Short-waisted, center full, close set, immediately projected, even horizontal distribution, somewhat narrow
More compression (2" overbust reduction) than my breasts prefer, but it is acceptable because 1. There are no seams 2. There are no wires 3. The band is wide and supportive like no other knitted, stretchy band 4. Cobalt Blue is more appealing than Beige and White.
Wacoal. They are the benchmark, in my experience, for supportive, stretchy, knitted bands. No other "large" sports bra has provided this level of support. Still, I need to use my Boob Band. But, armed with this bra and a Boob Band, I can do anything comfortably including sleep and kick boxing. No other sports bra I've tried can do this for me. And, because I dislike changing clothes more than once a day, the versatility this provides is welcome in my wardrobe.
If you can wear these, consider yourself lucky. Comfortable support in a limited size range I hope Wacoal soon expands.
Fabrics seem soft enough, but the band runs small. Was able to hook it on the longest set, but wouldn't wear it without an extender. Band doesn't have much stretch to it. Front straps cut into my armpits, twisting when I move, caused the cups to buckle. The added mesh panel above the outer cups do not cut in (probably because I am low-set). The gore is tall for me , didn't lie flat, sat on breast tissue.
This is the most versatile bra I own. Can be worn for sports and working out. Wicks away mortgage. Also nice for regular use. Slight plunge for some cleavage. Nice under t's. Comfy and stretchy. Former secretary recommended it (I'm a guy). Glad she did.
Looks great on you... HAha, "wicks away mortgage". If only a bra could do that! Lol :)
This looks so comfortable.
I want one of these "mortgage wickers", too. Hilarious typo--Thanks, autocorrect :-) :-) :-)
Was going to edit it, but I had to laugh too. I think it was one of those deals where computer picks a word and I was too lazy to re-read. The mortgage wicking bra is tres expensive.
I have been wearing this model bra consistently nearly every day for the last 3 to 4 years. As a man, it's been a huge challenge for me to find something that fits, and just by random choice, this one did it.
The underwires are on the outside of the cup, which is interesting. You might think that it would mean you don't feel them, but that's not entirely accurate. The cup lining, as you'll see in my fit pictures that will follow shortly after this post, is pretty thin, and it doesn't do much to reduce the pressure of the wire against the ribcage.
The band is rather ...solid, which is great. I get so frustrated with bands that make a simple rubber band seem tight. I don't mean that the band is too tight for me, as it gives just the right amount without being sloppy.
The straps are about my only complaint, but at the same time I love them. Instead of having a slider adjustment, they have large loops and hooks that slide into the loops. I normally wear it on the third loop, which means there's a sort of tail of the strap from the other unused portion just dangling. This really only presents an issue when I put it on, as the straps don't lay flat until you do some sort of contortionist move to fix them. After that, though, they're fine. I learned through the purchase of an Ambrielle clone of this bra, but it didn't have the same strap adjustment: It used a slider. About half way through the day, those straps would slide to full extent just from normal daily activity. The Wacoal straps don't do that though: They stay put.
The picture's I'm going to add were advertised as "blue". When it arrived in the mail, it was totally purple. It does come in other colors, but I tend to follow the clearance sales and usually end up with some wild colors. My most recent was actually a blue, but still closer to the purple end of the blue range on the spectrum. I've had the nude color and black in the past though.
All in all, I love this bra. The only fit complaint I have is related to my own personal needs, though. I am starting to need something with much more lower-cup support, and since this bra is a stretch cup, it doesn't meet those needs. I might stitch a woven fabric panel into them to provide that support sometime, but we'll see. Read more 320 more words
This one runs big in my opinion. Wacoal sizing is all over the place in my experience. I have a few in 32D, and sometimes 30DDD or 32DD or 32DDD work too. Other times they don't fit at all.
The cups on this one are pretty deep at the top and center. For me this meant lots of empty space at the top of the cup.
I bought this at a bra store where they'd altered the band to a size 30, but the customer never came to get the bra. So on the tag it's a 32D, but essentially, they altered it to a 30DD. I LOVE this bra. It's so comfortable and supportive. It's definitely a full coverage cup, so it contains well when bending/stooping etc at work as a nurse or home (small kids and livestock). The wires are a bit wider than some D or DD cups, which is nice for wider roots. I'm hoping to find something very similar with a slightly lower cup because this might be too high for some scoop neck tanks in the summer.
Very short-waisted, center full, close set, somewhat narrow, immediately projected, shallow apex projection,...
Wacoal La Femme 32H fits me best. This Subtle Sensuality is 2 sizes smaller. I'm certain a larger size would fit well. As it is, the narrow cup forces my center -full tissue too close together for the design of the cup.
This was a purchase shrouded in optimism. Reality is not so rosey....especially bra purchases https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";-)" /> For reference, this review is for US size 32DDD which is equivalent to UK 32E.
The band material is super soft, stretchy microfiber, and it feels big. This Wacoal model runs "true to size" rather ...ran smaller than size. The band stretches to 32". For this reason, I'm not inclined to purchase a 34: the band is too stretchy to provide the support I need on my 28" underbust. Interestingly, two models recently released by Wacoal run "true to size." I hope this is not a trend https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";-)" />
The wires bite into my ribs. It feels like my breasts are pushing the cup forward and down. Judging from the floating gore, this is true. I can wear tilted gores for five minutes before my body passionately objects. This cup is 1-2 sizes too small. Much of this particular fit issue may be remedied by a 32G/H, which they don't manufacture in this model.
The gore is low and narrow. And, the cup offers better than average space for center fullness. Because of the gore design, a few stitches and two minutes would make this a very narrow gore. Awesome feature.
The straps are narrow, fully adjustable, and convertible via j-hook. These straps are very similar to the, relatively, narrow How Perfect Wireless bra straps. Still, the straps are supportive, but I appreciate the security of more robust straps.
Overall, a great t-shirt bra with a very low, narrow gore. Cup accommodates average apex projection, average width, and better than average center fullness. Super soft materials, sufficient padding for prominent nipples, and thin enough padding that it feels lined rather than heavily padded.
Mahogany Rose is an incredible skin tone match for me. I'm white as paper with lots of pink undertone. Invisible.
Another candidate for wild alterations. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":-)" /> Wacoal materials are better than most and can be found slightly used for little money. These make them my best options for alterations.
Edit: This band was the tightest of the three Wacoals I recently purchased. When I replaced the wires with shorter wires and loosened one side of the wire channel at the gore so it could fold over the other wire channel, the band became too big. The cups fit significantly ...better (i.e. more comfortably) now.
This is yet another example of short roots + center-full fit challenges. Before the alteration, the wires were sitting on a fairly significant amount of breast tissue. At least 1.5" of band width was occupied by my short breasts. They never exude through the top of a cup (e.g. you see no evidence that this bra is too small in the photos). But, when the center gore could collapse, my breasts could better fit into the cups. Now the cups fit, and the wires no longer compress my breasts. But, the once-firm-band is now too long. ; -) Thankfully, that is an easy alteration, too. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":-)" />
@cupandahalf One of the wire pairs you generously shared with me are perfect replacements. Thank you! Read more 132 more words
The lace back on this is beautiful and the key feature of this bra. Tall wings blend into triangular lace up the straps. The band is snug, true to size, bandless in the front, and two layers in the back. The underneath layer is your typical stretch mesh with elastic edges, with the top layer being the stretch lace. This helped to minimize back fat better than I expected. Unlike the Wacoal 'Lace Affair' whose contour cups are shiny stretch satin, the cups on this 'Fire and Lace' have wider wires, non-shiny stretch satin, contoured foam, barely 1/8" (not spacer fabric); not enough thickness to ...add volume but provides nice modesty and a nice rounded shape (possibly slightly minimized). I had no marks from anything rubbing. The cups fit center fullness very well, but the straps are so wide that the outer edges of the cups rub against my armpits and cause crazy gaping when I roll my shoulders forward. Otherwise, with perfect posture it fits fine. Another cool feature is the straps adjust in the front; SO much easier to reach. I wish all bras were designed with this feature! Athough this is not labeled as a plunge, the gore is low, but not too wide at the bottom. The color 'Flint' is quite pretty I think...the closest I could describe it is a soft dusty purple. It was 'almost' invisible underneath an off-white T-shirt, so I consider the color as neutral. Read more 142 more words
The fit is true to size and generally good, except the outer cup is a full 3/4" taller than the underwire, and cuts into my underarm and especially my Tail of Spence. Could not tolerate it more than a few minutes, so I didn't even try longer.
However, I did like the soft lace on the wide band, the three hooks, and the flocking on the straps.
I had this bra in 32D and decided to size up. The 32DD became much taller and fuller coverage unfortunately, and I only really needed deeper cups. I measured a whole inch of difference in cup height and wire length between the two. I like the bra but it seems I am stuck between sizes.
Very short waisted, immediately projected, omega shaped, center full, somewhat narrow, close-set breasts....
This is designed for shallow, narrower breasts than my own. It is uncommon for the outer seam of a 34DDD wireless cup to sit on my breast tissue, but this one does. Largely, the shallow cup design is to blame. The shallowness causes the cup to collapse and the elastic band irritates the lower portion of my breasts. Perfect for other breasts, but not mine.
The materials are soft and supportive. The center gore seam is narrow and hidden under the breathable cup lining. It appears this bra may breathe and wick perspiration well.
Although Wacoal advertises "fully adjustable" straps, these straps, to me, are partially adjustable. Unpadded and limited stretch, they provide good support.
I strongly prefer the 34F Wingslove sports bra (http://bra.pe/SBwb0/ ). It is designed for more immediate projection whereas Wacoal has designed 852218 for shallow breasts. When comparing these two bras, the 34F Wingslove measures 1-2 cups larger than this 34DDD. Hmm....perhaps 852218 runs small.
It's lovely stretch lace all over. The material is stretchy and fairly forgiving, but a bit more firm and supportive than the Body. I think it gives me a rounder shape and is a bit more flattering. However, it seems more closed-on-top and cuts in a bit more as well. A 32DD may work better for me in this bra. Still super comfy, supportive and secure, wear-all-day effortless feeling. The closest I've come to feeling like I'm wearing nothing. It has a tighter band that works decently for me being between 30 and 32. The gore is a bit wide.
Tight band!! This cappuccino colorway Embrace Lace barely stretches past 28". It is probably new or nearly new condition. The cups stretch with the band, making them wider than I need. Tried on with an extender. Would be better on someone with a smaller underbust who would stretch it less, or someone who needs wider cups.
UK 34DD. A pretty good fit, although I once again have a tiny bit too much room in the apex, producing a slight pointiness.
Material: Feels like cotton! Everywhere but the top of the cup, that is; across the top of the cup is stretch lace. The embroidery is really pleasant-looking--it's a geometric pattern of circles and triangles, rather than the more common floral or lacy design. I like it. The whole bra feels smooth and sturdy.
Band: My other Wacoals are 36s (this one was on sale in 34). I can wear this 34, but I think I might use an extender at first just for ...comfort. There's a hidden side seam (hidden as in: the band is two layers of fabric, and only the inside layer has the seam). The two hooks are 3/4 inch apart, if you're considering an extender.
Cups: 2-part construction with one vertical top-to-bottom seam. I could use a little less projection at the apex of the cup and a little more projection in the outside of the cup, which is a frequent fit issue for me. The top edge has a very thin, very stretchy band of elastic.
Wires: Not my unicorn wires (apparently that's Freya Patsy Padded Halfcup), but better than many for me. They're a little wider on the outside than what I need, but not so much that it's uncomfortable--the extender might help. I once again get about 1 or 1.5 inches in the very bottom where the wire does not run along my imf. These wires are fairly stiff.
Gore: Tacks and doesn't dig. The band at the bottom of the gore panel has already decided to curl up some, after maybe an hour of wear. It's not doing this anywhere else, only on the gore. I don't really mind, but figured I'd note it.
Straps: I love the placement of these straps, which attach *just* outside of the very center of the cup's top edge. The straps themselves are fairly stretchy, and are fully adjustable. Read more 230 more words
This is my first bra that really fits. I have slightly narrow, short roots, with moderate projection and nearly-even fullness, and everything about this bra fits perfectly. It's about as thinly lined as you can get with a tshirt bra (as far as I know), more like spacer foam than true "padding." Wacoal's website calls it "stretch foam," but I haven't seen that before so I'm not sure if it's the same as spacer foam or not.
It's comfortable against my skin everywhere; no digging, no itching, no roughness on the edges of the straps, just feels supportive and smooth. I have a tendency toward pointiness ...in some bras, but this one gives me a nice rounded shape and looks great under a snug tshirt. I love it, and will be ordering in every color.
I'm still zeroing in on my size, and I grabbed this one off the clearance rack at Nordstrom rack just to get an idea of how Wacoal might fit me in a general way, expecting it to be a little too small. I couldn't believe it when it actually fit. It's a cup size smaller than what was recommended to me recently, but I'm not sure if the recommendation was off by a cup size, or if this particular bra runs a little large. Read more 112 more words
Swapping the wires might make it more comfortable. AlI of the Bravo Bella wires are shorter at the wings. Like you, tall wings bother me. Ugh
And, I likely have a pair of flex wires I can send you that will fit :-)
I didn't realize until after writing the review that this is two cup volumes larger than my 30DD. I will see if a 30E or 32DD comes my way first! There is some hope left haha. Thanks for the offer!
Things I'm looking for in a spacer bra: true-to-size band and a lower coverage style, or at a least a style that isn't too minimizing.
While this bra is obviously full coverage, I am impressed with the band. It is true to size, maybe even a bit tight. It has 3 hooks, something I don't see often in 30DDD bras - I'm not opposed to it.
Unfortunately this size seems a bit big in the cup on me, so I can't comment on the shape yet. I do expect the shape to be slightly minimized based on other reviews, but maybe not so much as the Fantasie Rebecca was on me.
There is extra room in the top of the cup that gets worse as I move about and relax. The bra was also not super comfortable due to tall cups and wires in combination with the tigher band, so I may size up in the band and try a smaller cup.
Thinking I could easily find better, lightweight bralettes for my center-full, close-set, immediately projected, omega-shaped breasts, I returned this bralette to Amazon a few months ago. It is too hot to continue my search. So, I re-purchased it thinking I would alter it. However, today, Salem's Scissors has agreed to make a bralette similar to Kindred Bravely Organic Cotton bra. Yippeee!!
This looks like a nice fit on you :)