Passionata Starlight Plunge in 65H

Ages ago, before I discovered bras that fit, I purchased the Passionata Starlight thong. It looked cute, was bright pink and the best part was it had sparkles! I saw the matching bra but never wanted to pay for it. About a month or so ago I was bored online looking at lingerie as one does when I decided to look up the Passionata Starlight line to see if I was sol or if I could still purchase this bra. I wanted to complete the set as the thong is so comfy. There's two bras in the Starlight line: there's the plunge and then there's a t-back molded cup bra. I figured this plunge would fit me better. Unfortunately, while I could purchase this bra still, it was not available in my ideal size which would be a European 65G (UK 30F). However, for 15 bucks I figured I might as well try the EU 65H (UK 30FF) as one doesn't know until one tries. While this technically fits, all signs point to the EU 65G as being the best fit. So if anyone has one in pink and would like to swap for this one, let me know!

This bra is so pretty. It is a 3 part cup covered with glittery stars and checks. It's a double layer of fabric on the bottom for support while the top part is only one layer. It is not sheer though and hides nipples well. The gore is very low and the very top of it stops before the wire channels do which is an interesting effect not often seen in full-bust lingerie. The wires are on the wider side of average, which I expected from sizing up but it does seem wide for a 30FF in general. The cups are as deep as I expected (luckily!) although this means that I cannot bend the wires inward because then the cups would be too deep. Where I have the most issues with this bra is that it's tall and so full coverage. While the wings, at 4 inches, are not too tall to be uncomfortable, because it's so wide the edges of the cups are right in my armpit and chafe like hell. Not only that, but these cups are the tallest I've ever seen on a bra and not a bralette and they come up right to my shoulders. I'm sure in the next size down this would be less of an issue but I'm still not certain if the cups would ever not eat my armpits. The straps are the cheapest looking part of the bra: they have no decorations so they slip very easily.

Look how tall this stupid bra is. Why? Why is this necessary? I still get a decent shape but a little more east/west then normal because of the wide wires (I think). That means no cleavage which is fine. I can't really wear this under anything but sweaters anyway. The wires are wideset and have a tendency to slip off my shoulders if I'm not careful. The gore also poses issues for me and ultimately is the deal breaker. I could wear the bra on days when I'm not too active but even just lounging around, the gore stabs me. I have no idea why. I've had low gores before and it's not an issue. But this tacks so firmly it actually rubbed me raw over the course of a day. I can slide the wires in their channels to solve this issue a little bit but not enough to make it comfortable.

It was so hard to photograph but on the left side of this picture you can see how red I got at the top of the channel. It was actually rubbed raw and I had a little sore there for a couple of days and couldn't wear most of my bras comfortably.

So here you can begin to see how wide this bra really is. It gives a lovely shape really so I want it to work. I just haven't figured out how to yet. I'd say this bra is shallow to middling on the immediate depth front. My righty has some space under the cup because it's a smidge more projected then lefty.

Here it is folks. How awful is this. My poor armpits. The wide wires don't bug me too much but the damn wire channels are like half an inch longer then the wires. That means that this irritating situation isn't actually necessary. If I can figure out how to shorten the cup/wing without damaging the integrity of the bra I will. Nice uplift though and I can tell that if this wasn't a shape mismatch it would be pretty comfortable. 

The band is relatively true to size and wider in the back than my Ewas. I love the firmness of the band and it's one of the most comfortable parts of this bra.

I think I have average/tall roots but I had a lot of excess space in the tops of the cups that I think most people won't be able to fill. Luckily it lies relatively flat even when laying around.

I so wanted this bra to work. If I get a chance I might try the next size down. Unfortunately, it's just a big ol' shape mis-match. If it was just the wide wires or the tall wings/wide rubby cups or tall cups or gore I'd keep it but since I have issues with pretty much every aspect of this bra except for the depth and the band I know I should pass it on. I'll keep my eye out for the next size down because I'm too stubborn to give up this easily. It is for sale here. I won't discount Passionata styles in the future, especially since I figured out what size would work best for me. The quality looks good for the price and their pieces are so cute. It's a shame this one didn't work.

Dreams and Underthings Bralette in 30FF

Yes, another bralette! And this one is my best fit yet. The woman who runs Dreams and Underthings, Laura, also makes bralettes! I've been eagerly awaiting the opening of her Etsy store which is where I bought this from. She has regular and midline bands as well as a lace option. I chose the midline band which sadly doesn't work as well for me as I had hoped (not through any fault of the bralette). You can choose the colours of your bralette, accents and straps/elastics. Before I ordered I got in contact with Laura to ask her three questions: how does the band run, how do the cups run, and can I please get shortened straps. Laura was prompt and courteous in her replies: band runs pretty true to size, if you're between cup sizes definitely size up and yes, she can shorten straps!

So with Laura's advice in mind, I ordered a 30FF. Dreams and Underthings' bralettes are made using UK sizes and some of you may notice that this is a cup size larger then other UK bras I've reviewed. Those were a little too small which was what had prompted my asking how the cups run. I had a lot of fun deciding on what colours I wanted. I ended up with grey for my main colour, navy for the straps/elastics/trims and red as an accent. The fabric is extremely soft and comfortable. I put it on and made a trip out and I forgot I was wearing it. I love the shape and how surprisingly supportive it is.

It is a two-seam triangle cup. It is relatively high coverage but I don't mind. I think this style works best with higher cups: it's more supportive. It gives a relatively east-weast appearance but I don't mind that at all. In fact, that's kind of what I want out of a bralette. A relaxed and not super projected, boobs in your face look. Look at all that lift this bralette manages to give though! The gore doesn't tack which I expected but when I pushed it in the shape didn't change much and I had no quad, making me glad I chose the 30FF. Despite the gore not tacking, my breasts remain very well separated which is perfect for the summer. No more gross boob sweat from them touching all afternoon! The cups are lined in this super soft red fabric which was a lovely surprise and is also rather firm which I suspect is what makes this bralette so sturdy and supportive. This also provides more nipple coverage if that is something that concerns you.

Oh yeah, look at that shape! So round and so lifted. I was so excited to put this bralette on and notice that my boobs stayed in the cups like they're supposed to. I was afraid that they would travel down into the band trying to find room for my projection but this bralette is very well designed in regards to that. The cups are rather wide at 7 inches which is about 1.75 inches wider then I need but it doesn't really bother me too much since the wings are so low and non-irritating. It also doesn't seem to impact shape or support but I wonder if Laura would narrow the cups on my next one-I plan on trying the regular band length next.

Laura went the extra mile and designed her bralettes with my favourite kind of back-the leotard back. I think that this style back just looks so much nicer and more polished and really reflects well on the designer. It's a thoughtful touch that shows she's thinking about the bralette as a whole.

Pushing the gore in shows that I made the right choice in sizing. These colours are the most true to life.

Straps are attached in the front and the back with rings. They are thin but not too stretchy so they aren't too uncomfortable. They are relatively narrow set and out of the way of armpits.

I am incredibly impressed with this bralette from Dreams and Underthings. Laura has worked hard to develop her pattern and grade it-she offers sizes 28C-H, 30B-GG, 32A-G, 34A-FF, 36A-F, 38A-E, 40A-DD. The quality is very good. I love that it's a bralette that's been designed with fuller busts in mind without looking like it's been designed for fuller busts. It is delicate but supportive and well-designed: the cups are lined to add more support as is the gore, the band is relatively wide and the cups are cut with lots of projection. All of these elements are what make it great for medium/larger busts who are otherwise either sized out of s/m/l bralettes or need something with more support or coverage. I would love to see Laura source some pretty funky/quirky prints (like food or animals) as well as the option to purchase some basic/easy additions/substitutions/changes like strap width and cup width in the future but I agree with her decision to focus on fit first and creating an impressive size range. This bralette is an affordable, comfy addition to my wardrobe and I can't wait to try my next one.

Bra Obsessed Exclusive Comexim Port in 65H/30FF

So as hinted in my Old Navy swim review, I ordered a Comexim bikini top from Bra Obsessed and it arrived today! This lovely black number is called the Port and it is exclusive to Bra Obsessed. Jaimie also has several other exclusive Comexim bikinis. If you'd like to order straight from Poland, be warned that Comexim is on vacation right now and orders won't be fulfilled until August. If you'd like to order within the states, Zathiya has the Navy Comexim bikini in stock. I didn't want to wait for Comexim to fulfill my order so I chatted with Jaimie about my options. I really liked this Salma but I would have needed it in a three-seam half cup and I didn't want to wait, remember? So I decided on the Port. Jaimie also was very helpful in helping me figure out what size and under her advice I chose a 65H/30FF UK. I hoped it would fit, but based on previous experiences with a two-seam half-cup in 65H and a three-seam in 65HH I was wary. I had no reason to be because it fits! The only thing I would change is the straps. I appreciate the half-adjustable straps because they don't look too bra like but I'm too short for most half-adjustable straps.

This bikini is a plunge cut. I am not sure if there are any alterations that come standard on a bikini cut that are different then a standard plunge bra-compared to other plunges I tried it seems rather low-cut in gore and cup. I was afraid that I'd quad in the center due to the plunge style cutting into my inner fullness but there is almost none. It's a tad small on my bigger side but quite frankly, it's a bikini top and my standards are a smidge lower for a bikini top then a bra. As others have said, better to have a little tiny bit of quad in a bikini than a little bit of gapping. The band is short but stretchy and there are 2 layers in the band. The band is also nice and thick by the clasp which is metal. All the findings are gold and help this bra look that much more luxurious. This bikini is probably one of the softest bra-type garment I've ever touched. So silky and totally looks more expensive then it was. A plus in my book! The straps are wide and don't feel like they'll slip. I kinda wish they were shorter, but I don't want to permanently alter them a little shorter till I see how it fairs in the water.

I did not realize I had failed to take a normal photo of the front until the light had gone so I quickly took this photo with my laptop. I love how low the gore is-it gives me great cleavage but doesn't feel too sturdy. Luckily I go to the beach to look decorative and not actually swim (fun fact-I can't actually swim all that well). If you see something different about that gore, fear not! I have photos of that too and some words on it. You aren't going crazy, it is different then normal.

Look at the fabulosity my boobs achieve. No bows or extra frills or anything bra-like. Just soft silky cups and spiffy gold fasteners.

My apologies-I did not realize the band was folded over. It has a habit of doing that. A little pointer then I was expecting given the shape from the sides but I don't mind. Look how low those wings are though. I was afraid the straps would be too wide like they were in the other Comexims I tried but these straps are so narrow set they are well clear of my armpits. The wings too are nice and low-set. 

I need to refine my back photo taking skills. This has a u-back which I love. Seems to be more comfortable but I don't know if that's just my imagination. The clasp is really sturdy and made of metal but it's a devil to do up. I'm sure I just need practice but it took me at least five minutes all 3 times I tried it on. The band does stretch a considerable amount-9 inches-but it is true to size and thanks to those 3 layers it does feel very sturdy. I wonder how it will hold up to water. I hope it doesn't stretch too much more.

If the straps were just a little shorter, I'd get more cleavage and feel maybe a smidge more secure. I am lazy however and waiting to wear it in the water at least once to see if I really need to shorten them or if I can get away with keeping them as is.

Smidgen of quad on my larger breast but who cares. I have a bikini that fits and makes me feel so fricking good. I love this bikini and I'm glad I ordered one and it fit almost perfectly the first go round. 

Here's some glamour shots:

As promised, a close up of the gore. Every bra I have tried thus far has been straight across at the gore but this one is notched. I can only imagine that's to have the look of an even lower gore while maintaining the stability of a higher one while also giving it a more bikini, less bra-like appearance.

Overall, I think Comexim knocked it out of the park with this one. The construction is very sturdy and the bikini is very classy. I love that the adjusters and clasp is metal and the gore is pointed. It is a basic black bikini top, but the amount of thought and care that is put into it is incredible. I am so happy to have a well-fitting bikini top and I can't wait to wear it out. In fact, I'm so excited that I've already made plans to go to the beach! This bikini is luxury at an affordable price.

And a sneak peak of what's coming up next (just because I'm so excited about this bra. I decided practicality first so that's why the bikini was the first one reviewed).