It fits so well it feels too good to be true. The cups perfectly encapsulate me, offering support underneath and holding everything in place without squishing anything. When I first put it on, the band and gore felt a tiny bit snug but not uncomfortable, but throughout the day they seemed to become “broken in” and there were periods where I definitely forgot I had it on. I can feel the lace texture when I think about it, and the pressure of the gore and band sometimes when I bend over or take a deep breath, but even then, it’s not uncomfortable. I laid down on my stomach ...for a while, rolled over onto my side for a while, and then got up and went about my business without adjusting any part of my bra. That has never happened to me! And it’s gorgeous. It gives me a great outline, and under a fitted t-shirt, the lace doesn’t show at all, which I was worried about. Obviously beautiful without a shirt too. I feel like I’ve won the lottery on this one, I’m seriously considering filling my closet with these. All of that being said, I did wear this bra for one (1) day, but if it’s as sturdy as I hope, I could easily stock up on these. Read more 110 more words
I knew Freya made padded half cups, but I had no idea that a padded plunge cut also existed until I searched for "Freya padded bra" on Amazon and found the Urban Echo. I didn't like the fit of the Rhea Padded Half Cup I tried since the 3HC construction was very minimizing on me, and figured this one was worth a try. Imagine my surprise when this actually fit quite well!
However, the biggest surprise was when I opened the package and pulled out a bra that . . . looked like a Comexim. The print, the trims, the shape of the cups, the construction ...of the band, and the elastic used all reminded me of something I would see on a Comexim bra. Out of curiosity, I decided to compare this against a Comexim Standard Plunge in the equivalent size (60H) to compare the similarities and differences in measurement:
- Band is longer on the Freya, but as it is quite firm, they both feel very snug - Cup width and depth are about the same on both - Comexim has longer wires as the center gore is taller - Freya's cup height is slightly shorter, but both are quite tall
(Note: the stock photos make the bras look quite different on the body, but this is inaccurate. The angle and construction of the cups is virtually identical)
Since this measures quite similarly to the Comexim Standard Plunge, which fits me very well, it's no surprise that the Freya Padded Plunge was also a good fit on me. The main differences between the two bras is that the Freya is made from soft thin foam batting, which lightly lines the bra but doesn't give it much shape or structure. Comexim bras are made from true foam and is slightly thicker, giving the cups shaping and structure similar to that of a t-shirt bra. Neither bra has push up padding. Because of the differences in the padding quality, the Comexim gives me a rounder, smoother shape with less visible seams under clothing. On my larger side, the Freya gives a good rounded shape, but on my smaller side, the seams can look noticeable under clothing. One foam pad inserted into the cup of the smaller side fixes this issue and evens both out. Of course, this is a standard problem I face due to asymmetry.
The other main difference is the gore height, as the Freya bra has a gore height 1.2"/3 cm shorter than the Comexim. This may be a benefit for those who find the gore height of Comexim's Standard Plunge to be too tall. The wires are approximately the same length if you account for the shorter gore, as the rest of the wire coverage is very similar. The cup shapes on both bras are constructed in a very similar fashion and share similar proportions. Both bras give a really nice rounded shape, but if you have less upper fullness, you may feel a bit of emptiness inside the upper cup. This definitely happens a bit to me, but it's not something I would consider an issue as the effect is quite minor. Once again, it is more noticeable on my smaller side. Thanks to Comexim's thicker foam, it is hardly noticeable in the Comexim bras, but more obvious in Freya's thinner cups.
The appearance of the bra also looks very much like a Comexim. The print of this bra is white-based with graphite grey and soft pink florals and swirls, similar to a coloring book page. The print and color is very similar to the Comexim Jasmine, which has dark grey botanical sketches on a pink ground, and both share similar graphite wide elastic. The band is made of very firm printed powermesh, so the print goes throughout the entire bra. The trim is graphite grey crochet lace at the upper cup, similar to the one on Comexim Blue Spring. The overall color scheme is similar to Jasmine, Brigitte, Princess, and Matthiola. Thus, if you like the aesthetic of these Comexim styles but aren't typically drawn to Freya's prints, you might enjoy this bra!
The only thing "Freya-esque" on this bra that I feel Comexim would never do are the pink foldover ribbon segments at the center gore and straps, instead of standard pink bows, and the odd triangular metal charm at the center gore. A bit weird, but not terribly offensive. The inclusion of additional lace detailing where the cradle connects to the wings adds some nice interest and ties the whole look together. Despite the name, Urban Echo is surprisingly feminine and pretty. I highly recommend this if you love Comexim Padded Plunge styles! Read more 691 more words
I've been curious about Freya's padded half cups for a while, but the only one I've tried so far was the random Mode style that got shipped to me accidentally by Amazon, and it was horrible. I own the unlined version of Rhea in 28DD and was able to grab this Padded Half Cup in my current size of 28E. It fits, but unfortunately I really dislike the minimized shape it gives me, so like the Comexim Basic 3HC that gave me the same problem, it won’t be staying in my collection.
So far, 3HCs have rarely worked out for me as it also didn't work in ...the two Fantasie Padded Half Cups or the Masquerade Medina I tried, so I am feeling kind of nervous that this shape isn't for me (I have another Comexim 3HC coming in the mail that is hopefully deeper). In general, the cups are on the wider side and just don't have enough projection for me, so they create a flattened, minimized appearance that looks like I'm wearing a sports bra, though they do also create a nice push up effect at the top of the cup. I haven't yet figured out if the problem is lack of immediate projection at the wire, overall projection and shaping, or lack of upper projection, as all parts of the cup feel a little weird and look minimized, but my guess is leaning towards the lack of upper cup projection.
Other than this shape concern, I actually quite like this bra. I considered keeping it until I looked at myself in the bra with a shirt on, and could see how unflattering the side profile is. The cup width and height are quite comfortable on me, and from the front, it looks quite nice. I definitely fill out the cups completely, which is kind of rare for me in Freya's 28E. I get a very rounded and full upper appearance in this bra. My guess is that this would be a nice shallow-friendly option, since the cups don't look any better when I try to add padding or silicone inserts--just like in the Comexim Basic 3HC, it just made the shape look unbalanced and distorted because the cups simply do not have the projection to handle any additional volume. Unlike Comexim bras, the construction of this "padded half cup" is the same soft batting-like foam that Fantasie uses for their padded half cups. It is thin, soft, and doesn't provide support or structure. It essentially just functions as some lining to give a smoother shape and provide some modesty. So far, I haven't warmed up to this construction, and I prefer either a true unlined bra or a structured foam bra like the B. Tempt'd by Wacoal Ciao Bella or Comexim options.
Details of this bra are similar to the Rhea Unlined Plunge, but the embroidery here is all over the bottom cup. The design is of pink and coral wild roses, Queen Anne's lace, and pale pink freesias. It is quite a lovely design that reminds me of an English garden, and you can see much more of the overall embroidery than in the Unlined Plunge version as that style only has embroidery on the upper cup. The embroidery is executed on black jacquard lace, but the rest of the bra is plain black mesh. The straps have a short twinned detail in the front, which leaves most of the strap adjustable. I found the center gore decoration of a rose gold slider and a strip of ribbon to be strange on the other Rhea, and it looks just as strange here. The band runs a little large, like many Freyas do, as my 28 band measures as a 30.
I'd give the Freya Padded Half Cup silhouette another try, perhaps in Strawberry Fields, Patsy, or Daisy if I can get my hands on them. It's close, but not good enough to keep. Read more 565 more words
Jewel Garden is one of those Freya fashion bras I was just drawn to because something about the print really appeals to me. When I saw this online, it looked like a beautifully soft watercolor pastel of abstract flower petals on a white base. In person, the colors are much more vibrant, so it is more like washed out soft neons. Still lovely, but it gives the bra a different feel from what I was expecting.
I had also expected this to fit like the Crush Plunge Balcony Bra, which was a pretty good fit on me, as it looked like it was the same fabric. ... I also picked up Jasmine Meadow at the same time and thought it would fit the same. In reality, all 3 bras fit differently despite being made from the same body fabric and looking similar in construction:
- Jasmine Meadow looks minimizing and feels the least projected, although the cup depth is about the same. No issues with upper cup - Crush has the best balance of projection for my shape, although it is a little roomy in the upper cup - Jewel Garden has a similar fit in the bottom portion of the cup, but it is more projected at the top, and the upper cup is deeper than Crush
Unfortunately, this meant that even with foam pads (to convert this into a lined bra), the upper cup wrinkles on me noticeably. This tells me that this style is cut for someone with a lot of upper fullness, though the non-stretch upper cup tells me that it would also not suit tall roots. This is not as crazy deep as Pulse, where the cup depth is noticeably deeper than similar looking cuts in the same size. The cup depth of this bra is similar to the other two, but the distribution of fullness is different. The upper cup on this bra appears shelf-like in relation to the bottom cup, so it is built for upper projection that doesn't gradually taper into tall roots. The bras that suit me have upper cups that gradually slope in relation to the bottom cups. I also noticed that the wires on this bra are more of the shallow J shape that I really tend to dislike on Freya bras.
Because of this fit issue, I won't be keeping this bra, as the wrinkled upper cup is somewhat noticeable under clothing even with foam pads. If it weren't for the shape mismatch, I am pretty happy with the details, construction, and comfort of this bra. The single layer bottom cup is made from the same silky soft printed tricot as most printed Freya fashion bras, making it very comfortable for summer. The print extends to the cradle, which is double lined with stiff tricot, and the wings are nice firm printed powermesh that actually measures pretty TTS for a 28. This band felt nice and snug, which is a rarity for Freya! The upper cup is made from single layer mesh with a wavy satin stitch embroidery and soft print, and the straps are picot edged plain satin with fabric topped on at the front. The gore decoration isn't particularly offensive, as it is a modified white satin bow with a small metal diamond shaped charm. Read more 452 more words
Yet again a very stretchy band, to the tightest hooks I use it's easily 31". Straps not quite as wide apart as other models, the whole thing is soft and comfy but will definitely get a 28 band in any future mesh type Freya bras. Suits moderately wide, tall roots, pretty open on top. Fairly smooth under clothing.
Super stretchy band (aaargh Freya!!!), quite tall and deep cups for a Freya half cup, fits very slightly large in the cup, and slightly more open on top compared to supposedly similar styles.
For some reason the measurements for this bra are NOT as I input, the band measures 32.5" fully stretched to the tightest hooks!
What am I doing with this bra after swearing off random Freya fashion styles (multiple times, in fact)? Well, eBay got the better of me, and I found this bra in my real size for a great price. These days, 28E bras are rather hard to find, since many lines have consolidated down their 28 band offerings and I'm stuck in my awkward sister size of 30DD, so after checking measurements and reviews on this bra, I decided to give it a chance. Technically it doesn't exactly fit, but I'm still very pleased with this purchase.
The print and appearance is what drew me to this ...bra in the first place. The pattern is a fun semi-abstract rendition of pink orchids and waterfall blue ikat. I like the fun, summery vibe of this design, and it reminds me of a tropical vacation. This is one of the first Freya bras that I really like for all of its aesthetic components. I feel that while the colors are bright, the design works well together. Plus, there's no tacky center gore charm in sight, just a simple turquoise bow! I was pleased to discover that the fabrication of this is the same lightweight, silky fabric used on other printed styles like Sansa and Fearne. However, it feels even softer and more lightweight than I remember. I can tell that this is going to be an amazing summer bra!
In terms of cup construction, I feel that this is a more "balanced" plunge bra than many other Freya cuts. No weird shapes to be found here (like Summer Haze) . . . Crush has a balcony plunge shape more reminiscent of Cleo's styles. I found the wires to be nicely curved and comfortable instead of the common J wires in other Freyas. I can fill out the cup perfectly on my larger side when fully scooped, but once I move, the upper cup becomes empty at the center, so the main problem here is that it is designed for someone with a more rounded shape that has more center fullness than I have. The cup depth is actually quite deep for this size, so note that my measurement here is accurate and the average on BTB is not correct. With foam pads, this becomes a perfect t-shirt bra shape for me, so I am happy that it is still quite wearable.
The upper cup here is unique in that it has a two piece construction, with half of it made from the body fabric, joined to an edge made from embroidered mesh with a turquoise satin stitch decorative seam. The upper edge of the mesh is stabilized with clear elastic so it is quite firm, but the upper cup isn't very closed off, so it should accommodate root fullness within reason. The embroidery here is also quite special, as it has a floral mandala pattern with dahlias and plumerias, adding to the tropical feel. The band here is nice firm printed powermesh, and I have no complaints about it running big! It feels like a TTS 28 band. Wide strap elastic with scalloped edges and fabric trim at the front, a gentle leotard back, and pops of turquoise bows complete the look.
I will definitely be wearing this during the summer with foam pads as I trade out my Le Mystere and Ciao Bella bras for lighter weight lined options! Read more 476 more words
Obs!! The stock photo is a lie, this bra is 100% see-through lace. And it itches bad, the whole bra is full of (pretty) itchy decorative lace.
I almost completely fit this bra and if it wasn’t for the inching I would keep it https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" />
One of the hooks was already loose when I got it and after one or two washes the part where the decorative metal bar is sewn turned green a little. Other than that it is the best bra I've owned so far, supports and lifts without sliding down. This strapless definitely surprised me.
After wearing this bra I think I'm closer to even fullness than FOB. It cuts into the top of my breast tissue and gives me quad boob. It also feels a bit tight in the band despite being stretchier than my other 28 bands, presumably because the cups are too small. Appearance is great though! It's super cute and I'm considering ordering another in 28H to see if that fits better.
Meh. I'm roughly a 30e/f, wide rooted and somewhat shallow. I previously bought the xs and it was just way too tight across the boob. The small is a better fit, but the elastic band is a little too loose. Maybe best for a 32D/DD. Speaking of the band, it's just one very narrow elastic holding everything up. The lace band is just for show and provides no support.
Sadly, I've come to the conclusion that there are two types of Freya bras: one based on Fancies (Rhea, Sansa, Fearne), which fits me beautifully, and . . . everything else. This bra falls into the latter category.
However, there are many things about this bra that I think are great. If I didn't know otherwise, I'd guess that this bra came from Curvy Kate, not Freya, because it exhibits so many aspects of functional design I've found in CK bras. This is one well-constructed bra with impressively supportive powers.
First, this style has an impressively firm band. The band is made of super thick stretch ...tricot with sturdy elastic on the top and bottom, and it is a full band style, with elastic running through the cradle. If you've been disappointed before by Freya bands running one size larger, you won't be disappointed here. This is a TTS 28 band, and because of the low stretch on the fabric, it was actually quite difficult for me to fasten, and it felt too constricting on my ribcage. But those who need a true 28 band or are smaller may find that this fits when virtually anything else from the Freya line will run big.
The cups are made from lightweight satiny stretch tricot lined with serious powermesh. The outer cups have a small embroidered circle design, and luckily there is lining, as we know Freya isn't know for soft materials. The upper cup is embroidered mesh with a scalloped edge, and it is actually also on the soft side by Freya standards. Overall the cup construction reminds me a lot of the Curvy Kate Princess Balcony bra, down to its deeply projected shape. Straps are nicely textured wide straps to hold the slider in place, and there's only ribbon bow charms here, none of the little metal center gore charms that I've found in so many other of their fashion styles.
Since the cups were too deep on me and I couldn't fill the upper lace cup, this style didn't work for me. However, this was the same issue I had with the Curvy Kate Princess Balcony bra, so I suspect that if that style works for you, this could be another solid option!
===============
Update March 2020:
I tried on this bra again randomly at Nordstrom Rack. Now that I am in a 28E, this bra is too small for me. The cups are no longer too deep and I have no trouble filling them, but I found that the upper cup is too closed off and cut into my roots, causing some overflow. I need more fullness and openness at the upper cup, although the wires and the depth at bottom of the cup still worked for me. The band felt snug but didn’t feel too tight. Not sure if I am getting used to firmer bands or if the actual bra I tried this time ran a little looser than the original.
This was an ALMOST fit and at the super discounted price I almost bought it, but I’m trying to avoid keeping bras that I know are not an ideal fit (if they can be returned). I’d say this cut runs about a size large in the cup compared to the other styles I’ve tried. Read more 445 more words
I received this bra completely by accident when Amazon somehow shipped me a bra that was the correct color and size (28E nude) but totally different brand and style (I ordered the Cleo Maddie). Thanks Amazon! Since I have this thing in my possession, I might as well list the details here on BTB for future reference.
When I tried on this bra, I immediately felt that the cups were too small for me, but the measurements look pretty appropriate for my size. I think this is another case of the Freya shape mismatch, where most of the non-plunge balcony bras don't work for my shape ...(basically anything except the Fancies). Looking at the shape more closely, the problem is that the distribution of volume in this bra is totally wrong for me.
The wires are wide and shallow, and while the measurement looks normal compared to my bras, the cup is much shorter than normal, so it's not tall enough to contain all my tissue. I get almost 1" of empty space at the outer portion of the cup that is empty, and since the wires are quite short vertically, it doesn't contain my tissue on the sides. The inside of the cup isn't cut for any center fullness (I would actually consider myself pretty even but slightly outer full), so it causes spillage in the center. The fullest point of the cup is too low for me, so the vertical proportion is off.
And thanks to the empty outer cup, any strap tension causes the excess fabric to pull up and form a deep wrinkle from the strap connection point to the bottom of the cup. The cups are constructed without any give, which makes all the problems worse, and the seams are extremely rigid, restricting tissue at all the wrong places.
The outer cup is made from a non-stretch shadow stripe lined with soft foam and thin tricot. Note that the foam here feels more like the batting used in quilts than the rigid foam you find in other cut and sew padded bras like Comexim's). It is a 4 piece cup construction, with a 3HC construction at the bottom of the cup and a standard horizontal piece going across. Scalloped lace trim is seamed into the bottom 3 pieces but they stop at the upper cup. The same trim is used at the bottom of the band and on the straps. In order to improve the fit, I would need narrower cups with more inner projection, more cup height, and deeper and longer wires that come up further along the outer cup.
Aesthetically, this bra is totally fine. It does remind me a bit of Cleo Lexi and Maddie if they weren't molded cups. In practice, the seam trims add to the lumpiness of this bra and really weren't an ideal choice. Many other reviewers commented that the seams show visibly under clothing. There is a small random square charm at the gore (Freya always gets me with these random charms), but I like the wide straps with scalloped trim, bow detail at the strap attachment, and leotard back.
There is a reason I don't bother trying Freya fashion styles anymore, since they never work for me. Sadly, this random arrival was another Freya fail. Read more 455 more words
About me: dense, center full and close set, bottom full but with tall, gradually sloping roots, so functionally even in some respects, narrow and projected.
I thought this bra would work! But after wearing it around the house for about an hour, my back and shoulders started to hurt (which doesn't happen when not wearing a bra or wearing one that fits well). The band is nice and snug and the cups fit decently well, but, at this size at least, the amount of projection at the gore wasn't enough for me. The bright colors really pop against the pure white background.
About me: full on bottom with tall, gradually sloping roots that make me functionally even in some ways, center full and close set, dense tissue, narrow and projected.
The bright teal color of this bra is beautiful! At this size, it cut in, so I'm hoping it will be a better fit at 30F. The fabric is nice.
