ASOS Full Bust Swim Reviews – 2016

Last Spring I was eager to find my first swim tops that fit. In fact, my very first blog reviews were swim tops!  I was eager, however, to not spend a ton of money on them, and specifically, not spend a ton of money trying them on. When I discovered that ASOS has its own comparably inexpensive line of DD+ swim tops, some of which are UK DD-G starting at a 30 band, and that ASOS has free shipping (I think with an order over $40), free returns, and a student discount, I ordered a whole bunch of tops to try. I wrote about my successes and failures here and here. 

While some of their tops in my size 30G (or if you are on the US page it will convert to US sizes – in my case 30I) were far too shallow (and I’ve heard similar complaints from many people), there were two tops that stood out, and were great fits on me.  One was the FULLER BUST Miami Palm Print Longline Bikini Top in size US 30I, which fit perfectly except for a gore which did not completely tack:

  

The other was the now discontinued “Mix and Match D+ Plunge Halter Bikini top” – which for some reason I was fitting into US sizes 30H and 30I.

  

 I was so upset to not find this top in new colors and patterns this year. ASOS, this is the least shallow of all your options! It’s, at least, amazing for inner and upper fullness. In retrospect I do regret not keeping the white version, above (though I did keep two other colors).

All of my ASOS tops were $30-$40 full price (and sales made them even cheaper), and they held up well on a beach vacation where I was playing in rough waves and doing a terrible job body boarding. 

So that’s a recap of my success last year buying from ASOS.

A few observations about ASOS’ swim line this year:

1. If you want one in a full bust size, you really have to watch their New Arrivals like a hawk. They tend to go quickly, especially the attractive ones.

2. The fuller bust line is very inventive and fashion forward. There are all sorts of trendy styles – crop top versions, bondage inspired versions, wrap details, use of mesh, even a top or two with sleeves. There are also a ton which, at first glance, are hideous to me. I didn’t think I was going to buy any this year looking at the offerings in February and March, but ASOS keeps rolling out new ones continuously. Seriously, I don’t know when or if they will ever stop. So keep your eye on it if you’re in the size range, and maybe you’ll eventually see one you fancy!

3. I am even more convinced this year that you probably want to size up in the cup with ASOS, if you can. They seem to run even smaller in the cup, unfortunately. 

4. You may want to avoid the models that say “hidden underwire” in their names if you are projected. I tried a bunch of them last year and found them very shallow (though of course they may have changed the fit). Any of the non-underwire tops are also very shallow (you’ll see one below).

5. ASOS still has the helpful “catwalk” videos of most of their offerings- click Catwalk right below the item photos. This is amazing. I love seeing the product in real life without the threat of Photoshop, in motion, and from all angles before I buy. 

Ok, onto 3 brief reviews! I’ll begin with 2 that didn’t work, and end with 1 I really love. 

First, the ASOS FULLER BUST Mix and Match Mesh Insert T Back Plunge Bikini Top DD-G which retails at $31. This one is getting low on sizes, but I just sent a 30I back to them in the mail, so I assume that 30I will eventually pop back up again! There is also a more recent colorway of this one as well that is white with a navy stripe.

This top has lightly moulded cups, a cool T back, and its halter has mesh between the two straps on each side – which I thought was pretty spiffy.  I really like the look of this top, so I was disappointed with the 30I was slightly too small and/or shallow. It really was close though:

   
    
 

(Sorry for the awful photo of the back, above. The back is really cool though!)

You can see that I’m falling out of the cups a bit. But the 30 band is nice and firm. I would recommend the 30I/30G size in this style if you are normally a UK 30F-30FF (or its 28 band counterparts).

Next is a terrible fail: the ASOS FULLER BUST Mix and Match Crochet Lace Scallop Strappy Triangle Wrap Bikini Top DD-G in Rust and size 30I. Sigh. I should have known a string top had an unlikely chance of working out! 

   
    
 

See, very shallow in the middle area. If you’re 30G/30I this actually might work for you, but only if you are more shallow inside and on top (less upper and inner fullness). It’s worth noting that the strings are not very supportive.  If you want to feel more contained and supported an actual underwire is your best bet. 

Finally, the one that I love! This swim crop top popped up about a week ago and I immediately grabbed it. It ticked all my boxes – interesting, flattering color for me, cool matching bottoms, cheap ($30!), and looked like it just might work shapewise. Fortunately at the time of this blog post’s publication it still has most of its sizes in stock, but many say “low in stock.”

This top is called the “ASOS FULLER BUST Exclusive Cut Out Halter Crop Bikini Top DD-G” and I was surprised to see that it was non-padded! A non-padded longline bikini top! I was hoping I would have as much success as I did with my padded longline from last year. 

   
    
   

As you can see, this whole set worked out beautifully for me! The wires aren’t too wide and the stretch swim fabric accommodates my upper and inner fullness. The shape is also fairly contained and minimizing especially from the side view. This makes me think that if you are very projected (or not as soft and “mashable” as I am) you may find the bottom of the cups in this size are not sufficiently projected. 

My only gripe is that the cups maybe could be a teensy bit bigger for me. I can’t go up a cup size without going up to the 32 band, however. I do hope ASOS will continue expanding their size range in the future. But for now, I’m quite happy with this top. I’m actually in the market for bathing suits this year specifically because I’ll be honeymooning at a tropical resort in about a month! This set is equally sexy and flattering – pretty much exactly the sort of thing I’m looking for. 

Let me know if you have further questions about these items, since I was indeed pretty brief. Next week I’ll be reviewing more swim tops from other full bust brands!

Review: The Extra Strength Strap Saver

Today’s review is a review of the nifty, handy bra accessory – the Strap Saver! I’ve mentioned the Strap Saver several times on my blog but have never fully reviewed the product yet. Today, in particular, I’m reviewing the latest iteration of the product, the Extra Strength version. Strap Saver’s Shari  kindly sent me the product to review because she noticed I liked the original (regular strength) version so much. 

While both versions of the Strap Saver are made out of stainless steel, the Extra Strength version uses a thicker stainless steel for more sturdy support. This new version was conceived and created upon hearing some reports that the regular strengths would bend out of shape if they were holding up too much weight. You can read about it here. The new wisdom is the following:

Use Regular Strap Savers for bras & bathing suits up to a size 40DD, tank tops & light dresses

Use Extra-Strength Strap Savers for bras & bathing suits size 40DDD & larger, sports bras & heavy dresses

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s see how this thing works!

Once upon a time, I learned that I could only buy bras with fully adjustable straps. I have a short upper torso, and high set breasts, so in order to get lift I need some short straps! Most straps that are only partially adjustable do not adjust short enough for me. I would have to avoid buying many lovely bras because of this precise reason. 

When I bought my Ewa Michalak CHP Lawenda, I had forgotten to perform my usual strap inquiry. Oh no! When I received the Lawenda, I was horrified to see the following:

  

I hoped that despite the fact they were only partially adjustable, they would still be short enough for me. But they were not. Adjusted all the way, the bra has very minimal lift, and the tops of the cup gape:

   
 

If the straps were shortened to their ideal length for me, I could achieve more lift and no gaping, like this:

  

Now, crafty people might just go ahead and sew the straps shorter. My friends, I have an irrational fear regarding hand-altering bras. I just can’t picture myself shortening straps and sewing them back up successfully. Now, I do aim to try one day. But that day has not yet come. The Strap Saver is for people like me – a cheap, handy, reversible, non-sewing solution to the problem of straps of an unfortunate length. 

And note: the Strap Saver is not just for shortening partially adjustable straps, but can also be used to shorten bra straps that have become too long and stretched out from being worn. So, it can give added life to a beloved old bra, too.

Strap Savers come in a little pink bag. The bag is a great idea, because then you won’t lose the tiny products. 

   
 

They also come with 2 clear sets of instructions, 1 for if your straps have a metal slider, and one for if they do not. There are also instructional videos on the Strap Saver website. 

  

The Extra Strengths are made of a sturdy metal. Here is a comparison photo with the Regular version, with the Extra Strength on the right:

  

Here’s how to put them on. First you adjust the strap as long as it will go:

  

Then you pull the strap through the adjuster, forming a loop, pulling it through the amount you would like to shorten it (the bigger the loop you make, the shorter the strap will be!). 

  

Then you put the top of the loop and the bra strap through the wider part of the Strap Saver:

  

And the final step is to carefully hook the narrower part of the Strap Saver onto the bra strap. This is the hardest part, in my opinion. The metal is so sturdy that you have to try hard to squeeze the strap into it! But, it works, and when it’s in place it’s obviously not going anywhere. 

  

Then you do the other strap. 

And now Lawenda is lifted high to the sky:

  

From the back, the metal clips are somewhat visible, but they do not look offensively obtrusive. The shortened part is also going to be thicker/more bulky than the rest of the strap.

   
 

Do I notice much of a difference between the Regular and Extra Strength versions? Since I’m a UK 30G, the Regular version should be enough to hold my weight without distortion, and I have found that to be the case (if I am sister sizing down from a 40DDD correctly, I would require the Extra Strength if I were a UK 30H). However, I do like that the Extra Strength provides the assurance of extra security, and obviously some ladies are going to need it. I think it’s pretty cool that Shari and her team created the Extra Stength version after listening to feedback about their initial product. 

Extra-Strength Strap Savers come in ¾” and 1” and are currently offered in Metallic, but more colors are coming soon. They are the same price as regular Strap Savers – $15 for the first pair, $10 for each additional pair with free standard shipping in the US and just $2 additional to anywhere else in the world. You can grab yours here!

Fantasie Francesca Longline in 30G

I apologize, friends, for taking a few weeks off. Entirely unintentional. Work was getting the best of me! (Or worst of me??)

I have lots of things to review for you, of course. The first is the dramatic Fantasie Francesca longline, which is from last season, and which is likely on sale if you can find it now! I ended up buying it for about $60 in February. Expensive, but a big improvement over its whopping U.S. retail price of around $100. Whoa there, Fantasie!

I had been obsessed with this longline ever since I first glimpsed it in the season previews. It took forever for me to finally get my hands on it though.  I think I was unconsciously testing how long I could go without having it. At one point, I think I even felt peace about NOT getting this bra! Victory for my wallet! Alas, the victory was short-lived.

Here is Francesca:

   

Appearance wise, just ravishing. I love the blue and black, the curly lace along the cups, and the embroidered leaves and the fan- like design. Are they fans? I honestly have no idea – but it seems antique and I like it! I also love that the longline part is a see-through mesh.

 
Though I must say that for a $100 retail bra, the back of the bra is very disappointing. Totally black, totally plain. What’s with that?

   

I had great hopes regarding the fit of this bra. I am a big fan of Fantasie’s other padded half cups, Mae and Ivana. I was hoping Francesca would fit like Ivana with a longline tacked on! 
  

But that is not quite the case. The difference in fit may be in part due to the fact that I went up a cup size in Francesca, but I don’t think that’s all of it. I think the bra is generally wider and more shallow. 

  

While the actual numerical width of the wires (measured from top of wire straight across to top of the gore) aren’t all too different from my Comexim halfcup in a comparable size, I have realized that how wide a bra feels has other factors that contribute to it. One of those factors is how wide the entire cup is, from top to bottom. It may, for example, be wide if you measure starting at the top of the wire, but as the wire travels towards the bottom of the cups it narrows quickly. Comexim halfcups do so more than this Fantasie halfcup. The bottom of the cups for Francesca are wider. 
  

Another factor that contributes to a bra feeling wide is how wide the central gore is. If a central gore is wider, a bra with wires of a certain measurement will have its side wires end closer to your underarms (and hence may go further from where your root ends), than a bra with the same wire width measurement and a narrower gore. For this very reason – width of gore – Francesca’s wires end up being further from the sides of my roots than Comexim’s comparably wide wires. In the photo above, you can definitely see the width of the gore of Francesca. 

  

So, the bra is a bit wide for me, but the more essential problem for me is the bra’s shallowness. Apparently it’s hard to make a non-shallow longline? Comexim longlines tend to end up that way too!
  

You can see in the photo above that there is empty space at the bottom of the cup, because the bottom is too shallow for my boobs to fit down there. 

  

You can also see from the side view how the wires are pretty wide across most of the cup. Also, how the band rides up in back a little. Standard loose Fantasie 30 band! The slight riding up of a longline band doesn’t bother me as much as a regular band would, however.  The wider band is pretty sturdy, and the bra doesn’t feel like it is going anywhere!
  

Despite these fit problems, Francesca won over my heart, and she’s here to stay. 

  

The cups fit rather nicely, I generally like how my boobs look in it, and I think Francesca is rather unique!

Though I don’t have a photo today, I might also comment on Francesca under a shirt. Under a tighter, thinner shirt, you will of course have some obvious vertical seams showing in the front, and the thick longline band is actually more evident than I want it to be in the back (probably only because I am not used to seeing longline bands through a shirt!). As far as silhouette goes, because the bra is shallower, the side view is minimal (although round, as the photos show), and the front view is wider (more hourglassy). 
  

The bra is actually fairly comfortable. Longlines take a bit to get used to (they aren’t everyday type bras for me, but more for something a little sweet and special), but nothing is poking oddly in this one. The band wrinkles a little when moving around (as evident in the above photo) but it doesn’t flip up. 

 

The lighting in the above photo really brings out the colors and textures. Quite lovely!

Give Francesca a try if you can find one at a good price – especially if you’re not too projected or if you’re slightly wide-set. I didn’t mention above, but it should be fairly evident from the pictures that there is some good room for upper fullness/tall roots at the top of the cups. Fantasie halfcups (and most halfcups, for that matter) are pretty good for that!

Bluebella More Aura Cage bra in 32FF

My readers, I have for you today a look at a brand that has (lately) been making the rounds in the full bust blogosphere.

You may have first read about UK lingerie brand Bluebella’s new fuller bust DD+ range called “More” on Sweet Nothings’ detailed blog a few months ago. That’s precisely when the brand came on my radar. I was extremely attracted to the Aura and the Iana. The first for its strappy back and strappy gore, and the second for its fresh and modern aesthetic. Since then, you may have very recently come across some reviews of Bluebella More bras from Cakes on a Plate, Big Cup Little Cup, and Sweet Nothings. 

Before I show you Aura, which I was pretty darn happy to have sent to me by the Bluebella folks, here’s a few things to note about the company:  first, the size range is 32-38 DD-G (UK sizing).  This is not the widest size range, for sure, but it’s a good start for a company venturing into full bust territory, which, I understand, can be a risky move.   Learning about Bluebella, I was particularly pleased with their prices (the Aura retails at 32 GBP, or about 48 USD!), their shipping (to the US it is free if you spend over 30 GBP), and their return policy (free returns if you’re in the UK!). 

So, here’s what the Aura bra looks like:

 

  
  

I think it’s fairly clear why I was so attracted to this one! If you’ve been following my blog, you know I do not have any other bras like this. My bras are lacy, or embroideried, or bejeweled, or bowed, or flowery (or plain). Full bust bras with interesting backs, with strappy/cage details are rare (although props to Ewa Michalak and Pour Moi for offering some of the latter in the past year, too).

I’ve become of the opinion that more full bust bras should experiment with back details, and not just for the sake of being trendy and interesting. Since most of the support of a bra comes from the band, it seems to me that if we add more band – in the form of extra straps and interesting configurations – the support will also be improved. Maybe?

Regardless, the Aura has exactly the look that I want in diving into the new strappy style. It has just the right amount of simplicity – a moulded, padded, black bra (with the glint of some gold hardware) – so that the cage details can stand out and steal the show. The front, side, and back views are all awesome. 

  

In addition to its edgy factor, Aura has some other notable features. First, the bra has real deal graduated push-up cups (up to about half an inch of padding at its most padded point)!  Now this is extremely hard to find among full bust bras. The only well-known models I’m aware of that have extra padding that may be considered push-up are the new Tutti Rouge Jessica and Ewa Michalak padded bras (all of which involve removable pads).  The graduated padding in Aura resembles the kind of push-up padding found in department store bras or at Victoria’s Secret. So if you’ve been missing the push-up effect in fuller busts bras, Aura may be one to check out. 

The inside of the cups with padding:

  

  

The matching brief in size S is true to size and quite nice. It is sooo delicate and light – particularly the mesh in the back – and is especially silky. I was pretty impressed. The strappy theme is continued on each hip, with everything connected by the gold hardware. Snazzy!

  

How did this bra in size 32FF fit? Since Bluebella is a new brand to many readers I’m sure, I thought I would include some precise measurements. The band is 28.5 inches and stretches to about 32.5 (so unfortunately, this bra will not work for a 28/30 band like moi…hmmph!). The width of the cups are about 6 inches – which is about the same as a Comexim halfcup in a similar size – so not too wide at all! The cup depth is about 9 inches, so it seems like the bra may run a little small in the cups. The gore comes in at 3 inches, and the straps are three quarters of an inch.

  

But how does this bra fit on me?  Well, it looks pretty damn awesome. I am utterly seduced by its appearance, and am so sad that this size does not quite work for me. I covet this exact bra, but with a grand total of two tweaks. Then it will be the perfect fit. 

  

So what’s wrong? You can see the cups are actually pretty good. Because of the push-up padding, the cups end up being shallower at the bottom of the cups (so if you’re more projected you might prefer to try Bluebella’s nonpadded styles). But since my boobs are mashable, the cups work for me. The padding does its job and pushes my boobs up and towards the middle, producing a really nice, open cleavage! The shape of the cups at the top is extremely friendly if you’re full on top and with inner fullness. 

  

The biggest problem, which you may have noticed from the photos, is that the band is too big on me. But this is no surprise. Since I am usually 28 or 30 in band size, I was hoping this would be a super-firm-really-a-30 32 band. Alas it wasn’t. This 32 band is true to size. Even on the tightest hook the gore is not fully tacking because of band looseness. Bluebella, please consider making 30 bands in the future (and 28 bands)!

The gore not tacking because the band is too loose for me:

  
  

You can see that the amazing strappy back is riding up in the back.  Unfortunately it would be very hard to alter this band smaller – so ultimately Aura is not a keeper for me on this basis. 

  

The briefs fit really well, though! Skimpy, see-through and form-fitting in the back. Definitely keepers. 

  

This set made me feel sexy in a whole new and different way. Hehe. 

  

The second issue for me was the wideness of the straps, and the amount of fabric right near the armpit. I think some people may appreciate the amount of coverage in this area (it helps to push all of your tissue into the cup!), but on my petite frame it is too much, and uncomfortable on my armpits. If you are not so petite (or perhaps a little lower set),  this bra may work a lot better for you. Also, I imagine there may be less side coverage in a smaller size. 

  

I would love for the cup area near the armpit to be lessened by about a centimeter. 

  

So those are the two fit issues this bra has for me. I did love the narrow wires, though. Take a look:

  
 

Ready for work!

  

This bra is fairly smooth under a T-shirt:

  

And gives a rounded, projected silhouette:

   
  

All in all, I’m excited about Bluebella’s new DD+ ranges, and looking forward to trying some of the other styles (especially Iana! And ones which would be more viable in terms of altering the band smaller!). But I’m really hoping that in the near future they will decide to expand their size range to include not just more band sizes (which I need), but more cup sizes as well. That would be amazing, as Bluebella’s present styles are so modern, fresh, and fashion forward – which I think can fill a special niche among full bust brands. 

Check out Aura here if you think it might work for you – or take a gander at Bluebella’s other styles in the More range. 

Curvy Kate Jewel in 30G

Just a quick review today!

Curvy Kate Jewel is actually from a few seasons ago – last Spring, or maybe even the Fall before that. I thought I might still stick up a review, in case anyone is spying it around at low prices. Also, it’s been awhile since I reviewed Curvy Kate bras!

The last Curvy Kate unlined Balconette I tried was the Bardot, which was almost perfect except for the fact that it was not open enough on top for me. I heard that the Jewel was more open. 

  

As you can see, this is true! There definitely isn’t much in the way of quadding going on. 

But, there is some in-cup quadding, as the next photo makes evident: 
  

The diagonal seam pushes in on my softer breast tissue, especially on my larger breast. 

  

I really like many aspects of this bra. There is some good bottom projection, the shape is round, the gore is fairly close set, the cups allow for some inner fullness and cleavage, and let’s not forget the ice-princess colorway! 
  

I have to admit though – I love this color combo off of me, but I do not really like it on me. I don’t know – it is just not my colors! The colors (not the fit) are the ultimate reason why I gave this bra up.

  

Regarding comfort, not bad at all. Nothing harsh or too stiff. The band stretches to a normal 30 inches and is supportive. The bra felt rather inconspicuous while I was relaxing. Nice job Curvy Kate!
  

The wires are on the wider side in this size:

  

Hmm… Looking at the photos again makes me miss this bra!
  

Sometimes I forget that Curvy Kate has a pretty special identity among UK brands. Curvy Kate is always going for romantic/girly/sexy, which is a style that I think is lacking in UK full bust brands (or, at the very least, Curvy Kate engages it the most!). But not only that, Curvy Kate has been listening to customers and evolving the fits and styles of its offerings, which is pretty cool. 

 

If you like Jewel, you may still find it around with a Google, eBay, or Amazon search! If you’re looking for a recent style, I suspect it may be similar to the current Madagascar in fit. Anyone have experience of Madagascar?

Review: Ewa Michalak PL Zlote Oko in 65GG

Ewa Michalak’s CHP and SM cuts (padded halfcup and unlined plunge balcony, respectively) are awesome – as I’ve tried to demonstrate on this blog. But until now, I’ve yet to get my hands on any of Ewa Michalak’s other cuts. Today changes that!

  

I received the sultry PL Zlote Oko  set in size 65GG from the kind and helpful owner of the online lingerie boutique called Zathiya. I’ve had my eye on this online store, because while it’s a relatively small retailer, it’s rich in Polish bras.

Comexim and Ewa Michalak, particularly. Aisha, the owner, stocks many of the latest styles from both amazing brands, in a wide size range of 26-40 D-K (UK) –  yes, it’s true, there are some Ewa Michalak 55 and 60 bands if you need them! Not to mention, the store is based in Texas. This means that if you’re in the U.S., you can have Polish bras to your doorstep within a week! You don’t know how pleased I am with this possibility. I hate waiting 4 to 5+ weeks buying directly from Poland, especially when I am not sure if the bras will fit – and particularly when they don’t fit (my last two Polish ventures turned out this way, unfortunately).  Not to mention the inconvenience of paying return shipping back to Poland, and waiting a long time to get a refund. 

  

One of the coolest things about Zathiya is the Return Policy. You have 30 days to return for a refund and another 60 for store credit. And the best part: the store is happy to pay for one return shipping for a return or exchange per order. Between the quick shipping (which is free over $100) and low-risk return policy, this store is especially great if you are in the US and just getting into Polish bras/trying to figure out your best fit and size. 

 

Because I haven’t tried the PL cut before, I wasn’t sure of my size, but I estimated it to be a 65G or 65GG based on my experiences with CHP and SM. The 65GG fit fairly well, as you can see in the photos. In the future I may be interested in comparing with a 65G, since there is a little room at the apex of the cup (I think? It’s hard to tell!), and when  I am sitting and lounging the bra gapes more than other bras I have. 

  

Another reason I might want to try 65G is the hope of better scaling. The straps and cup sides in this size are a bit wide on my petite frame, so I’m wondering if that would be reduced one cup down. Anyone have experience of any fit changes from a G to a GG in the plunges?

  

But all things considered, this bra is pretty fantastic. I hadn’t noticed it too much on Ewa’s website, and I think it’s because it looks like just a black bra at first glance. But the shiny gold embroidery in person makes the bra really stunning:
  

When I pulled it out of the package I thought GLAMOUR. I didn’t realize that I didn’t own any glamorous bras until my hands touched this one (speaking of touch – this one is silky and luxe-feeling!). So I welcomed Zlote Oko warmly into the family, and said “you will be my glamorous bra.” 😉

 
      

The mid-rise brief, as usual from Ewa Michalak, is a perfect match and completes the glamour look. It’s a little hard to see in the photos, but the shiny gold continues on the waistband:
   

The back of the brief is sheer, which is a nice touch. I usually prefer thongs, but can’t say no to a sheer back, especially topped with a bow! 

  

Narrow wires, for sure:

 

With an Ewa Michalak plunge you get a fairly low gore – around 2 inches. This is a great height – low enough to not get in the way of close set breasts and allow for supreme cleavage, and high enough to keep the boobs from slipping out. But your mileage may vary on this issue – I know some ladies with much softer tissue (which can tend to “spill” out the center of a plunge) prefer the higher gore of the S cut to the Plunge. 

 

Just like the CHP cut, the PL cut comes with interior pockets and removable pads, for extra lift or to correct assymetry. These photos are without the pads. 

 
 

In regards to comfort, I’m divided. The bra is very comfortable walking around and doing daily tasks – and for long periods of time. It is extremely supportive – the wide and firm band is awesome. When I was walking the dog I felt like my boobs were floating on my chest -it felt very freeing! However, if I’m lounging around with the bra on, I’m confronted with another case of armpit-encroaching, which can be irritating after awhile. Hopefully a future 65G can ameliorate that. 
      

Now, Ewa Michalak bras are known for projection, and I gotta say this bra has an insane amount of projection. You can sort of see it in these angle shots:

 

But it is particularly evident by looking at the silhouette with a tshirt on:

   

So much projection and lift! Now some people love and want this, but as I’ve said on this blog ad nauseum, this is sadly not an everyday (read: for work) look for me. I think the problem is that I’m pretty small and short, and I don’t have the biggest bottom half to balance it out, so my boobs are quite, quite salient with such projection. While projected bras may be the best technical fit for me (and consequently most comfortable, since my boobs are projected), this conflicts with the more lower profile and covert look I try to achieve for work – with minimized cleavage and minimized projection. Some examples:

   
  

 

See what I mean? (I’m probably wearing my Chantelle C Chic Sexy Unlined plunges in the above photos – shallow, wide, not the best technical fit for me, but my “go-to” for de-sexifying at work. Which is, sadly, important in my line of work. Grrr.)

But here’s the front view of the Zlote Oko, which is spectacular:

 

A particularly contained, centered, and round look, with splendid cleavage! I’m a fan. And though there is some lace showing through this light t-shirt, there’s nary a sign of a seam. 

Luckily, Zathiya still has some sizes of the PL Zlote Oko left (note: the band runs pretty tight) and its matching brief (note: I received size M while I’m usually S, so the brief may run a bit small), as well as some other popular current styles like Syrena and Comexim’s Sonia (all of the bras retailing at $50-$60).

If you are tired of the more easily accessible US and UK bras with their (most often) wide wires and shallow cups, and want more narrow and projected styles that are also beautiful and unique, be sure to check out Zathiya, friends!

Review: Comexim Rita in 65J

When I first glimpsed Comexim’s Rita plunge on Comexim’s Facebook page a few months ago, I knew that it was THE Comexim set of the season for me. I need a fantastic red bra, this one has eyelash lace, and the matching thong is exquisite. Knowing that Comexim orders take about a month to fulfill (3 weeks if you are very lucky), my goal was Valentine’s Day.

I was so excited for my Valentine’s set! When I pulled it out of the box, I was very happy:

   

The lace overlay on this one is really pretty, and the black velvet bows are pretty cool too.

  

You can imagine my disappointment when the dear thing did not fit!

  

You’ll see a bunch of photos where the fit doesn’t look too bad. Which makes sense – it’s not a total disaster. The problem is when I move my shoulders back ever so slightly, or even take a breath – quadboob city all along the cup edges. 

I bought my usual Comexim plunge size. Why the problem, then? Well, Rita is not the standard plunge cut Comexim offers, but is a plunge that has a lower gore and slightly shallower cups (Ginger, another pretty style, is also this cut). Now, the width of the cups is about the same as the standard plunge’s cups – at this size around 5.5 inches – so the fact that the bra is more shallow and yet the same width makes this cut fit a cup size smaller than the standard plunge. 

Either way, shapewise this cut fits breasts that are slightly more shallow – and particularly shallower on top. The bra still has overall projection near the apex (like the standard plunges), so I do not think this bra would work with overall shallowness. That is, the bra seems to require some fullness, but that fullness needs to be around the apex or on bottom. If you have a lot of upper projection, upper fullness, or tall roots, the standard plunge will get along with you much better!

Luckily, you can ask Comexim to sew the bra for you in the standard cut, if you’d like. I’ve also noted that the Canadian online store Bra Obsessed also sells the standard plunge cut of Rita, instead of the lower coverage option. 

  

I really do like the lower gore on this plunge, and wonder if I can get better results by asking for a standard plunge with a reduced gore. Or does a reduced gore always result in a shallower top for Comexim? Anyone have experience?

  

Another disappointment was the thong. I am an XS or S in American/UK brands, and own a Comexim brief in size S that actually could be a bit smaller. So I ordered a S in this thong, and it’s teeny! Too tight on me, for sure.  You can see it cutting into my sides in the photos. 

I do love the black color-blocking in this set, I gotta say. It gives a set that has all the traditional hot and sexy elements a cool and contemporary feel as well. 

  

Besides checking out Comexim’s usual narrow wires below, check out that quadboob.  Oof!

  

While there does seem to be a shape incompatibility for me with this cut, I do wonder if I could still get a good fit one cup size up. A future experiment, perhaps? 

  

You can see, below, the good apex (and even bottom, it appears) projection this bra offers. Seriously, if you’re full on bottom, you may want to give this cut a try!

  

This is standing normally:

  

So far so good. But see what happens if I stand up a little straighter:

 

Oy. I just couldn’t handle that!

Under a shirt, a perfect delight:
   

Not too much visibility at all. Nice.
 
  

But don’t worry, if you’re in the mood 😉 to be a little less covert:

 

I really enjoy the design of the Rita set, and I so wish it worked for me. Maybe another day, maybe another size. Sigh.

Next week I bring you the incredibly glamorous Ewa Michalak PL Zlote Oko, from the U.S. online boutique Zathiya. Seriously, if you want new Ewa Michalak or Comexim bras (at great prices) and not have to wait the usual month(s) for them to ship to you, get your butt over to Zathiya!