 28E bras, and almost 4" longer than my Comexim 28 bands. Thus, the band is definitely problematic for me in this style. I would recommend sizing down up to two band sizes if possible if you are looking for a truly snug band. Thankfully, the very shallow leotard back construction means this shouldn't be a difficult band to alter if necessary. The band on this specific style is made from single layer powermesh with the same print as the cups, so the beautiful print extends all around the bra. The mesh feels nice and firm, so if the band weren't so long, it would feel comfortable and secure.
I believe this bra is very close to the same cut as the Nadine, which I own in 30DD. I have tried another Fantasie Side Support cut that seems to fit differently (Estelle is more projected in the cup). The bottom cup is made from single layer lightweight printed fabric, while the upper cup is made from mesh embroidered with satiny blossoms. The upper edge of the upper cup has a strip of elastic sewn in for stability, but the elastic does not provide much stretch, nor does it pucker. The cradle is the same printed satiny fabric lined with rigid tricot. The fabrics are extremely lightweight and comfortable in this particular style. If this fit, it would be such a comfortable bra, particularly for summer!
In terms of cup fit, these side support style are tricky on me. My tissue is too spread out to really suit this cup construction, which requires a more projected and narrow breast shape. The wires of this 30D are too small for me and definitely cut into breast tissue on both sides. If the band is pulled snug, I fill the cups entirely, but I suffer from the orange-in-a-glass effect and clearly need the cups to be bigger. I should have gotten this in a 30DD, but alas it is not available right now, and even then there would continue to be some fit issues as these bras are not really designed for my shape.
I've found that these Fantasie side support styles need to be worn differently from my standard bras. I had to consciously pull the bra up a bit higher on the body to have the wires sit in a position where the cup shape was more natural, otherwise wearing the band/wires at my normal position effectively forced my breast tissue only into the portion of the cup that is not restricted by the side sling, leaving the bottom and sides completely empty. However, this makes the outer portion of the cup sit right under the armpit, which is also not ideal for comfort.
Despite all these issues, I want to give this another shot i a different size, and I don't want to let this 30D out of my collection. I've picked up a 30E just on a whim since I feel that the 30DD cups are still a bit small and restrictive on me. It is heartachingly beautiful and appeals to a part of my psyche that swoons over apple blossoms, baby pink, and delicate scalloped trim. Read more 575 more words
(Basically the long rant I posted on the front page, but edited to focus on mostly juts this bra.)
Well, I was reminded why I don't shop during Brastop clearance sales, especially if it's the ONE bra left in that size...
I purchased two beautiful Fantasie bras from Brastop on the "up to 80% off clearance!!" sale. (Side rant: are any of them actually that much off? I only find like 50-60% off, and even the one I got as the last bra was like 70% off... hmmmm) This one focuses on the side-support in 30D. It is comically flawed. (Laughably ridiculous fit!! I have always known where the term ..."quad-boob" came from, but I have never actually looked literally like four boobs... until now. Hence the comical flaw. Pictures coming soon.)
I would say that this is a 30C mislabeled, but they don't make 30C in this style! So by my the other flaws discovered, I believe this was just incorrectly constructed.
Across the 30D side support bras I viewed, they average at about a 4.8" cup width and a 7.7" cup depth. Mine is a 4.5" cup width and 7.5" cup depth! Wire length is also an entire inch shorter (7.5" compared to 8.7" average). Gore height is about three-quarters of an inch shorter (2.0" compared to 2.8"). Wing height, for whatever reason, is actually a half-inch taller. (Mine: 3.5". Average: 3.0") Band length, stretched band, and gore width is fine. So it appears the cradle was constructed correctly, but not the cups! How did this one end up with small cups AND a wire that's so tiny in comparison to the other 30Ds??? They don't do 30C, so I cannot fathom where that wire came from!
From a quality control standpoint, if you have less than a second to check on it, they both look beautiful, so I can see how they passed inspection. (Honestly, fabrics are achingly beautiful, tear-worthy that neither work.) Nothing was stitched incorrectly, and no backwards straps, weirdly stretched elastics, or snags in the fabrics. But how could one end up with such a tiny wire, and one with with wires intended for a two sizes up??
In summary: 30D is smaller than average, being painfully small. It sucks. Read more 262 more words
I really like this bra! I was looking for a smooth bra for under T-shirts, and I tried the Cleo Neve but it was too shallow and wide for me, the shape was a bit unnatural, and the material was really thicker than I wanted. This bra solves all those issues. The spacer foam is smooth but not too thick - nipple show-through is possible but of course much less than an unlined bra. It's soft and comfortable, and seems to be good for my average projection and tall roots.
I have close set breasts, so gores almost always bother me unless they are narrow and low. I will probably alter this bra to narrow the gore and overlap the wires at the top, because they do sit on breast tissue in the centre which gets uncomfortable by the end of the day. But this seems to be a standard alteration for me now.
This is a nice bra. The seams are very smooth and the fabric is thin but not stretchy. It has very pretty/delicate coloring, and does not show through tshirts. I feel like it might be somewhere between a D and DD cup because a D cup usually cuts into side breast tissue for me, but this does not.
If I had firmer upper breast tissue, this would be making the slightest quadding on my larger breast, but my smaller side fills this out very well, which is a struggle in some DD cups.
In a DD cup, I'd definitely need to alter the smaller side so it would fit properly.
***Update*** after wearing a few times, I noticed this bra cuts into tissue on the side of he breast, near the armpit. The wires are not tall enough in the side, and also slightly too narrow. Too bad, as I really like how it fits elsewhere.
Very pretty bra!! I absolutely love the color!
You could probably follow the tutorial by "Bras I Hate And Love" on how to take out some center fullness of the bra, so then it would be a perfectly smooth fit. :) http://brasihate.blogspot.com/2012/08/how-to-make-pointy-bra-round.html?m=1