Lulu Tout is a Figleaves brand, and the Madeleine is a molded tee shirt bra available in nude and black. The material is very soft and comfortable, and the bra is beautifully detailed. There's a stretch lace overlay along the bottom and sides of the cup that extends part way up the straps, and beautiful sheer striped bows at the gore and at the top of the lace overlay on the strap. The strap slider adjusters and ring are a rose gold toned metal, and the lace overlay covers the full band and extends onto the wings. There's a small ruffle detail all the ...way around the bottom of the band. This bra is detailed in a way I've only previously seen from Tutti Rouge and Curvy Kate, and it takes the "nude tee shirt" bra to a different level. This is not a boring bra. It's sexy in it's own subtle way, and that's hard to accomplish for a wardrobe staple like a nude bra. And Figleaves manages to accomplish all of this in a way that still allows the bra to be invisible under tee shirts!
On to the specifics.
The band - this is a quite firm band. My 30 band measures 23" and 28" stretched, which is fantastic for me, but if you are a true 30 you might want to size up, or have an extender handy. It is stretchy in a way that suggests it will break in some with wear, but not overly stretchy. I closed it on the loosest hooks and it feels very secure. I wish it had 3 rows of hooks, but I wish that about almost every bra. I also wish Figleaves had used the same rose gold hardware for the hooks and eyes as they had on the straps, but I am really nitpicking here. The wings are quite tall - 4.5" on my 30FF, which contains all of my armpit/back fat/tail of spence or whatever it is, and there's side boning in the wings for added support.
The wires - I measured 5.4-5.5" on my 30FF, and they are U shaped. They do open up a bit when closing the band, but they're not as flexible as Freya wires. I'd say they're in between Freya's wires and Panache's wires-of-steel. They're long/tall - 11" here - probably due to the tall side wings. The gore is quite high on me, and it remains to be seen whether it gets uncomfortable over a day's wear.
The cups - when I first took this bra out of its package, I thought there is no way in h-e-double hockey sticks these cups were going to work for me. They looked impressively shallow at the bottom, with a high set apex, and they do close in at the top somewhat. But once I put it on, I found it to be more projected than I once thought. I'd say it's about average everything, but if you're really projected or really full on top, this bra will likely not work for you. I measured a 9" depth on my 30FF, which is about 0.5" smaller than my ideal 9.5," but for some reason, the way the depth is distributed or the shape or something, it works for me.
I really don't have a similar bra in mind that I'd compare this to. It's not a Deco, it's not a Neve. Maybe it's a nice compromise between those two. I've never tried a CK Smoothie to compare. It's an affordable, little known option that I'd really recommend trying for most everyone with less-than-extreme projection. Read more 513 more words
Really great review lcl0706, thanks. It looks quite like the Parfait Casey to me, which is a moulded bra that's been on my "Need to Try!" list for far too long, mainly cos it's not that easy to find Parfait at cheaper prices in the UK. I'll look into this one - I'm sadly still wearing my 30E Decos to work when I'm at least a cup size bigger but I just can't bear the thought of shelling out £30 each for a couple of replacements....
This one I bought off the UK Figleaves site even though I'm in the states, because it was cheaper even after the currency conversion, and there was a discount code only good for the UK site, and international shipping was the same. I think it wound up costing me about $30 USD in the end, when it was $43 just for the bra on the US site. Makes no sense, but whatevs. I really like it! And just a bit earlier after I wrote this review I realized it does look quite like the Casey, which I haven't tried only because the 30 band measurements on here look too loose for me and it doesn't come in 28's. Hopefully it'll work for you!!
Woah! This bra gives you a great look with a t-shirt! I think this is the one we had talked about previously :) Gonna try to get my hands on one :)
Thanks!! Isn't it fabulous??? So pretty. Over a long day I do notice the wires sliding just barely out of my IMF, so I suspect it is *slightly* too shallow for me, but it's nothing that has stopped me from wearing it. It has been my go-to nude bra since I got it. I actually don't own a single other nude or seamless bra.
Oh, and the band hasn't stretched out one bit and I've worn it a lot. So, I think it's a long-lasting band.
Man, this sounds like the bra I've been searching for in every way except wire shape/height/length. The wings are too tall for me at 4 inches :(
They are very tall wires and wings. Have you checked out Panache Black Ardour? I hear it's friendlier to projection. I don't know personally, haven't tried it.
I think the Ardour is also 4"-4.2" at the wing. I've never met a Panache bra that had short enough wings for me, but I stay hopeful.
This bra is most likely my magical unicorn bra. I didn't think it would fit, but turns out it is such a good fit that I want to order 20 of them. It's a bummer that it's made with cheap lace and mesh, but it's definitely worth it if you have the right shape.
My shape is: full on top, full of centre, tall, very narrow, quite projected, pendulous, close-set, slightly splayed.
I went ahead with this bra because it was a) dirt cheap (CA$20 incl. shipping, brand new from Figleaves) and b) from the looks and fitting issues of other people with this bra, something told me that this ...may be the magical bra I've been hunting for. Supreme surprise: I was correct!
My usual size is 30F in Panache, Freya, PrimaDonna, and Fantasie, however the Bratabase measurements for cup width and depth told me I'd probably do better in 30FF, and that was not a bad guess.
This bra is literally everything I've been hunting for since the beginning of my bra hunting journey. The only thing is it is slightly, very very slightly too projected for me, maybe a cm/0.4in too deep. The gore also digs in at the tip, but that will probably be fixed with my best friends, the pliers.
Otherwise this bra is good exactly for my shape: the wire width is top notch, cup height and openness is perfect, it is the best bra I've found so far to handle my centre-fullness (not perfect but almost there), and the gore is looooooow. It doesn't cut into my roots whatsoever, or in the top of my breasts either.
My only personal nit-pick at how the bra is made is that the straps are made with two different width, they are thinner in the portion that goes underneath the lace overlay, which makes them a bit uncomfortable in the front of my armpits. As others have mentioned, the lace overlay is purely a cosmetic feature and does not contribute to the support. The cups themselves are made out of mesh, the upper third of the cup is a single layer and the rest is double layer. Doesn't make it supper supportive for big cup sizes, but in my range it works fine.
I'm very surprised at the quality of the materials for the price, it's definitely a great piece even when compared to higher-priced bras, but it still feels on the cheaper end of full range bras. The elastics are extremely soft and the underwires are firmer than what I'm used to, but otherwise the construction itself is great. I don't like the material of the lace overlay, this feels cheap and takes from the appearance of this bra. I'd be okay with paying more to have this bra made with better materials.
The band fits true to size and the cups may run half a size to a full size small depending on your shape, but I think using the cup depth and width from Bratabase is a good way to gauge whether you need to size up or not. Read more 400 more words
Thanks for the detailed review. How is the shape with this one? I've looked at it before too, but was worried it would be too pointy? Does it round things out ok?
Wilderness1 It gives a quite round and uplifted shape, not extreme like a foam dome type of bra would, but definitely not as pointy as some Freya bras can be. It looks quite natural in my opinion.
This is the 2nd prettiest bra I got yesterday after my Poison Ivy. IT'S PURPLE!!! I finally have a purple bra!!!! My favorite color. I'm thinking Lulu Tout bras are pretty fabulous. It seems to be a brand that is overlooked, and so I would tell anyone who is narrow rooted, projected, and wants options beyond Cleo's neon colors to check them out. Figleaves.com y'all. Just keep in mind Lulu Tout bands run tight!! Order up a band size, and they start at 30s.
I love the aesthetics here. The sheer cups, the cutout gore detail, the rose lace ...overlay. The purple, ladies. The purple. The lace overlay is not attached to the sheer inner layer for whatever reason, and has a tendency to stick out. So I will be fixing that with a couple strategically placed stitches. The material is soft and not scratchy on my finicky skin.
This 30 band stretches to 28. The straps are NOT fully adjustable, and it seems like the adjustable part is shorter on these straps than other semi-adjustable straps I've met. This is fine for me, since my boobs are pretty much attached to my belly button and I almost always lengthen straps about as far as they can go, but if you have high set boobies and always find straps to be too long - skip this one or be prepared to alter the straps. The cups are somewhat closed off on top which works for FOB shapes and my short roots, but if you're tall rooted or FOT you might not agree with the cups.
The wires are fabulously narrow - I measured 4.9" - and the cups are deep. They are a 3 part cup with a vertical seam up the middle and a diagonal seam at the top. The gore is low but the closed cups contain all my inner fullness. The lift is wonderful and the shape is nice and round once you get over or fix the stick-out lace. I'm so happy I found this one on clearance and gave it a shot. Read more 258 more words
That is so pretty! good thing it doesnt come in my size!
This is definitely making me want to try their unlined styles! The Lulu Tout t-shirt bra I bought a few months ago isn't perfect but it's closer than most t-shirt bras I've tried. I just worry about the lace not sitting flat and being visible beneath clothing...
It doesn't sit totally flat, that's why I'm going to stitch it down in a few places. Just one or two stitches should hold it where I want it. I figure if that's all I have to do to this gorgeous piece of lingerie, I'm okay with that!
Aw drat. I had convinced myself these wouldn't fit. Now I want to try them. That purple!
Yourlovealive it was on sale for only $20 and still available in most sizes when I bought it. I'm happy to enable you.
ooooohhhh pretty!
I need this! I love purple bras so much. And if the band runs that small I can actually wear this! :) lcl0706 your reviews are getting dangerous for my wallet.
LOL isn't it gorgeous though! It barely stretches to 28" so it should work on you!
Technically it fits, but the lacy part sticks away from my boobs yet again, like in 32F - Lulu Tout » Fleur Rose Underwired Bra (dd-h) (133523), the band has only two hooks (gasp) and the colou is much darker than on the website. Off to return it goes.
Figleaves has GOT to stop with this unattached lace layer garbage on their house brands. It's killed Lulu Tout for me. I'd literally buy at least 5 of LTs bras because they're gorgeous, tight in the band, narrow wired, projected - everything I need. But I cannot stand the outer layer of the cup not being attached to the inner layer. I even attached the two layers together in my Fleur Rose and it still didn't look right.
I know right? Fleur Rose was my dream bra and the free-flowing lace destroyed her for me.
I say this about every bra, but this is SO PRETTY.
It would work as a lovely nude bra for me if I wasn't so fussy. The colour is so sweet - a little more peach and a little less pink than the camera seems to pick up - and I love the contrasting bow and little flowers on the straps. And the little peep hole at the gore...so cute!
But I always seem to have a problem with the lace overlay on Lulu Tout bras: it's always too loose, even though the bra cup itself is a good fit or leaning towards digging in. The gore and wires ...are too wide, but I never have had wires or gores narrow enough, so that's not really noteworthy!
Where the strap meets the cup, it digs into my armpit uncomfortably, but I can't put my finger on why.
Despite all the fit issues, I'm in two minds on returning this because it's just adorable to look at. I feel like I wanna put it up on my wall as an art piece lol. I love that it has rose gold findings: I've never seen this before on a bra and it works really well with the colouring.
It's also only £10 on figleaves right now, which is a total steal for something so pretty https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> Read more 120 more words
It's such a shame about the loose top lace! I played around with it to see if I could maybe stitch it tighter, but without unpicking the whole thing and starting from scratch, it just wouldn't work :(
Good for projected ladies. Center gore is narrow. Pretty lace detailing along the outer sides of the cups and along the bottom, however, lace does not show through clothes. Band is comfortably snug and stretchy. No racer back option, but it would have been nice.
Very pretty bra. At first I thought it wasn't a good fit, but after ca half an hour it settled and suddenly it acctually fit quite well. However it pokes my armpits and the straps cut in a bit even if I loosen them.
It's absolutely adorable looking at it unworn, but once I put it on, it's not as charming anymore :/ This is mainly because the lace isn't attatched to the cup I think. IMO the balconette styles way prettier, but that doesn't come beyond DD.
Really great review lcl0706, thanks. It looks quite like the Parfait Casey to me, which is a moulded bra that's been on my "Need to Try!" list for far too long, mainly cos it's not that easy to find Parfait at cheaper prices in the UK. I'll look into this one - I'm sadly still wearing my 30E Decos to work when I'm at least a cup size bigger but I just can't bear the thought of shelling out £30 each for a couple of replacements....