Now this really is a bra with a bit of a story for me (it's a lengthy story, but bear with me, the review will come at the end). I remember I was in a big department store a few years ago on a mission to find a bra for under tight T shirts. At the time I absolutely hated bra shopping for 2 very good reasons.

a) there was hardly anything in my size, which meant I had to go through all the racks and racks of bras (usually the bigger sizes hang at the bottom of the rack, so there was a lot of squatting involved), getting ... my hopes up whenever I saw a cute design and then being disappointed when my size was not available, yet again. This made me feel like a big boobed freak. Mind you, I was still wearing 34E's back then, but I didn't know any better than the bra alphabet pretty much ended with E.
b) when I finally was so frustrated and desperate that I would ask the shop lady to find some stuff in my size for me, the only things they would bring me were awful granny bras, and I mean the kind that immediately KILL the sex drive of anyone within a 5 mile radius. And those granny bras also tended to fit me poorly (full cups are not my thang I have learned since), but the shop ladies would insist that this sad empty-tea-bag-pointing-down look was completely fine, and that this was just the way things were for people with my size. By the end of the fitting I was usually so deflated that I didn't put up a fight anymore and ended up buying least horrible one.

So on that day the whole fitting episode was heading in that same direction once again, when I saw this Freya Totally Tartan half cup bra hang on a rack. It was not what I was looking for (too much color and visible seams, and back then I was under the impression that anything padded would add bulk so I avoided them like the plague), but I somehow decided to try it on anyway. And lo and behold, it was actually pretty great! It fit me properly! No quad boob! It looked attractive! No tea bags in sight! Like a breath of fresh air for my boobs!

I still have no idea why I didn't buy it straight away, I was probably suffering from severe and acute post traumatic bra fitting stress disorder, but I left the store with another ill fitting ugly bra. The Totally Tartan bra kept popping up in my mind every now and then as a glimmer of hope that there might be bras out there that would fit me better.

Then I discovered this website, learned about my boobs and about bras in general, and found out that there are plenty of great bras out there that will fit me. I quickly found out that half cups seem to be my best bet, so I went through the search results for half cup bras, and the Totally Tartan jumped off the page. I recognized it right away as The Bra That Got Away. Granted, it is not the most attractive or sexy looking design, although it has a certain fresh-faced, cutesy charm, but I decided I had to order it anyway for old times sake (in my proper size 32G this time).

And I still think it is quite a good bra for me. It fits my wide set, somewhat shallow, short rooted boobs well. It lifts and gives my boobs a nice round profile. It's very, very comfortable, the fabric is soft and the straps are too. The cup padding is nice and light. It does not add any bulk, but it does cover the nipples (I don't care about this so much, but I know others do). The band runs a bit large and it's extremely stretchy; for the moment it is still ok on the loosest hook, but I think I could even go down a band size. The cup also runs a bit large. When I compare it to my Freya Marvel, which I find quite similar in terms of fit & shape, this TT in 32G feels more like the Marvel in 32GG. My only issue with this bra is the same issue I have with the Marvel: the under wires seems to drag down a little bit, mainly in the center. Still not entirely sure why this happens, but I don't mind it too much. It's not a bra for under tight t shirts though, the seams are showing too much.

So that was my bra adventure!
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Updated on Jun 14, 2015 Flag this

I feel like the cups on the 28F Patsy I tried were narrower. These are very wide on me so it doesn't work. I would also do well with a tighter band. Feels softer and more comfy than the Patsy I had. Possibly a difference in wash and wear between the two though.

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Updated on Apr 12, 2017 Flag this

I love this bra. The straps are nice and very soft. They do fall off my shoulders at work once in a while when I've been moving around a lot, but it's not often. It fits me beautifully. I think I could stand to go up to a G in this because there's the slightest hint of quadding at the end of the day but I'm very comfortable in FF. It's official, I'm in love with Freya padded halfcups. I need them all.

Updated on Feb 25, 2015 Flag this

I have shallow breasts with a wide base and I couldn't fill this bra AT ALL. There was at least an inch of room where the cup sat away from my breast. Even looking at it when I took it out of the box it looked like it had too much projection.

Updated on Apr 03, 2013 Flag this

I got this to have as a "period bra" since the padded lining is nice on sensitive tissue and I can't otherwise pull off a Freya half cup. But, for some reason, I can't fill this out. I have other bras in the same size and style with similar measurements that are fine, but not this one.
Too bad, it's cute.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on May 08, 2015 Flag this

I'm so excited to have my very first Freya!

This fit is pretty great for me overall. The straps are a bit far apart, so they slide off sometimes, but if I tighten them down a bit that helps. Occasionally the gore doesn't tack, but I think that's because the wires are softer than my 36FF - Panache » Envy Balconnet Bra (7285) . That's not necessarily a bad thing though. I like that extra bit of flex and they seem to conform to me better that way. Less digging in at the underarm, for sure.

I think this bra is a bit stretchier in general than ... the others I've gotten so far. We will have to see how it holds up over time. I did get it used, so I expect that it's had a bit of breaking in done already, which is kind of awesome, because now I don't have to wait that out. LOL.

As a general observation, I think balconettes are my style. Like THE style for me. Because there's less cup up top. I've heard they're good for FOT/tall roots for that reason (more free space), but I'm even with short roots and it kind of has the same effect? (less cup up top that I can't fill, lol) This isn't as "pointy" as some balconettes, so that's nice.

I'm also excited to finally add a padded bra to my collection! That combined with the pastel colors means it can go under my light blue uniform shirt. Sure, the seams show a tiny bit, but at least things stay put. This decreases the urgency of my hunt for a t-shirt bra, at least for now.

Also, this pattern is kind of obnoxiously cute. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":D" />
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Pink/Lavender/Blue/Purple Plaid colorway

Updated on Mar 14, 2015 Flag this

Love this bra, only wish it would come in a 30GG. Fits my breasts perfectly, but is slightly loose in size 32 band. I use the tightest hook and it is "okay."

Updated on May 15, 2014 Flag this

I own this in the pastel colours (Zest) and it is absolutely gorgeous! I'm so disappointed it didn't fit correctly!

Though the centre gore fits me properly, the cups are definitely too wide and deep for me, they just aren't the right shape. There is a lot of gaping for each breast, even my largest one. I tried making the straps very short to correct this, but the problem is really that the shape isn't compatible with me. It seems like the cups are trying to project my breasts much further out than they want to be, creating a sort of shelf.
I typically like my breasts to have a rounded shape than a pointed one. This bra gave me something in between, sort of a ski slope shape from the profile.
I am usually a 28DD or 30DD and this bra band was a little loose on me.

I think this was my first half cup bra, perhaps this cut just isn't right for me. Maybe the Totally Tartan plunge would have been more appropriate.

Updated on Feb 06, 2014 Flag this

I love this bra already. It is my first bra that fits, and the first bra I've found that actually complements my weird shape. The fabric is soft and comfortable, and cute to boot!

Updated on Sep 05, 2013 Flag this

The colors of the fabric on this were not quite as I expected, but still very pretty. The cups are not really padded, just lined. They are thinner than my Deco bras. They are also thinner than my Edina longline. The only real complaint that I have about this bra is that the outside edge if the wires pinch a little. I may try and adjust this a little, but it's not enough to make me not want to wear the bra. It's a beautiful bra and I think it'll get a lot of use.

Updated on Aug 04, 2013 Flag this