Bra Review: Gorgeous at Debenhams Provence Lace Bra in 30G

 

I couldn't actually find a stock photo of this bra. I know it is in their DD-K range of bras. If you want to see stock photos of something similar go right ahead.
 

The label actually lies because this bra was actually 7.88! Yeah, 75% percent off!

The one day I go up to visit Dublin (I suppose I had to make an effort to see my boyfriend), Debenhams was having a Blue Cross Sale. I'm not really one for falling for the gullible thing that just because something is on a sale that it is a bargain. However, Debenhams had finally got their act together and had moved all their discount bras to one section and that extra 20% off rocked! Even in Arnotts the bras were on sale! This is like my heaven.

So I tried on all the 30Gs. I have come to the conclusion that in the Gorgeous range I am a 32G / 30GG, because the 30Gs are really small. I am noting 32G because I have found their 30GGs just way too wide wired, but the 32Gs okay, but too loose to truly test. When I get a Rixie Clip, I will report back. Remember I have one breast larger than the other, so that's a pretty annoying factor in my purchases (nothing bloody fits both sides aragh argh).

Review:

Looks: 

Overall, I have to call this bra a "meh bra". I like the lace's unusual pattern.

I really like the geometric theme.  Sadly, overall, I think it looks a too much like an old lady would wear it. 

Feel: 

This bra doesn't feel particularly soft or particularly rough.

Shape: 

Horrid. Round at the bottom, then more naturally pointy at the top. A combination that just doesn't work. It reminds me of what Hater at Bras I hate calls the Curvy Kate "upside down 7".

Other Features:
In-built side-support panel which made the bottom half the bra have a nice shape.

Straps: 

Too far apart, even after I shortened the bra. I wanted to tighten them so the bra could actually lift but it was simply impossible as it would just make the bra cut into my armpits. They are fully adjustable.

Fit:
What kind of bra is this? I really am asking. Is it an balconette or full-cup bra. The wide strap placement and the half-cup design would make me think it was a balconette. On the other hand, the odd fact if I could tighten the straps enough, it would look like a full-cup, with a round shape. 

Central gore lightly tacks. The wires were too wide. I had orange in a glass.

Overall:

Just meh. Not suitable for full on top, because of the strange difference in shape from the top and bottom halves. I bent the wires so it's less painful. As usual, I spill slightly out of one side. I'm keep this bra too wear under many layers of clothes to hide the horrible shape. I need to size up, but then the wires and straps would just be too painful. I don't think this bra would give a very good shape, perhaps it might on those who are full on bottom.

Even post alterations (tightening band and bending wires to fit my body), little difference was made in shape.

Bra Review: F&F Harmony Lace Fuller Bust Bra in Pink, 32G (32FF)

F&F Harmony Lace Fuller Bust Bra in Pink, available in sizes 32DD - 40G (40FF UK sizing) with no gaps. 

You may remember that I was intrigued by my local Tesco's bra selection. I know from previous experience is that extended sizes get put on the market here in Ireland, then vanish. Why? Because no one fits into them when you encourage your potential customers to wear a band 4 inches too big and a cup about 4 sizes too small... Just like all the poor 28 bands that are no longer in Marks and Spencer's. 

What was I saying... OMG I actually managed to grab one! FIVE EURO! I'm still pretty confused and pissed about their measuring advice, but I'm just going to block it out and go for a sister size of my own. I usually wear about 28GG, I decided to have a look at their 32FF. It's labelled 32G, as they skip FF.

So the bra:

I really like this bra, so I'll have to ignore Tesco's *sigh* utter crap. I have to review this. The bra blogosphere needs me. Tescos / Florence and Fred bras are really under-reviewed. There's about 3 on Bratabase.

Review

Looks: Wow, maybe it's just be but this bra is stunning. Lovely vivid pink with simple lace pattern. Maybe some people might think the fabric looks flimsy though. I think it looks just light. The lacy cups would be visible under tight fitting clothes. I usually wouldn't point this out, but the back band is this lovely shiny silky fabric and it looks like it wouldn't cling or dig in. It seems like an odd aesthetic choice to have this great feature on the back but with the lacy cups on the front.

Feel: This bra feels stretchy - I correctly guessed that the cups are Nylon. It's not really a soft to touch bra, but I love the silky feel of the back mesh.

Shape: Very round, very forgiving stretchy cups. I couldn't tighten the bra as much as I would have liked but I liked the shape very much. 

Other Features:

This bra has a side support panel which is made of nylon. The back has 3 hooks.

Straps: I feel they are kind of thin - 0.5 inches. They are half adjustable, but it would not be hard to take apart and lengthen as the second half of the strap is the same as the front half.

Fit:
Very wide central gore, which did not tack (I wonder if it would if it was taken in?). I think it could be taken in very easily.

The cups were too wide for me (but not particularly wide overall in my opinion).

I think I should try the 32F rather than altering this bra because the cups are very stretchy and thus I think I could get away with a size smaller.

Overall:
If you're in the size range of this bra, check it out! The stretchiness is very forgiving for asymmetry. It's only available online in a 40F though. Don't take the last 32F in my local Tescos!

 

 

Rant on Tescos Fitting Suggestions

I love the idea of selling bras with fitting advice on the back, but not shite like this.

Let me measure as they say. Okay my underbust is 29 SO I'll have to add 5 (why? :S). So that's 34 (oh that's conveniently in their range unlike the 28GG/30G I usually wear). Now for my overbust. In their defence their little model woman drawing is not wearing a bra so I won't wear a super small bra for this measurement (like I usually see with these kind of terrible guides) and go with overbust standing up right now. Okay, 37.5.

34 + 0 = 34 inches = A cup (0 inches?)
34 + 1 = 35 inches  = B cup
34 + 2 = 36 inches = C cup
34 + 3 = 37 inches = D cup
34 + 4 = 38 inches = DD cup

Okay, so I'm a 34D or 34DD. Oh God. God. GOD.

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I used to wear 34DD pre-measuring myself. 34DD is waaaaaay too small.  I've never worn a 34D. I actually 'have' a 34D though. My friend left at my house me when I fitted her to a 30E/F.

Let's have a look.

From top down, Primark or Newlook 34D, Newlook 34DD and Cleo 28GG. An interesting fact about bras is that every time you go up a cupsize, the bra gets 1 inch bigger. Another interesting fact is that 34DD can fit 2 apples not 1. Why is it so big? Because my boobs stretched out the cups. Yes. YES. A 34DD. Yep. I measured to a 34DD that I've since gotten rid of.

If they're doling out this advice to someone who has a 10 inch difference between her underbust and overbust (leaning forward...), which clearly is a lot of boob right there, no wonder the extended sizes are on sale. ¬¬;

For example, my mother, who fits into their range - 34FF (34G in their sizing), would need a 38 band and about a D cup too! No wonder they're on sale, all their potential customers already fit into the 34A - 38DD crap size range everywhere bloody sells!

Secondly, that 0 inches thing though... I don't get that. 0 inches means no boobs. As in the amount of boob is nil. If it's higher than that, say 0.5 to 1, then that's usually an AA cup, and 1 inch is an A cup. Why that's there is that you can say get this problem:

Let's say the two measurements I took were these.

Example 1:

Underbust: 27
Overbust: 32

Okay, I'll add 5 to my measurement. Okay, That's 27 + 5 = 32. Okay, that's 0 difference. An A. Well, actually it makes no bloody sense! Let's try these measurements:

Example 2:

Underbust: 27
Overbust: 31

Okay, I'll add 5 to my measurement. Okay, That's 27 + 5 = 32. Okay...I'm a -A cup... So erm, how does she have boobs if her measurement is less than zero...

...
...
...
...

Now those women, the way I measure them, I would get at least 28DD (she could measure higher when leaning forward) and for the second example, 28D.

Go to Tescos, and measure yourself and discover you have minus boobs!