When I found out about Made in Preston I was like, "Yes finally, 26-bands" because 28-bands don't fit as tight as I'd like.
So I placed an order in late September and after a tortuous wait it finally arrived on the 7th November. Needless to say, I tried it on immediately. I found that it was true to size but was slightly small for me such that at times I was unable to put it on (especially after a full meal). The next day I zoomed off to the city centre to get a band extender but unfortunately found it was not compatible. The eyelets on each row of the ...bra is just too close together, so I'm just planning to slowly stretch it out and hope it won't burst. Having worn it once outside, I'm glad to say the outermost eyelets aren't about to burst out.
Because the band is a bit too tight, I found that I did feel some discomfort when I was out (by this I mean sitting down and taking notes). I felt that the underwires in the front was putting some pressure on my ribs and the fabric on the back a bit irritating. Note: I haven't washed it yet so that may be the reason. My bigger breast (left one) doesn't fit perfectly in the cup though it's a close fit. It doesn't fill the bottom while overspilling slightly at the top (my right one spills minutely also) and such, the "mound" may be visible under some tops without some adjusting.
It's a good feeling when your bra gives you the lift at your root. This is what this bra does but I find that the shape it gives me could be better. Right now, it's a bit like my breasts are encapsulated but compressed and as such I yearn for a bra with a more dramatic uplifting effect.
Despite all these minor issues, I am ecstatic that there is actually a bra with a 26-band that you don't have to custom order. The design is very bright and colourful and the black straps and bands contrast it really well. I was surprised to see that the bra is unpadded as it didn't look that way but that is something I don't mind at all. In addition to that, the straps are quite thin so the bra itself may seem quite flimsy but I can certainly feel that the wires are sturdy.
I believe that compared to some other bras, the wires are certainly more narrow but for me I found them a bit wide still. For clarification, the band is slightly small for me so it could be that the wires were flattened against me.
As my breasts are quite close together, I find it best to wear plunges (although because they're also soft, they just fall together which is not nice). However, this full cup style is adequate for me because the wires at the centre gore are so close together.
All in all, not the perfect bra but better than my others (all two of them). If you plan to buy a 26-band then the price is £4.95 more than bands from 28 - 38.
I think as I wear this in time, it'll become more comfortable. Read more 429 more words
Seeing your pictures really made my worry. Only two hooks? In the description it says 3! I didn't order the same bra, and not in the same size (I ordered the Winter Brights bra in a 30FF) but to my understanding they use the same patterns for all of their bras. If I would've known there would only be two hooks (and spaced so tightly!) I wouldn't have ordered it! Ugh... I hate it when there are surprises.
prettyNpetite "Fully adjustable with three-hook fastenings..." I can see how that would be misconstrued most especially with the hyphen! I didn't mention it in my review but initially I found that only two hooks to be a bit disconcerting. If it doesn't work for you, luckily they offer free returns (although it'll be a hassle especially with postage cost).
It's not the first time that Made In Preston have been confusing... They really need to be more clear about things. I sure hope I'll like it despite of this because I ordered it the 7th of November and it hasn't even arrived yet. I'll be extremely disappointed if I've waited 5 weeks and then I'll have to return it simply because of how badly they described the product. I actually emailed them before purchasing it and I would've thought that they would be super-clear about how the back is really like. After all... Not all customers speak English on a day-to-day basis. I always get confused about what is the hook and what is the eye, and even though I know what is which when I think about it (hook ---> the hooking part, eye ---> what's hooked into, the loop-ish thing), I've noticed that the brands do not always use the same language as other brands. Very annoying -_- What they should do is include a picture of the closing mechanism, that way no one would be fooled. I actually asked them to include a back shot but they never replied to that.
prettyNpetite I really hope it works for you, I understand completely because of all the time and money you've invested. I agree that they do need to be more clear. After waiting 21 days I asked them how much longer I'd have to wait and they said that it was clear on the website that the 21 days were working days. I had suspected so but darn it, I wanted my bra and it explicitly clear. Honestly, I had to Google what the bits of a bra is called because I wasn't sure myself. I don't want to sound like I'm blaming Made In Preston because they are a relatively new company and I believe their focus is more on clothes. Unfortunately, so many brands don't include photos of the back shot but I guess they've not had many trouble with their descriptions!
Thanks :) hopefully I'll like it either way. I hope they'll start making all of their bras with 3 hooks (height-wise). If enough women give that feedback they will definitely listen.
Firm band! Cups are slightly small and there's a bit of quadboob when I'm fully swooped and scooped. I think the extra piece of fabric along the top edge makes this effect worse, as it's a stretchier material than the cups and seems to make any bulging very apparent. The white mesh pattern is a separate piece of material to the main cup, not a printed pattern - this means that the hooks of the bra can easily get caught and pull on it, so be careful how you store it! Straps are fully adjustable, which is great.
I haven't quite decided whether to keep this or not - I think I'll try it on under a few other tops and see how obvious the quadboob is.
Band is very firm and cups are way too small - this is the smallest 28G I've ever tried on (for reference, a 28G Masquerade Amor fits me perfectly, and a 28FF Freya Deco has some gaping). Definitely way too much quadboob for me to actually wear. I think I'd probably need to go up 2 cup sizes for the best fit.
The construction is a 3 part cup with an extra strip of fabric along the top, which is stretchier than the rest of the cup and possibly increases the quadboob/weird shape.
he straps are quite wide set, and rubbed my skin where the strap meets the cup - ...even if the cups were big enough and the band was a little looser, this bra wouldn't be comfortable enough for me to wear due to the wide-set straps. However, I do like that the straps are fully adjustable!
There are a couple of loose threads, and the general appearance and construction is a little bulky where the cup pieces are sewn together. The fact that it isn't very true to size also leads me away from a higher quality rating. Read more 81 more words
It's a very narrow bra in every way, and although it does fit me okay enough for a non-padded three-padded baclonette, these features are not generally desired in this size range.
I was thrilled once I put it on the first time, thought that everything was perfect... Nope. I'm not keen on the thin band, I'd like a much thicker band with standard spacing between the hooks (there's usually a greater space between hooks, these are spaced slimmer) and 3 hooks instead of 2. I actually contacted MIP about that and they said there had been a misunderstanding between their "deliverer" (don't know what it's called, the one's providing them with hook closures) and their machinists had not been told there was anything wrong. MIP bras are supposed to have 3 hooks in the back, all of them. The ...lady I talked to told me their new bras (which they will show sneakpeks of in February 2014) will have improved fit and I guess they will fix the hook-issue.
Today, when I was taking my bra off (unhooking it as usual from the back with my hands), the seam holding the strap in place at the back just burst! I have to sew it together and I've told MIP about this on fb, attaching a photo, I'm still awaiting their response. This shouldn't happen with a bra that's 1,5 months old and has been rotated with 4 other bras.
I don't really like that the straps are so thin either, they told me this is a love it or hate it kinda thing, because some request thin straps and some request thick straps... I might try out their new bras because their machinists will be better trained and they will improve the fit of their new bras. This is a brand with fairly narrow underwires so it's one of few British brands that might fit me.
Update 27 February 2014: I was sent a replacement bra but I was highly disappointed. The band had standard spacing this time (+1) and the padding was not pink anymore, it was black (which I personally think looks better), HOWEVER... The cups are definitely not the same. I thought I would get the exact same bra, apart from maybe a better band. Nope... They have this super-hard seam now in the horizontal cup seam and it makes the cups really stiff and pointy and definitely not as shapely and round like they were before. It just feels even cheaper which I cannot fathom how it is even possible. I won't be purchasing any MIP bras nor clothes until I feel that they are well-established, maybe in about three years or so unless they crash and burn. They offered to send me several more replacement bras to finally get me one I would be satisfied with but I just couldn't deal. That could take up to six months considering how far off this bra was and the fact that they went the different direction...
I've heard that their pink and yellow neon bras have received great feedback though, just don't go for the Winter Brights bra, you'll probably be extremely disappointed, the fit of the cups is wonky and bulky and generally just not well-sewn.
I demanded a refund and I got it. Read more 404 more words
Seeing your pictures really made my worry. Only two hooks? In the description it says 3! I didn't order the same bra, and not in the same size (I ordered the Winter Brights bra in a 30FF) but to my understanding they use the same patterns for all of their bras. If I would've known there would only be two hooks (and spaced so tightly!) I wouldn't have ordered it! Ugh... I hate it when there are surprises.