Sparrow

My measurements for reference: snug 32, BTT 30.5, standing 38.5, leaning 41, lying 39. Pendulous, projected, narrowish shortish root, FOB/even (I think). I have a lot of outside fullness.

Well, this is a very cute little bra. I like the parrot print, which is actually much more subdued than my crazy neon Lucy or yellow Marcie. It's a very lightweight mesh construction, but damn, it does the job. Why can't every bra just lift like this? All my Cleos do provide a great profile, but this one is the best so far.

The band is comfortably snug on the loosest hooks, not like my Marcie which still ... practically cuts me in half after six months wear. The wires are pretty much the perfect width. The gore tacks. The straps are nicely placed and fully adjustable. I fill the cups nicely, although I have to swoop and scoop more enthusiastically on my smaller side.

There is virtually no wrinkling in the bottom of the cups. The most amazing thing, though (to me), is that they don't ride down at all throughout the day. I guess I finally got the magic combination of wire width and projection. I think this is why I find this bra much more comfortable than either Lucy or Marcie, because the wires don't move around and cause chafing. They don't seem to be any more padded or anything. The band under the cups doesn't even curl up. That might just be a first for me.

Alas, it is not perfect. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" /> Thanks to the combination of Cleo construction and my soft tissue, I still get the in-cup quad boob going on. I wish Cleo would figure this out and fix it. People with squishy boobs deserve better!

Except for that, I do love this bra. I think it is my best fit so far. So of course they're discontinuing it. Story of my life. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />




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Parrot Print colorway

Updated on Dec 02, 2014 Flag this

This bra, people. This bra. Why is nobody talking about this bra? I. Love. This. Bra.

Okay, Okay. I know. Different strokes for different boobs (that sounds sort of wrong, doesn’t it?). I know lots of people just don’t care for the T-shirt bra aesthetic. However, as a SAHM, T-shirts are basically my uniform, so I am happy to have finally found one that fits, is comfortable, and looks good both in and out of shirts.

On with the review.

As the name says, it’s a moulded spacer foam bra. I’ve never had much luck with moulded bras. I never managed to cram myself into a foam dome when I ... was still stuck in the matrix. I’m guessing I was a 32E then (prior to babies and breastfeeding, which seems to have permanently biggered them) and was wearing 34DD, so technically a sister size and not insanely wrong. But I was always too projected for any of the T-shirt bras I ever tried. And I tried a lot, since that’s mostly what was available. Spacer foam is much lighter and more flexible than the typical moulded foam.

I have tried a couple of other spacer bras. I had a @Fayreform Profile Perfect 32FF briefly that I got off ebay. Holy crap. You think Panache wires are stiff? That thing left semi-permanent grooves in my ribs. I was definitely a 32FF then but the cups were too tall and too deep for me. So uncomfortable I don’t even want to try it in another size. I also tried on a @Fantasie Rebecca a couple of years ago at a boutique and was completely underwhelmed with the shape it gave me. This bra does looks a bit like that one. I knew this bra was a risk but it was cranberry and Butterfly Collection had it on sale so …

Well, it’s pretty much perfect. Wire width good, enough projection, gore tacks, band just right. My boobs aren’t lifted like in my unlined Cleos, but they’re lifted enough for me, and the shape is just infinitely better under clothes. It is minimizing in that it seems to hold the breasts close to my body, but not flattened out like every other minimizer I’ve ever tried on. Let me put it this way, my boobs are nicely separated but there is no east-west action. It is by a mile the most comfortable bra I have. The spacer foam is very light and I think it will be fine for summer (although, technically, nothing is good for the hot and humid summers we have here). I have a little bit of gaping on my smaller side, but it is not bothersome and absolutely does not show under clothes.

I know some people might think it’s a boring bra, but I think it’s lovely in an understated way. Of course, cranberry is one of my favourite colours. There is some tone-on-tone embroidery on the mesh around the cups. There is a bow at the top of each cup where it meets the straps, as well as the obligatory bow on the gore. Band has two hooks. It has a j-hook so I even have the racer-back option for summer, but I have not tried it yet.

I’m sort of between sizes right now. When I ordered this, my 32FF unlined bras were still fitting OK and I ordered down a size as per recommendations. Well, since then, I lost a few more pounds and suddenly all my 32FFs just collapsed on me. Even my Envy 32F, which was always on the small side, is getting a bit floppy. I think because the spacer foam is a bit stretchy I could actually size down to 32E and this issue would disappear.

Of course, Butterfly Collection shut down about two weeks after I got this bra. I went back to order another one, but was too late!! Sob, sob. It hasn’t really shown up on clearance anywhere or on ebay yet, since I guess it’s still so new. I need, need, need the champagne colourway of this bra … but I need to be patient because the best price I can find is just utterly ridiculous, even before duty and shipping are factored in. Oh, Canada, Y U such a bra desert? (Sorry, this is supposed to be a review, not a rant!)


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Cranberry colorway

Updated on Mar 17, 2016 Flag this

My measurements for reference: snug 32, BTT 30.5, standing 38.5, leaning 41, lying 39. Pendulous, projected, narrowish shortish root, FOB/even (I think). I have a lot of outside fullness.

The first thing I have to say is that this bra is so very pretty! Lovely colour, the tone-on-tone embroidery on the fine mesh cups is gorgeous. There are even little embroidered dots on the strap. So, can't complain about that part at all.

Now, to business.

The fit is pretty decent. The band is comfortably snug on the loosest hooks. The gore tacks. The wires are about right. I can fill the cups pretty well except on my smaller ... side, where the lace flaps a bit near the gore. The lift and shape I get is quite good, with a slightly more natural shape in profile than I get from my Cleos. It's not remotely pointy, just not quite as round as some.

The bottom projection is just not quite as much as I need, so there is just a bit of wrinkling at the bottom of the cups. The cup on my larger side, however, stays in place, although the cup on my smaller side rides down a bit throughout the day. I think I get it, though. When the wires are right and the cup is properly filled, it stays in place. When there's a little extra space in the cup, it shifts around. I guess a bra that half fits is as much as any of us asymmetrical gals can ask for.

Also, I tend to get a little in-cup quad-boob, just like with my Cleos. Le sigh. Barely noticeable under clothes, though.

The other main quibble I have is that the thread they used for the embroidery doesn't have quite the give that the mesh has, and so there are some funny puckers in the cup. I really hope this improves with wear and washing, although again, it doesn't really show under clothes. However, this is such a pretty bra that I'd like to swan about the bedroom in it. But not when it's all puckery.



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Ice Blue colorway

Updated on Dec 02, 2014 Flag this

I have actually had this bra for about five months now, so I think I have given it a reasonable test drive. This is the Neon, which wasn't my first choice. It was supposed to be Malibu Blue, but Breakout Bras ran out of my size https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" />

My measurements for reference: snug 32, BTT 30.5, standing 38.5, leaning 41, lying 38. Pendulous, projected, narrowish short root, FOB/even. I have a lot of outside fullness, if that's a thing.

Band is snug but comfortable on loosest hooks, even after five months wear. Gore tacks as well as it can on my wonky ribcage. Wires are ... a little bit wide, but not enough to bother me. Cups just about perfect, no quadding, just a slight bit of wrinkling at the bottom. The side profile is ... spectacular. I have never in my life had boobs that perky!

So, it fits. But there are a few issues.

The wires have very little padding. I have funny rib flares which tend to make banded bras slide down in front and curl up, so bandless styles like Lucy tend to work better for me in terms of keeping the wires in place. But oh my goodness, I wouldn't mind a little more padding on those wires!

I also have a bit of that in-cup quad boob going on. Probably because my tissue is so soft. It's not bad and I don't wear clingy clothes much, so not a serious issue.

The bra is cute if somewhat garish in this colourway. I am not a personal fan of embroidered bras, but it's grown on me.

Before I found ABTF, I would have considered this a bra of unparalleled awesomeness, but of course now I know it's not perfect. However, it is pretty damn good.

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Neon colorway

Updated on Dec 02, 2014 Flag this

This is the yellow Marcie.

My measurements for reference: snug 32, BTT 30.5, standing 38.5, leaning 41, lying 38. Pendulous, projected, narrowish short root, FOB/even. I have a lot of outside fullness.

This is one of those bras that initially seems like a decent fit. Right after I swoop and scoop, it looks good. After a short while, my jelly boobs are not so happy. The bra pulls my outer fullness in all right, but the upper lace is a bit too loose near the gore and just doesn't hug the girls the way they need to be hugged. Also, there is a definite in-cup quad boob going on, which ... does show under t-shirts. The gore tacks, but also digs into my sternum a bit.

The band was on the tight side at first, but wearable. After five months, it's still quite snug on the loosest setting.

The wires are a bit wide, but I think the shape of them is more of a problem for me. They hit me right on a rib flare and while not painful, it does get rather irritating after a while. I'm not sure if the wires are distorting because of the snug band. I tried it with an extender but it didn't enhance the comfort at all.

It's wearable but I don't think quite the right bra for me. I need something a bit more closed on top. If I tried it again (i.e. if it was on clearance), I might sister size up to 34F.
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Yellow colorway

Updated on Oct 25, 2014 Flag this

It looks delicate but gives really good support. It's very pretty and it's comfortable and I think a good fit overall in spite of the band being a bit too big. The main problem is I don't like it under t-shirts or anything remotely clingy.

Updated on Apr 29, 2014 Flag this

My measurements for reference: snug 32, BTT 30.5, standing 38.5, leaning 41, lying 39. Pendulous, projected, narrowish shortish root, FOB/even (I think). I have a lot of outside fullness.

This was my first bra that fit (I've had it for several months now). The Caramel colour is a decent nude, if a bit dark for my skin tone. I chose it because of the stretch lace, mainly, because I had an Andorra that I loved although it was far too big for me once I stopped breastfeeding. This is less lacy and more business-like than the Andorra, but not too plain. The main part of the cups has ... a subtle houndstooth pattern, which gives it a little interest.

When I first put this bra on, it is perfection. Seriously. In that moment, I think, I will just keep buying this bra and no other forever. Band is comfortably snug, the gore tacks, the wires are a good width, the cups fit like a glove on BOTH sides, the side panel pulls in my outer fullness, and it gives me a lovely lifted round shape. It's comfortable. The seams are smooth and don't show through anything. I mean, what else could you want, except to have it in every colour?

However, by the end of the day, that lovely soft material and stretchy lace get tired. The lace starts to flap just a little bit near the gore. I won't say my boobs sag, exactly, but they're certainly much more relaxed than they were in the morning. The shape is still decent, more natural than round at this point. It still looks fine under the clothes. It just disappoints me a little when I take off my shirt.

The stretchy fabric is what gives the fabulous fit, of course, but the flip side is that it doesn't seem to hold up so well over time. (And yes, I hand wash my bras always!)

That being said, it's still one of my favourite bras. I will definitely buy more, but probably won't pay full price.

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Caramel colorway

Updated on Dec 04, 2014 Flag this