I bought this bra in ivory because I thought that ivory would be less noticeable under white shirts. Turns out, ivory is not like a nude at all, so it will show up under white shirts (it won't be as bright, but you can definately see it).
Unlike the white and black colours, the flowers on the ivory are just a darker shade of ivory as opposed to a completely contrasting colour. The details on the band and the straps are actually really pretty. The fabric on the cups feel really smooth, as well as the lace.
The fit on me was really fantastic, like the Freya Jolie. I would say that this bra is very similar to the Freya Jolie in cut, style, and size; I would even say identical.
Edit: I no longer wear this bra as I find the cups too small.
Both the band and cups fit true to size. The cups are a little on the tall side, but that makes up for it being a plunge style. The embroidery is too thick for most shirts. Another thick sweater, Winter bra for me.
**This is sized with American sizing. It was bought as a G, but comparable to a 28DDDD cup as listed on Figleaves.com
*Update 8/02/11* Since this is exactly the same as the Pollyanna, it also has the same fit (and fit issues). It does not fit. At least not the way I want it to. I can't wear lace styles, especially any from Freya because they're ...cheaply made and none of them are lined (I'm talking a thin tricot lining, not foam or padding). No matter how I adjust it and how tight I wear it, the band is too tight yet rides up in back. Also the cups wrinkle and sag, but also cut into my breast tissue which makes the cup look too small. You can't see this in the photos because I wasn't wearing it that long. It's painful and I can't wear it with anything anyways, unless it's a shelf bra camisole (or anything super fitted with 2 layers, those types of shirts help to smooth and lift better than this bra!). But I'm still in pain even then. It's not worth it.
Also, if you're thinking I might be in the wrong band size, maybe one that's too small...my ribcage is only 25" (bust 35"). Read more 143 more words
I do think you're in the wrong band size! If your underbust is 25", you should look for 26 bands. These are hard to find, I know. But 28 is definitely too big, especially in a model like this that is very stretchy in the band.
No. I'm not. First of all, if you read my profile then you'd understand the problems I have with 28 bands. Secondly, that is just another one of those "general rule of thumb" statements that do not apply to all women. I am one of them. I have Fybromyalgia so I cannot wear skin tight cut off your circulation bras. If I close a size 28 band on the smallest eyes I get heartburn, I can't inhale very much and I have pain in my ribcage (due to the illness though), back, neck and shoulders. If I wear a 32 it's sliding around, but the only pain I have is in my shoulders from the straps pressing down. I'll take that over complete pain, thanks! Also that size gives a better shape because I have wider boobs for my small frame. Not stiff/fake or perky, narrow boobs. The cup proportion as far as width goes on a size 32DD fits me better than that of a 30DDD and 28DDDD, but I do have to take in the center gore. I can't imagine the problems and pain I would have in a size 26! I only have 14% body fat...so there is not as much flesh on my ribcage as a lot of others have. I do not need the size I measure at. That is a myth as far as I'm concerned. And as little back fat that I have, wearing a size 28 on the smallest eyes causes a ton of back fat on me (and I notice it with a lot of the people on this site who are wearing too small of a band size). I'm not into that look.
Thanks for your suggestion though. But it doesn't apply to my shape.
Hi, HLAleo. I am sorry if you were offended by my comment, that was not my intention. I didn't read your profile, and I usually don't read them when commenting on a review.
I also have fibromyalgia, to the extent that I was housebound for several years. I know exactly what you mean by the pain in the ribs and chest and difficulty breathing. I am having the breathing trouble today, in fact, and I'm not wearing a bra at the moment. I found bra bands to be very painful, and I spent years wearing them too loose to avoid that pain. They really hurt me! Even now I am very sensitive to some bras: for me now it is more about the texture of the fabric though. A fabric that is remotely scratchy is agony to me! I am sure you understand.
What I know now is that I was wearing cups too small, and those too-small cups put extra strain on the band, and caused the bands to dig in. I wore bras like a 38D. Now that I wear a 32H/34G (ish) bras I am amazed by how comfortable they are.
Last year a bra fitter at Nordstrom tried to send me home with a bra that was right in the band but too small in the cup. We argued about it and she insisted it would loosen up and become more comfortable, but it was AGONIZING. The band and the wires cut into me so hard. I took it back. I have the same bra in a larger cup now and it's quite comfy.
As for back fat: I too get this problem. It's really a matter of the model of bra. A bra with a wider band and a true leotard back minimizes back fat. Also a good-fitting band sits below the shoulder blades, minimizing the fatty pooch. BUt some bras just have a crappy band for back fat. I know some people who say they always get back fat with Fantasie bras, for example. The center gore issue is also a matter of the bra model: I personally can't wear a bra with a wide center gore, because my chest is narrow.
You are right about body fat affecting compression. A person with a 30 inch rib cage who has some squish can typically wear a smaller size than a person who doesn't have much body fat, just because fat compresses and ribs don't.
I hope you know that comments about bra fit aren't personal attacks. I wasn't picking on you. We are all on this site to help one another, after all. I was responding directly to your comment about people thinking you were in a too-big band. I do think that a 28 band is just too large for a 25" rib cage, but I also understand that there are extenuating circumstances and that you may be more comfortable in a looser bra right now. I personally experienced breast damage from my time wearing too loose bands, and I hope that you can avoid that fate. I also wish you the very best of health. I have had FMS for more than a decade and the good news is that things *can* get better.
I wasn't offended by any means. I'm just sick of hearing lately that what you measure is what you should wear...give or take an inch. A lot of women promoting this fit advice act like it's almost the only rule to go by (I know you weren't saying that, but I just don't think a 26 would fit me since 28's are already snug), and it's not going to work with everyone. I know it doesn't work for myself.
It is nice to see someone else with FMS though. My mom has it, I've measured her before, technically she should be in a 32B (we're obviously very different shapes, lol!) but she's wears a 36A because of the pain. I know Ewa Michalak does 26 but I've also heard they run smaller than normal. According to their calculator I should be in their 65E's (I'm guessing that's 30DDD on their site?) but to not be able to try it on in person and not be able to return if it doesn't fit and they're expensive...I'd rather just stick with a bigger band. Right now my two most comfortable bras are the Body By Victoria - I have an ivory full coverage and a turquoise demi. The fabrics on them are the softest I've ever felt and the wings are very tall. They've been taken in 4 or 6" in the band so they fit pretty snug without riding up. The elastic is also coverage by the fabric which helps a great deal. But they don't provide that much lift, they're almost minimizing for me. Still, I thank you for your advice, and no worries there are no harsh feelings. =)
I love this bra. It gives you cleavage for days, and looks great under virtually everything. No bra I know of gives you better cleavage than this baby. It actually makes my kind of saggy boobs look altered. Plunge style allows you to wear low cut tops.
I wear 28 band in some styles and 30 in others. I have this bra in 30FF and I always felt the band was a little loose. I had to wear it on the tightest hook right from the bat. The 28G I can wear comfortably on the loosest hook, but I wouldn't ...mind it being just a little tighter (I am 67cm right under the bust). The G cups fit me quite perfectly in this style bra, whereas I felt the FF cups on the 30 band were a tiny bit too big, but maybe thats because the band wasn't tight enough? I am 88cm across my bust.
The bra looks pretty sexy without your shirt, except in the nude, imo. It's not a granny bra but it's not overly sexy either. I wish they would make more colors/prints...
This is a MUST have. Try a couple of sizes out before giving up on this one. I recommend going down a band size from your normal size. It's hard to comment on cup size because it really depends on the shape of your boobs (with, bottom-heavy, high set, etc).
My nude one has stretched a little bit after 6 months of wearing it almost everyday and night, but I can still wear it and it looks great. I use only mild detergent and hand-wash, though I do not frequently wash my bras. I think it's very comfortable for an underwire push-up bra. Read more 198 more words
This bra is still new, just one day of wear. The bra is a bit unusual, with the back being perhaps the most apparent deviation from typical bra design. It has a single hook rear closure and a band design that leaves an almost-open back. The back have a couple of straps that come to this single hook closure. Where the back straps change back to a more typical "band", there is a bit of boning in the bra. It's not overly harsh or uncomfortable, it's just enough to keep the band upright. In the front, the straps have the typical Freya placement - closer to middle than ...on a Panache, perfect for me. In the rear, the straps are more wide-set than most.
This is a plunge design, and it's definitely plunging. Additionally, this unusual design to the back gives me the impression the bra is designed to work with some of those "open back" dresses, as well, which would require a lower bra in the back and straps that are wider in the rear. I don't own any dresses like this, so I can't test this theory myself, but it's something worth keeping in mind.
This different back design (both band and straps) are completely forgotten about as I go about my day. This bra is equally comfortable as my standard daily wear bra. The "flaw" that would keep this from being a daily bra for me is the seams - they're visible through some of my shirts. Read more 140 more words
If you would like to get a more detailed description of this brand of bra, please read my reviews for the Freya Rio bra in sizes 28F and 28FF. Thank you!
This is the first bra in this style that I have encountered that has underwires that do not poke me at the center gore. The bra is overall comfortable, although the cups seem to be designed for someone with breasts that are fuller on top than mine are, which is why I get wrinkling even though the bra fits okay. I also find that the cups come up to the point where they almost fit ...me like a full-cup bra rather than a balconette. This bra would not be my first choice to wear out of the house simply because I dislike the wrinkling.
One last thing. I would like to point out that the straps might loosen just a little bit over time and I find the right length to be a bit difficult because I have to re-adjust a couple times a day when I wear this bra.
Please be patient! Measurements are coming soon! Read more 83 more words
I’m trying to find my correct fit with freya, I have tried 30e which seemed slightly snug in the cup with the offbeat style. This one seems oddly pooled at the top of the bra. The fit doesn’t seem to do well with my breast type. Perhaps someone with more upper pole fullness may do better? Or maybe less upper fullness? I’m unsure as I thought I had upper fullness as I have augmented breasts. Freya
I think it looks pretty good on you. And the size looks on point. I also have augmented breasts, but unfortunately Freya doesn’t work with my shape. I had a similar Freya bra with the same cut, and it felt too closed off on top. I felt the band sewn across the upper cup lace didn’t allow the lace to expand properly. Freya also gave me way more of a pointy fit, not my favorite. If you like the over all fit in the band and wires, maybe a Freya cut that has a regular lace along the top might work better?
Thank you Happy2BraShop . I wore it for a bit today to see how I felt. It’s just too uncomfortable. I have a Chantelle c chic plunge 32DD that feels more comfortable. I think I’m considering trying 32ddd (e). I don’t like the pointy boob look either but I love unlined and sheer looks. Just rounder ones hahaha. Let me know if you have any bras you’d recommending to try on!
Neonblue89 I wore Chantelle C Chick back in the day, in size 65G/30DDDD. It gave a great rounded profile! I ended up going with Polish brands because I need narrow wires. My personal favorite is Ewa Michalak, especially her unlined bras. They make up the bulk of my bra collection. I just never had any luck with UK or American brands, so unfortunately I don’t have any other recommendations.
This bra is really pretty, but unfortunately I don't think quite right for me. I'll probably keep it anyway - it's one of the two proper size bras I have, it's nice, and the fit is good enough I think. From what I can tell this bra expects more projection than I have, and as a result I get wrinkling above the apex. After remembering that straps are adjustable, the fit has improved dramatically - still a little bit of wrinkling (especially on righty) but much better, comfortable, and definitely a keeper.
The bra seems to be made of two cups - on insdide made of mesh, with very little stretch - where my fit issues seem to be originating from. The outer layer is stretchy mesh. Nothing about it is itchy at all.
This is a well-constructed and pretty bra. I have two major fit issues wearing it: the cups are too small (however, sizing up in the cup didn't work for me) and the center gore is too wide. It almost feels like the center fullness of my chest is pushing the gore down a little. The top of the underwires touch my chest, but it feels like the wire between the gore and the wire midpoint isn't able to sit flat. It's fairly comfortable, but the center of the underwires tends to dig in on my chest after a while. I will continue to wear this bra as the fit issues mentioned don't make it unsuitable for everyday use.
My shape : pendulous, very projected, short roots, narrow roots but wide set, full on bottom, outer full. Freya Fancies is one of my best fitting bras. I originally ordered a Freya Expression plunge, but not high apex plunge, and ended up with the high apex plunge by accident. The two cuts look a lot like each other, some sellers don't pay attention to that, and unfortunately the fit is very different. The high apex cut fits like a typical Freya plunge balcony, and especially Fancies. The cups run large, moderately narrow, very projected and very FOB. A perfect fit for me. The materials are soft, and the bra ...is elegant and very comfortable. If you need a lot of immediate projection and apex projection with cups that are very closed on top, and Fancies fits you, Expression High Apex will probably fit you too. Unfortunately, this bra has one big flaw : the band runs large. Like, ridiculously large. Even a little bit larger than other Freya bras. I wear plenty of 34D bras. Expression's band is nearly 3 inches larger than them. It doesn't even ride up my back, it floats ! It's wearable on the tightest hook, although it rides up, obviously. The band material isn't to blame though, as it has much less stretch than other Freya bras. It just is way too big when not stretched. I'm a bit disappointed, because this would have been a perfect fit if not for the band size. This bra is going to find a new owner and I'll sister size down. Read more 154 more words
When I saw this bra on sale I decided to give 32J a try. Turns out the cups are too small for me in this bra.While I can confirm that Freya usually runs a bit generous in cups and band, I can get away with a 30K in their bras but not any smaller. I also found the wires a bit wide for that it is only a J-cup and assume they be even wider in my regular size 30K. The top section is made of a soft strechy lace. The support wasn't that great. I don't recommend it unless you like softer more natural fit and don't mind it being not so supportive.
I’m so happy i found this bra on my first try looking for strapless bra in my new size! I bought it for only $10 on ebay when it can retail for $68 dollars (whew) I was deciding between this and the luxe strapless which are comparable in price but I like the look of this one way better. something about the vertical seams on the outside of the luxe strapless make it look unfinished to me. But anyway, with this cameo strapless I can wear it on the loosest hook and it feels snug just like it should. Has 3 hooks which i’m sure helps, the apex of the cup is in a good spot for my and the top of the cup doesn’t gap away from my body or dig in. the only thing is i think the wires on the front may be sitting my tissue just a little bit but i’ll see when i take it off where the marks are and see if i can overlap the gore for myself.
Congrats! I'm curious - are you fuller on top or bottom? I've had so much struggle with strapless bras being FOT so I gave up and wear my 36D from H&M lol. I tried the Luxe and I agree it looks unfinished.
I’d say i’m more even/maybe slighter fuller on top. I know i have a lot of breast tissue in the space from my collarbones to nipple and this bra cups it nicely without digging which i’m so happy about :)
kate166 i’ll add my pictures today, maybe that’ll help. I just realized i didn’t do them yet
This is a super cute bra that seems like it would be comfortable. I actually tried this on once at a boutique, but it was a band size too small (I think she gave me a 32HH, but I measured more like 34H/HH at the time).
I reeeeally like the colors on both this one and the Earl Grey (pink/blue) one. It’s a full lace cup, which is pretty comfortable as I stated before.
Unfortunately, it’s either a shape mismatch, or I need to try a size down to a 36H. The cups were quite a bit big on me (obviously). The bottom seemed projected enough, though, and ...the gore tacked. It was way to wide on the sides, both with extra fabric but also wide wires that were kinda soft and flimsy. I don’t recall the band being too loose or too tight on this one, but honestly I didn’t make notes at the time and it’s already packed up to go back to Amazon!
Anyway, might try this in a 36H, maybe even a 34HH since I can’t remember if the band was too loose or not. Read more 80 more words
I had the same impression of the wires being flimsy and the cup being unsupportive, but I was also wearing it a size bigger so it fit me about like this.
Adler613 hopefully I’ll get to try this out again in a smaller size! Amazon doesn’t have one of the sizes right now (I think 36H), so I’ll have to wait.
The gore almost overlaps on this one, isn’t that weird? They really are piddly, lol!
What a gorgeous bra! I agree it looks a little big in the cup for you but man that pink is so pretty! I'm thinking of trying this one myself. My only other experience at my current size is with Elomi- would you say it's comparably sized? I've been trying 38H, but I think I'm 36HH, so I have an Elomi Kim on the way to try. Thanks for such a detailed review! It really helps!
This bra fits snugly, it feels firm and supportive. You could poke a sharp pencil in the breast area with this bra on and it's so sturdy, the pencil wouldn't get through to your skin! No cup gapping, band riding up or straps slipping down with this one. Note it can leave some very noticeable red marks where the straps have been, after a day of wearing it! It doesn't cause any pain while wearing it. I wouldn't wear the bra under a light coloured/ white shirt, nor tight nor particularly thin clothes, as you could quite see the difference between my actual chest and the raised part of the bra on the top of the cup.
Honestly, this is the prettiest, most comfortable bra I have had in a long time. I love the lace/mesh look of this bra. The straps are wider than I usually like to buy (because I like to wear them under camisoles and not have the strap show), but they are SO comfortable, I can't complain. The ONLY thing I don't love about this bra is that the straps aren't Multi-way. They are stationary, cannot be crossed or anything like that, which is unfortunate. That said, there's seriously nothing else I don't love about this bra. It is unlined, so my large breasts sit comfortably supported, without any extra ...padding or pressure, etc. I have lactating breasts, due to a side effect of medication, so I generally wear nursing bras to accommodate that, meaning that this is the first non-nursing bra I have bought in a long time, and I am SO happy with it. I had almost forgotten how much more supportive a great bra is. I love this bra, truly. I bought it in black and beige, and I'm looking for it in my size in red and blue because I love it so much. It's well manufactured, and I can tell that it will last a LONG time, way longer than anything from Victoria's secret or similar. I am thrilled. Read more 115 more words
I had previously been mostly wearing Panache bras, as I found the bands in the Freya bra I tried to be loose. I decided to give Freya another shot after gaining weight and ordered the Fancies balcony bra in a 32J. I found this comfortable and supportive, and the emerald is a very pretty color. This runs a bit larger than my Panache Envy, but it's great for those days when my breast are a bit swollen, and still wearable on regular days.
38G - Freya » Daisy Lace Padded Half Cup Bra (5133) this bra does not seem padded to me. It just feels like thick lining? This is really pretty, but I feel like it flattens me and presses my breast down wide. There is significant gaping at the top unless I shorten the straps to pull the cups closer to my chest. The band is too tight and the wires are uncomfortable. I'm convinced that 38s are just not the right size for me. I also think that though it seems like this cup has a lot of depth, the depth is up high in the cup not at the bottom of the cup. I feel like I should stop reviewing all these bras that don't fit me right, as likely I'm just grabbing the wrong size for me.
What a bust - Supposedly this bra is a recolor of Freya Viva. It’s not though. It doesn’t fit at all the same! I’m astonished how they managed to do that tbh. I love the original Freya Viva bras (in black with pattern and white with pattern) but this one is such a let down. I expected it to fit like my other viva bras - tight stretch lace at the top, short wings that don’t dig in, no problems with spillover or excess fabric at the bottom. Yet I not a single thing I love about my viva bras can be applied to this one. As is very ...clear from my pictures, the stretch lace at the top is NOT tight. There’s excess fabric at the bottom because the cup is too shallow there and it folds atrociously (like my pictures of Freya Fancies only much worse. The wire felt different too, a lot softer and not stiff at all. In fit it’s closer to Freya Fancies and Expression IMHO, except the wire is not stiff like Fancies. Maybe even some of the Curvy Kate bras I’ve tried. I really, really wished they’d kept the shape and fit of the original Viva bra... Read more 93 more words
Oh no! You should definitely email freya about these concerns, they shouldn't say that this bra is the same as the other viva when it's so different! That's crazy.
Got this because it was cheap because it's discontinued.
I've previously tried Freya Daisy Lace bralette in size XL aswell, between them, they fit quite differently. My size is 34J/JJ UK.
The quality is okay, feels fine, it's made of a silky material. Definitely sturdier than Daisy Lace.
The straps are not adjustable at all which I didn't realize or even bothered to check before buying it, and paired with the band being very big, makes this not work for me at all. (I am tall and low set) When I lift my arms up, my boobs want to escape from the bottom. Simply resting my arms down my side I ...still have a gap between the band and my body (pic included). The band is riding up the back aswell. I tried it on the tightest hooks. But it's for sure riding up mostly because of the straps!
It gives a very smushed profile, just very small in the cups overall, and the XL is supposed to fit ~34HH according to the size chart on their website, but I think this will only fit 36 bands and up, and G cup and below.
Hopefully the next bralette they're releasing is a bit bigger in the cup. Read more 95 more words
Great review. Sorry it did not work out. I just searched for this on ebay and the largest size I could find was L. Since you already found the XL to run small in cup and large in band I won't bother.
The most important thing to know about my breasts is that they're very pendulous and the tissue is very soft. I have relatively narrow roots, medium height. They're also splayed and wide-set.
I've never been able to wear an unlined bra with no stretch well. They just don't fit. There's too much to try to fit into properly, and my breast tissue does better filling in a flexible shape (soft cup with seaming and stretch panels) than a firm shape (non-stretch or molded fabric). But Starlight was too pretty to pass up at least seeing in person and trying on.
To my utter surprise, this thing FITS. It's wonderfully projected ...and the wires feel a little bit firmer than the other Freya bras I've worn. It's very comfortable and looks so good on, but the fabric of the cup is a fairly firm lace that isn't as soft as other Freya unlined bras. The top trim band on the cup has some stretch to it to hold down the edge of the cup well. The cups also have side support slings, which is nice to keep each breast more straightforward. I've read in a couple places that Starlight is based on the build of the Freya Hero Side Support Plunge Bra (1841) , and while I haven't tried Hero myself, the construction looks extremely similar and anyone having success with Hero should find success with Starlight too.
I'm really thrilled that this bra fits. Read more 135 more words
That's great to know that it's like the Jolie! :)