Bra Reviews! Affinitas' Parfait Honey

Now, this is the same product line that the Charlotte came out of, and I'll be honest, I love the look of pretty much everything in Affinitas' Parfait line/division.  They're super pretty, come in  color, and are relatively affordable.  I may have found my brand here.

The Honey Molded Bra is also a plunge and it has the most adorable lace trim on the shoulder straps.

It looks like a butterfly!  Without all the legs! (If you want it.)

I wasn't sure if just the Charlotte ran small or if the brand in general did, so I took a chance and ordered a 32FF--in purple.  Do you know how rare a color purple is for big boobs?!  Usually you can find pink, most will throw in red, but purple?  Inconceivable!  They don't have a picture of it in purple at the link, but it's about the same shade as the color section box.

Unfortunately, it looks like the running small thing is a brand thing, not just the Charlotte, so the Honey didn't fit.  Both the band and the cup were too small, so I'm exchanging it for a 34FF.  I feel pretty confident that will fit, so I'm exchanging one of the others that didn't fit for a second Honey in ivory (I need something I can wear under light colored shirts).  Assuming those fit, I'll order a third and some panties and have a total of six sexy bras that hold up my melons.

PROS:

• reasonable price ($48)
• adorable trim!  Love the lacey straps, and the cup trim is even cooler in person
• comes in red and purple
• comes in purple
• wide set shoulder straps ideal for more open necklines
• wide size range

CONS:

•  runs small, so I won't know until my exchange goes through if it's going to provide the support I need (I'm assuming it'll fit like Charlotte, so it should be okay)
• lacey straps might show under clothes
• no nude for wearing under white

CONCLUSION:  Yeah, I fell in love with this one a bit.  I feel pretty good about it, but must withhold judgement for now.  I will say, I might cry a little if the 34FF doesn't fit, or if it doesn't support me.  Also, as a bonus, they had a package deal going on where if you ordered two Affinitas bras (not sure if it's styles or straight quantity), you got a free pair of panties.  Not sure how long that's going on, but the freebie hot pink panties with lace trim may be amongst the most exciting underwear I own.

EDIT: My exchange just arrived, and the 34FF fits great!  The straps could be a bit longer, so if you're really tall in the shoulder you might want to skip this one (i.e. if on most bras you have the straps at full length, they won't be long enough).

Bra Reviews! Panache SuperBra Tango II

I'll be honest, I was disappointed when I pulled this one out of the box.  I'd heard some good things about Panache, and the SuperBra Tango II Underwire Balconette Bra looked like a good starting place for something that I could wear under a t shirt (I wear a 50/50 mix of  t shirts and button downs).

If you like that sort of thing.

I ordered it in black in a 32FF.  Now, before we address the fitting issues, let me explain why I was disappointed.

Sheer cups. 

Every photo I could find of it makes it look pretty solid.  The specs did mention sheer sides and back fabric, but it's not unusual for a bra to have that and solid cups. 

I despise sheer cups. 

I think they are the ugliest thing possible in a bra, as well as most useless.  They don't cover your nipples at all, so if you get caught without a bra you can still see 'em, and if it gets cold, they stick out everywhere.  Sheer cups provide no additional support (a padded or foam cup helps a smidge), and they are almost always the absolute ugliest bras in existence due to poor fabric choices and colors.  Also, the seams rub my nipples raw.

That said, I still tried it on, just in case.  I'm going to say this bra runs small, because I could barely do up the strap.  The cups were also too small.  I would go up in both if it wasn't a hideous sheer bra that couldn't possibly ever compare to the gorgeous Charlotte by Affinitas' Parfait.

PROS:

• not insanely expensive ($54)
• available in a wide range of sizes

CONS:

• sheer cups. Did I mention I hate sheer cups?
• runs small
• all the pretty colors are being discontinued in the larger sizes
• unlined sheer cups

CONCLUSION:  I'm biased.  I hate sheer cups and could never, ever, recommend one, not even if it was made of platinum and on sale for $20.  But I guess if you ordered it bigger it might be okay.   It would probably be okay under a t shirt.

Bra Reviews! Curvy Kate Daily Boost

Among the bras in my recent order was Curvy Kate's Daily Boost Balconette Bra.  From what I've read, Curvy Kate is an up and comer in the bras for big boobs arena, and I was curious to check them out (especially since almost none of the brands that carry large cup sizes are available locally).

If you want it.

Again, I ordered the 32FF.  I actually ordered it in white, because it's been long enough since I had a white bra that it's almost an exotic color.  One thing I really liked about this bra was the trim--it's subtle, but thoughtful.

Unfortunately, I had the same problem with this one as I did with the Freya Deco.  Major quadraboob, although the band was fine.  I would definitely need to go up to a 32G (UK), and maybe beyond.  I'm not enthused enough to bother.

PROS:

• cute trim
• good coverage (or it would be in the right size)
• side coverage
• nice basic bra
• good tshirt bra (assuming correct size)

CONS:

• pricey for what it is ($65)
• only two colors--nude and white (I would make this complaint for the brand)
• only two hooks--questionable support, esp. long term

CONCLUSION:  Not a bad bra, but you can probably do the same thing for less in more colors with someone else.

Bra Reviews! Freya Deco Underwire

Among the bras I recently tried was Freya's Deco Underwire Molded Plunge Bra.  Since I've had some band trouble, I decided to go with a 32FF.  Actually, I ordered four of the bras in this shipment in a 32FF.  My reasoning--while I technically measure at a 34G (US), I've actually measured at home and consistently run from 32.75in to 33.75in, depending on the time of the month.  This makes me a smallish 34, and most of the 34s I've tried on haven't provided support from the band (if I want a bra that supports with the straps, I'll keep my old ones and take more painkillers, thank you).  The cups usually fit okay in a 34G (US), so by going up a cup size, that should, theoretically, preserve the fit of the cup (although we've already seen this disproven once).  So, theoretically, the best new starting point would be a 32H (US) or a 32FF (UK).

 

Linkie. 

Yeah...about that....  I'm starting to think the whole cup grading thing breaks down after G (US), because while the band fit nice and snug, I had major quadraboob.  I would probably need a 32G (UK).  It would probably fit then--there wasn't anything weird in the shape of the cups (like Wacoal.  I hate Wacoal.  I'll eventually make a post about why I hate Wacoal).

PROS:

• Would be a nice t-shirt bra if it fit
• the bows are cute
• less than $75 ($60)
• side coverage would have been decent in the proper size

CONS:

• only two hooks.  I'm pretty sure a strap that's only wide enough for two hooks is not going to be up to the strain of holding UK F's+
• larger cups sizes only come in nude, grey, and black.  No pretty red or purple for us
• I don't want to pay $60 for a bra

CONCLUSION:  Not a bad little bra.  If I hadn't found something I liked better that fit, I'd muck about with the sizing on it.

Bra Reviews! Affinitas Parfait Charlotte

So, my first batch of bras from Her Room contained five bras by four companies, mostly so I could see how they fit.  One of the five fit, so I feel like I did pretty good.  Most of the manufacturers of larger sizes on the web use British sizing, which is loads of fun, as you have the same letters as we do here, but they mean completely different things--a UK G cup is two sizes bigger than a US G.  Now, I had been trying on 34Gs in the few local shops I've been able to find them in, but while the bands are close, they still haven't been supporting the girls--the straps have been doing all the work, which is not how a bra is supposed to fit.  So, I decided to play around with my sizing a bit.

The first bra that went into my order was the Charlotte, from Affinitas' Parfait collection.

You can buy your own here.

Yeah, I'm totally in love with that.  Seriously, how often do you see a bra that sexy in something bigger than a 36D?  I literally prayed the entire week I was waiting on it to ship that if anything in the box fit, it would be this one.

I got really lucky.

Now, the site (and every review I saw) said it tends to run small and recommended ordering a bigger size.  Since I'd been looking at ordering a 32FF, I sized up to a 34FF (remember, cup gets bigger with the band).  It fits snug in the band (maybe tight, but I like my bands on the tight side for support reasons), the cups were the right size, and, of course, it's super sexy.  I also really like the wide set shoulder straps--a pet peeve of mine is how so many bras have the straps set right by your neck--maybe I don't want to wear turtle necks and t-shirts all the time.  Now, I will admit, it does leave a little mark around the middle after I've worn it a while, but the band actually supports my girls.  I'm thinking it just needs to break in a little.  And, frankly, I feel so sexy in it, I don't care.  This is the first plunge style bra that has ever fit and supported my breasts.  I'm exchanging two of the bras that didn't fit for two more of these (a second red one, and a peach/black one).

PROS:

• super sexy
• comes in red
• wide set straps
• good side coverage
• affordable ($38)
• sufficient nipple coverage

CONS:

•  runs small, so finding the right size might be tricky
• only comes in two colors--maybe not so good under a white shirt

CONCLUSION:  I'm in love with this bra, so my judgement my be a bit skewed.  Some girls might not like the cup style--as a plunge, it doesn't cover as much breast as other styles, so if you don't like displaying your girls it may not be for you.  If you want to flaunt what you have and feel extra sexy, you want this bra.  Matching panties are available.  I'm so ordering those.

Bra Reviews! Chantelle Rive Gauche

So last November I discovered my band size had shrunk down to a 34, meaning I could no longer buy my bras from Lane Bryant (their smallest band size is a 36).  This hit me pretty hard, because I had really liked my full coverage Cacique bras--they were affordable, had a foam cup, gave good support, and came in a variety of colors. 

But, alas, no more.  So, I called up my mom for moral support and we went to Dillard's--they have the widest selection of sizes in town.  A wonderful and very patient salesgirl helped me try on almost every bra in the place, and we finally settled on Chantelle's Rive Gauche T shirt bra in  US 34G.

Photo courtesy of Her Room.

About four months later, they just weren't fitting right.  I'm not sure if they just stretched out, or my band size dropped like half an inch.  I went back and still measured a 34G, but they just didn't fit right.  Neither did anything else, so I said screw this, I'm going home.  Fast forward to June--the straps are now digging into my shoulders, causing a pretty good amount of pain.  I tried ordering it in a 32H--since the band was apparently too big, I went down a size.  The cups were still okay, so I went up one to preserve the size.  I'm not really sure what happened, but when the 32H (US) came in, the cups were far to small and I was spilling out all over the place.  It doesn't come in a cup larger than a US H, so I couldn't just go up another cup size (the band was pretty good).

As for the rest, here's a pro/con list:

PROS:

• not a minimizer
• comes in cup sizes up to a US H
• lacey trim and contrasting stitching on straps make for an attractive bra
• provided good support
• provided good coverage (especially on the sides--I love a bra with side boning)

CONS:

• [insert expletive of your choice] expensive--$76 is a bit high, but it was available locally
• unless my body has morphed in a bizarre manner (which is possible), they either started to wear out way too fast for a $76 bra, or their sizing is inconsistent from batch to batch
• doesn't come in a cup size higher than a US H
• cup grading is inconsistent (a 32H and a 34G should have the same size cup)
• only comes in two colors--nude and black 

CONCLUSION: Chantelle makes a pretty bra, and they know how to support a larger breast.  They're a bit expensive for what they are, though.

Bra Reviews! Online Retailers

Well, hello again.  So, my first shipment (technically my second, but we'll get to that in a moment) of bras came in this weekend, and I thought I'd share the joy.  I'll start off with a couple of online company reviews (with linkies), and then I'll be doing a separate post for each bra, for ease of googling.  I've found bloggers to provide some of the best information in bra reviews, but it's hard to find reviews for specific bras without doing a lot of digging.

So far, I have technically tried two online retailers, but I'm sort of not counting the first one, since I only ordered one bra.  For an extensive list of shop that carry bras online, I love Busty Girl's FAQ.  Not all them carry all sizes, though, so consider yourself warned.  A lot of them are also in Britain, which kinda sucks if you live stateside.

My first experience was with Bare Necessities.  I ordered a Chantelle Rive Gauche (review will be in the next post), since that's what I'd been wearing, and I wanted to try it in a different size.  Their website was laid out well, and it was easy to find what I was looking for.  They're not real great on the communication end of things, though, and their shipping is on the slow side (Jersey to Kentucky took a full week).  I never got an email for my receipt or to notify me that my package shipped.  Their exchange policy is also a bit weird.  Still, they came pretty highly recommended by a lot of other bloggers, so I gave them a try.  The bra didn't fit (of course), and they had a promotion offering free return shipping on Chantelle bras, so it's currently en route back to them.  I'm a bit nervous, as I still haven't heard from them, and it's been a week since I sent it back.  I'll probably be calling them next week to verify they got it.  I actually did call to check on whether they shipped it and spent a bit longer on hold than I'd've liked.  I'd also like to point out that I sent them an email asked for advice re:bra styles and fit last weekend, and have yet to hear back.  I'm not impressed, and am really just hoping I get my money back at this point.

The next lot, the one that came in this weekend, I ordered from Her Room.  I promptly received my receipt, and it even shipped the same day.  I ordered Monday or Tuesday, and it arrived on Friday, which is a reasonable speed for Texas to Kentucky.  I was able to have a live chat on their website and they did their best to answer my questions and give me some suggestions (which were mostly based on their sales numbers, but at least they made an effort).  Bonus: they provide free shipping on exchanges.  Their exchange policy could be better worded ("We gladly pay for the re-shipping cost of exchanged merchandise (one exchange per order, please)" that last bit is a little sticky), but I was able to verify that what they mean by that is basically, if you want to exchange stuff, do it all at once, not one bra now, then another a week later.  I also inquired (via phone) about what happens if the exchange doesn't fit, and pretty much they run it as a return and new sale at that point--I believe the girl said shipping will still be free at that point.  Not sure how they are with returns yet, but I'll be shipping the bras that didn't fit back tomorrow.  While their size guide is a bit wonky (they add inches to the band), I really like how their website compares how each brand's cup size compares to various standards (UK, US, etc).  They also have a section on each bra's page with specs on the bra, fitting tips, and a section for customer reviews.

Assuming my exchange with Her Room goes well, I'll probably stick with them (I'm a creature of habit).  One thing I have noticed is pretty consistent with most of the various retailers is that pretty much all of them have loads of complaints around the internet regarding the return process, which I would expect to be a problem to some degree, anyway.  Bras are extremely hard to fit, and women are crazy--those two facts combine for a powder keg.  I will point out that of the two stores I've tried, Bare Necessities is BBB accredited and Her Room is not--I find this very interesting, considering I've had better service so far from the latter.   If you've tried some of the other shops online (especially if you live in the US), feel free to post a review about your experience there in the comments--I'm hoping we can build up a bit of a following here, and the more information there is in one place, the better. 

On a completely unrelated note, I'd also like to point out that girls with smaller chests are more than welcome here.  While you guys generally don't have the should and back pain issues, I know it can be very hard to find cute bras in very small sizes--just because you're little doesn't mean you don't deserve something pretty, and I don't know anyone who enjoys it when their nipples poke out of their shirt.  While I am looking for a good bra in a larger size, I am also trying to figure out a better design (which, having started, I can tell you is much harder than you'd think), and I'd like to eventually cover all the girls who don't fit in a so-called normal size range.  Boobs are boobs, and every woman deserves to be comfortable and look and feel pretty, regardless of their size.  (You're probably going to hear that a lot, consider yourself warned.)