I changed the underwires of my 30E - Freya » Starlet Vertical Seam Bra (1061) for longer and more flexible ones. Turns out, my instinct was right! The new wires turned Starlet from a torture device into a very comfy bra that fits perfectly.
Old underwires: width 12,3 cm / length 22,8 cm / sturdy New underwires: width 13,5cm / length 23,8 cm / flexible
How this affects the fit of the bra: - The cups became wider and slightly more shallow. - The new wires stretch with the band, so the band is a few cm longer now. Since the band doesn't have a lot of stretch to it, it ...fits more comfily this way. - The underwires don't poke at all - neither under my arms nor at the center gore. I'm happy. - There was fabric sticking out under the arms because the old ones were too short. This is now fixed.
I wish Freya would use more flexible underwires in the smaller cup sizes by default, as those sturdy ones often feel restricting and uncomfortable on people with small boobs or bony ribcages. Read more 73 more words
Vadaslava I got them at an onlineshop in my country that's selling sewing and dessous making supplies :)
Vadaslava It's always a good idea to check out local sewing supply shops and department stores first! But in the case of the Starlet, the wires they sold there would not fit, so I went for an online shop with a larger variety in wire shapes and sizes.
Wait, that's a thing?! How did I not think of this? Thank you! I'm definitely going to look into this!
Very nice! Since it's coming out in a black colorway, I may pick one up again at some point. I'll definitely keep this in mind if the wires are still stiff and pokey.
The rounded, half-cup, mild cakes on a plate shape is practically perfect in every way for my FoT breasts & narrow ribcage. The only other Freya bras that fit my very FoT shape are the Patsy padded half cup and Parade "padded" half cup bra.
Band and straps are comfortable, though straps are a bit wide-set for my narrow shoulders. Most straps are. Wing height is surprisingly low, so no chafing under the arm.
Cons:
This fabric is tricky - it initially seemed rigid enough to contain me, but after a few hours of wear, I was not only quadding but actually nip-slipping on my bigger side. ...I've read a couple of other reviewers who had the same experience. Be ye not deceived, if you're not solidly contained in the cup, SEND IT BACK!
Unfortunately, as with all Freya half cup bras, I would need this in a 28J/JJ and this bra only goes up to a 30H. My ribcage is exactly 28" and while I make do with Freya 30's, the bands stretch quickly, putting more weight on the straps and hiking the back of the band, which of course means my boobs lose their support and start sliding down my torso and onto my stomach and waist. Thank goodness for Tums!
I'm keeping this to wear under very tight camis that will help hold my wayward breast tissue (since the cups only work if I'm holding still) but am absolutely going Polish. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> Half cups are a must for me and the US/UK bras just don't make them in my size without extremely wide wires and/or painfully high wings as well as often splaying my breasts from east to west (I'm looking at you, Curvy Kate/Flirtelle!)
It might just be in these photos, but the band is sitting very low in the back - is it still too shallow if you yank the back band up higher?
I ask because strapless bras have always done that to me (even when they should fit, they seem really shallow unless the band sits as high or a fraction higher than my normal bras). Full disclosure, I usually get someone else to pull the band up in the back, because it is super awkward - but I do find it helps maximise usable depth.
That's actually a really good question! It is low in the photos. If I'm actually going to try to wear it, I have my husband hook it and pull it up. It still feels like it's smashing me though, and the wires always slide down. I put it on by myself yesterday just for a couple of pictures. I didn't even try to pull it up since I can't by myself and it was horribly humid yesterday.
I had terrible results from the one Deco I tried, so I hear you there. Why do strapless bras have to be so hard? :-(
Super late post, but I was told we had similar shapes. I just got this bra& stumbled on your review too! I have to wear the straps or clear ones for the same reason. It doesn't sit in my IMF without the straps tightened all the way. Then once I do it fits as good as a strapless can I think. Not technical a strapless for me, but I'm ok with using clear straps!
Update 7/18/15: I still own this bra, but hardly wear it due to the pointyness it gives. It fits much better now that I've lost considerable amount of weight since the original review. The wires are too wide for me now, but the band is still very comfortable.
Original Review 4/15/13: This bra has a very fun tattoo print on a smooth fabric that also continues onto the back-band. The lace on the top half of the cup is colorful, detailed, and very attractive. However the cup shape gives me a very pointy look and makes me think the tattoo print should have been of a nautical theme ...to go along with my “torpedoes”! This doesn’t stop me from wearing it. I just plan to wear this bra under clothing that will minimize the torpedo affect. The center gore is not too low or too high and has a cute black with white dot bow detail. The height of the center gore does not bother my close set boobs. The band fits my 26” ribcage on the loosest hooks with a nice snug fit. The back-band has an equally distributed stretch on both the top and bottom elastic, so there is no digging in. The nice wide elastic of the straps sits at a good width apart and does not fall off my shoulder. They are fully adjustable with a small black with white dot bow where they meet the front of the cup. The wires are a good fit for me and don’t dig in, but there is about 0.75” of tubing that the wire does not fill. I’m hoping this doesn’t cause a problem with protruding wires in the future after extensive wear.
*Update- this bra is just too pointy and feels a little small in the cup. I'm in between a GG and H cup and think this bra shape is just not for me. Read more 212 more words
Lovely sexy bra great for a projected, narrow shape. Runs huge in the band so size down if you're able. This makes me think that I'll have luck with other unlined Freya plunges.
It looks good! I'm surprised it has enough projection in that size.
I bent the wires narrower to add projection, but it wasn't terrible to start out with. It would be pretty much perfect with a smaller band
That's the best trick ever.
Yay I'm so glad it worked out pretty good on you!
Love Arabella! It looks like a great fit :)
Minus the band of course. Freya needs to get their act together on those stretchy bands. :(
I have one in black in the same size, but looks completely different on, sits lower and with less coverage. Curious to compare the bands, whether the black is any tighter. Need to add it to BTB with some pics soon. Love the 3piece cup Freyas.
Queequeg0925 I think the stretchy bands may be intentional on their part for "comfort", but I'd definitely like to see them go. erispe I think it's so weird how the same bra can look so drastically different on different people and in different years. I've heard that black generally is tighter because the dye makes it shrink, but that may not be true.
Here are the pics of mine in the same size, diff colour: http://bra.pe/XP4c/ The band feels tight enough, so it is quite possible that the black is tighter than the red. Well, our shapes are different, and the bras can't really drastically change our original shapes, I guess. Also being at the lower or upper threshold of a certain size can affect the fit. There are some brands I cannot wear if between sizes, the smaller being too small with quadding, while the bigger having too wide wires and cups too separate.
I can't see your pictures, but the measurements are fairly different. They could be different seasons maybe? Or maybe mine is stretched out? I tend to be sort of in between 28E and 28F. But yeah, unlined especially is going to be dependent on natural shape (which is why I'll never be perfectly round in it).
While this may not be a perfect fit according to bra-fitting experts, I call it a fit. If there is a bra in existence that meets all the criterion of "fits" for me, I've yet to find it. This isn't really "padded" (like Freya Deco, for example). The cups are about 1/16" thick, and they stretch a little. Rapture is so SOFT, and comfortable, and pretty. I love the fabric; it's supportive but not constrictive. This bra is very lightweight, but it's not flimsy or weak. My boobs stay in the cups, and they are supported (relative to my size, of course.). The bad: Rapture's ...cups are a little too wide for me; the center gore is a little too low; when I bend certain ways I get quad-boob (esp. on my left side); and the straps are pretty far apart for my small frame. I don't think sizing up in the cups would work for me. The cups are so wide already, I don't get much "lift", and sizing down the band isn't an option in this universe. The good: I don't care. I love this bra. It feels great. Rapture looks nice under all clothing, and it feels cuddly and comforting. Out of my bras, Rapture's fit, on me is most similar to Freya Marvel side-support bra (which is another not-perfect fit that I love anyways). I paid $70.00 for Rapture, which is pricy for me, but I had no other option. Bras this easy to wear are few and far between and there's a lot to be said for quality. Two bras that have not caused me migraine and neck pain are Freya Marvel and Freya Rapture, so I hope their designs are paradigms for future Freya offerings! Luckily this sturdy bra will last a long time, and I'll enjoy the comfort it provides. Read more 205 more words
Having worn a 34B for years, sometimes 32B/A or 34A, and even 36A, depending on what was available in the style I liked, I read a few articles online which prompted me to measure myself whereupon I realised I had been wearing the wrong size for years. Based on my new findings I ordered a Cleo Zia along with a couple of other similar balconnet bras from Bravissimo in 32D. The fit wasn't perfect so I went to the store where I decided to have a proper fitting - the assistant took one look at the Zia and told me it was too ...small. Based on my shape she recommended Freya Patsy amongst others and I can truthfully say it is the most comfortable, best-fitting bra I have ever owned - I now have it in three colourways. I tried 32DD first but the band was too big and I now wear 30E in different brands, @Cleo and @Lepel, and, as long as it's a style which suits me, find that this is right for me. Read more 73 more words
Boob twin, this bra fits! Yay! Finally, and unlined Freya that works for me. I read that half cup and vertical seam cups might work better than plunge styles in my size range, and it's true. The depth on this is perfect for me so I'd say it probably runs small in the cup for an unlined bra.
Be careful when shopping, the Starlet also comes in a plunge style. If I had to guess, that one is probably cut deeper in the cups.
I'll post measurements and pics later but this does run larger in the band than Cleo and Panache bras. I am wearing it on the middle hooks and it's comfortable, but I can fasten it on the tightest hooks. It is a straight back, not a leotard back, but so far the straps are staying on my shoulders.
The bra is really pretty. I like the mint green color and the pink spotted bows. The lace is not the smoothest, it definitely shows under thin or tight tops.
This is actually the best fitting bra I've found to date. I wish it was a bit prettier, but it was on sale on Amazon. Band could stand to be a bit tighter *cough, hint freya, cough* but it's wearable.
Wires are good at 5.5, especially since they're flexible - I really think this is the narrowest I can go in flexible wires, need wider wires in U shaped or stiff brands. Cups not too shallow and are open enough on top. Minor gapping on my smaller side, no quadding on my bigger side. Had to adjust the straps quite a bit shorter - ...there are some long straps on this bra!
Gore starts to dig after all day wear... really is kind of a bummer because my inner fullness tends to spill out of plunges so this half cup or balconette style is good for my boobs, and I like the half cup in contrast to the Deco Hatty where the top of the cup wants more boob than I have up there. I will probably try out more Freya half cups and more balconette styles, I just wish the gores didn't bother my sternum. It is more comfortable than my CK Bardot, though.
I hope the material softens up after washing because it feels like steel wool. The cups being lined is the only thing that saves the scratchy shell from making me want to rip it off. Read more 137 more words
This bra is 100% for me. Finally! Narrow wires, decent projection. The gore is further apart, but with the narrow wires, it's not as big a deal because my boobs aren't being squished closer together.
I ordered a cup size smaller after seeing the measurements, and would advise others to do the same. I stuck with the band, and it's nice and firm.
Literally the ONLY thing that isn't a great fit with this is the fact that my bigger boob JUST fits in the cup. It cuts in just a tiny tiny bit, but not noticeable or painful.
The appearance of this bra isn't great, but it isn't bad either. It's not ...scratchy as I suspected it might be, and honestly feels pretty much like any other bra to me(material wise), as in, I don't notice it.
The shape it gives is very uplifted, even for me, which is great and exactly what I've been looking for. It's more pointy on me, but also semi rounded (and I'm a bit conical). I would imagine it'd appear much more rounded with rounder breasts, obviously https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_razz.gif" alt=":P" />
I've been looking for a more practical, every day bra, and this definitely does the job. I'm so happy because lately I've been having such bad luck. The wires on this make it better than my Freya Hopscotch Longline. I'm totally buying as many of these as I can!
So yeah, anyone with more centered boobs, narrower roots, and possibly taller roots that need some projection, this. I've had a lot of trouble with wide wires and quad boob, this doesn't have those issues at all.
Edit: I've worn this twice now, and initially it felt great but the gore and side wires have started to dig in so badly that I'm scarring.. yeah, this fast, my skin sucks https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" /> But that means it's cutting in. Strangely, the band seems appropriate and the wires fit nicely around my boobs, but as I wear it, the wires begin to distort. Possiby from fluctuations thoughout the day? Maybe I need an extender right now? The band did only measure 27-28 inches before wire distortion. Just a bit of a let down because the band gives great support and without it being so snug, I can't imagine it would.
Also, the gore is way too wide and I'm feeling it and it's pretty intense Honestly, if I could make the band more supportive material and go up to a 32 and then alter the gore and figure out what's going on with the sides, I'd feel like this was perfect again. Such a shame.
Also, I apologize for lack of photos. I've been insanely busy the past few days, but they will come https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> now that I'm having issues I need to post a fit check anyway.
EDIT2: I finally added photos. Forgive the slight wrinkling. I was taking Spironolactone for, erm, complexion issues, but my dermatologist is miles away and I haven't had a car so..no Spiro=bad skin, no boobs, and basically, I'm beginning to look like a teenage boy (again). Pretty sure I have PCOS or at least high androgen levels. So my boobs have been shrinking and that's also why I haven't been on here much. It's sort of depressing thinking that I finally found some nice bras and now my boobs are losing fullness and becoming even more tubey. Anyway, this bra actually left scars on my sides from the wires so I haven't worn it more than twice. Still love the shape. Giving it another shot being as there's already permanent scarring so whatever, but I'm not very hopeful. Read more 499 more words
The Patsy Padded Half Cup was my first bra that really fit, so it will always hold a special place for me! Honestly, the cut is probably the best I could hope for. I might not have ever tried a half cup style at all had it not been for the light padding (can't stand unlined bras) and the very attractive patterns. After a lifetime of wearing ill-fitting, plain and rather ugly minimizer bras, being able to find a pretty, feminine bra in my size has been an amazing feeling.
I now know that the bands on Freya are known as being looser than others, but the 30 ...has remained firm, yet comfortable for me on the outer hook for quite a long time. I never got any poking, chafing or pain. I do have to tighten the straps nearly all the way otherwise the underwires start to sit below my IMF. Similarly, people talk about Freya having "soft wires", but I don't find that to be the case. At first I thought I would have to bend them for a better fit around my ribs, but had trouble bending them so just wore them in instead. I haven't noticed any kind of weakness in the wire and they are much more comfortable than other bra wires I have tried like Panache and Cleo which hurt my bony ribs.
This is a really easy to wear bra. The padding is just enough for modesty, but not too much to add any bulk. The material is also lightweight so it washes and dries really easily. You don't have to worry so much about damaging the cups when washing or packing them (I travel a lot), which is a big plus for me. All these things make it an ideal bra for all seasons.
The only negatives I have about my trusty Patsy are the lace trim and very visible seams. I wouldn't need to buy any other bras if the cups were smoother, the lace less bumpy and the seams somehow flatter. I therefore tend to wear this bra more in the colder months or when I will have a jacket on top. Wearing a camisole underneath did not help mask the lumpiness of the lace or very obvious lines of the seams.
Another thing I had to get used to is that this cut of bra has a minimizing effect on me. It lifts and supports well, but my breasts look at least two sizes smaller in it.
Even taking in all of these small faults, it's still my favorite bra. Read more 322 more words
I have a 30 F patsy (my phone wants to autocorrect to pasty, haha!) which I really like - I agree with all your points above. I can't understand why it's so minimising though - more so than bras I own with absolutely no padding/lining at all! Odd. Does the job though!
EXCELLENT support, especially on the sides!! Forward projection, round shape. NO spillage on the sides. Gore is low and tight, fits perfectly. Cup is mildly loose along the top- not enough to notice under a shirt. Swoop and scooping the breast tissue firmly into the cup significantly reduces this issue. A cup size smaller would be significantly too small. Fabric is soft but stiff and very supportive. Wings are stretchy but sides are secure. Polka dots are adorable https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
Out of all the Deco variations I have ordered, this one is my favourite. If you normally have trouble filling the top of the cups in the Deco, the J-hook in the back may help alleviate that problem and eliminate said gaping. It fits like a normal Deco (a cup and band size large). Ideally I'd get this in a 26F or even 24FF for my 26 inch underbust, but of course these sizes are not produced. However, this doesn't ride up on me because the J-hook tightens the band without pulling the straps and cups upward. I'd say this bra probably suits those who have evenly shaped to FoT ...breasts. The shape is definitely not compatible with my full-on-bottom boobs. Although the depth is ridiculously small, the top of the cups sort of have a straight line instead of curving towards the body. This bra demands quite a bit of upper fullness, which I lack. However, they have fixed some fit issues caused by past Decos by adding a new piping at the top of the cups. I have to note that this bra does run a little bit smaller than the Deco and Deco Honey (Topaz colourway with the piping on top too), but not enough to size up. The stock photos leave something to be desired, but in real life this bra is very pretty. Simple with a few feminine flourishes. P.S. the strips are still considered fully adjustable since the J-hooks aren't static. You cannot take them out easily, however.
I have now altered the band on this to a 26 (and all my other Decos). While I get minimal gaping with my regular Deco and perfect fit with Deco Honey, I now quadboob with my less fuller-on-bottom breast. I definitely would not recommend this bra to those who are full on top. Read more 194 more words
The band is a bit snug on the largest hook as this bra has little to no stretch. It feels very sturdy. The cups aren't too big on me, and they give me a rounded shape (I seem to be in the minority). The stitching on the cups is visible through thin, light colored tops. It is a bit minimizing, so I wear it with my snug tops if I need help to fit into them comfortably - the tight band gives me more definition.
ETA 1/23/14: An update, more than a year(? I don't really remember when I got it) on. I cycle these bras through with ...my others, but generally only wear them when I have 2 layers (a long sleeve under a tshirt) or a tight tee with a design on the chest. Why? These are my lowest band bras and as such give me the best definition, so they help my tight tshirts fit better and I look bustier to top it off (a plus at my size, I think). My design tees tend to be a bit thicker than plain ones and the print on the front (or two layers) disguises the lines on the cups so they don't show through. These have worn pretty well, the band has stretched enough that it's quite comfortable but I haven't had any riding up, regardless, I've just moved to the middle hook on my older white bra (not yet on my 6 months younger black version). However, the fabric of the sides and cups has become discolored in the white version, which is kind of disappointing. I don't wear it for consecutive days and I swear I shower every day, so I don't know what it is. Besides sad. The underwires are still in good shape and these have actually become my most comfortable bras. That's good, because they certainly aren't lookers on their own. Read more 210 more words
I appreciate too Mariel . Can you please add the measurements?? Thank you! :D
The problem is that once I started adding all the information on Bratabase, these bras were fairly worn in. I'm afraid the measurements would be stretched and not indicative of how this bra measures when new.
How about cup depth? Since the band measurement is already there.
I was so excited to try this bra in a 28 size band! I really hope Freya gets the fit issues worked out in this size range, because I know this bra could work really well for me and other women in the D-E/small band, shallow cup range. That said, this bra was truly a disaster for me and I would only recommend this particular cut for someone with a lot of projection above their apex (which doesn't seem very common in this size range).
Cup Size: 28D in Cleo is too small for me, 28D in Curvy Kate is bordering on too small. The 28D Deco Half Cup ...is bordering on too small. The Patsy Padded Half Cup is much too large for me, with horrible gaping at the top of the very open cup. This bra might fit you if you normally wear 28DD, have very little lower projection, and have a lot of upper projection.
Cup Width: I am 5'3", but I rarely have problems with strap or cup width on my average-narrow frame. The straps are so wide-set as to be almost falling off my shoulders, and the cups are shaped with a lot of projection along the entire top edge, including the sides. I get serious wrinkling at the outer sides of the cups.
Cup Shape/Shallowness: This is where my main beef is. There is very little lower projection in this bra; actually, not enough for me. There is way too much upper projection for me, even though this size is technically on the smaller side of what typically fits me. The cup is built like a tilted diagonal vase, if you can picture that, with more and more projection toward the open upper edge, which at 19.3 cm (=7.6 in), is the widest part of the bra. It seems like the cup was designed with very little lower projection in order to prop the breast up into the upper portion of the cup, but my breasts are too firm for this effect to work and they just push the bra down and cause more gaping.
I can imagine that this bra would fit a woman with a significant amount of upper fullness and very little lower projection. However, I suspect that many women in my size range have firm, shallow breasts with more lower/center fullness. If that's the case, then the current fit of this cut just won't work for us. Read more 295 more words
Whoa I feel like I have been taken hostage by this bra. It's not my prefered shape (my boyfriend started singing "he's a sharpshooter when he saw me in it) or style (pasteles? no. plaid? only on kilts) but the darn thing is growing on me. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
Comfort and support are excelent. This type of cup fabric is new to me - it is very rigid with 0 stretch, but this is why it "holds it's grownd" brilliantly, I feel like there is no chance of this bra collapsing under me near the wires like many others have.
Band is a smidge tighter then your ...average freya. Supportive, no backfat. Straps are very wide and covered in some sort of swimwear material. I like it - they are extremly comfy.
The shape is, well, sharp. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> But it is much less east-west then other freyas I tried, it almost gives a cleo silhouette from the front. The top pannel is also a bit more forgiving in the center and the gore is also higher and more narrow then other Freyas. Honestly, if it wasn't for the pointy profile I would think I am dealing with a very high coverage (which I like!) cleo bra.
I think this one will find it's fans out there definitely https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> Read more 119 more words
This is such a cute bra (ordered in the new S/S peacock colour-way). Unpadded Freyas (and the deco) are a complete disaster on me, but I'd heard the padded half-cups better suited shallow boobs, so I really hoped this would work on me. Sadly not.
The pluses: wire and gore width is absolutely perfect, which surprised me. The padding is fairly light and not overly contoured like some half cups.
The minuses: although the cup seems to fit me well width-wise, and in terms of depth in the lower cup, the top of the cup gapes a lot - to the extent it would be very noticeable under clothing. ...The way the cups are structured flattens me as well - no cakes on a plate look like I get with the Cleo Juna.
The band - I know Freya is renowned for generous/stretchy bands, but this is ridiculous. I measure 29 under bust and I could fasten this on the tightest hook with ease; the middle hook and the band rode up when I leaned forwards. This is the smallest band in the style; what about the many women with smaller ribcages than me?
A shame, as I had high hopes for this bra. I also tried the Lauren half cup at the same time and the fit issues were identical. I think I've reached the end of the road for me and Freya... Read more 124 more words
This is just soooo pretty, I'm in bra love. When I first saw the pictures of this bra, I knew I had to have the set. Didn't matter that it was full price and I didn't know if I'll experience any tissue migration. It's every bit as pretty as the pictures, the ivory lace trim, the oriental-inspired bird print, the gorgeous lilac colour. This is easily the most beautiful bra I own! The longline also looks much more elegant than the balconette version. I can't stop gushing about this bra!
The cups on these are quite low-cut and maybe runs just a bit smaller. They run smaller than the ...Freya Deco Honey (1254) for sure. The fabric is smooth and luxurious, and the fully-adjustable straps are comfortable, even when shortened considerably. Everything fits, and nothing digs, scratches or pokes.
The band runs a tad big, though not as big as the Deco Honey. Only having 2 rows of hooks is very annoying though. I wonder why Freya did that. I'm already on the innermost hooks after a few wears as the loosest hooks didn't provide enough support and there was just too much jiggling. Read more 86 more words
The only bad thing about this bra is that the composition of the cup as far as the outer stitching makes it a bit difficult to wear with anything tight fitting. It is comfortable, fits, has a slight push-up effect on my bottom heavy breasts, and is cute as a button.
It has stretched over time, first in the straps and, depressingly, now so far in the band that it no longer fits. If I were to buy it again, I'd go for size 30F.
I tried this bra on in Nordstrom's. It was really comfortable but even after scooping all my breast tissue into it, there was a large gap between the top of my breast and the bra. The saleswoman said that this bra fit me perfectly, and that's how the Deco bra is supposed to fit but I doubt that. There's no way I could wear that bra with such an obvious gap!
Where did you get the new wires?