I've loved the look of the Totally Tartan since it first came out, so I sprung for it when I saw it on sale. I want it to fit. I want it to fit so badly, and if I didn't know better I could excuse the fit issues. The band is definitely too big - I can pull it out a good six inches or so off my back - but sadly it doesn't come in a 28. Putting it on a tighter hook helps. It quadboobs near the center and gapes where the straps meet the cup depending on my posture - holding my shoulders back as I should definitely helps with that. Slouching even makes the quadboob become gaping! I always thought half-cups would be a decent fit for me, but this bra just has me completely baffled.
I agonized over whether to return this bra or not for a really long time, but in the end decided to return it. It doesn't fit. Maybe another time I'll try again.
I was so excited to try this bra. I was so disappointed when I did. I don't even know how to explain what it looked like on me. My best try at it is if I loosen the straps a little, it gapes horribly at the top. If I wear it with the straps tightened as much as I usually do on other bras, I get a weird crease down the side of my boob. Not normal quadboob; I've seen plenty of that. This is like my boobs grew plumbers cracks, if you know what I mean. I have my usual crack down the center of my chest, and half an inch on either side, a new crack. It looks weird as heck. I guess this bra isn't going to work for me. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" />
This bra came highly recommended for shallow shapes- but I was hesitant to try on such a padded bra. This bra made my full-on-bottom breasts appear pretty top heavy, even causing slight quadboobing once I properly scooped and swooped. I'm not convinced that it fits perfectly, but it does fit the best out of all the bras I've tried on thus far. The top of the gore lies flat, but the bottom does not, perhaps this is just a result of my weird concave sternum. I also tried on this bra in a 28F, but decided that even though the 28 band did manage to fit, my bony ribcage feels much more comfortable in a 30 band. For now, I think I'll be holding onto the 30E, as it is a great nude color, disappears under thin clothing and is much better than the 34Cs that I'd been wearing previously.
Pros: The longline band distributes pressure very well, and the cups feel supported by the band. Provides a sense of security and doesn't cut into the body. The straps are substantial (about 3/5" wide) and can be adjusted their entire length. The half-cup design provides some pretty impressive lift to each cup separately. Takes weight of the cups effectively enough to feel a positive difference in posture. The lining is substantial but thinner than moulded-cup padding.
In short, it is a comfortable bra, and also an astounding date-night bra.
Cons: Center wires come in too high to be worn with plunge-style clothing. Band has comfortable stretch, but it could be sturdier. Vertical seams may show up under thinner shirts. Will spoil you to longline band styles forever.
I have a shallow/wide root. I ordered this knowing a 30 band would be too big, and indeed I can comfortably wear it on the tightest hooks, but I intend to alter it eventually to reduce the elasticity.
The cups fit the same as the 28F Just Flew In longline on me - I don't 100% fill them out (better right before my period), but the wires are the right width, and the top of the cups are nice and open, a good cut for shallow shapes.
The cups have 2 vertical seams that show slightly under a thin T-shirt, but I don't mind since overall it gives a nice rounded shape.
Note: the 30 band has 3 columns of hooks (whereas the 28 Just Flew In had only 2). It has really pretty fabric shoulder straps, whereas both the Ivy and Just Flew In longlines have ugly, wide "industrial-strength" elastic straps.
Um, so I am goddamn in way too much love with this bra. Really frilly frou frou pink and red bras and whatever bras are okay, they're and all pretty and shit and I'll wear them... but I'd rather wear this. BECAUSE OHHH MAAAHHH GODDDDDDD.... THE CUTE PATTERN, THE FEATHERS. I DIE. And with just the right amount of lace. it is PERFECT for me. I wish all bras were this combination of cute.
It is so perfectly cute that I actually already bought the matching boyshort panties. (which fit perfect) So... I don't really care if the bra fits super well.
However I am ordering the next size up. My boobs fill this, but it cuts in on top, especially in my bigger boob. It also seems like underarm fat is escaping on the side that the cups can't contain... so either the bra it totally wrong for my boobs and this is the right size or I fit the next size up.
I purchased this at the same time as the 30E Carys longline bra, yet this one fits bigger in both the cups and band (confirmed by measurements). Though slight, the differences are just enough to make it too big for me, so I'm returning it. I simply don't fill out the cups.
See my reviews for the Carys longline and the Just Flew In longline for more info about this cut - pretty good for shallow shapes.
Tried this on in a Debenhams, didn't buy it in the end as after wearing it for a few (..ahem, ok, maybe 20-30 minutes I was agonizing over whether to get it or not, plus trying to attract attention from a fitting lady to get some advice etc!) minutes the underwires in the central gore had rubbed on the middle of my chest causing red marks and pain. Such a shame as fitted PERFECTLY elsewhere...very supportive fitting underband, lovely fitting cups...part of me is wondering if I would get used to it over time or if I just needed to readjust straps etc to allow the underband of the bra to sit lower down, this pulling the gore and wires down...hmm. Shame.
I really like this one! The fit is similar to the Panache Ariza, except the top edge on this one is quite rigid (as opposed to the Ariza, which is rather flexible).
The straps seem veeeeeeery wide, so I wouldn't recommend it to anyone without broad or square shoulders. Leaves your chest incredibly open (it seems even more open than the Deco to me), so should be great for open necklines. And it's cute!
Since the material is very thin, we can see a little bit of my pointy (natural) shape boobs (I don't really like this) The broodery in the front itch me a little bit. It's my first bra since a mesure myself with MWB on reddit.... With my mesurement i should wear 28F, but I was effray the band could be inconfortable, so i try with a 30 first and it fits good.
The print is lovely. If you look closely, it's small white squares with a dot inside some of them. It's geometrically fun (if that makes sense). The biscotti color scheme and the white lace detailing is absolutely beautiful and is not tacky in any way (I may actually recommend this bra as a "nude" for tanner skinner people).
The back band closes in 3 rows of 6 hooks - that's one extra row than the Freya Piper longline!! I must admit, the stretchy band does leave more to be wanted, but I feel like the extra set of hooks makes up for this. Mind ...you, I am a 26.5" underbust and I think that the Freya Carys is stretchy. This may actually mean that it is true to size and that I am a fool for thinking I could McGyver this bra into a smaller backband without a sewing machine.
The vertical seaming on the cup is wonderful for full on top/shallows and, to me, the Freya padded halfcup style is unrivaled by the Freya unpadded balconette styles. (However, I did briefly try the Freya Ginny and I can't say the same about the diagonal seam on that padded halfcup).
*** Also, the straps aren't the traditional ugly Freya straps. They match the pattern on the bra body and they're smooth and thin with a slight padding - very comfortable and don't dig in! Read more 131 more words
