This is my first strapless in a size representative of my bust, and I think it's awesome. However, I can't put this bra on by myself. I usually wear a 32G, but ended up getting this in a 30 G (both for more security and because the boutique didn't have 32G). When I put it on myself, i ended up bending one of the bones on the right side, so now I get help. the front part constantly rides up because I a little pudge and bad posture, but it's not a deal breaker. The straps are awesome, allowing for halter and x-back, as well as 2 options (inner and outer) for putting the straps on in the front and back. The wires are pretty narrow on this bra, which is good for me, but not for others.
I adore the longline look, so I figured it was finally time to get one of my own. I usually wear a 28FF, but I decided to take a chance on the 28G since it was available. The band is pretty tight on the loosest row (there are only two), but it very stretchy, and I think it will get more comfortable with more wear. Straps are fully adjustable, and sit comfortably on my shoulders.
I honestly did not think it was possible for a cup width to be too wide for me, but Just Flew In definitely walks the line. I would probably like for ...it to be a little more narrow, but there is breast tissue all the way to the end, so it's not that big of a deal. Once the bra is pulled right up into my inframammary fold (And stays there! That never happens!), my breasts fill the cups very nicely and I have very little empty space on my higher breast.
A small bit of gaping at the top, but I do feel like that's from going to a "G" cup, and it's really not noticeable enough for me to worry about it. The gore is probably the biggest complaint I have. It comes up quite high and leaves very angry red marks when I remove the bra. I wish there was a way to bend it out *ever so slightly*, just to take a smidgen of pressure off, but it does not hurt so far.
Overall I feel the fit is pretty nice, but would have been perfect had I gotten my proper size. I will keep it and wear it, because *damn* is it beautiful, and it creates a really nice smooth, rounded shape that looks great under anything that I own. Read more 198 more words
I have shallow breasts with a wide base and I couldn't fill this bra AT ALL. There was at least an inch of room where the cup sat away from my breast. Even looking at it when I took it out of the box it looked like it had too much projection.
After hearing about the wonders of Deco, I decided to give it a try... only to be met with disappointment. Something about the way the cups fit is not right. The cups will gap unpleasantly if I don't keep my shoulders back. I also tried the 28DD, which gave me super-cleavage, but also super-armpit and back fat. I guess this Deco is just not for me...
First off, I really like the material this bra is made from. It feels very nice to the touch and has an interesting texture without being scratchy or uncomfortable.
The straps of the bra are fully adjustable, which is always a bonus for me. I don't really like straps that only adjust on part of the strap. They also slide smoothly while adjusting, but don't move once in place.
The cups give my breasts nice lift and shape without coming all the way up to my neck. It doesn't show under lower cut tops like some bras would.
The band feels nice and firm, ...but not overly so. Very comfortable.
The gore is a bit wider than other bras I've tried. The gore doesn't quite tack against my sternum since my breasts are set quite close together (about a finger's width). It isn't really a big issue, but something I thought was worth pointing out. The bra still fits nicely regardless, and if I push the gore against my sternum, there is no quadboob.
Not really important, but the closure for this bra is 2 clasps per. I haven't found many bras in my size that have less than 3.
Overall, this is a very nice bra, and I would recommend trying it out. Read more 109 more words
The Freya Lyla: what a pretty bra! I felt elegant when I first put it on. I have mixed feelings about the Lyla, though, but it's mostly due to my breast shape.
When the Lyla first arrived from Figleaves, I looked at it and was extremely skeptical. I wondered if I had made a huge mistake, because the cups looked taller and deeper than other 30FFs I've tried. I even looked at the label to make sure it was the right size! I also wondered just how supportive it would be, since it's all mesh.
But I was mildly surprised at the fit. I'm not going to sit here and ...say it actually fit me, it just fits me better than I expected. The Lyla is the narrowest bra with the deepest cups that I've tried in a 30FF. When I compare it to other unpadded/unlined cups I've tried, I like this fit better than certain Wacoals and Chantelles that, while they held my boobs in, they didn't do any favors for the shallow shape or bring them front and center. I feel like the Lyla attempts to reign in my wide set boobs and bring them on in to the front. What seems to helps with this is the way the fabric is cut at the sides, but I'm no expert with bra mechanics. It could also be the length of the wire. But that part of the bra seems to cradle the sides and nudge them forward. I'm not sure about the shape it gives my boobs. It actually seems to be a natural shape, not flattened, but the shape doesn't seem to be very lifted. I suspect it is due to my breasts being bottom heavy. While I question whether I LOOK supported in the Lyla, I certainly FEEL supported.
The band is firmer than other Freyas I have in a 30FF -- which is good, because it means I don't have to use the innermost hooks right away. I'm using the middle set of hooks, but before you say that I should try this in a 28, I suspect a 28 in this model would strangle me! In addition, I think if I went up a cup size (because the sides ARE spilling out a bit), I probably wouldn't be able to fill out the top.
Appearance-wise, as I mentioned before, it is very pretty. I was afraid that the mesh would itch, because the fabric felt a little rough when I first touched it, but it seems okay. It may be because I haven't washed it yet. I love the mesh style, and the embroidery is a nice touch. The sides of the bra peek through if I'm wearing something sleeveless with loose armholes, but for some reason, I'm fine with that.
In conclusion: the Lyla is a lovely bra if you are looking for an unpadded bra that isn't full coverage. It may not be the best match for you if you are wide set or have a wide root, or if you are bottom heavy, because the cups are quite narrow and deep.
I'm still putting the Lyla to the comfort test -- I'm wearing it right now https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> so if I have any additional thoughts, I'll update this review! Read more 441 more words
Appearance: Black base and straps, leaf and twig pattern in a dark teal color and dots in three colors: off-white, orange and a powdery color that looks like a mixture of both. Bows and lace in a bright, orange-toned red. Strongly reminds me of Christmas but I like it well enough. Found the colorway surprisingly flattering on my very fair skin.
Shape: Uplifted but a little pointy for my taste. Bras I Hate's green shape.
Band fit: Seemed nice and snug. When I tried the Ivy in 28HH, I could immediately fasten the band on the 2nd set of hooks (even though the cups were too small) but in this 28J ...it feels tighter. I love three hooks and eyes, it just makes me feel very secure in a bra. Plus no back rolls.
Cup fit: Not exactly ideal on me. I had a Freya fold and the cups wrinkled slightly close to the center.
Wire fit: The wire width felt good and they didn't poke my armpits. But I suspect the center gore was too wide for me. It wouldn't lie flat and one of the wires sat on my breast tissue because the other one took up all the space between my boobs.
Straps: Very wide, in my opinion. Made from a stretchy material and felt comfortable. Also, if you need very long straps, look no further. I could adjust them all the way, which felt okay for now, but taking into account that the straps might stretch a little over time, they are not short enough. I would have liked to be able to tighten them a little further. Tightening the straps was also very difficult due to the strap's design. Loosening them felt rather easy, though.
A nice bra but there are too many issues for me, the biggest being the center gore. Also, the bra came up rather high on me and felt like a lot of fabric on my frame. I feel that this bra was designed for women taller than me (1,60 cm). Read more 222 more words
Band is slightly too big. Despite this, it is a rather comfortable bra. The centre gore does not sit flat against my sternum and the wires get twisted. The straps are fairly wide, but I appreciate the comfort they provide. Kind of pointy from the side.
I'm giving up on Freya and sister brands. The wires just aren't stable enough for big cup sizes.
This is just a preliminary review - I will have to have the back taken in before I can wear it properly. But anyway, first impressions.
- The back is on the large side for a 30, which sucks for me as someone who is really a 28 anyway.
- The straps are pretty long - they were juuuuust tight enough when I had tightened them as much as possible.
- I'm not in love with the shape, but it's not bad, and the bra itself is very pretty. Love the little lace and button details on the front.
- I had wrinkles in ...the bottom of the cup that I could only get rid of through ridiculous amounts of maneuvering, which makes me think it's a shape issue and not a size issue. For reference, I am full all over, and generally do well with deep cups.
- I don't think I could go down a size, MAYBE a half, but that's it. However, I felt like it takes a good amount of jiggle, scoop and swoop, and repositioning to get my boobs to fill the cup. Once they're there, though, there is little to no extra space, especially with the straps tight enough.
- I'm pretty full on top, and the lace at the top is thisclose to cutting in.
- Seems like it will be very comfortable, once I get all the fit stuff right. Read more 143 more words
This bra is...well, big. It's very high-coverage and the wires are very wide. The starting point of the cup (where the bow is) is practically on top of my shoulder and there's a lot of fabric and underwire in my armpit, which is uncomfortable. The center gore is also fairly high and wide. The straps are extremely long and far apart. Everything is just...big. Tall and wide. It's like the bra was built for someone who's seven feet tall.
Like most Freya bras, it gives you a lot of space at the bottom of the cup and relatively little on top. If you're full on top, this might produce ...empty space at the bottom and cutting in at the top; if you're full on the bottom, it might create duck's-beak boobs. On me, the shape is lifted, minimized, not exactly round but less pointy than Freya's other balconettes, and also slightly east-west due to the overly wide cups. It's not awful, but it's not brilliant either.
On the plus side, the high-coverage, high-closure, made-of-stiff-fabric cups give good support. This is helped by the thick, wide straps and the wide band, which is not too stretchy (although it runs very large — this 28 is actually a 32). I don't bounce much in this bra, but I don't think the support is worth the tradeoff in comfort and shape. Read more 118 more words
The tips about this bra running large in the band and the cup are definitely true. Normally I wear a 30GG or so in unpadded Freya bras, but the 28H I ordered for comparison had wrinkling in the top section even after judicious swooping and scooping. And while the bra is a bit too tight for me on the loosest hook, it's certainly not as tight as I'd expect. If I keep this bra, I'll probably be wearing this with an extender until it stretches.
The straps are nicely soft and wide, and while I think I'll have strap slipping issues, I have sloping, slightly narrow shoulders, so I ...have that problem with every bra.
The center gore sat better on me than I'd expect of a Freya balcony-- they usually come up too high for my close-set boobs-- but it didn't sit as firmly against me as I'd like. It felt like the band was holding the underwires a tiny bit forward of my breasts, especially in the middle inch of the gore.
The comfort was pretty good. The cups are fully lined, so you pretty lace details on the bra without having to feel the lace against your skin. The straps, as I said, are very comfortable. That said, something about the feel of the materials just wasn't as nice as my Freya Ada, which is my current gold standard for comfort.
This bra gives me a slight double boob on my larger side, especially right after a swoop and scoop. I feel like the top section of the cup just doesn't quite agree with the shape of my larger boob-- it cuts in most in the middle and toward the center gore. It's not obvious through the soft cotton tops I usually wear, but it kind of worries me. Read more 190 more words
The band on this bra runs about a size big, so it is really more like a 30HH. The pattern is lovely, but the underwires don't feel as strong and sturdy as Freya's older styles. It's also not the right shape for me--it has too much depth, would be better for someone with more projection and less fulness on top.
This is my 2nd nude Rio and I can now say this for sure: This bra runs a full cup big! I thought at first that maybe my 30C nude was just an odd ball, but it isn't. Compared to other Freya bras I own the cup width and depth of this bra is more like an F cup. I'm not sure if the other colourways of this bra do the same thing but for sure the nude Rio runs a full cup big and should you source this d/c colour from ebay buy a cup smaller than what you would wear in the Arabella/Lyla/Cindy type models. Band ...is firm but not enough to size up and I can definitely say this through experience.
However, this hasn't been a loss for me and I won't be returning it. With this bra came the decision that yes I do need to keep 2 cup sizes around. Since I have grown I've realised I grew a tad more than just a cup. For 2 weeks I am an average to full E cup, for the other two weeks of my cycle I am an average F cup. At the writing of this review I have actually split my measurements into these two blocks reflect these changes. I guess when you are bigger these fluctuations do increase more as well. When I was smaller I did notice the change but it stayed within the same cup size well enough being a just barely DD right afterwards to being a full DD during.
This bra has also taught me something else. The little pooch in the top of the band between the wing and wear the strap meets in the back isn't breast tissue and the little pooch of flesh that occurs wear the straps attaches to cup isn't boob either. It occurs even when the cup on this bra is too big. I found a way to finally pull it into the cup but the second I move my arms up and bring it back down it comes back. In the end after having looked these pooches I'm complaining about are minuscule compared to others deemed to be in the right size so I will now shut up and say nothing more of it again.
Oh and this nude is still too light for me to wear with a white shirt but at least I can make use of the matching knickers I have since the 30C I have has been useless for a while. Read more 313 more words
Color: Nude (measurements below for this color only)
Stretched Band: 29" Band Length: 24" Cup Width: 5.25" Cup Depth: 8.75" Wire Length: 8.25" Cup Seperation: 1.125" Center Gore: 1.75" Wing Height: 3.375" Strap Width: 0.75" Hooks: 2
Pros: Molded cups provide modesty and support. The only style from Freya that can be worn with clothing...i.e. no twin torpedos here. Cups fit pretty *true to size* and by that I mean their cup depth is in line with the size it is supposed to fit. I'm fuller all around but don't have a lot of projection or too much top fullness, gapping was never really an issue, but less fullness and you may have sizing problems with this style.
Cons: The elastic could be of ...a better quality considering the price because it stretches out pretty fast after a few wears. I wash with Borax and A&H detergent and everythin snaps back into place. Foam in cups is a little rigid and heavy. About 3/16" in thickness, could be thinner. Straps are set far apart, at least for me, but on someone else with very wide shoulders this shouldn't be a problem.
I bought this from HerRoom in late Winter/early Spring 2009, so this has gotten quite a lot of use. After the first couple of months owning it I had to restitch the eyes in the back closure. This was not super tight by any means. I had been running around outside (nothing too strenuous) and the stitching snapped. Because it's the nude color it will fit slightly larger than any other color, especially black. Brand new it was like this so it has nothing to do with use.
Other than quality issues the fit is great. I've been wearing these more often, they keep everything in place and look good under just about everything. Wish it came in a darker nude though, kind of too beige/pink for my color =/ Read more 194 more words
The cups on this measure 8.8 inches, not 8.1. I don't know why it's showing differently. 8.1 would be more in line with a size 28DDD (1 cup size smaller than mine). As a general rule of thumb, size 28DDDD and every larger sister size than that will have a cup depth of 8.5 - 9", as will the persons breast depth themselves.
I hadn't had a strapless bra in about a year before purchasing this one, so I'm glad to have the staple once again. I had heard that the strapless runs a bit smaller in the cup than the regular Deco so I got it in a 28FF while my Deco Plunge is a 28F.
This bra fits me well half the time, but gaps terribly the other half of the time. With straps, no matter how they are (criss-cross, normal, wide, etc) this bra fits perfectly. Without the straps, it still fits perfectly, unless I move around a lot. Then it looks like this bra is about 2 cup ...sizes too big.
This bra is extremely tight in the band, so do NOT size down in the band like you would for a regular Deco. If you are between sizes I'd advise going with the bigger one. I found that the wires are a bit too wide for me as well.
The only other complaint I have about this bra is that it makes my chest seem very wide. I prefer the look where they are projected outward, but because this is mainly worn for its cross-able straps this isn't that much of a problem. Read more 97 more words
Okay. I had originally ordered this bra in a 28DD. Well the cups run big on this bra by a full size. I wanted nude and there were no 28Ds left in nude. Since the band on the 28 did feel a bit tight I went for the 30C.
I should have returned it but I was fooled in the beginning thinking it would be tight enough. Alas it failed the work test and was riding up on the loosest hook. After closer examination I realised that the center gore was too wide as well.
I've only worn this bra about 25 times. I even did a little alteration trick ...I found in someone's blog hoping it would help. It did for the front appearance since the gore now sits right but the bra is totally useless even on the tightest hook.
I'm getting this bra altered professionally.
Extra: I finally took pics of this bra. I undid the center gore bastard alteration I tried for the pics. These pictures are of the bra unaltered with me wearing the bra on its tightest hooks.
Another edit: I've grown too big for this bra cup wise but I found a 28E on ebay in nude! It's mine! I know this bra runs big in the cup but I think it will work this time.
Stretched band - 27" Band - 23.5" Cup width - 5" Cup depth - 9.1" Wire length - 8.5" Cup seperation - .8" Strap width - .8" Hooks - 2
PROS: Soft material, not in the least bit itchy (not sure why others complained about that) Thick straps for better support, plus the embroidery on them prevents them from readjusting on their own Supportive full band that (for once for Freya!) runs true to size and does not slide around Because it's a plunge and also a balcony style (This is the style sold to me by Nordstrom, it is not a balconette), it gives great lift but doesn't leave you with that pointy look. I can wear this under ...thin t-shirts and although the seams do show through just a tad, it is minimal compared to other lace bras.
CONS: Why can't Freya line their bras? I don't understand...just a thin material of the same size, it would give an even rounder look and be just a bit more warm. The material is very thin, so show-through is a problem if you're cold. I wish the wires were a little bit taller on the outer sides. I'm more average-full busted, but for someone with fuller breasts (the total circumference) this would probably result in side spillage.
The cups of this bra are cut exactly the same as the Freya Arabella. The only difference is this one fits better because the ribbon on the Arabella prevents the top fabric on the cup from stretching so it can give a point and quad-boob look. The black lace on the tops of these cups seem to have a bit of give so the pointy appearance is not as bad.
*Update 8/02/11* I never wear this because it's uncomfortable. For a few minutes it feels ok and looks ok, but after those few minutes the cups wrinkle and sag, while at the same time cutting into breast tissue at the top of the cup resulting in what appears to be quad-boob. Read more 212 more words
I've had this bra for about a month now and I think it's time for my first review! This was my first correct-ish sized bra, which I picked up at a Nordstrom Rack. Selection there was slim, so this bra isn't what I would have picked otherwise, but out of all the ones I tried, it fit the best.
The bra is comfy, and the fabric is nice. I really like the little bit of lace on the edges of the cups, because it's sweet and doesn't show through my shirts at all. The cute green color with the white polka dots has also grown on me quite ...a bit even though green is not a color I wear often. It gives me a very round shape, which I like. Occasionally I think it almost looks a bit squarish, but under clothes it looks great.
As far as size, I am now, a month later, pretty sure that I would have a better fit with a smaller band and maybe even a larger cup. At the time of purchase, I had some pretty bad sunburn on my back, so I felt the bands of all my bras quite acutely, and since this one was slightly tighter than what I was used to, I felt it the most! Now, however, after having acquired a Panache Andorra in the same size, I see what all the bloggers mean when they say that Freya bands run loose. I've started wearing the Patsy on the tightest hook, because it rides up less and feels better than way.
Another thing I'd like to mention is that the straps, within a few wears, became scrunched/folded up at the front, near where they attach to the cup. I think this is due to the location, right where my armpit would pinch over it when I move my arms forward. This hasn't affected the comfort or look of the bra.
To sum up, this bra is a hit with me. Even though the band could be tighter, I feel that it was a great introduction to what is close to my real size. Read more 244 more words
I only tried on this bra in a local shop, but I did not buy it as it did not fit me AT ALL.
General comments:
I have only just hopped on the correct-size-bra-band-wagon and still very much in the process of figuring out what works for me. This is not made any easier by the fact that I am breastfeeding (10 months and counting) and still am not used to fact that I have BREASTS, as opposed to my pre-pregnancy 'breasts'. Also, because of breastfeeding, my size, shape and density isn't exactly constant. Anyway, I've so far found only two bra models in a size 60 band (both Freya) ...in local stores and this review is for one of them. I tried this bra on in 65E and 60F, neither of which fit even close.
Bra description:
A pretty bra made out of black mesh with pink polka dots and pink. It's quite cute, though it looked better on the hanger than on me, the fitting issues aside.
Fit:
The band felt very snug, but it was the first time ever I tried on a bra that didn't close completely at the tightest hook, a revelation! Also, the centre gore laid nice and flat, something I haven't seen too often before. I guess that after a lifetime of wearing over-large size 70 bands it just takes some getting used to wearing a band that is appropriately tight.
The cups were a decidedly less successful story, though. Honestly, I've never tried on a bra that was so incompatible with my shape as this Freya one. In this 60F the underwires did not encircle my breasts convincingly. I would have preferred them wider, but this bra wasn't available in a larger size. Also, the shape of the cups was ... odd, to say the least. My larger right breast ALMOST filled out the cup, but there was still a strange deep fold at the top of the cup. This was even worse on the other side. The strange thing was that despite what seemed excess space at the top of the cups, the front edge of the cups STILL cut into my breasts on BOTH sides. Loosening the straps didn't remedy this and only resulted in an even sadder look. The cups didn't feel supportive and the shape they gave me was just ugly. The fabric didn't feel that comfortable against my skin either.
Conclusion:
This bra simply isn't meant for me. The wires are too narrow and the cups too deep. What's going on with the front edge of the cups I don't know, but it clearly doesn't work for my wide-set, wide-based, and relatively less voluminous breasts. Read more 331 more words
This would be my first bra that actually legitimately fit me. However, with no actual stores nearby that sell this bra, I had to do a bit of guesswork based off the reviews I read online. I guess I got lucky because on the first try it seems to fit perfectly.
This bra gives lovely cleavage, which can always be appreciated, but not a distasteful amount. The cups did gape a bit at first, but after tightening the straps they lay perfectly flat with no problems. I saw in a lot of reviews that the band was rather loose, and that you should go down a band size, ...but as I measure about 27.5", that wasn't really an option. I've never had a 28 band bra before this one, but to me it seems rather tight, and not at all too loose. It's definitely much tighter than the 30 band bras I own in a different style.
My only complaint about this bra is how thick the straps are. I know many people prefer thick strapped bras, but as a fairly young person, the thick straps don't exactly hide well under the types of clothes I tend to like. I think I may get a strapless Deco as well, because they come with multiway straps that seem to be much thinner.
Overall, I really love this bra. I haven't owned it long enough to comment on how much it might stretch out, but perhaps I'll add to this later. Read more 141 more words
The cups on this measure 8.8 inches, not 8.1. I don't know why it's showing differently. 8.1 would be more in line with a size 28DDD (1 cup size smaller than mine). As a general rule of thumb, size 28DDDD and every larger sister size than that will have a cup depth of 8.5 - 9", as will the persons breast depth themselves.