"The dainty Charlotte - Frankenbra or manufacturing error?" (a covid-induced review of a misfit bra)

The Parfait Charlotte bra is a very well-known, I'd almost say *infamous* style in the full-bust community.
It is currently way past it's heyday, but can still be found in most full-bust online bra stores. Around 2012-2013 however, Charlotte was one hell of a staple style - see the extensive list of bra-bloggers featuring it, at the bottom of this blog review: https://www.sweetnothingsnyc.com/2013/11/18/review-g-style-from-parfait-charlotte-bra-and-high-waist-brief/.

(side note: don't you miss bra bloggers? There used to be so many. Sigh.)

Since I really loved the pin-uppy appearance; I had tried two previous colorways of Charlotte (... class="mentioned-item">32H - Parfait By Affinitas » Charlotte Padded Bra (6901) 32GG - Parfait By Affinitas » Charlotte Padded Bra (6901) ) but sadly, had to admit that those didn't really work for me. The construction was really 'industrial' with super thick padding, little projection and verrry wide-set straps. The lack of projection made me size up to unmanageable amounts of bra, with excess material everywhere. If they hadn't been so darn uncomfortable, I honestly could have used them as a sports bra (or body armor, for that matter).

Some blog posts (https://www.bigcuplittlecup.net/big-little-cup-review-parfait-affinitas-charlotte-floral-shimmer-30gg-30d/ https://comicsgirlsneedbras.com/2016/06/03/parfait-charlotte-floral-shimmer-review-comparison/) mentioned some time later on, that the new 'Floral Shimmer' version (2016) was a much different fit, and aesthetically I really liked its monochromatic design! But I was still skeptical about the fit, considering the lack of wear any of my OG Charlottes ever got.

So, for the longest time, it was just on my passive wish list, maybe ending up in an eBay / BraStop basket at some point, but I never really committed to buy - and was definitely never planning on paying anything close to full price.

Fast forward to recently, when I encountered a 32G Floral Shimmer on eBay, for cheap enough that I was willing to take the chance.
However, I did notice that one thing seemed off: the ad said it had 2 hooks, in size 32G?
The way I remembered Charlotte, she had 3 or even 4 hooks, with a very thick back band overall.

After emailing the seller, they said they checked, and unexpectedly to me (I had ungraciously been counting on an error on their behalf); confirmed that this bra actually had 2 hooks?? This confused me to no end, but also made me curious... Gotta love an experiment. So yes, I bit the bullet and purchased it - and lo and behold, it's such a strange version of Charlotte!?

It did come with tags, that do say Parfait (with the logo and everything), so I don't think it's a fake / copy / rip-off.
The fabric and cup construction is exactly as pictured in reviews / other ads.

The fit, as described by BigCupLittleCup / ComicsGirlsNeedBras, is definitely different from the original Charlotte: deeper, with the apex in a different place, more similar to a Comexim plunge construction almost?

But look at those thin and flimsy shoulder straps! (they're only 1,6 cm., even thinner than the 'standard' 1,8 cm. of regular full-bust bras!)
That 2x3 hook-and-eye closure!
That meshy, stretchy band, instead of industrial harness-like strength!

It's really strange.
Like they stuck the band and straps from a 32C onto a 32G?
As you can see on both bloggers for this exact bra in 30GG (a sister size to 32G), there should have been much wider straps, more hooks, the works!

The good news: it does fit pretty well! The projection is good for a molded bra, and while the strap placement is still too wide for me, it is much more manageable than the armpit-eater Charlotte of some years back. And while I certainly would have preferred 3x3 hooks in the back, it's not unwearable. The gore is too high for my closeness, yes, but since there is no real tack, it also doesn't poke uncomfortably.

All in all, I think I like it enough to hang onto this version of Charlotte (whereas her super-strength sisters have been long-since discarded/donated): let's just call her unique and dainty!

I'm very curious if this version is around more, and whether it has been a fitting sample experiment, a factory error, or some other malformation?
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Updated on Dec 29, 2021 Flag this

Funny story- I had this shipped to my 82 year old aunt to bring with her from the USA, and she was rather shocked. She called my mom to complain that I had bought "a fancy dress bra" and "a circus bra".

I think what put her off were the rich colours, and the bulk. I love the rich red colour, but I am bothered by the bulk. Despite the Charlotte fitting like a glove, there is no way I'm going to forget I'm wearing it.

I love the shape it gives from both the front and the side, but oddly I'm less pleased with the side silhouette under clothing. ... I think possibly having a different material on the wings and on the cups creates an optical illusion which improved the silhouette when the bra is visible.

The thing that bothers me most about this bra is that although the band is firm and doesn't ride up, and even digs in after a few hours of wear, after a few hours I feel like the front of the bra is sliding down- I keep feeling like I need to pull the bottoms of the cups up to meet the bottoms of my breasts, but in reality there's nothing to adjust. After a few hours of this, the wires also start digging in underneath my smaller boob.

Despite these problems, I still like this bra a lot. My favourite feature is the elaborate construction where the cups meet the straps- it creates a kind of buffer that pushes underarm fat/migrated breast tissue/overdeveloped muscle (whichever it turns out to be) inwards towards the breast and prevents it from showing.

The detailing on the bra will show under very thin tops, but all in all it's quite useful for a "clown bra".
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Updated on Oct 19, 2012 Flag this

This was my first bra ever. Got it at a mall and they didn't have any 30 or 28 bands so I had to get the 32. It feels alright, at least it was the only one that fits me in that shop. In the US, there aren't many shops that sells UK bras, so I had no choice. I however, love this bra, better if it was in the right size, which I am planning to get one online. The padding is very light, like a thin layer of foam in between the cups. The band is wide, which is awesome because it helps you smooth out your back fat. It makes you look awesome too https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> I would totally recommend this.

Updated on Jun 26, 2016 Flag this

This review is for the new 2016 "Floral Shimmer" black and white colorway, which reportedly fits differently than earlier versions. I can't speak to the fit of the solid colors, as this is the only Charlotte I have. It does not work for my somewhat pendulous, high-, and close-set breasts. I recently lost a significant amount of weight and went from a full 36J to a 30/32G with a lot of soft tissue. The bras that work best for me now are padded half cups. I ordered this one on a whim and, although it gives a nice rounded shape and the narrow wires are comfortable, the cups ... are just too tall and I don't fill the upper part at all. Pretty sure going down a cup size would just cause quadding. One of the hooks bent the first time I tried it on too (and the band was not overly tight, so I think it was just a defect). So, between the hook issue and the too-tall cups, this one is getting returned. It is a very pretty print though!
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This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Feb 23, 2016 Flag this

BRA HAS SINCE BEEN ALTERED SINCE ORIGINAL REVIEW
ORIGINAL
The jump in the cup size from 32G to 32GG is huge... The band fits more like a 30. I feel all the charlottes flatten you out and don't give u cleavage in the correct size. One size or two smaller and they do. Straps were also very very very wide...I don't know why bra companies do this just because its a bigger cup size doesn't mean the cup has to grow crazy wide and tall... Oh well back it goes to amazon Its a shame because its cute but the cups are so big that there is only ... 11ish inches of elastic between the gore on the side when hooked on the last hook. Very cute but not a great shape unless you have really broad shoulder and shallow spread out boobs. Though no space at the bottom of the cup like the 32G and 32FF but i also felt squished. Oh I know! It can be used as a sports bra almost.

NEW
So my breasts have grown a bit. It started to sit on my breast tissue because it is so wide at the base of the gore. I altered the gore I think i took it in an inch at the widest spot its so much more comfortable now and i was starting to quad before but now I'm not https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
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This bra's measurements have been altered

Updated on Mar 13, 2015 Flag this

Band is too big, planning to try a 30"

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Apr 03, 2014 Flag this

This bra is quite comfortable and very lovely. It gives a good shape, a little more "natural" than the Deco, but good for everyday wear. The straps are a tiny bit too far apart for my liking, and I get my typical orange in a glass if the bra isn't adjusted just so, but otherwise it is quite comfortable and well fitting.

Updated on Oct 06, 2013 Flag this

Good bra, the center gore doesn't lie flat, but few do; it's a little better if you bend the underwire, and the band fits wonderfully so it's not too worrisome. The plunge isn't dramatic, but it's enough to cause my larger in the middle breasts to quadboob on the inner edges of the cups.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on May 10, 2013 Flag this

Didn't write a review

Red colorway

Added on Feb 19, 2016

Didn't write a review

FLOWER PATTERN colorway

Added on Jun 12, 2018