My first impression of this bra was that it didn't quite glow the way the official pictures look. The discrepancy is likely due to the mesh overlay that Fauve puts on all of its bras. It distorts the colors, especially if it's a black mesh over colored lining. This is still a pretty bra, it just wasn't pretty in the way I was expecting.
The lining itself is a skin tone kind of beige, and I think I expected a brighter, more golden color. It's not bad, I just needed to adjust my expectations. I wonder if they were going for a pseudo-unlined look.
The cups are about average ... width and depth, I think. It feels true to size, even with my shape mismatch. Like other Fauve halfcups, it's got a rather front and center look- shallow on the sides and bottom. The Isla is the most closed on top of all the Fauve halfcups I've tried so far- so much that I don't actually get any gaping, though there is empty space at the top of the cup. It cuts into my tall roots without any quadboob. Like the Fauve Lavinia, this is probably due to the lace cutting across the tops of the cups. This bra is probably more fitting for average height roots.
The band on this bra is loose- typical Fauve. The 30 band is more like a 32. The band elastics are on the thinner side- 3/8 inches rather than half an inch.
The straps are strange. I originally thought that it was two pieces of elastic stitched together. Upon closer inspection, I realized that it was all one long elastic, but there was some mesh sewn on top in the front half. This makes the straps functionally partially adjustable, since the stitches prevent the buckle from traveling any further higher. It's possible to push the buckle past the stitches, so the straps can be fully adjustable. A good thing too, since in its partially adjustable mode, the straps do not adjust short enough.
The wires in this bra are hard. Unfortunate for me, since that means the cups actually are too narrow and that the gore is uncomfortable. The bra is wearable after I bent the wires and the gore out.
The embroidery on the bra is very smooth and not a problem under shirts. The lining is silky smooth, as it typical of Fauve halfcups. The lining is pretty creased on mine, due to how it was stored/shipped. I don't have the projection to smooth it out entirely. Maybe it'll go away after washing, but this isn't too likely if my other Fauve halfcups are any indication.
All in all, knowing what I do now, I probably could have passed on this cup for now. But I have it, and I'm not inclined to sell it, so I'll make it work for me.
Read more
Updated on Jun 22, 2016 Flag this
Wow, this bra looks amazing! I love these princessy designs. It's a shame it didn't fit you well. I wish it came in band size 28.