(This review is for the original Adriana bralette. This style has been re-released and is allegedly truer to size, though I did not have any problems with this bra not being true to size)

Sometimes online reviews are really critical to choosing the right size, as in the case of Masquerade Alice where I had to size down in the cup to a 28DD/30D. However, sometimes you are reminded that many of them are written by people who do not know how bras are supposed to fit, particularly if the reviews don't come from Bratabase or a bra blogger. There wasn't too much info here on ... Bratabase for the Parfait Adriana Bralette, so I let myself be (mis)guided by the Amazon reviews and ordered a size up as everyone complained this ran small.

Actually, it doesn't run small at all. It is totally true to size. My normal size is 28E, my sister size in Parfait is 30DD, so I went up one cup size (I did not go up a band size since I am already ordering my sister size) to 30E. It fits, but I can tell that the cup is designed for someone fuller, as they are quite tall and roomier at the upper portion of the cup than I need. The V portion of the neckline is very high and doesn't look very balanced on me, but I tried sizing down to 32D and it still looks quite tall on me, so I think this is intentional.

The band is firm and true to size for Parfait, but because it has 4 rows of hooks and a very wide bottom elastic band (3 cm), it feels firmer and more secure than a standard bra band. I am happy with this band size as it is supportive and comfortable, which I rarely find in a bralette. Almost all bralettes are way too loose for me in the band to provide any kind of support. The wings are super tall on this style, and there is a long piece of flexible plastic boning which adds extra stability. The band is made from double layered mesh and floral lace.

The construction of the cups has more shaping than a standard core sized bralette, so you can tell it's designed as a full figured garment. The 2 piece cup is seamed vertically in the middle for depth, but there's also a separate horizontal piece sewn at the bottom of the cups that acts like a bit of a cradle. I believe this piece allows the cup to have more projection and yet still be seamed smoothly into the band without resorting to shirring. The construction of the cups is much simpler than the Panache Andorra Wireless Bra, but the fit is rather similar. The inside of the cups is made from silky knit fabric and is quite comfortable, as there are no scratchy seams to be found.

The downsides to this bra are the tall cups, which are basically designed to be full coverage, but can show under clothing. The stretchy floral lace is soft and nice quality, but Parfait decided to enclose 4 layers of fabric together in the vertical seam going down the cup, so this seam is definitely visible under clothing. The upper part of the strap is wide lace and tapers to normal elastic, but the adjustable portion is quite short. I had to shorten the straps down completely. Despite these shortfalls, I am surprised by how comfortable and supportive this bralette is, and if I add foam liners for shape, I would definitely wear this out of the house. I think this would be fantastic for plane rides where comfort is paramount.

I think my best size in this bralette would be my normal sister size of 30DD, but I've reordered this in a 32D and in a 30D since I could find those sizes cheaply. The 32 band is definitely riding up a bit, but it feels comfortable, and still provides support since it's so wide. The 32D cups are still a bit tall on me, so that's why I decided to try sizing down to 30D to see if the cups will be a bit shorter, while still having the snug band I prefer. Overall, this bralette is what I wanted the Cosabella Never Say Never Curvy Sweetie Soft Bra to be, but at half the price, and with a secure hooked band, and what I wanted the Panache Andorra Wireless Bra to be, though the one I tried wasn't in my size.

If you typically have trouble finding small band, medium or large cup bralettes, I highly recommend giving this a try!
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Sky Blue colorway

Updated on Jun 25, 2020 Flag this