*UPDATE after wearing for a 10 hour shift* NO.No.no. This bra does not work for me. At least for any lengthy amount of time. Perhaps I could wear for short periods. While the band was super awesome and kept the bra impeccably stable, the straps and under wires were intolerable as time went on. The cups go all the way up to the crook of my arm pit, and the straps too short (and frankly rough) and very wide. This mostly kept all my tissue and even my tail of Spence in the cup. I did find that I had to pull it in from time to time to ...keep it from getting trapped under the too tight strap. I could feel ever micro movement of my breast, after the first four or five hours every time I stepped down and my breast followed suit the under wire would dig into my chest even more than it already was. Between this and the straps the bra became unbearable. The top of the under wire dug in so bad on my side that it looked like I had a puncture wound when I took it off in the morning. Definitely made my bust look quite nice, not a whole lot of cleavage though. Perhaps the bra would soften with wear, but I'm not going to test this. *Original Review* This bra is quite gorgeous. I'm starting to wonder if I can actually fit molded cup bra's in my post-BtB size. When I first put on this bra my immediate thought was: "Wow,I don't actually need the straps." I then had to completely loosen the straps for comforts sake, they are quite firm and not very soft. But not uncomfortable. I never thought I would run into a bra that was too tall (on the outside of cup) with straps too wide! The cups do not feel too tall without the straps, so I believe if I were to move the straps in then I would no longer feel like the cups were too high. The cups are stiff and the under wires are fairly wide (although I do not think they are wide for the size). The cup is pretty small for the size as I am used to seeing a 6.5" depth on 28D, so I'd definitely say it's more of a 26E. The gore is quite low and the space between the outside of the wire casings is only about a centimeter. These cups would definitely be great for average spaced breasts that are FOT/even full everywhere except for the bottom of the breast. I imagine this is supposed to push the breast up, but there is no bump pad to assist with this. If I could get the cups to stay and not be pushed away by my breast, I would begin quading. I believe this will happen if I move the straps in as this would better help the cups stay where they're supposed to stay. A bra has to hold my breast quite firmly against my chest to make it take the shape of the very shallow bottom of the molded cup bra; such as this one and of the Deco. Which moves into my next point. I cannot get bra to stay in my IMF. Which I am sure is because it is too shallow at bottom of cup. I swore I pushed it up as high as I physically could. I thought it was IMF. Then I took it off and saw the clear wire marking below my IMF. I definitely think I could do with a bit more narrower of a cup, but it was perfectly acceptable. I yearn for the bra that will lift me, push me center and give me lovely rounded shape. Read more 517 more words
I've read molded cups are hard to fit because you have to fit them exactly... good luck in your search!
The fit is pretty good for molded cup, MamaPagan when I first bought this off of Slava-Zone I did not know it was a molded cup! I just bought because it was pretty and measurements looked good, lol. Ty Sovavosi I really do not keep intending on buying molded cup, but I am surprised at how well this one actually fits.
Molded cups are indeed tricky, but usually, *almost* everyone can find at least one or two designs out there that work (even if they aren't technically a perfect fit--I have done shocking things to make a Simone Perele molded plunge work, hahaha). After reading so many of your reviews in a short period of time I am thinking, shape-wise, that you probably have more center fullness than is really typical for people with your overall breast volume. This is probably why many of the molded or padded designs intended for your shape fit too shallow, or cut in on the inner quadrant of the breast--there isn't really enough room for the full thickness of your breast tissue at that spot. Polish bras might be a good solution for you if you do want styles made in thicker materials or pushup/plunge styles, because they often have a nice amount of space in that part of the cup.
Thank you so much wendybien and I think I would do a lot to make a Simon Perele bra work too! I really love polish bras, so I will definitely be ecstatic if they work for me. And I think you are right about my breast shape/volume, it is nice to hear from some one else as I know we all have a sort of distorted view of ourselves. Trying to see something from the outside is difficult when you're looking from the inside!
I'm just finally seeing this now, so sad it didn't work out. :( This bra must definitely be from the +4 era, such a tiny band for a 28!! Hopefully it at least helped you learn a bit about underwire shape and bottom cup depth shape. Good luck with your next ones!!
I'm pretty sad it did not work out better Slava-Zone because it still looks super nice on me and I have never experienced a bra that held everything in quite like this one! For a molded cup, this one never gaped away from my body (probably because the cups are too small and the straps were about an inch to short) and the only time of felt like I had to readjust myself was to pull my tail of Spence back into the cup so it wouldn't be trapped under the painful straps. I'm thinking of installing a bump pad in the bottom of the cup and attaching better straps a bit further in so I can get some serious cleavage and a more comfortable bra. Bump pads seem to work well with my breasts. They're too projected and center full for shallow cups, but when I have the bump pad, my breast will sit on top instead of trying to force the cup away trying to fill out the too shallow bottom.
Hm that's a really interesting idea! The bottom of my breasts below the apex are quite flat, so maybe a more "shelf" like shape too fill out a shallow lower cup would be better than trying to find a super projected shape at the underwire... I guess technically then the bra would sit lower which might make my breast look low... I have a short upper torso, so I dunno, but definitely something I might try too! :)
This is called a plunge bra, but I found it to give far more coverage than I'd expect from a plunge bra. It also doesn't give any cleavage.
The cups are soft, not foam molded, but they have two vertical seams & are thickly lined so as to have some shape on their own. The cups generally conform to the breast shape, rather than vice versa.
It's a very pretty fuchsia shade of silk with lime green lace. It looks pricier than it is.
This bra is from the M+S Limited Collection DD Plus line. The band is stretchier & larger than the 28 band in M+S A-DD line. It ...stretches up to 30" max & is 25" unstretched, whereas a 28 band I tried in a bra from the A-DD line stretched up to 26.5" when new. This fits me most comfortably on the second hook, although I can fasten it on the tightest also.
The straps are partially adjustable, with the front of them being very, very stretchy. The straps form a U shape with the band in the back. Unfortunately they don't adjust tight enough for me, partly because they are so stretchy. However, the bra fits well over all, and so I will keep it & possibly just alter the straps about 1cm shorter. It fits well enough to wear in the meantime too.
I have breasts that are a bit less full on the top than the bottom, so the style has slightly too much coverage for me. I feel like I barely fill these out, although they don't gap or wrinkle unless I really hunch forward. I think shorter/tighter straps would probably make the fit perfect. I tried the bra with a "bra buddy" (an accessory thing to make bra straps like a racer back), as it tightens the straps, and the cups laid better against the top of my bust, so I could lean forward & they'd stay put. However, the bra buddy doesn't work with the U-shaped back on this bra; it distorts the back so it puckers. That thing is not comfy anyway! https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_razz.gif" alt=":P" />
When I first tried the bra on, the wires in the center dug into my sternum a bit, but I just bent them so they were less curved & wider, and now it fits great. I think the wires are perfect in length, or very nearly so, but the shape curved wrong for my body shape. I wore the bra all day & found it conforms to me better after "breaking" it in. I should note that I do have a bony ribcage & in the past would find that even too loose 32 bands would make the underwires dig into me because I have little fat padding & many bras do not have wires that are very padded for comfort.
I have a feeling, as suggested by someone else here, that M+S bras will work best for me in 30DD, as the DD+ lines seem to have stretchier bands & straps. However, as I said already, I will keep this because it's a pretty good fit over all. It is flattering under clothes, supportive, and comfortable once I bent the wires. The fit issues seem rather minor & fixable, and it might aid me in comparison as I continue to replace my old bras. Read more 451 more words
A little too wide in the cups for me. Flexible wires. Three-part-seamed half-cup. Very open up top, too much for me and I'm even but functionally FOT due to tall roots. Band seems tts or a little small.
I like it since it give me support (for once!) It feels pretty tight in the band, it says 28 but it was pretty tight on the first hook. I was barely able to pull it 2 inches away from my body.
The wires kind of hurt me, even after I bent them more into shape. It could be because I'm really skinny or because I'm not used to snug bras yet.
The band stretched a lot when me and my husband pulled it to measure stretched band length, but like I said above, it was hard for me to pull it away from my body when worn.
The cups have a weird outward turned seam on the top, but if you had breast tissue enough to lay against it it would probably be quadboob XD So I think it is just a weird seam.
Full name: Limited Collection Satin Padded Balcony Bra (T81/8242P) in Cream Mix. As far as I know, it's from one of the 2010 collections.
This bra is discontinued, but the shape and fit are pretty representative of Limited Collection A-DD balconettes.* The cups are wide and shallow, the straps are quite wide-set, and the band runs tight. The bra has thin, flexible padding in the lower part of the cup and a lace panel at the top, with a thin strip of elastic that (on me) cuts in really easily. I'm not sure if I just need a larger cup or if it's a shape issue - the cup ...edge is often problematic for me even when I've got the cup size right. On the positive side, it's a very pretty style with beautiful details.
*The Limited Collection range includes A-DD and DD-GG models, but the construction and fit in DD-GG is very different and they tend to run larger in the cup.
ETA, October 2012: I removed the elastic strip from the lace on this bra and my other M&S balconette with the same cut ( http://bra.pe/SB0u/ ), and it solved my problems with the cup edge cutting in; it seems that I just needed the cups to be more open on top. The bra is still too wide-set for me - nearly 28cm measured between the outer tips of the wires vs. 25cm in my Lepel Honeycomb - but removing the elastic has made it look and feel a lot better. The fit issues I reported reflect the fit before alteration. Read more 154 more words
I will write a review of this bra on my blog in due course but for the time being I wanted to make a few notes on here.
This bra is lovely and soft. The moulded cups are a good shape and have decent depth to them. The band is pretty stretchy so do make sure you get the right band size for you but as it is so soft with its high cotton content that I imagine it would be incredibly comfortable to wear all day.
My whole problem with this bra is that I was fitted into it by a changing room attendant at M&S who ...really had no idea what she was talking about. She was very sweet but hadn't a clue about how a bra should fit. I started off in a 40GG I had taken off the rack as part of my 'high street fitting challenge'. The assistant did not assess the cup fit AT ALL and instead spun me round to check the back band. I had the straps adjusted fully so the band was halfway up my shoulder blades (it was all I could do to stop from yanking it down!) and she said the band was possibly a bit loose and I should try the 38GG.
Some time later I was given a 38GG. This felt no better on me but again I asked the assistant to check it for me. Once more she ignored the cup fit, looked at the back and told me off for putting the bra on the tightest hooks - she said it was too tight for me like that (having just been fitted as a 30K in Leia I almost choked at this comment!!). She moved the bra on to the loosest hooks and said it was perfect for me. I bought the bra so I could write a review and take pictures but will of course be returning it to the store.
Sorry - a bit off topic there but it goes to show that not all high street stores have got their bra fitting services sorted!
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this bra or require further information. Read more 267 more words
Love the color/print of the Marks & Spencer bra I got on ebay (for like $20 including S+H to the USA - woo!). The quality seems decent, especially for the price.
The cups have some very minor inner "paneling" (not sure what to call it) for shaping. I find the top edge of the bra very "rounded" for a balcony style (which I expected to be more straight across). The straps are slender & comfortable, and the band is only slightly stretchy, so that I think it may run slightly small (it does not stretch to 28" when new, which is good if your back is smaller).
Happy to find ...a band that fits! This confirmed I need a 28 band, at least in M&S bras. The band stretches to only 26.5" or so.
The band was snug as a bug in a rug on the largest hook for me, and it passed the "two finger" test.
The cups seem wrong, unfortunately. This is likely not an issue with the bra running strange so much as me still figuring out what size/shapes works best for me.
The center gores does not lay flat, although it's close. I have wrinkling at the top of the cups, which suggests they are either too large or the wrong shape. However, I have "armpit fat" still, which looks worse in person than in the photos. When I scoop all this into the cups, then I end up with "quadra-boobs" and breast tissue squishing out the center gore area (and then the gore REALLY does not lay flat). The wrinkling doesn't go away, even when I do that though. All in all, not a good look. It could be a matter of style. Balconette/demi styles should fit my shape well (teardrop & wide), and they usually do, but this one comes up higher than most and is "curved".
The wire width only seems slightly too short or maybe the cups are just slightly too far apart. I can see in the center that the wires cut into the breasts tissue a tiny bit (probably why the gore won't lay flat). This makes me think the cups are too small, despite the wrinkling, too far apart, and/or they are just the wrong shape.
The ebay seller takes returns, so this will go back. Read more 274 more words
"Balconette/demi styles should fit my shape well (teardrop & wide), and they usually do, but this one comes up higher than most and is "curved"."
I have similar measurements to you and get the same problem with M&S balconettes, and I think it's because the upper half of the cup is too "closed", meaning the cup edge cuts in really easily (and you often get wrinkling in the upper cup as well, even though it's not too big). I have one in 28DD ( http://bra.pe/S5d/ ) that doesn't really fit for these reasons. In general I have more luck with half-cups than any other style, although I've yet to find one in the right size.
FYI, Marks & Spencer DD+ styles usually have a different shape and construction than their A-DD bras and can run larger in the cup, so it can be a difficult brand if you're a DD or DD/E. A lot of their bras run small enough that a 30D/DD might work for you, but it could be that the cup shape just isn't compatible. Regardless, I think you're on the right track trying 28DDs. :)
^ Thanks for the comment & advice. The ebay store I ordered from only had 28E in a plunge style, so I exchanged it for that. It fits better, well enough to keep, but I notice the band & straps are "stretchier" in their DD+ styles. I can wear the band on the tightest hook, whereas with the 28DD (part of an A-DD line) I could only wear it on the loosest hook. (I will be writing a full review for my new M+S bra in 28E soon.)
This definitely makes me think that 30DD will be my best bet in the future with M+S bras, just as you indicated.
Well, this bra is pretty, but it is definitely made for someone with a narrow/deep shape. It doesn't work at all if you have a more wide/shallow shape. The wires come up a bit too low on the sides in my opinion. The fabric is comfortable and the straps are closer to the center, which I really like. The band is very stretchy though, i'd size down in the band for this bra.
The tops are all wrinkly on me. I can't tell if the cup is too small or big, the cut wrong for me or what. I fill the bottom molded part out well enough though https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
The wires make me uncomfy, but I think I just need to break the bra in.
The band is very stretchy, and it is snug only on the third hook. I may have to use a Rixie clip with this as it breaks in,
EDIT: I've taken in the gore and cut off the fabric that wrinkles, and now it's snug on the second hook of the bra. It looks as if it fits perfectly now.
I posted the bra to reddit, and have been told that it seems to run big.
I bought this bra to see if an F would fit me, but it ended up being a strange choice for that kind of trial. The cups seem really big on the top, despite the depth being close to my Es, and really wide on the sides (better for me than most bras which aren't wide enough though) yet not narrow enough for me in the middle. And the band is really much tighter than a regular 28 as it seems to be with most M&S bras. Still looks pretty though and I might try to get some major alteration done just to wear it. The quality isn't great though and the hooks in the back can easily bust out of their sockets.
Oh no, I'm sorry it doesn't fit you well. :( And I'm confused about the hooks thing, they looked robust to me... Do you think usual Freya/Curvy Kate/Cleo/etc bras have sturdier hooks? Because they seemed similar to me.
They seem much sturdier yeah. The first time I hooked the bra with an extender (no pulling at it whatsoever) one of the first hooks came out of its seam, a common issue in all not-so-sturdy bras (I had to keep sewing the hooks on my old bras back in all the time, lol... despite them being about 10 inches too big in the band wth). Not a deal breaker though. I just started my quest with bras, still learning things! Thank you for the bra :)
Oh, that sucks, I'm sorry :/ I didn't have this issue, I would have told you if I had seen this. I hope it can still work for you..
Not even an issue, I like the bra and still have hopes for it post-alteration :>
This is a really pretty bra! I love the color and the gore detail (bow and peep hole). I got this in a 28F hoping it was closer to my size than previous bras I've bought. The cups seem to be alright but the band is too tight. I can fasten it but it hurts and I can barely breathe! I had to go and buy an extender just to wear it.
I fill the cups at the bottom. The top has some slight wrinkling on my smaller boob but it isn't really an issue because of the lace. There is an elastic band on the top section but ...it doesn't cut in. I wonder if I could even use a cup smaller (I've heard the DD+ run large in the cup).
The band is very firm and doesn't have a lot of stretch, a 30 probably would have been a better fit but I guess I will get more life out of the bra with an extender.
The only fit issue besides the too tight band is the straps. They are very separate. They don't fall down or anything but they dig right into my armpit/crease. I think it's because I'm so petite (I have this problem with other bras). If the straps were closer set they wouldn't go right under my arm.
Overall this is my best fitting bra right now and it is really lovely! Read more 127 more words
I completely agree with her review, the lace cuts in. I think this could be fixed to a certain degree by removing the little elastic rubber band that is sewn onto the stretchy lace. The lace should then stretch enough to allow more room.
Otherwise I think this bra might work well on breasts that are somewhat pointy.
Firstly I should mention that this bra is in fact a 28FF, but Marks and Spencer for some strange reason don't sell FF cups and instead call them G cups.
The fit of this bra is not right at all. Firstly, the band is extremely tight and has little stretch. It feels more like a 26 or even smaller - my underbust measurement is 27" and this is bra is still a bit too tight with an extender. Secondly, the cups are too small, giving me quad-boob and flattening me out.
Looks-wise, it is a nice bra. It is a bright blue colour with lace overlay on the cups and the inside has a blue & white spotty design. It is a low-cut plunge style, which would give good cleavage in the right size. It is also a comfortable bra and the wires do not dig in. Just not one for me.
This bra is firm and tight in the band. It seems to have a lot of stitching in the bottom part of the band so hopefully it will not stretch badly. I can fit more than 2 fingers under the band, but this is pretty much as tight as I am going to find. The cups themselves are pretty with out over doing it. The colors contrast nicely and the lace overlay covers the seams from the 3 part cups. I'd like the straps to be thinner, but they are fully extended with plenty of room to tighten. The underwire does sit higher in the armpit but I have no issues with it digging. I am really happy with this bra. I hope it wears well and does not stretch too badly.
Update: I overlapped the wires at the gore so now it's the width of one wire channel. All of the fit issues are eliminated by this simple procedure.
Wow, this bra has the most unusual measurements I've seen in my limited experience in my size range so far. I wish I could find information or related models because it is my best fitting bra. It has tall cups (5.5") which I love. Uncommonly long underwires (10") for this size, which leads me to point out the tall 4.5" side wings! Very very short band, it is only 19" long and stretches to only ~25" so I have to use ...an extender. As a 26 bander this is much better than a bra running too large in the band.
Huge, nasty, pokey wide gore. That is the worst part of this bra, but it can be easily altered. The wires literally have to sit on one or both my my breasts and they dig into the flesh. The outer sides of the cups poke into my arms, the straps saw off my armpits, and the wires are trying to kill me. That said, the cup shape is perfect for me.
As for projection, it seems to be neither overly deep or shallow, just average. it accommodates great immediate projection and centre projection near the gore, both of which I have.
The construction on this bra is not the best I've seen around, the detailing on the gore is asymmetrical and the bra overall feels less high quality, but still worth the price I paid for it.
The material that the band is made from feels terrible. It is scratchy and cheap feeling. The elastic on the band cuts in and hurts, not because it's too tight, but because of the material it's made from. The cups would fit if the straps were not so far apart. Lace on top of cups does show through tops.
**The following part of this review will repeat throughout all Marks & Spencer reviews* Marks & Spencer bands aren't as stretchy as other well-known and some lesser known brands (Fantasie 30 band fits me just as comfortably and snugly as a 32 band in Marks & Spencer) and I'd dare to say that a 30 band in Marks & Spencer would fit a true 28 ribcage even better. The cups are perfect for more shallow breasts, and squish the breast tissue if there is more projection, regardless of the style (which isn't comfortable).**
The breasts cannot "rest" naturally and the tissue is squished, if the breast shape is slightly projected whilst also shallow and more FOB. However, it does create somewhat of a cleavage and doesn't gape throughout the day. The gore rides into the ribcage/fuller breast throughout the day and creates a lot of pain. Would be perfect for shallow and even breasts.
When I saw it on Ebay the first thought that looks almost like my 70DD - Ewa Michalak » Ch Owoce Leśne (573) ! oh well, the design looks really similar and thats all about it. I was hoping this is a bra with vertical seams, but theyre just made as decoration - the bra is moulded, no seams inside of the cup. Band runs qutie tight - im mostly 32s but I dont have big problems with wearing 30s and this one without extender is almost impossible to close. The straps are not too wide and theyre fully adjustable. Comparing to other halfucps that I own, this one is closed on top so it will fit FOB rather than any shape. Wires are okay, not too wide (13.5cm) but I need narrower.
November 2015 Update: I know for sure I took pictures of this bra originally, but after changing computers and phones a few times, they're probably lost forever. I've added new pictures. The band is definitely tiny, better for someone who needs a 24 or 26 band. Obviously, the cups are WAY too small. When I first put it on, I thought that maybe I could get some good uplift or cleaveage, but after swooping and scooping, you can see that all it does is cut in and STILL not push together even though my breasts are bigger. The cups are just way too wide apart. Apparently this would ...better fit as a tight 28D, so like a 24E or 26DD probably.
Original 2014 Review: Not sure how this is different than the T81075418118G Plunge, other than the measurements. They look the same, but the plunge has an average depth of 7 inches, and this bra has an average depth of 6.7 inches. The second number is closer to mine, which came to just above 6.5 inches, which means the cups are definitely too small. While they are very open on top, they still cut in a bit. The give great uplift, but as others have be saying, the cups are oddly wide and outward pointing for a plunge bra that's advertised to give cleavage. Even with "chicken cutlets," I can't get cleavage out of this thing, which is what I was hoping this bra would do. Maybe I can make the center gore narrower? I have wide-set breasts and the only bra to ever give me cleavage was from Braologie but it's gone and been way stretched out and warped by now. I just want one "sexy outfit bra"!! XD
I'll probably do a more in-depth review later. Read more 190 more words
It looks like a great fit!