This is the best fitting bra I've owned so far. The cups are close enough together for my boobs and the underwires aren't too wide under my arms, although the wing height is a bit tall (but not unmanageable). The band was super tight at first; it has stretched out now after some use and is more comfortable. I'm a very squishy person though, and I need a tight squeeze for the support even though I hate the muffining and the red marks on my sides. The only other thing is that the hem beneath the underwires tends to roll up underneath the wire towards my body instead of lying flat.
Overall, I love this bra. The general cut is much closer to my actual shape than the bras I've been wearing; and the issues I've mentioned are minor compared to the worlds of difference in the overall fit. I have it in the peach color which really is more of a manila envelope hue, as another reviewer mentioned.
Really love the 'pin-up' aesthetic of this bra, but sadly it's not a good match for me.
Fit issues: Bottom cups are way too shallow for me, causing me to size up to avoid quadding. This also adds to the tallness of the cups (but a smaller size cuts in). But my real deal-breaker is the amount of coverage in the armpit / tail of spence area!
I'm apparently someone with unreasonable tenderness there, who often experiences (even generally well-fitting) bras to 'chafe' my armpit area... (while I see other people wearing bras with much more 'armpit material' without trouble - so yeah I don't know, call me sensitive). But as Charlotte ...has SO.MUCH.MATERIAL near the armpit, I can't comfortably deal with it. Especially as it's thick/foamy as well.
As I really wanted this bra to work, I've actually attempted bra surgery and undid the sewing at the wing / where the strap meets the cup; toward the under-armpit. This sewing intervention is relatively doable, as the satiny fabric can be re-attached over the alteration, so the sewing underneath is pretty much invisible. So you can easily cut part of the material away and re-sew it in a more comfortable, lower-coverage position.
But you know, life happens, being too busy and with a too-large pile of sewing projects.. I never got around to finishing my alteration. Now I've moved countries and either this Charlotte is somewhere in storage or I donated it, can't remember.
I'm still low-key contemplating the Shimmer Floral though, which is supposed to have much better projection! So I could size down for sure, like 32G, which could hopefully also (partly) counter the too-much-armpit-material effect? Read more 163 more words
The design is really cute, but I don't like the peach color, it's more manila folder than a peach. I'm a 32G and I ordered the 32GG because I read the cups ran small, unfortunately the band size does too apparently or I'm not used to tight bands as this is my first normal fitting bra I've ever owned. It does fit at lot more securely than my other bras, but I found it uncomfortable and I do believe the band size was a little too snug, or the underwires were too harsh on my ribs. I'm debating returning it or keeping it and hoping it stretches to a comfortable level.
This bra was one of my recommendations from Bratabase but in a 32H. The 32GG was too big pretty much everywhere. Cups too big, band felt huge, I felt like a little girl in my mothers bra. Fabric was lovely and I love the cut and I would definitely try this in a 30G to see if it's a better fit as it is gorgeous.
Late to reply, but I'm researching to buy the Shimmer Floral Grey Charlotte right now, in a similar size..
Your size recommendation for 32H was probably based on previous incarnations of Charlotte, that used to run super shallow!
Since the Shimmer Grey one came out, it's supposed to fit wayy more projected and run rather large, instead of small. Yay for unknown adjustments, right? >.<
Anyhow, thanks for your review - now I may go for the 30G or 32FF, instead of the 32G I was planning on!
This is a great bra. The straps are thicker than any other bra I've had, and they're super comfortable, and combines with 4 hooks in the back it's a very supportive bra. The color is beautiful. It is a lot of bra, which is great on a cold day, but not one I find myself reaching for day to day because of that. It has a great rounded shape, looks great under clothes.
Love this bra! I went with biggest size that barratries recommended for me and the cups still have a bit of spillage. i will go up a size next time i purchase this- and I will definitely purchase it again.
Probably need a 32H on this. The cups came back towards my body at the top, which caused quadboob. Not open like CK Thrill Me, Ritzy, and Tease. The gore was super wide, especially for my close set boobs. The fabric was soft and comfortable, and the straps were nice and wide. The band is too big, but with the firmest wires I've ever felt, I don't think I could go down a band size. Even while it rides up, the wires are hurting me, digging in the whole way around.
This is the review for the Charlotte in the Peachy Cream color, I also have one in Wine. The fit is almost the same however i do notice that the straps are a bit wider, almost too wide, but i made them work. The strap placement affects the cup however, it seems as if its a little bigger, it doesnt affect fit for me though. I actually like the peachy cream color better than the wine.
I went to the store and bought this in purple and it is gorgeous! The newer version of the charlotte band runs looser, more truer to size. In my other charlotte which is an older version, a 34 band runs tight on me. This 32 band is very snug, good fit! In this cup size there are 4 hooks per column, which at first looks a bit intimidating but it is a really supportive band. It gives me a round uplifted shape, which I love.
This bra is so comfortable, especially the 4 hook band! Unfortunately the cups are too high, and they rub against my underarms. So frustrating, because other than that I really like this bra!
I f'in love the Charlotte. I want one in every color. It's the type of bra I forget I'm even wearing.