Wow, this bra runs so much bigger than labeled size in the band! I couldn't believe my eyes when a 30 was riding up on me, but when I measured it it stretches to 34! It's also slightly large in the cup, unsurprising for a Freya plunge balcony. I can't believe I'm actually writing 28FF on the exchange form! Being a 31 in ribcage I have never worn that band size. I'm used to Freya bands running large so I usually order a 30, but this is really surprising, I almost considered just returning it because there's no reason a bra should run that far off from the labeled size. Seems like a quality control issue--I hope Freya's quality isn't going downhill. The bra is absolutely gorgeous and I hope my exchange will fit. To note, it is quite closed on top because of the black trim.
Thanks for reviewing this. I'm looking out for SS16 Freya reviews in my size range. Kiyoko is pretty. I wonder if the half cup will run similarly large... The balcony cuts don't work for me, sadly, but your review/photos are still helpful.
You're welcome!! I avoid Freya half cups cuz they awkwardly cover way too much for a half cup on me, but that's just my 4' 11" self with my short roots.
I understand completely. Short girl with short roots here, too. They used to fit me better in 30G, but I lost some weight. Now the coverage is better in 30FF, but too wide and a tad shallow. Still they are one of my better and reliable summer options. The balcony plunges sadly don't work for me :(
The freya half cups used to be some of my favorite bras until i realized i could get a much better shape from other bras. I had resigned myself to never having cleavage bc I'm short rooted with splayed breasts, and everything covered most of them, until i found ewa bras that actually are short enough in my size to show some cleavage. I'm not sure if the plunge balcony will work for me or not, previously the only one I'd tried was the Starlet which had such hard wires it caused me pain, but this one doesn't.
This is beautiful!
It really is! I heard the print was inspired by japanese tattoos. I really hope the smaller size will fit!
Bra description: Soft, feminine blush color with delicate white details (lace, bows, piping). Molded plunge, seamed cupe, with optional J-hook in back. Runs truer to size than most Freya bands (I had to use an extender). It looks like I managed to get a small pen mark on one cup at some point (not really sure how that happened).
I bought this bra under the delusion that I could make it work, even though the Deco and I are frenemies at best... needless to say, our relationship didn't last. Why you ask? Here's the summary:
Me: short rooted, center heavy, even/fob, projected Deco: tall cups, plunge, shallow Notice the opposite characteristics ...between us? Every time I put this bra on, I would fall out of the center while the top of the cups would gape. Attaching the J-hook in the back lessened the gaping, but didn't really fix my problems.
I got the Deco Vibe in a 28FF based on my previous experiences with Decos . 1) regular/old-style decos did the weird cup-edge-sticks-out-thing, 2) Decos in my size (30F/FF) would gape at the top while I fell out of the center (projected boobs tilt the moulded cup out to make room for themselves, causing the top to gape) 3) sizing down to a 30E in the Deco delight got rid of the gaping and caused lots of cleavage (the quadding was not noticeable under a shirt because it was all between the cups).
So as the band on my 30E Deco stretched out and my boobs grew a little, I decided a new deco was in order. A 28 band should solve the stretchy problem, right? and going up a cup size shouldn't be a problem because my boobs are bigger, right? Plus the blush will function as a nude! Win win win! NOPE. The band always felt a little too tight on me, so I needed an extender, and despite my larger boobs, I still got top of cup gaping. Maybe my boobs just got bigger in the center, which does nothing when sizing up in plunge like the deco (short roots, remember).
So in conclusion, this bra has been sitting in my drawer for ages. I've worn it a couple of times, but more often then not, when I want the racerback, I reach for the 30E more than the 28FF because I would have excessive cleavage and a slightly loose band than a too tight band, slightly too tall cups and the quad/gap effect. If you are projected and short rooted and get the same issues in the deco (quad/gap effect), I'd suggest doing the same thing I did and sizing down a cup or two to minimize the fit issues.
Because my 32G - Freya » Flourish Padded Longline Bra (1543) is a bit small, I ordered Crush in a 34G, planning on taking in the band. Well, the 34G was too large overall. Re-ordered it in 32G and while this fits better, I'll still have to take in the band.
So yeah, the band runs really large. Even larger than your average Freya I would say, because normally in longlines I don't mind a 32 band. Also, for some inexplicable reason there's only 2 rows of hooks?? Lame, because this decreases the options of tightening (or loosening) the band and I'm pretty sure most customers ...won't like it. So Freya - móre rows of hooks please, not less!
Cups: For a Freya padded halfcup, these run a bit large as well. My 32G Flourish is noticeably smaller. Cup shape is still wide and shallow (too wide & shallow for me) as usual in this style. Maybe a bit more projection than previous Freya halfcups. Cups are somewhat tall as well - there is some minor gaping on my smaller breast, which doesn't happen to me often as I have tall roots.
Straps: are firm and I like how the print continues on them. Straps do require more shortening than I'm used to. For example in Panache Jasmine and Envy, I keep my straps at almost the longest setting. Maybe because of the loose band and large-ish cups, the straps need more adjustment.
Somehow despite not fitting 'properly', this bra still manages to be comfortable. And what originally attracted me - Crush's design - does NOT disappoint in real life! Vibrant print, bright colours, well made and the materials are soft.
Matching shorts are slightly big in size Large (43 inch hips). The border at the leg holes has the annoying tendency to flips outwards, showing the white lining. Think I would prefer the briefs over the short.
If you still have the 34G and it doesn't fit, I'd also be interested in it (and the Retrolution that I also mentioned). That said, I know it's been a while :)
I wrote off Freya's Deco plunge bra nearly 2 years ago when it was a total fail for me. My very soft tissue spilled out of the center right away if I moved or bent over. With short roots and high set breasts, the wires poked and the top edge of the cups rested in my armpits (cups were too tall). It also felt like I was wearing a straight jacket. The cups felt thick and the wires were torture. The Deco became my archetype of a bra that just would never work for me.
I even tried a few Deco bras ...at Nordstrom with two different fitters. They both had a tendency to tighten the straps far too much for comfort and I think that also distorted my view of a good fit.
I read reviews since then that suggested that new models of the Deco with the trim along the edge of the cup had an improved fit. I ignored those reviews because Deco would never work for my pudding boobs.
Fast forward 2 years and I just re-measured myself a couple of weeks ago. I've lost a bit of weight and gone down from 30G/GG to 28G. For some unknown reason, I ordered a Freya Deco Vibe that was on sale with free returns. I think it was the cheapest bra I could find in size 28G and figured even if it didn't work, I could test the volume of it.
Then the unthinkable happened. It fit! Seriously, this bra fits me like a glove. My tissue is contained above the gore by the binding along the top of the cup. The wires might be a tad wide, but they're not too tall. I actually don't mind a *slightly* wide cup and prefer it to a very narrow, projected one. The cup height is about 7", which works for me (surprisingly), but the strap edge comes up a little higher. That would be the only thing I would change because I get "strap gap" when I slouch. The gaping is really not that severe, though, and I just have to adjust the straps with a bit of precision and I get a beautiful silhouette. What I've also learned is that I don't need as high a gore as I thought. I have a short torso, anyway. I just need a bra that doesn't allow my inner fullness to spill out so easily.
I'm super excited by how smooth and uplifted my profile is with this bra. I once remarked that I wish Freya Decos would fit me, because I would just buy a bunch of them and never need another bra. I'm pretty close to doing that. Time will tell if the bra continues to fit beautifully with wear. Then my wallet will become sad.
Some negatives:
When testing it, I find that if I bend over completely to pick something up off the floor, I might have to readjust or my boobs wrinkle a little towards the center. I don't own a bra yet that doesn't do this, so it's not a deal breaker.
Now for the annoying part. The selling point for the Vibe is the racer-back conversion J-hook attachment. This could be a useful addition to my wardrobe, especially for the warmer weather. Unfortunately, I have to tighten the straps on this bra so much that the adjusters are on the front, which means that for normal wear, the J-hook is also at the front. It irritates my skin and you can see the hook part through some shirts. I also tend to wear a backpack when traveling and think that the J-hook would cause major problems with snagging. I will probably have to snip it off with wire cutters, which breaks my heart.
Unsewing the straps and flipping them back-to-front would probably work.
Not sure what that means, but I don't have the sewing skills or sewing machine to tackle taking apart a bra ...
I think she meant removing the straps and flipping them so the j hook would end up in the back like it is suppose to. It wouldn't be hard, a seam ripper, needle and thread.
Oh. I think shortening the straps would be an easier solution, but I might just snip it off instead.
Flimsy wires compared to the tartan freya plunge I have in 28DD. That one wrinkles in the cups, so I went down a size in the crush and it's too small. It seems that freya plunges just don't work for me. The band on this is huge, I need a 26 band, so a loose stretchy 28 is out. Freya in general might be out, unless I alter the band. Oh well, let the hunt for something that fits continue. At first I thought it may fit well enough, but no, it's too small in the cup and miles too big in the band. It is super pretty though and I'll be keeping an eye out for the longline.
Another positive effect of Deco! Im getting less cleavage comparing to 30DD Vibe due to well fitted cups but theres no quadboobing and the band is just perfect, where in 30DD - Freya » Deco Vibe Moulded Plunge Bra (1704) the band need 1 extra set of eyes. The bra feels so soft and love the straps (I wish EM and Comexim uses the same ones). Wires are short comparing to other bras although its not a problem as they fit great. When I was trying decos before, I never could match the perfect size as in 32 the band is huge, also I remember trying 30E or F the green one and band was so tight, so I gave up for good couple of months.. and then after wearing EM and Comexim, my boobs become slightly better in shape. Also as my boobs are on more on the sides is hard to get cleavage in bras, but finally Im happy to have my decos =)
At first when I put this bra on, the fit seemed awful. Giant gaping and way too big cups. However, if I swoop-and-scoop really good the results are shocking. It appears to fit! My breasts look better than ever and I have great cleavage! It is, perhaps, on the edge of quad-boob. It is also quite uncomfortable. However, it only seems to fit well for the moment I'm standing in front of the mirror. As soon as I go about my day, my breasts seem to fall back out. The gaping returns. I tried to make it work for a few days and found myself constantly needing to swoop-and-scoop again.. I guess this is because of the stretchy band. I might try a smaller band in the future.
I had the same issue with my 28FF Deco...I gave up on him, it made me nuts to always be swopping and scooping... I think that the main reason was the fact the cups were too tall for my FoB breast...
If I fit that well into a Deco I'd own one in every color. I really want to hate you right now, but I can't, because you're so cute and sweet. That bra looks made for you.
Wow, yeah that's probably one of the best Deco fits I've ever seen! Adding on to the jealousy parade :P What a perfect fit!
What they said, it really looks great!
Thank you all :-) I'm really pleased by your comments. Spotlight is great and from now I buy only Deco with the seam on cups.
Great fit! The gaping cup is my problem, too, so it might be worth a try.
You should try it, it's much more better than classic Deco.
I agree with your review 100%! I have almost every version of the Deco and my favorite is the Spotlight. I have it in every colorway! I LOVE the shaping of the Spotlight, including the cup shape and the seaming on the top. I have the same problem with other versions "sticking out" so-to-speak and therefore the top of the cup shows under tops. It is my most comfortable and my go-to bra. I also agree with you on the stretchy band. I think it is somewhat stretchier than other Freya bras. Thank you for your review.
SavvyL Thanks for your nice comment :-) I would like to ask, what about other versions of Deco with the seam on cups, for example Vibe or Delight? Are they same as the Spotlight or not?
I have both of these and while they are better than the original Deco, they are not quite as "closed" on top as Spotlight. Oddly, the Vibe runs small, in both the band and the cups. I normally wear 30GG in all Decos, but I had to go up to 32G in the Vibe (in the blush color) because the band was so tight. I have the new Vibe Electric Blue colorway in 30GG (because I wanted a tight band), but the cups are slightly too small (a bit of quadding on top). I have the Delight in the gray colorway and it is pretty close to the Vibe, but not my favorite color---kind of dark--so I don't wear it very often. I also have the Deco Rebel (the animal print one) and the Deco Lagoon (the blue/green print one) and they are both nicely closed on top (very similar to the Spotlight). Can you tell I LOVE decos?
Thanks :-) I usually need cups that are more open on top so I was surprised that Spotlight fits me so well and therefore I think Vibe, Delight etc. should also fit me. I have to try it :-) Anyway thanks again.
The band in the Vibe is very firm it took a few weeks of regular use with an extender to get it to stretch enough to be comfortable without. Most Freya 30s are a pretty good fit and more likely to be a bit loose than tight. The cups might be just a bit smaller than some Decos but not small enough for me to size up.
in the second pic (straight on) it looks like the gore is pressing on breast tissue? does it hurt?
It does look like it is, I've never noticed pain from it. I'm not sure if it's bad lighting or if it is sitting on tissue. I will have to try it on again and see.
I have the same issue with the "vibe"---tighter band and slightly smaller cups than other Decos.
This bra doesn't fit like any other Deco I've tried. The cups are a quite different shape, they are taller and wider, I think they also run a bit large. The band is very firm it just barely stretches to 30.
Great bra if your roots are short, or if you are FOB. You must have inner side fullness for this bra to fit well. Avoid if you are tall rooted and/or have outer side fullness.
This looks quite small on you, have you tried it in 28E?
I am hesitant to try it in 28E because I already get gapping at the inner edges of the cups. I feel that Freya moulded Half Cup bras are just not for me. Also, the 28E might be too broad in the wires.
This bra is very lightly padded and is a softer cup. The bra is a very pretty bright neon orange. The lace detailing is beautiful. The wires are a bit wide for me and it almost fits. The wires are taller but I have migrated tissue in my armpits so I don't mind and the wires are covered with soft fleece. The band feels pretty true but I could go down in the band since I am a 31, so if you're in between and like your band really tight side down. For me the band was comfortable enough for me I am still looking for my right size so I will 're order this in a bigger cup to compare.
I found that this bra runs 1/2 a cup shallower than Freya's other half cups that are supposed to be a sister cut (e.g. Patsy and family). Just thought I'd mention it in case you order other Freya half cups based on the fit.
So I did order a new bra in 32 H I hope that it does fit, but if it does what exactly does that mean? Will it mean I'm half a cup under in the H or should I stick with a GG. This is my second GG purchase, the first being CK Ritzy which was also too small. When I pulled the bra all the way up to my roots I still had spillage. I am semi-soft so I can partially mold to it. What do you think?
I'm very soft/pendulous and with high/short roots. I haven't tried CK Ritzy, but I tend to need to go up a cup in CK's padded/molded options like Starlet and Daily Boost. So I'm usually a 30G in Freya half cups (my Rapture is shallow so I get spillage over the top of the cup) and 30GG in CK. I probably could go up to GG in Rapture, but then the underwires would dig in my armpits. Volume wise, I guess that makes Rapture closer to CK than to other Freya half cups. If the GG Ritzy and Rapture are both too small, then I'd say go for H. I wish I could say that means you'll need an H in all similar bras, but I hardly find any 30Gs between brands that fit the same for me. :/
Thank you so much sense I'm so new to all of this. I see what you mean, I was really just trying to find my base size. I think H is a good fit sense the rapture was so lightly padded. It should be here no later than Wed so I'll update soon.
This is gorgeous on you & I love your write up of it! I like the fact that Marvel is a simple basic nude, I was on that same hunt recently. I would have gone for it if I had the breast shape it requires :)
lcl0706 Thanks :-) Marvel is great. It's the perfect bra for summer, it's non-padded, nude and smooth with only few seams. I'm really glad I have it :-)
A pleasant surprise from Freya, whom I haven't had a lot of luck with up to this point. But this bra is so gorgeous I couldn't help myself! Very nicely narrow and projected, very stretchy band as per usual Freya. Nevermind my twisted strap in the blog pictures! If anyone knows where I can acquire a nude color 28FF, I'd be eternally grateful.
So the Ooh La La is definitely NOT as similar to the Arabella as I was hoping. It's sort of freakishly deep for this cup size, and I'm not sure what's going on there. The one I have runs about 1.5 cup sizes large. The good news is: this gave me the perfect opportunity to try some alterations out. All of the measurements I took for Bratabase were pre-alteration.
The wires on this are very narrow and the shape is definitely FoB and immediately projected. The mesh is soft and cool and the straps are quite wide (but fully adjustable). Overall, I'm a bit disappointed that it didn't fit to begin with (WTF is with the sizing on this Freya) but it ended up working out well.
Hmmm. This is a bra I've been wanting to try. Do you think you have an oddball, or does the style just run deep?
I did buy this one used, so it's possible that it's larger than it should be. The other measurements here look closer to Arabella (around the 9" depth mark). Overall the style is definitely cut differently than Arabella. It's more immediately projected and the stiff patterned section is larger. It's supposed to be more open on top than Arabella. Maybe try it in both 28DD and 28E?
http://bra.pe/CHN7/ just compared my 30DD (black/henna) with your 28E - seems like the cups of the blush 28E are narrower and deeper than the 30DD black/henna. so if you run into a 28E in black/henna it is likely to work for you.
Oooooh. This bra has been in my Amazon shopping cart for a long time, I just haven't decided on it! Thanks for the detailed review.
Good material, as supportive as a wireless bra can be. Nude and seemless under clothing. Gives a real frontal push, rounded effect under clothing.
The only thing is that as it gives a sexy cleavage, my girls tend to jiggle when I walk! I guess this is somewhat expected considering that it creates exposed frontal cleavage ! 😉
This is my first Freya bra above a G cup. The straps are a bit thicker, there are 3 hooks instead of 2, and the upper part of the cups that would be sheer are lined. The pansy print is really pretty! It also manages to give me a decent shape; I was worried because I have heard that above a G cup, the cup construction tends to go awry.
Such a pretty bra! That might be one of the best floral prints I've seen yet. I'm so glad to hear it gives a good shape. :)
Oh, thats gorgeous! I havent tried any freyas - I think I was told the wires arent as firm as I like?
Good to know as I've got one in my ebay watch list, but haven't been able to push the BIN button yet. Thanks for the info!
BumbleBean I will have to add some pics of me wearing the bra underneath a top! @dbmamaz A lot of people say that their wires are soft,and that the gore often doesn't tack on them. I get soft tack though @catiebabe85 Do it, if you haven't already!
Looks great on you, and it's a pretty bra, the material looks soft too.
My shape: teardrop with even fullness, super tall and super wide roots, very close-set tissue in the center, and all the fitting problems shallow ladies have but with more immediate projection.
This review is for the black colorway.
Received this bra yesterday in a swap, and I am pretty perplexed. It fits very similarly to the 30G - Freya » Patsy Padded Half Cup Bra (1223) longline I used to have, which was about 1 size too big in the cups. I believe I have gone down a cup size since then, but I don't think I've lost that much fullness or weight or changed sizes THAT much, ...because my other half cups in 30F and my 30FF - Freya » Marvel Side Panel Bra (1501) fit me pretty well, so I'm not sure how this 30FF seems to be a whole 2 sizes too big! I did notice that these cups are quite a lot taller than the Marvel's, and definitely taller than my Fauve half-cups, so maybe that has a lot to do with it. I have a Freya Ivy Padded Longline Bra (1333) coming from another swap soon, so I'll compare it to that too just to be sure.
I will say that I am pretty confident now that I need 28 bands in Freya (except maybe the longlines, because of the difference in tension distribution across larger fabric expanses). I thought my Marvel had stretched a tad because it was gently used when I got it, but I'm sure now that it hasn't stretched and the tightest hooks are where I would have needed to wear it anyway. This one is very stretchy and soft, and it shifts and wants to slide down even on the tightest hooks, causing the center bridge/gore to chafe a little and pulling the underwires down, which makes the bottom of the cups difficult to fill. It also pulls away in a little wrinkle along the top edge of the wing between the side seam and the strap under my arm, but this may possibly be due to a mismatch with my ribcage shape.
When it sits where it's supposed to, the center bridge is comfy enough, even though it's so high. The wires rest on the very edge of my breast tissue in the center, which isn't perfect, but I have yet to find a bra with center wires stacked on top of each other unless I sew them that way myself.
The cups gape like crazy, though. They are so big that, even though they are soft and there are no ridges to show through a shirt that would otherwise hold them in place against my boob, the empty fabric wrinkles, so you can see them anyway. The placement of the straps so far out - basically in my armpits, although just shy of rubbing - really doesn't help the matter any, and I can see the sides of the cups buckling independently from the rest of the fabric when I shrug my shoulders, but it really does just make the whole situation more extreme.
Listing this one right away so I can try a 28F as soon as possible! Read more 423 more words
Yeah I recently read somewhere on here that Patsy runs large!
Not happy for you that it doesn't fit, but thanks for this thorough review - for me it means I might give Patsy a try (borderline sized out of Freya halfcups) .
Thanks! I try to be thorough, because just saying "fits great" or whatever doesn't help anyone.
Maybe the longline has shorter cups, because I don't remember having this much of a crazy time with mine. It was too big in the cups, but it wasn't like this! I did my research, too, so somehow I missed people saying it runs large. :S
Good luck in your search! I hope it works out for you.
Hmm yes I suppose it might just be the tallness then, making some people say it runs large but not on others?
Looking up measurements in the size I think I'd need (30H) they don't seem large or unusual. Good idea on here to start adding a measurement for tallness! Obviously (too) tall cups will really influence the fit. And yeah I know the feeling, doing your research on a bra and still it doesnt work out -__-
To remedy your gaping / tallness issue; (for this bra or future bras) you might try changing the strap placement? If you centre the straps a bit more, the cup fit will also improve :)
~ Discovered this when replacing straps because of armpit-chafing. (But mostly works on a tiny gap / near fit)
I'm actually really surprised at this bra. I ordered this bra on sale, before I realized the extent of my tissue migration, and started thinking it'd be tried on and promptly returned. Or if I kept it, I figured it would fit like my Hatty - a bit too wide, a bit too gappy at the top, but would serve its multi-way bra purpose and that would be that.
Well, these cups measure 5.5" - same as my Hatty. Depth is smaller than my Hatty at 9" but is right on target for a bra with an index size of 28:9. I ...probably could have done a GG for the sake of my bigger boob, but I don't think it's quadding enough to bother me. Time will tell. The good part is the Deco-gap at the top of the cups is much less pronounced in this style. Maybe it's due to the seam/edging at the top of the cup. I've heard that really stands out under shirts in other styles like the Spotlight and Vibe, but I haven't tried this bra on under a tighter shirt yet to find out. The cups are too shallow at the bottom, and fold over under my boob after a couple hours' wear. They're molded like every other Deco variation, and theoretically seamless under shirts. This is my only ivory color bra. The weird pattern on the band is meh. It needs to be a bit more vibrant, because as is it kinda looks like a stain.
The band has THREE HOOKS! Let's all take a moment to appreciate that. Not only that, it's a FIRM Freya band, stretching to 27.75"! Yes!!!! I wonder if Freya did this because the straps can be removed and it could be worn as a strapless? I don't see myself wearing it as a strapless, because of the cup construction, but regardless having a firm 3 hook band from Freya is like finding a unicorn.
UPDATE: Sold it, once I realized the wires sat half an inch below my IMF and half an inch outside my side root. It got really uncomfortable after a couple of hours. Read more 271 more words
Thanks for reviewing this. I'm looking out for SS16 Freya reviews in my size range. Kiyoko is pretty. I wonder if the half cup will run similarly large... The balcony cuts don't work for me, sadly, but your review/photos are still helpful.