Libra-Rian

I wanted to love this bra so badly! The trappings are beautiful - periwinkle blue lace, ribbons, and bows with white accents. Doesn't make for a subtle look under clothes, but that is not the reason one buys a bra with all these bells and whistles, is it? The fabrics are all very comfortable despite the frills. It seems very well structured, and I especially enjoy the powermesh that makes up the side wings and back, and the fact that the straps are fully adjustable. Since it's a balconette, it gives good uplift without very much cleavage, which is my preference. Overall, a ... beautiful and well-designed garment.

All that being said, I have some fit problems with this bra. Even though the cups seem to fit well, it seems too big in that it is a little on the wide side. Most noticeably, the entire outer edges of the cups are basically cutting into my armpits - the straps, the underwires themselves, and the fabric that curves down to the wings. If I align the straps vertically, as they are meant to sit, they actually sit on the outside of the acromion (the bump at the end of one's collarbone). And as a result of the whole conglomeration sitting very tenuously at the edge of my shoulder, I often feel like the straps are on the verge of falling off, no matter how tight I adjust them. I don't consider myself to have narrow shoulders, but this proved to be the main problem with this bra.

Since the band as a good amount of stretch to it and I'm having some gapping at the top of the cups with a 32F, I suppose I could try sizing down and seeing if that would help the problem. Of course, I bought this item on sale and this was the only one anywhere near my size. So next time, I'll try the 30F and see how that is.
Read more
229 more words

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Dec 11, 2012 Flag this

I love the look of longline bras. So obviously, I've been lusting after the ones that Freya has been marketing these past few seasons. The Ivy is no exception - I love the print, and the style itself is so beautiful.

As far as fit goes, I get really great uplift, and because the band is so wide I feel nice and supported. However, I find that ones again the wires are scooping out wider than I need, and the outer edge of the cup (where it meets the band) is a bit too wide and cuts into my armpit. There is also a tiny bit of gaping, so I think I'm going to exchange this for a 30FF and see if that solves all 3 problems.

Update: Sent this bra back to Nordstrom in exchange for a 30FF - we'll see how that one does.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Mar 04, 2013 Flag this

Despite the fact that it is a little too big in the band and a little too small in the cup, this is the most comfortable bra I currently own. The fabric is extremely soft and flexible, the straps are fully adjustable, and I love the fact that it has 3 hooks for closure. I consider this bra to be superior to the Claudette Dessous for this reason - the Dessous has cuter colors, but the mesh is so scratchy and I found it to be quite uncomfortable, whereas the Paramour is smooth like butter. My only complaint is that since the opaque fabric is ... so flexible, it has a little excess stretch in the band and I would prefer to have a 30FF or G

Even though I'm wearing the wrong size, I don't get any quad-boob, which must be a testament to the fact that the cups are deeper and the wires narrower than my other bras (say, Panache or Curvy Kate). I find that those brands tend to get too wide in the cups - heading into armpit territory - yet still cut in at the top, creating the strange sensation that the cup is both too big and too small at the same time. With the Claudette, however, it seems to be better proportioned overall or my shape.

Aesthetically, the bra is simple without being boring - I bought mine in basic black, but at this point it's also available in a nice dark red w/black detail, which I may pick up on sale. It has sexy little mesh panels at the top of the cup, and a bow at the center gore for a little added interest. Nothing particularly fancy, but the basic adornment means that there are no frills or embroideries to show through my clothes, so I can wear this bra under thinner fabrics without concern for excess texture showing through.
Read more
215 more words

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Feb 23, 2013 Flag this

I love the Paramour. Period, end, full stop. While this is techinally not my size, I nabbed this one because the style is discontinued, and this sister-size works with an extender. If you'd like details, refer to my 10 other glowing reviews of the Paramour.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Mar 12, 2015 Flag this

HerRoom didn't have my usual 32F, so I got a 32E for my lighter/smaller boobed days several months. But, um, it's been a long winter and I haven't worked out AT ALL. So this bra hasn't fit since the summer. That said, I should probably hang on to it juuuuust in case. After all, it's one of my favourite bras of all time. (This is number 4, and I've just ordered another AND the updated model "Paloma", which I can't wait to try! Hey, if the shoe fits)

Pros: Love the design, love the silky and supportive lower cup combined with the stretchy mesh upper. Love the shape, and the fit, when it fits. If Kelly Clarkson is allowed to fluctuate in her weight, then so am I.

Basically I'm going to snatch all the Claudette Paramours up since they're discontinued.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Mar 06, 2015 Flag this

Overall a perfectly lovely bra, but not for me.

Aesthetically, this bra is fantastic. I looove that they made a design element of the supportive side panel by making it a contrasting color of satin. Plus, the lace which makes up the bulk of the cups, in addition to being very pretty, has a gentle amount of stretch which helps with fit. It seems extremely well-made and the fabrics are wonderful to touch, so points all around there! Also, the bra is very comfortable, due in part to the really narrow wires - this bra I think has the narrowest wires I've ever tried, form a ... full U shape rather than a wider crescent. The end effect of this is that even though it offers a lot of coverage, it does not cut into my armpits (unlike SOME BRAS [read: most bras])

My main issue with this bra, despite all these pros, is the shape it creates. Not sure if it's because I'm naturally on the pointy side, or if that's just the way it's supposed to be, but the look is very torpedo-shaped, like a retro pin-up girl. Some people may like this look, but it's definitely not for me. So, despite all its nice points, I'll be putting this one up for sale.
Read more
112 more words

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Sep 28, 2014 Flag this

I think this bra works a lot better in theory than in practice, at least at the top end of the cup-size range. I bought it on a whim from Journelle, since it was the semi-annual sale, it was the summer, and I figured "Hey, since my bra is going to show under tank tops I might as well make it a *pretty* bra." This is the Mimi Hollidays recurring "shoulder bra" design, which instead of having the top of the cup curve outwards towards the straps, they continue in pretty much a straight line to create a triangular shape, much like a lot of halter ... tops. Design-wise, it's great. I've already discussed my love of wide-shaped straps, plus this bra is LUXE - eyelash lace along every lace portion, black velvet trim, a cute little tuxedo bow in the center. Definitely a home-run there. (Tangent: I should it's definitely more of a form-over-function bra, since the back of the bra doesn't have the usual deep band with multiple rows of hooks. Not a deal-breaker, since I didn't buy a fancy bra like this to wear while doing strenuous activity. Shape-wise, it's a fairly natural shape, just offering a bit of support and uplift but no extreme cleavage or reshaping happening.)

HOWEVER (there's always a however, isn't there?) since this is an F cup, the amount of fabric required to get enough depth at the apex, plus no seaming to bring it back inward above my boobs means that the top of the cups, means that there's all this loose fabric in the region of my collarbone. (I've even experienced this on bras that have more of a full-cup shape that stretches upward, but it's even more so on a bra whose main design element is the vertically-elongated cup shape. After all, my boobs only fill the lower half of the cup. On a shallower-busted lady, there would be less extra fabric and it would all lay flat and look pretty, but on me it makes the lace curl at the inner edge into almost a tube, so that said beautiful eyelash lace doesn't even really show after it folds in on itself.

That said, it's still SO PRETTY, and very unusual, so it's worth keeping in my bra arsenal and trying to make it work.
Read more
286 more words

Updated on Mar 07, 2015 Flag this

Man, I just can't seem to find my size in Chantelle. This 32F was too big, and here I thought it was going to be a winner. I could have sworn I tried on a 32E in some other style and it was too small, but this bra in particular could run big, or I may have lost weight since then, etc. Also, I'm not sure if this should properly be catagorized as a 2-part of 3-part cup, since from the outside it appears to be two, but looking at the inside of the bra the lower portion is actually divided which really makes it ... three. Hm.

The fit seems to be similar to the C Chic plunge, though this center gore comes up higher. (Not an issue for me because I have wide-set boobs anyway.) I have a lot of empty space towards the top of the cup, and the whole top edge gaps tremendously. The underwire also seems just a hair too wide, though if it fit elsewhere I would say it wasn't a dealbreaker. All these issues would obviously be fixed with another cupsize, which I think I'll end up trying because this is a really beautiful bra.

I love the navy colorway (it's really more cobalt, I'd say) and the design is simply lovely. The lower half of the cups is a solid fabric that feels buttery to the touch, and there is unlined lace across the gore, the tops of the cups, and in a small band down the wing as well. There is a cute white stitching around the edges of the bra as well, including the straps. Speaking of, they have an interesting detail in that the front portion is actually three thin bands bound together where they meet the cup and where they meet the adjusting portion. I've always liked when straps divide like that! Overall, I find that Chantelle bras have a really beautiful use of detail and design that I haven't seen in the other brands I've tried.
Read more
243 more words

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Apr 20, 2013 Flag this

LOVE the look of this bra. The coral color is great, I have a soft spot for anything with a lace overlay, and as with all CK bras, the quality is very high. The band is nice and snug and the interior of the cups is very soft.
Since this bra is a plunge with shorter underwires, it doesn't have the same fit trouble as the Showgirl balconettes, which I find often cut into my armpit even when it fits in the cup. Plus, it gives GREAT cleavage.
That said, I wish it was a 30G. Despite the superior construction, I feel a little paranoid about popping out (particularly my larger boob). However, since I've started working out and lost a little weight, I'm hoping I'll go down a cupsize and this bra will fit better.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Feb 15, 2013 Flag this

First and foremost: this bra does not fit. It's at least a cup or two too small. So, let it not be a reflection on the product, but on what happens when said product is too small.

On its own, this bra is beautiful. I bought the it in white, and I LOVE the pink bow accents on the center and the straps, I love the embroidery along the top edge of the cup, and I love the mesh panel that makes up the top of the cup itself when paired with the opaque lower half. As with all Curvy Kate products, I find that ... the fabric is very high quality: soft, supportive where it needs to be and the perfect amount of stretch where required. I don't know how these qualities hold up over time, but I know that while it's new, this is a great bra... for someone else.

The fit is awful. Like I said, I clearly bought the wrong size, but I was not aware how strange it would be - it seems to pull my boobs down, point them to the ground, and cut in at the top to create the mother of all quad-boob. HOWEVER, the wire itself fits width-wise and doesn't press into any tissue under my arm. This creates a conundrum - stay with this size and deal with a ridiculous shape, or go up in cup size to get the appropriate amount of cup depth yet risking the underwire reaching way into my armpit? Or are Curvy Kate's unpadded bras simply not for me? I may try another size and see if that is any better, and in the meantime I'll be listing this one. Hopefully, the Lottie will suit someone else better, because it truly is a lovely bra.
Read more
200 more words

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Feb 23, 2013 Flag this