I was really excited to receive this bra. I really like Parfait by Affinitas/Affinitas. The aesthetic is very attractive to me. It makes me upset that they seem to only offer the Charlotte in a size 28 band. The Bess Balconet is definitely the girliest bra that I own. That cute ruffle detailing? Definitely showed through my ribbed knit tank that usually does a decent job covering seams. This bra has an intense shape, I THINK it's more of a half cup style than your typical balconet. There's not much projection at the wires but by'jo if there isn't ample amounts of projection at the apex. It's definitely ... very cone-y looking on me. While it technically fits, I think a cup size down would look less cone like on me as I would get a more rounded Antoinette like cleavage. At least to the extent that possible given how wide the Gore is and how center full I am. The bra essentially follows the naturally shape of my breast. It's still a bit too shallow below the apex of the bra for me.
The straps are wide set, it almost seems like a given at this point in my journey. They're nice and smooth though. I find I am almost always wishing the straps were more narrow. They don't fall off of my broad shoulders.
The cups might be considered narrow for the size (30DD), but I found they were neither too wide or narrow for me. They're also pretty small for the size more like a 30D. I would even say a 30C if the bra wasn't meant to just come above the nipples. It is of course not as low coverage on me as it would be for most women in the 30D/DD range. I could not feel the seams at all inside the cup and the inside cup foam was lined in a very soft cotton. Although I did sort of wish it was the same satiny fashion fabric. I really like this seamed foam cup design. It's firm, rounded and shapely like a moulded cup bra except that it's way more forgiving. There's even a bit of stretch. It's nice and open on top, so probably not so great for women with no top or center fullness. Women with touching breasts or a lot of inner fullness will not be comfortable in this bra.
The wires are really comfortable but firm enough not to warp easily. They come up as high as the cup and seem to be somewhat cushioned. There is a set of side bones on each side. They kept the bra nice and stable and were again, comfortable but firm enough not to warp. I experienced ZERO digging in my ten hour shift.
The band on this bra is just awesome. It's definitely a 30 band. But whatever elastic they used on it is FANTASTIC. It is SO firm, plush and super comfortable. The bra did not move around or ride up. I really like the construction of this bra. Hopefully I can figure out what that elastic is.
Overall, I wish I could try it in a 30D. I'm sure I'll find myself reaching for it time and time again.

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Updated on Jan 08, 2018 Flag this

Overall I really like this bra. It's super cute, I think the cut is very flattering and it gives a very slightly retro shape (which I like). It's also pretty comfortable; it has a full band (another plus for me), the cup width is just about perfect, and the gore doesn't poke at all.

This is a 3-part padded cup and the top section is very horizontal and kind of juts inward making the cup a bit closed on top. The cups are pretty short which is part of what makes it so cute, but with the slightly closed on top shape it gives me a bit of quadboob ... sometimes. The straps are a bit wide set but very soft and don't bother me in the armpit area at all. So far I haven't had any issues with them falling off but I've only worn it a couple times and not while being particularly active.

I usually wear a 30D but sized up to a 30DD and I'm glad I did, it runs at least a full cup small. I would even consider getting a second in a 30E. I would say that the band is fairly true to size, maybe a bit shy of a true 30; very comfortable for my ~28" UB.
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Pink colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Mar 24, 2015 Flag this

This was my first try with this bra, and I couldn't tell whether it fit or not. When I tried a size up it became clear -- this one is just a bit too tight, and the cups are just a bit too small. See my review of 32D - Parfait By Affinitas » Bess Balconet Bra (1812) for the better-fitting size up.

Cream/Coffee. colorway

Updated on Jul 18, 2017 Flag this

Oh, this bra! Cleavage! I *never* have cleavage, but this bra does the trick. Soft shepherdess mounds, not quite cakes-on-a-plate, just gorgeous...it's so nice to have a bra that makes me feel like my body is beautiful. I have wide set, tall roots, soft and shallow boobs, and they're not the same size; usually the left side of the bra is quad-boobing or the right is sad and gappy, but this one puts the right volume in the right place for me, and it's open enough on top to be forgiving of the size difference.

A few downsides: the little pintucks along the ... top of the bra show through t-shirts, so it won't do for close-fitting stretchy clothes. Also, while the chestband fits me well enough, it's on the tight side of fitting. Combined with the rigidness of the wires, the effect is a little more constrictive than ideal for everyday. One of the hooks has started to show a spot of rust; if I remember I'll hit that with a careful bit of nail polish so it doesn't spread. Otherwise the bra is holding up well, and I look forward to more years of happy round bosoms to come.
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Cream/coffee print colorway

Updated on Jul 18, 2017 Flag this

This bra looks awesome, I really wanted to love it but the cups are too small for me and it seems like they don't have 30GG or H. :/ It literally squishes my boobs like mashed potatoes and makes me look like someone who's trying to fit into something I can't fit. I guess this will be good for people with shallow breasts. Will be given this away as well.

Updated on Jun 27, 2016 Flag this

I love this bra and wish it had fit, luckily I got it for a decent price on ebay. I hope they have more in a larger cup though. I took a stab at my size since I tend to vary a bit in Parfait depending on the style, I wish I had researched more and thought to size up. I believe this is a true balconette unlike my Betsey Johnson which is a bit fuller cut. I'm giving all excellent ratings because the quality does seem nice, it is comfortable other than extreme quadding which can be resolved with a proper fit and it ... does look really pretty.

I did order this bra in a UK 30FF, though it was listed with the equivalent US size, so I'm hoping I get a 30FF. It was recommended I size up 2 cups in my fit request but there wasn't a 32F on ebay so hopefully the sister size will be a good fit. I will give updates about the 30FF when it arrives.

In the meantime if anyone wants my 32DD Parfait Bess let me know only asking $10 or will exchange for anything that has similar measurements to my Parfait Charlotte or Betsey Johnson Balconette.

I got my 30FF and reviewed it as well, the 30FF is a perfect fit, I just hope my 3 hook extender arrives soon. The band is on the snug side, but I'm also in between band sizes.
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Updated on Sep 01, 2015 Flag this

amandafire

2567 reputation

196 bras

I had previously got this bra in a 32DD, after placing a fit request it was recommended to go up 2 sizes. Unfortunately this bra wasn't available in a 32F so I sister sized to a 30FF. When the bra arrived I thought the band looked incredibly small even compared to other Parfait bras I have in a 30 band. Surprisingly this fits much more comfortably than my other Parfaits in 30 bands, but this is also several cups up from my other parfaits. I also think that the band on the Bess is a made of a softer material so it even though it ... is quite snug, it doesn't seem to bother me, I will see if this holds true after more than a few minutes of wear. I'm so glad I was able to find this bra in a size that works. If I had more selection, I definitely think the 32F would be the best fit for me since the band on my 32DD was perfect and incredibly comfortable, just the cups were way too small on that one. I did have to get this in pink and cream as opposed to the coffee and cream, but both colors are still very neutral but much prettier than a typical neutral color bra. This does also have 3 hooks and wider straps, this is a bit new to me, but shouldn't be an issue. The wires on the 30FF are a bit wide for me, but not to a point of poking me or being uncomfortable, they are still within an acceptable range as I don't really have empty fabric on the sides.

Thought this might be good for anyone considering this bra to know. I am wearing under a tshirt and you can't really see the decorative seams for the "ruffles" for lack of a better description. If I look closely I can kind of see, but it looks more like a shadow effect than it looks like it is the bra.
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This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Sep 01, 2015 Flag this

amandafire

2567 reputation

196 bras

Such a small bra!

Based on user submitted pics, I didn't think this bra would look very nice on me. But I was curious and it was cheap so I decided to buy it as an experiment. I normally wear 30G in Parfait padded cups and the fit is quite good. I wear 30FF for the extra cleavage in half cup styles where quadboob is not triggered immediately by a slightly small cup. The cup is very shallow--measuring more than an inch smaller than what I need. If I had to compare this to my other Parfait bra with a similar cut 30G - Parfait By Affinitas ... » Athena Balconet Padded Bra (3812) , I would say this 30G Bess is about as deep as a 30F Athena. The wires are also correspondingly smaller than my 30G Athena.

Although too small and rather uncomfortable, I don't actually mind how this bra looks on. It's also very flattering under low neckline tops/dresses giving me that coveted cakes on a plate look and then some!

To say it's uncomfortable is not entirely fair. The bra itself, if fitted properly, would actually be super comfortable. I just can't breathe well in it because my boobs are being pressed rather tightly and suffocating me a bit. Otherwise, the material, padding, straps, and wire don't cause any discomfort. I'm keeping it and might actually buy a pink one
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Coffee and Cream colorway

Updated on Jun 03, 2015 Flag this

This bra quad boobs pretty bad after swooping and scooping. Gore is half an inch away from my sternum. After a little while my boobs settle and there isn't much quad boob, though they feel like they could fall out very easily if I were to lean over. I think a 38G would've fit better but was unavailable. But for $10 on eBay its fine.

Cream/coffee colorway

Updated on Feb 07, 2015 Flag this

Waaaaaay too small in the cup. Lots of quad-boob. Band was firm. Seller made it sound like their listed size (36G) was the UK size, which would likely fit me. Since the listed size was that, UK size is really 36F. I'm normally an F in 38 bands and an 38FF in Parfait and was hoping to sister size to UK 36G.

Cream/coffee colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Jan 15, 2015 Flag this