When I first tried out 28D bras, I started with the Freya Deco half cup. That really did not fit, so I sent it back and shied away from bras for a while, thinking I was somehow too small for my sister size in a smaller band. Later, I learned that the Deco tends to run large in the cup, by almost a full cup size, but that certain models - Taylor, Carly, etc., - came closer to normal. I love molded cup bras, so I decided to give the Taylor a go.
Well, the cups are smaller. I'll give it that. The band is still somewhat large ...for a 28, as expected of Freya. The pattern is pretty, the bra is classy - it's certainly not the best quality thing I've ever owned, but I've learned not to expect much compared to my 32B days. I do find the strip of brown velvet kind of tacky, but it's really not a big deal.
My actual complaint should be well illustrated in the pictures. The edge of the bra's cups pull away! It's absurd, really, because the cup fits perfectly until that last centimeter. After the velvet ends, there's a lace edging on the cup, and at this point, the molded cup actually bends away from my body. With the bra off, you can see (or I hope you can, sorry for the webcam pictures!) that this is just how the bra was constructed. I'm not sure how to handle this. No amount of adjusting the straps or back or swooping and scooping can change the fact that the cup just is not shaped like a boob. I mean, the top of the cups is a bit too deep for my small boobs, but that's nothing compared to the awkwardness of my cups showing through all my shirts.
I'm just... disappointed, really. My experience with Freya made me expect that the cups would be deep at the top and the band would be bigger. I can live with both of those, because the band just wears a little faster, and the cup thing only bothers me when I lay down. But this bra is now firmly relegated to housewear due to its construction. I would definitely not buy again. Read more 269 more words
I was pleasantly surprised by this bra! The fit is a lot better than most of the newer Freya unlined plunges. This is really similar to the Freya Jolie Plunge Balcony (4101) bra but the side wings feel a touch higher on this bra, which works better for me. It is narrow and projected which is nice to find in this size. Also, I love the striped straps!
I marked the comfort as poor because of the underwires. Holy hell did they hurt. They stabbed me at the tops of the gore and both outer edges. I bent them so the tops were angled away from my ...body but thy still hurt.
However! I altered this bra a lot after I took pictures and measurements. I narrowed the gore so it overlaps at the top, and I removed the underwires and replaced them with different ones from an old bra. I knew that hoarding old bras would come in handy. I also left the center bow off. The charm in the middle of the bow was sparkly and too juvenile. I'm looking for something to replace it with.
For now I'm wearing this on the tightest hooks and it feels secure. I'll probably have to take in the band at some point.
With a bit of crafting I have turned this into a comfortable and supportive bra. Read more 118 more words
This bra is the most perfect fit I have found! For me, the fit was similar to the Cleo Juna, with a slightly larger cup than Juna in 28D and with added pushup padding. I am between a 28D and a 28DD, and both sizes were actually an OK fit (I get a touch of quadboob immediately after scoop/swoop in this size; 28DD starts to gap with wear). The cups of this bra are also narrower than Juna, IMO, so the Deco Half Cup works better for my narrow frame.
I love the beautiful, rounded shape I get in this bra and the pushup padding actually gives me ...perfect, round cleavage that doesn't disappear throughout the day (I had that problem with pushup bras in my old size, 32B). Just the great shape and cleavage would be enough to make this a winner, but the Deco half cup is also the most comfortable bra I own (nothing pokes, nothing too tight ever), and the "nude" color blends well with my very pale skin.
I would highly recommend this bra if you have average width, slight-to-shallow projection, full on bottom to even fullness breasts. Read more 85 more words
Huzzah! It fits! The band is a bit loose for a 28 band-- I'm already wearing it on hook #2, which is saddening-- but the cups fit a wide, shallow 28D, and that's really seriously all I can ask for. I also love this shade of blue.
If you are a wide, shallow 28D, however, avoid the HELL out of the Deco Plunges.
Freya. Whyyyyyyyyyy. Why do you do this to us? I am heartbroken about this bra because I LOVE the aesthetics of it but it fits so horribly that it is unflattering and I'll have to return it.
The transparent mesh is comfortable and sexy. The houndstooth is based on a cream color, not a pure white, which adds sophistication. The upper cup portion has rainbow metalic thread woven into the houndstooth detail that glitters gold, teal, and magenta. Houndstooth. Houndstooth. Houndstooth. Sparkle. Houndstooth. Styled bows. :https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_confused.gif" alt=":s" />obs quietly::
The wires are nice and narrow. That is a about all there is to say in favor ...of the way this bra is sized. The sides are a little too low-coverage for my prefernce as is typical of Freya plunges but I would have forgiven that.
What really breaks this bra is the cup depth and how closed on top the cups are. With a 7.75" cup depth, I would say this 28D bra might fit someone who measures 28DD or 28E, assuming they could deal with the narrow wires and closed-on-top shape. I get a little bit of digging in / quadboob at the top immediately after putting the bra on but it does settle down quickly so you can't see it in the photos.
I might write a letter to Freya. I want 28D and similar sizes to remain available but I'm worried that they'll see low sales numbers and discontinue those sizes. If they could do the scaling/cut a bit differently, I'll bet a whole bunch of us would run out right now and buy this bra. Read more 163 more words
The Arabella is actually in my official Bratabase recommendations. I might try that one next!
I love that bra. But seeing it on you tells me it won't fit me, in a way I'd like. I can tell it would be too closed on top, and I'd probably have that little bit of space to the upper side of the apex. *if* you didn't pay a lot for that bra, I'd suggest altering the cups (by taken it in on the seam where the upper piece meets the lower pieces); that's also if you really wanted to keep the bra.
I guess that would happen for me with Freya plunges, too. I heard all these unpadded plunges to have really deep cups, so I tried Fauve Chloe plunge, noticed that there was way too much cup for my breast and stayed away from Fauve and Freya plunges. I guess they are made having a different type of breast in mind.
This is exactly how the Vixen fit on me as well, and I was trying on a 30G. The cups were so deep, but closed on top. I loved the look of it too. :( I wish Freya balconettes fit differently.
Uhh, hate to say it now - for some reason Eveden designs for my shape. Freya/Fauve balconettes especially.
I had the exact same problem with this bra and basically all Freya plunges that are from the past 4 years. I've had better luck with their older designs, though!
I noticed that you also have the gap in the side of the cup above the wire, by the armpit. This is another Freya habit and it annoys me so much and I don't know why they do it :(
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.
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
Actually this bra didn't fit me at all first. The band was too loose for me and the gore didn't lie flat between my breasts. But after washing it became a little bit tighter. And now it almost fits. The band is ok, the gore lies flat. But still the straps are too wide for me. I'm narrow, so this model is not quite good for narrows, that's why the top of the cup doesn't lie perfect.
Flimsy wires compared to the tartan freya plunge I have in 28DD. That one wrinkles in the cups, so I went down a size in the crush and it's too small. It seems that freya plunges just don't work for me. The band on this is huge, I need a 26 band, so a loose stretchy 28 is out. Freya in general might be out, unless I alter the band. Oh well, let the hunt for something that fits continue. At first I thought it may fit well enough, but no, it's too small in the cup and miles too big in the band. It is super pretty though and I'll be keeping an eye out for the longline.
Good material, as supportive as a wireless bra can be. Nude and seemless under clothing. Gives a real frontal push, rounded effect under clothing.
The only thing is that as it gives a sexy cleavage, my girls tend to jiggle when I walk! I guess this is somewhat expected considering that it creates exposed frontal cleavage ! 😉
The Deco really is as bad as i thought it would be for my shallow, conical breasts. I thought ordering it in my smaller size (28D, I am sized at 28D/DD) might work. Or maybe I was just curious how bad it would be for me.
My breasts are very firm and the band is very stretchy, so they just pushed the bra away from me and caused it to gape horribly, even though the cups were too small and my breasts were escaping into the band. Not a good look.
The cups really are quite tall in this size, and the wires really are quite narrow. This bra would work for you if you have tall breasts that need narrow wires. You also need significant upper/inner fullness to fit well in this bra, or at least breasts that will act full there in a bra.
Definitely a favorite. The top elastuic gapes a tiny bit on the sides when I am standing up very straight, but doesn't seem to effect the feel or fit. Gives a pushup illusion without additional padding. Normally I wear a 28DD but the 28D fits perfectly. When I tried on the 28DD the top of the cups stuck out. This bra might be prone to a little nip slip due to the lack of full coverage, but the fit is still excellent and I don't think the slip would be major.
This bra is the Freya Deco (4234), just with a print fabric. It is also incredibly difficult to fit correctly. I can't quite put my finger on it except to say that the cups are a strange shelf-like shape, and the band runs quite large -- at least one full band size if not more. This bra is marked 28D (!) but if it had no tags and one had to judge from the measurements alone, I would guess it to be a 30B or C.
Since it is so cute, I think I am going to try another size, and then hopefully will be able to give a more extensive review. I guess I have to decide whether budget and sanity will allow it. Purchased from Breakout Bras, late Spring 2010.
Thanks for posting these dimensions. They're... quite curious. I have Lydia and Deco on order in 28D and DD. I have my fingers crossed.
Hey, let me know how they work out for you! I am starting to feel like I am the only one who can't get this bra right -- it has so many glowing reviews online and I can't figure it out! I'll be very curious to see what you come up with.
I don't see anything strange about the measurements. They seem to be in line with the size of it. This one is 3 cup sizes smaller than my deco, and the cups have 3" in difference between them, so that sounds correct. Also the band size of 23.5" would fit a ribcage between 26-28". Did you make sure to adjust yourself properly in the cups? The Deco style, as well as this one require you to bring all your breast tissue up for a good fit. Freya tends to run half a size big when it comes to the band anyhow. I sometimes close mine on the middle eyes.
The band stretches to 32", which means it actually fits a ribcage of 29-31", maybe even 32". Also, the cup measurements (width, depth, and wire length) are significantly smaller than my 30D Cleo Jo, which fits me perfectly, yet the fit of the Freya is way off. On a band of this size, these cup measurements (width of 4", depth less than 6") are equivalent to a B or maybe C cup.
If you read all my reviews of the Deco/Lydia style, you'll see that I eventually came to the conclusion that the straps were the problem for me -- the 28E would have fit beautifully, but the straps were just too far apart.
You have to remember though that t-shirt styles are meant to stretch a little with you. Not so much from a seamed, lace bra, like your Cleo (Cleo bras are more generous in the cup too). Seamed bras hold a little more volume. Also 30C and 28D hold the same cup volume. So a cup volume/depth of nearly 6" would be in line with what a 28D breast perimiter would measure, which is 6". This band does run a tiny bit big. I'm not sure how you were able to get yours to stretch so large though. My 28 will only stretch to 27". Perhaps there is a slight variant between the Deco and and Lydia other than just the print. I know what you mean about the straps though. I have sloped shoulders so I tend to pull the Deco's in, but it doesn't cause that much gapping for me.
The cup volume and shape is good (finally!), but the wires and wings are very short, I need like at least an additional inch on the outer ends of those wires for them to come up high enough to hold everything in. Was worried about the narrow band but it's actually very comfortable. The fabric is very light but it's not too stretchy, so it still feels supportive. BUT the straps are WAY too far apart for me, they are fully just on my shoulder blades and that's a dealbreaker for me even if the wires were long enough. Too bad, I like how it looks and it's very comfortable otherwise. I will be returning this one.
I do not think that the lateral wires are too short. You may want to try a super swoop and scoop to find that the cups are actually too small once you have that side tissue in. The straps look pretty good too. It is hard to develop the boob eye!
Thank you for your response! The swoop and scoop when I bend forward makes me think the cup size is okay but as soon as I move, the side tissue just comes right out, it starts quite high under my arm, which probably doesn't show so well in the pics, but there's like several square inches of boob outside of the wire. The wires on my other bras come up much higher on the sides and feel much more secure, maybe that's just a preference. The width seems okayish I think, but it just feels too short. It is definitely hard to develop the boob eye lol! I'm very confused about the straps, where are they supposed to be? I feel like they're just about ready to slip off my shoulders because they're so far apart, but I also have scoliosis and have a hard time with things slipping off anyway so maybe it's just that? I'm just not sure where straps are actually supposed to sit on the back. If they are actually supposed to be so far apart that they're on the outside edge of the shoulder blades then I guess I could get used to that, I haven't worn bras in like a decade, and never a properly sized one, so maybe that's why it seems weird. On further trying on and more careful inspection, the diagonal seam and the top of the lace cuts across my larger boob in a very subtle quad-boob sort of way, but that's if I want to be very nitpicky about it. I'll try wearing it all day to see if I feel differently about it, but I'm still thinking I'm going to return it.
I can't edit my above comment, so here's a part 2, I looked at the measurements compared to my other bras and the wings on this one are actually apparently about the same height, so now I'm even more confused as to why the outer upper corners of my boobs (for lack of a better description) don't seem to stay in the cups, and they do in the others even though they're too big (unless I'm at the absolute biggest I get, hormonally). Is that a balconette thing? Or a cup width thing? Man, every time I think I understand a bra...
I think you are talking your way into a bra with more volume with a shorter band. Given your measurements, this Freya is too big in the band which allows breast tissue to escape quite handily. This bra in a 28E (DD) with a shortened band should do the trick though you may need to tack down the upper lace at the gore with a few stitches. As you have confirmed with measuring your bras, the side wire is not too tall. You need more room in the cup to allow for your breast tissue and a tighter band to keep it in place - forward and not oozing out the sides.
In regards to bra straps, when you look at your strap from the front, the strap is sitting in the middles of your collar bone where it should be. Should blade musculature may be altering your view of the strap placement in the back, but from the front you are looking good.
Good to know about the straps, I think I can get used to the feeling of it in that case. The 28 band feels tight on the loosest hook, not uncomfortably so but I wouldn't be able to close it if it was shorter. I wore it for several hours yesterday to see how it would feel, and it was actually comfortable and everything stayed in place, didn't need to keep adjusting the straps, the band didn't slide around or ride up. But as far as the cups go, oozing out the sides is the perfect description lol. What was in the cup stayed in the cup, but not everything could fit in the cup, so it sounds like you're right and I would need to size up. This have been very helpful, thank you so much for your input!
My first freya bra that i got in my ABTF calculator size. I really wanted it to fit but it didn't. the band was perfect, the gore lays flat. There was some major gapping on the top of the bra though. the cups aren't that big i think its just the style. anyway i ended up returning it
Really beautiful bra! Fits true to size, the band rides up on me but that's because I should be wearing a 26. Only one hook closure which doesn't bother me but might be noteworthy for some. Center gore floats just a little but this is the best fitting bra I've tried so far! Also gives a nice round shape under clothes https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
Freya Fancies was one of my favorite bras when I was a solid 28DD, thanks to the fact that it's pretty, comfortable, and comes in a beautiful assortment of colors. It took me a few tries to find the correct size as I started my journey with a 28D that I didn't immediately realize was too small and altered and wore for a while before switching to 28DD. This review is specifically to discuss how the 28D fit me, as I am currently a 28E, and my review under 28E is more comprehensive regarding the bra itself.
At the time of purchase, I was trying to figure ...out my bra size and did not know how Freya bras would fit. It was my first 28 band, so I didn't realize immediately that the band on this particular bra is too loose and almost +1" longer on the flat than normal. The cups didn't fit me like I expected them to in pictures, and the upper cup was too empty, so I mistakenly assumed the bra was the wrong shape for me and subsequently altered the bra to lower the top cup and make it more open. I later realized this is because the cups were too small and this was a classic example of the orange in a glass effect.
In hindsight, the wires were clearly too short and the cup width was also too short. I had been wearing 32B bras and was used to the appearance of tiny demi cups, so I didn't realize how poorly this fit. However, in my experience this bra does run true to size, so I would say it should work for someone who is a true 28D, specifically with a larger ribcage as Freya bands in general are stretchy and run large. However, the shape of the cups really suits a round shape best, so I would not recommend this style if you are very shallow or if you are empty on top. It is a super comfortable bra and I love it for summer. Highly recommended if it suits your shape! Read more 250 more words
It's hard for me to review this. I just got it in the mail today. Measured it fresh out the packaging (ordered from Amazon, bra was folded up in a bag and mail in a bag https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":-(" />... ).Underwire does not fill entirety of under wire channel, 1.5 cm of space between wire and outside end of under wire channel. I'm pretty sure the wires are waaay to narrow for me, picture showing where my breast root is and where bra wire is. Cups are insanely stiff and don't conform to the body at all. Would fit better with short cup, but cup ...is definitely not too tall for me. When I use J-Hook, cups are pulled to my chest and cuts the gaps in half. Cups seem to stand straight up from wire, perhaps because my breasts are pushing them out instead up letting them stand up straight and forcing my breast to form to the cup? Gore seems to dig in my sternum, although it is not too high or too low on my sternum (I've worn both higher and lower Gore's with no issues). Although I do believe it would stop being annoying after breaking the bra in. The colors are quite girly and nice, not too poppy or neon. I actually get some cleavage when I use the J-hook. Although the straps are not too wide/uncomfortable for me, I feel if they were set in closer that would help the cups stay against the body instead of leaning out. The band is very stretchy and I can see it riding up my back very quick if I were to wear it regularly. I also think Deco, in general, would do better to have some graduated padding to make the cups fit REAL breasts better.... I'm already beginning to think of ways I could alter this to make it work better for me. If the wires don't soften up, I will definitely have to bend them outward. It's almost painful the way they dig into my rib cage and my breast tissue. When I push the cups against my chest, the way they are SUPPOSED to fit, I get massive cleavage and quading. I think a bigger cup would fit me better...at least in the wires. The depth of this cup is over an inch smaller than my own. I look forward to try the Deco Half Cup. Read more 299 more words
Freya sizing (& fit ) can be tricky and frustrating. I wear 3 different sizes in Freya depending on the style & model. (Consistency isn't in their vocabulary apparently. :o ) Freya wires are stiff, but not as bad as Panache at least. But on the plus side, they do make some spectacular patterns!!! :)
Lol MamaPagan I have noticed their lack of consistency. There unlined bras seem to run an entire cup size or two larger than their padded bras....the half cups also seem to run larger than the "regular" cups....at least in the ones I've looked at. The deco's just seem to be all over the place! They also said freyas wires are wide, I haven't seen that, at least not in my size range. I am learning so much. I don't seem to mind firm wires, as long as they are not pointing into my ribs. After looking over my pictures here I think they are only digging in because my breasts are pushing the cups outward & the band is trying to pull them in so the wires are at an angle like this: \ instead of like this l .
I think the wires get worse as the cups increase, but the wide wires are not consistent across all styles or within the same size either..... We'll just call Freya consistent at being inconsistent.
Right now, this is my absolute most fitting bra and I love it.
When I first got it, it was wrinkling everywhere etc etc etc but now due to tissue migration? maybe? it fits like a glove on most days and quads the teeniest bit on some days.
The fabric was unexpectedly soft and nice, but it doesn't stretch, which makes it effective for keeping nipples on the down low. Result: I can actually wear this under a single layer of t-shirt! The lace had a hard time laying flat but eventually it did (I'm not sure how) and it gives me a sleek, rounded profile with a light point ...(it's no Cleo, after all). The fact that the seams go right over my nipples is nice, but that also means that it gives me an ever-so-slight east-westiness. The band, at least in the black colorway, is quite tight as Freyas go. Since the wires are 1 cm shorter than the channel, and the wings are rather short, I have to shove the wire all the way to the armpit side of the channel to get them in a more comfortable position - the pictures I've uploaded have the wires a little on the gore side, so it looks like it's poking into my side. Read more 105 more words
Adorable on you! Thriled you were able to alter it into a "fitting" bra :-) :-)