Normally I would take studio pics and write a blog post, but I just can't. I can't even earnestly review this bra... so I made it a project. I found this size FR 80F/UK 30F beauty on eBay for a $10 incl international shipping and thought I got a steal. See? http://i.imgur.com/AaxDsgj.jpg I was excited about a 3 part seamed strapless design. It got here today, and as soon as I opened the package I realized it was going to be The Most Un-useful Bra Ever. It's unlined. I never would have gathered that from the stock pic, ...and the description simply said "outgrown but in good condition." I also immediately measured the wires at... 6.0" wide!! The lady who sold it to me probably laughed her way to the post office.
Regardless, I tried it on, hoping for the best. It does come with convertible straps that are set so far widely apart they're useless as well. I think someone at Lejaby caught wind that EM straps are wide set and decided to make it a competition. Without the straps, it was the biggest hot mess ever. Who makes an unlined unpadded basically unstructured strapless bra? Somebody along the design and QC line had to try this on and think "yup, that'll work!" Clearly: http://i.imgur.com/FkUtIZX.jpg - it did not work. The wires distort as soon as you breathe on the band, and distorted up to about 7" wide on my body. I couldn't stretch the band AT ALL without distorting the wires. Really, a wire coat hanger would have done a better job.
The band is too big - I had room to spare closed on the tightest hooks. I folded the bottom of the cups in half because a funny thing happens when you take flimsy lace and don't attach straps to it - it falls down! Meanwhile, I could have fit a family of 4 in the tops of the 9.8" deep cups. I probably could have used a 30DD, a size I don't think I've ever worn.
The biggest positive to this bra is it cost me only $10. Oh, and the lace is soft. I knew there's no way I could ever re-sell it so my designer's brain started turning and it dawned on me. First thing I did was replace the awful wires with wires from a Claudette Dessous I scrapped for parts. Then, I took 2 sets of CHP pads (I knew I kept them around for a reason!!!) and laid them into the cups facing opposite directions, like this: http://i.imgur.com/kH6ii9M.jpg. Then I stitched everything down.
End result? http://i.imgur.com/obNBcY8.jpg. I might actually wear this under shirts in places that are not my house. The upper pads help fill out the tops of the cups and maintain shape. The lower pads do the lifting. I'm now the official owner of a Maison Lejaby concept with Claudette-wires and Ewa Michalak padding Frankenbra. Read more 416 more words
Lejaby's full bust line runs HUGE in the cups as you can see. However, I'm very suspicious of the wide wires and the stretchy band as they usually have narower wires and run tight, not slack. I suspect the owner was wearing it despite it being too small for her torso and this deformed the wires and stretched the band.
wendybien thats a possibility I didn't consider. it makes sense. I couldn't believe how flexible the wires were though. before I replaced them I bent them to 4.5" wide and they still distorted to over 6" when I put the bra on. I think it might be a combination of super soft wires & a previous owner wearing it when she shouldn't have. the tag is very faded so it's definitely been well worn. despite that the overall bra is in great shape. I just couldn't believe how big and unsupportive it is. it's actually not shallow at all, with my padding alteration I don't collapse the cups. I think it's just not possible to make an unlined strapless supportive at all.
Frankenbra! I love it! Thanks for giving me some ideas,
Short, projected, omega shape, slightly narrow, close set, center full, even breasts....
If bras were fashion models, this bra would have the highest paid contract. Absynthe photographs effortlessly. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":-)" /> Seriously, I deleted six photos and still have ten displaying. The details throughout the construction are amazing. The lace and flowers are feminine and tasteful. The color....the color....luminous and unique.
The straps are half adjustable and half stretchy. So, half of the straps are the most supportive, soft, non-stretch fabric. If Cleo used fabric like this, I would hold their straps in high regard. The quality here in Absynthe is significantly higher....as is the ...price. I will pay for this level.of comfort and durability. There is no doubt these bras are good investments. The Cleo Skye I just purchased arrived with fraying at the gore and wings. wendybien had previously owned this bra and there is no sign of wear or aging. I dont know how long Absynthe lived in your closet, but she aged well https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";-)" />
The mesh cup lining is the finest mesh I have encountered. The stretch satin band is supple, soft, and retains its shape well. The wires are low under the arm and at the gore. And, consistent with @wendybien's recommendation, Absynthe has good center and immediate projection. This is a well-engineered bra.
Without an extender, the cup was too shallow. Again, my 28" underbust needs a longer band. A bit of research has led me to believe I may have a slight omega-shaped breast. This explains why a longer band helps and why I require 5.5" wire width in addition to a narrow gore. Sigh. Chasing a narrow-enough-gore with closed, short, slightly narrow cups is like chasing rainbows--seemingly unending. This bra, despite the too wide gore, almost fits.
@Love4Pollinators. Gorgeous!. I have one from her too that I need to review.
Just like made for you. I wish I had something that would fit that good. Very beautiful. I had some krisline bra the same cut and color but both that one and yours are best for FOB. And I am FOT.
Thanks to eBay I found another great deal on a Lejaby. I understand why most of us don't buy these at retail but I highly suggest this brand to people searching for narrow cups and projection when they can find past seasons at a discount. These bras have all had great detailing that is mostly unnoticeable under t-shirts. This one is cut very similar to the 65E Melusine I have but unfortunately the way the strap is angled it's cutting into my arm/upper arm pit a bit. I think I get a less rounded shape in this bra that I notice more without a ...shirt on but with a shirt I end up liking the shape quite a bit. If the bra were any less open at the top it would cut in on me but thankfully that only happens if I position my arms strangely the way it is. The tulle goes all the way around the bottom of the band but it's a very soft tulle and not scratchy at all. The band feels looser than its measures so I feel more comfortable starting on the second hooks. I'd say the bra is a relatively true coral or possibly salmon. The embroidery is shiny enough it doesn't work as a nude for me but I think it could for a person with paler skin. Black is a closer to disappearing under a shirt for me than a white bra. Love the tassel instead of bow at the gore. Gore is low but not stabby... just right. This doesn't seem like a full cut bra or a balconette exactly. This might be a plunge shape for this company but I'm not sure. I hope I can alter the straps in a bit to make it more comfortable.
ETA: still wearing this bra and it’s making more appearances in my rotation. In the end the straps don’t bother my arm during the day Read more 231 more words
Congrats on yet another great find! It looks lovely on you - hope you can solve the strap issue. I saw this cut advertised as a 3/4 cup, a plunge and also as a plunge-balcony, but I don't know how Lejaby calls it originally. The labels just say underwired and a model code usually.
They are beautiful and I'm swooning :-)
I am so happy you had such a great find. What lovely bras. The do look very nice on you. Am having a bit of bra envy....lol.
Thanks Scott! I really hope I can move the strap in so that it's more comfortable.
Idk how you keep finding these lol! I run Lejaby searches on ebay all the time for 80E and 80F, and also 30E and 30F in case that's how the seller listed it, and never find sh*t!
lcl0706 - They've all come up under the international eBay sellers... all being 3 so far. The other two I exchanged with erispe and I think she'd found them on eBay maybe too but she's in Europe. I've just been searching "Lejaby bra 30" and there are a lot more "standard" sizes unfortunately. Actually fig leaves carries some of the brand and so does Amazon, though uk Amazon has more (but basically no reviews) and twocakesonaplate has a few reviews. I found out trying to search more about them.
I think we're running out of budget options for the pretty French bras - Amazon sells them for like 80$ (but they have more sizes). I am waiting for a parcel with 4 bras close to a month now. ~biting nails~
Thanks to erispe for this beautifully made, high quality, deep-cupped bra. Very delicate lace detail, amazing jewel-tone purple color, pretty ribbon bow. It fits my immediately projected, narrow, close-set, full-in-the-center 30FF boobs pretty perfectly and due to the soft band materials and low wings, is so comfortable to wear. The shape is a little pointier and perkier than is normally my preference, but this bra makes me feel like an elegant European lady so I can overlook that https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
Tulle and lace - what more could a girl want! Lovely and soft as always. I actually like that there is no bow or jewel or anything from the gore. This French bra company doesn't tend to disappoint in details. The cup does run large for me. I'm pretty confident I'd get a nicer profile shape going a cup down. It's been my experience at least. Straps are semi adjustable. They have tulle detailing on the front sides. Three part plunging balconette, soft straps, more strawberry koolaid colored than strawberry red.
Happy that new models keep becoming available at my price point on eBay. One day I hope I'll figure out which sizes I need for which cuts but in the meantime I like the bras enough I just keep trying them. Unfortunately they are expensive unless you wait patiently on eBay, hard to return from the US and don't have a large size range but they've been good to me.
A stunning bra, but sadly too big in the cups, even for my larger side. Tight band, deep cups, narrow wires - pretty much my dream bra. Sizewise its like an avg. UK 30FF, I'd say.
I'm thrilled you were able to "save" it :-) :-)