sooper-quick bra review
So while I was pregnant, the Freya Millie -- my go-to workhorse daily wear bra when NOT pregnant -- was discontinued. I've been questing after a replacement, reading every large-cup bra review site there is, poking around in Bratabase, analyzing what did and didn't work for me about the Millie's fit and shape...yeah, it's a project, when your usual bra size is 32JJ (UK), OK?
I remeasured carefully (still measure at a 32JJ) and ordered 3 bras to try:
Faye, by Freya. According to Bratabase, this is cut similarly to Millie. I think it has a stretchier band, because it hooked up on the smallest hook easily; I could still pull it away from my back and I could feel the straps digging in for support. I usually find Freya's bands to be stretchy, and so I think for this to work I'd need a 30 band or possibly smaller. That seems not worth the effort, so it's just going back. If you like stretchy bands, this might be good for you.
Inspire Sports Bra, by Bravissimo. I was super excited about this, because sports bras do not come in my size. They come in "close enough". I tried my usual size in this, 32JJ. If I can find my actual correct size in it, I think it will be great. The inner lining fit perfectly, the straps were comfortable, and the band was snug and firm without digging in. The outer cups seemed to be a different size than the lining, though; I could make little eyelids for my nipples with the excess fabric. That was...super strange. Very little bounce, even with that. I might need to go down a size; it's possible that the inner lining is stretchier than the outside. I will try it and find out! Definitely worth looking at if you are a small band/large cup lady, though.
Melrose, by Bravissimo. This was head & shoulders the winner of this set. I wish it came in ALL THE COLORS, because I would buy ALL THE COLORS. It is super, super comfy, and it does what very few bras do for me -- handle the actual narrow, front, high set of my breasts. It scoops them in & out of the way of my arms (no east-west problems!), the gore tacks perfectly, and the band is firm and supportive, but comfy. I would say the cups on this are fairly narrow, although the measurements in Bratabase indicate it's wider in the cup than Millie or Faye -- it certainly FEELS more narrow, which might have to do with the narrowness of the gore. Anyway. Love it. Would order it in ALL THE COLORS.
I remeasured carefully (still measure at a 32JJ) and ordered 3 bras to try:
Faye, by Freya. According to Bratabase, this is cut similarly to Millie. I think it has a stretchier band, because it hooked up on the smallest hook easily; I could still pull it away from my back and I could feel the straps digging in for support. I usually find Freya's bands to be stretchy, and so I think for this to work I'd need a 30 band or possibly smaller. That seems not worth the effort, so it's just going back. If you like stretchy bands, this might be good for you.
Inspire Sports Bra, by Bravissimo. I was super excited about this, because sports bras do not come in my size. They come in "close enough". I tried my usual size in this, 32JJ. If I can find my actual correct size in it, I think it will be great. The inner lining fit perfectly, the straps were comfortable, and the band was snug and firm without digging in. The outer cups seemed to be a different size than the lining, though; I could make little eyelids for my nipples with the excess fabric. That was...super strange. Very little bounce, even with that. I might need to go down a size; it's possible that the inner lining is stretchier than the outside. I will try it and find out! Definitely worth looking at if you are a small band/large cup lady, though.
Melrose, by Bravissimo. This was head & shoulders the winner of this set. I wish it came in ALL THE COLORS, because I would buy ALL THE COLORS. It is super, super comfy, and it does what very few bras do for me -- handle the actual narrow, front, high set of my breasts. It scoops them in & out of the way of my arms (no east-west problems!), the gore tacks perfectly, and the band is firm and supportive, but comfy. I would say the cups on this are fairly narrow, although the measurements in Bratabase indicate it's wider in the cup than Millie or Faye -- it certainly FEELS more narrow, which might have to do with the narrowness of the gore. Anyway. Love it. Would order it in ALL THE COLORS.