This review is for the Triumph Amourette 300 WHP underwired and padded Half Cup/Balconnette.
General comments:
Because this bra doesn't come in bandsizes smaller than 70 I stabilised the band to make it fit more snugly. I did this before measuring it, so any discrepancy in the unstretched band measurement I provided is due to this alteration. Obviously, I can no longer provide any accurate stretched band measurement either. I may go back to the store and correct this. I also altered the straps of this bra to include nursing clasps (which I bought from the following place, if anyone is interested in trying this alteration for themselves: ... rel="nofollow">http://www.assuntastore.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=17 or, for non-US customers: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251096222701?var=550149834607&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649). The scalloped lace straps are surprisingly well suited to this alteration -- I will upload a photo.
Bra description:
A handsome half cup/balconnette bra made out of black stretch lace over a padded, satin-faced underlay. The cups are shaped with one vertical seam roughly over the apex of the bust and are lined with cotton jersey. The scalloped lace continues halfway up the straps, very decorative (although for those who require fully adjustable straps maybe not that handy). The centre gore and parts of the wings before the side seam boning are the made of the same lace layered over black low-stretch (but not quite rigid) mesh. The back parts of the wings are made of some plain and opaque black stretch fabric.
Fit:
The Triumph Amourette half cup/balconnette used to be my go-to model before my pregnancy (and before I realised I SHOULD have been looking for bras with a band size as small as 60/28) as it literally was the only bra that fit me more or less comfortably and was reasonably flattering to my shape. Now I've been breastfeeding for 10 months and counting, of all the 'main stream' models I tried the other day it apparently still is one of the more acceptable despite its obviously too large band -- even stabilised with fairly firm piece of knit fabric (salvaged from the wings of my not so successful Bravado Body Silk nursing bra) stitched to its unstretched wings it closes snugly but easily at the tightest hook. Without stabilising, the band wasn't only too big, it also it rather was stretchy, which made it even looser feeling.
The underwires of this size JUST encircle my breasts -- I wouldn't mind them being wider -- but otherwise the cups are quite spot on. My breasts can't fluctuate too much in size though as my fuller right side already shows the slightest tendency to cutting in, but under normal circumstances (*) the fit, size-wise, really is not bad. I tried going up a cup size, but despite the wires fitting me better in my opinion, the cups became way too roomy. Another thing that made sizing up a less than fitting solution were the straps: on this 70E size the straps are already JUST a tiny bit too wide for comfort -- I have very broad shoulders in relation to my narrow ribcage, but due to my high bust point and the general width of this design the of the cups and straps slightly cut into my arms when I move them forward. Sizing up made this even worse. I wonder whether it would not be or be less of a problem if this bra came in my proper band size ... it doesn't come in anything lower than 70/32 so it is useless speculation, but still.
As to the shape of the cups, something odd is going on that I never noticed in my smaller, pre-pregnancy size (70A), so I am hoping that it is a simple matter of 'breaking in', or 'washing out'. The side and front view are okay, but from the top the shape becomes outright 'boxy' with the apex of the cups pointing a bit too East-West to be truly flattering. My breasts do this naturally and on my frame it isn't too disastrous a look, but I so wish I could get them a bit more 'up front and centre'. Also, I could do without the almost 90 degree angles I see at the bust points when looking down. As said, I don't recall it bothering me before, so it may just be a temporary quirk that disappears upon wearing this bra a couple of times.
Appearance:
Despite its shortcomings, I do like the look of this bra. On me it strikes the right balance of coverage and the way it slightly angles up from the centre gore is perfect for me (I'm not fond of too horizontal nor of too steep). The side and front profiles are okay. I'm not fond of the padding -- I really am looking for an unpadded bra -- and a tad more sheerness to show of the lace would be nice to. I like how the scalloped lace continues up the straps -- I myself have no problem with the reduced adjustability, but someone who needs their straps fully adjustable might not be thrilled.
Conclusion:
It's not perfect, but it's definitely wearable (especially if the cup shape 'softens up') and the best-looking bra I have at the moment. It actually looks really good as a nursing bra, but the somewhat limited flexibility it gives me in terms of sizing might render it less ideal ... we'll see.
Edited To Add:
I have now worn this bra enough times to give an update on the comfort. With the stabilised band and on the tightest hook it kind of works, but after a long day the wires start poking into my sternum a bit. Also, below each breast there is a spot on my 'non-padded rib' cage where the wires really start hurting after a while. This may have to do with the other strange thing I have noticed whilst wearing this bra: the cups seem to slip DOWN a little bit, with the underwires ending up a centimetre or so BELOW my breasts. I'm suspecting this is because the band still is too wide -- tightening the straps doesn't help, because it will make the bra band ride up in the back. Another thing may be that the cups are somehow too flat in the bottom and essentially too small for my wide-based breasts (big orange in a small glass effect?), but I'm purely speculating here. Anyone has a better idea?
Anyway, I will probably still continue to wear this bra on occasion even though it isn't the most comfortable or the best fit. It does give me a reasonably good shape -- a bit too wide spaced in my opinion, but on my broad shouldered narrow waisted frame not unflatteringly so -- and the addition of nursing clasps worked really well on this bra: I find it easier to breastfeed in this bra than in my Change Florence Nursing Bra!
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Updated on Oct 02, 2012 Flag this
I'd ordered a second before writing that first review, and the new one just showed up in the mail!
Brand new, it has that weird boxy/unnatural silhouette the first one did, but this time I know it'll wash out. The new one (vanilla) does seem a little smaller in the cup than the year old one (petrol). It feels good enough unwashed that I'm going to trust it, but perhaps you should try going down a cup if yours starts out with any room.
I only wish the cup came up a little higher under the arm, but ye gods I love these bras.