Review: Delimira Lace Soft Wirefree Non Padded Full Coverage Cotton Bralette

First off, I think we can all agree that naming their bras is not Delimira's best thing. Heh. I mean, they really need to consider using women's names, like, say, Gorsenia does. In fact, I'm going to do it for them and call this bra Ethel. Because she's no-nonsense and does not care what you think of her beige-ness.

Beauty

Ethel is a practical cotton bralette; beauty isn't really her bag, baby. That said, she does have a single strip of lace trim around the band and a dipping V-neckline.

Comfort & Fit 

Fabric.  Cotton knit of medium weight with a little spandex. Softness is just okay; could be better, but could be worse.

Band.  Higher at the sides than I prefer and the elastic is a little rough. Ethel's band means business: it closes with 4 hooks and has 6 rows, making it very preggers or size fluctuation friendly.

Cups.   These are kind of interesting: they are heat-molded and provide quite a bit of depth - a welcome design, but one I wasn't expecting, which plays into sizing. In fact, they are actually a bit too large on me, which is more visible in the pic above. So the capacity is quite good.

They also have this feature, which was almost genius, had it been better executed: A little vertical strip of fabric between the boobs that is about 1/2" wide. It doesn't provide shape separation, of course, since it's just a flimsy strip of cotton, but it does provide a tiny physical barrier against boob sweat. Had they made it 1" wide, it could have been a brilliant sleep bra, especially for side sleepers like myself. I actually tuck my sleep shirt between my boobs when I'm sleeping free-range, which is always. Oh, the glamour of the big boob life.

Shape.  The cups are deep enough to allow for a full-on-top shape -though I'd say they're intended for a balanced one- and they allow for a fair amount of projection. The lift I get is more than I'd expect from a bralette.

Here's how Ethel looks under a thin, drapey knit shirt: Not bad, really.

 

 Compromises

•  Fabric is just semi-soft
•  Band elastic tends toward the scratchy side
•  Deep V-neckline allows boobs to migrate toward the center 

 

 When Do I Wear It?

Well, in the pic above, I actually wore it to work on a day when I felt puffy and PMS-y and just Could. Not. Even. But I have to say, I did not find it comfy enough for a full day of active wear, mainly due to the higher sides and not soft enough (for me) elastic band. I also found the tendency toward central uniboob migration annoying. For work especially, I would choose the Leading Lady Bralette, which is similar, the same pricepoint, but has much softer fabric and a higher neckline that works to keep the boobs surprisingly separate, but not splayed looking, while hiding any cleavage; it looks way better under clothing than it does alone. I wear Ethel mainly on weekends when I'm working in the garden or writing, want something breathable, and don't care about showing cleavage. 

Sizing.  Yeah, despite my experience of Delimira running very consistent with their sizing, and knowing that my size with them is always a 40F (which fits like a UK 40G or Euro 40H) I was worried there wouldn't be enough cup capacity because the pics of this bra online look like it has no formed cups. So I ignored my own advice went with a 42F. Result: It's about a cup size too large, fitting me more like 42G UK, 42H Euro.

Because it's cotton, I then did what I would never advise you to do: baked it in the dryer on high. And it barely shrank a 1/4 cup. Which means the cotton is pre-shrunk, and the quality higher than I expected, though I wish that was reflected in softness. Anyway, don't be like ComfyCurvy; actually take ComfyCurvy's advice. 

Price point: $16  
 

Review: Delimira Lace Soft Wirefree Non Padded Full Coverage Cotton Bralette

First off, I think we can all agree that naming their bras is not Delimira's best thing. Heh. I mean, they really need to consider using women's names, like, say, Gorsenia does. In fact, I'm going to do it for them and call this bra Ethel. Because she's no-nonsense and does not care what you think of her beige-ness.

Beauty

Ethel is a practical cotton bralette; beauty isn't really her bag, baby. That said, she does have a single strip of lace trim around the band and a dipping V-neckline.

Comfort & Fit 

Fabric.  Cotton knit of medium weight with a little spandex. Softness is just okay; could be better, but could be worse.

Band.  Higher at the sides than I prefer and the elastic is a little rough. Ethel's band means business: it closes with 4 hooks and has 6 rows, making it very preggers or size fluctuation friendly.

Cups.   These are kind of interesting: they are heat-molded and provide quite a bit of depth - a welcome design, but one I wasn't expecting, which plays into sizing. In fact, they are actually a bit too large on me, which is more visible in the pic above. So the capacity is quite good.

They also have this feature, which was almost genius, had it been better executed: A little vertical strip of fabric between the boobs that is about 1/2" wide. It doesn't provide shape separation, of course, since it's just a flimsy strip of cotton, but it does provide a tiny physical barrier against boob sweat. Had they made it 1" wide, it could have been a brilliant sleep bra, especially for side sleepers like myself. I actually tuck my sleep shirt between my boobs when I'm sleeping free-range, which is always. Oh, the glamour of the big boob life.

Shape.  The cups are deep enough to allow for a full-on-top shape -though I'd say they're intended for a balanced one- and they allow for a fair amount of projection. The lift I get is more than I'd expect from a bralette.

Here's how Ethel looks under a thin, drapey knit shirt: Not bad, really.

 

 Compromises

•  Fabric is just semi-soft
•  Band elastic tends toward the scratchy side
•  Deep V-neckline allows boobs to migrate toward the center 

 

 When Do I Wear It?

Well, in the pic above, I actually wore it to work on a day when I felt puffy and PMS-y and just Could. Not. Even. But I have to say, I did not find it comfy enough for a full day of active wear, mainly due to the higher sides and not soft enough (for me) elastic band. I also found the tendency toward central uniboob migration annoying. For work especially, I would choose the Leading Lady Bralette, which is similar, the same pricepoint, but has much softer fabric and a higher neckline that works to keep the boobs surprisingly separate, but not splayed looking, while hiding any cleavage; it looks way better under clothing than it does alone. I wear Ethel mainly on weekends when I'm working in the garden or writing, want something breathable, and don't care about showing cleavage. 

Sizing.  Yeah, despite my experience of Delimira running very consistent with their sizing, and knowing that my size with them is always a 40F (which fits like a UK 40G or Euro 40H) I was worried there wouldn't be enough cup capacity because the pics of this bra online look like it has no formed cups. So I ignored my own advice went with a 42F. Result: It's about a cup size too large, fitting me more like 42G UK, 42H Euro.

Because it's cotton, I then did what I would never advise you to do: baked it in the dryer on high. And it barely shrank a 1/4 cup. Which means the cotton is pre-shrunk, and the quality higher than I expected, though I wish that was reflected in softness. Anyway, don't be like ComfyCurvy; actually take ComfyCurvy's advice. 

Price point: $16  
 

Review: Rosa Faia by Anita: Aurelia

Beauty

Aurelia is very similar in design to the Twin, but done completely in lace, and seamless inside & out. Although I am a lover of lace, I can't say the particular pattern of the lace is my favorite, but it's pretty enough. Aurelia reminds me a bit of both Empreinte Grace and Prima Donna Divine, but I find it far superior to both in every category but shape.

The color is a dark cream with a hint of blush, which is not exactly 'skin tone' but works well as a neutral for me under lighter colored clothing.

Comfort & Fit

Fabric.  Though sturdy, the lace is very soft and lays completely flat. It has a bit of stretch -but is not overly stretchy & therefore very supportive- and is very comfy against the skin and undetectable under clothing. If you find lace scratchy and uncomfortable, the Aurelia would likely be the exception you can wear. It is unlined and does snag against my fingernails a bit when I swoop & scoop, but this lace is not flimsy and won't tear. Still, I do the lean & jiggle instead, just to be safe.

Cups.  Like all Anita/Rosa Faia, they are meant for a balanced or full-on-bottom shape; though they do have quite a bit of room at the top, they don't have much space near the center to accommodate a lot of projection or inner fullness. So I was surprised when I got a nice soft tack. They do run 1/2 cup large, so if you're between sizes or very FOB, I suggest dropping down a cup. 

Band.  The usual Anita silky, stable, 3-hook hand. No power mesh; very comfy.

Wires.  These were surprising. They are on the narrow side! Anita wires generally run wide. They also run an inch taller than I prefer, but are still the usual more flexible wires in a complete 'U' shape, so they stay very close to the boob and do not poke the armpit or move around. They are designed to be supportive without resorting to a harsh rigid Panache-y or Elomi-esque style wire. I did opt to sister-size to mitigate what I suspected would be higher wires, & I'm glad I did.

Straps.  The usual wide, flat, very comfy and supportive straps you'll find in this brand. Anita straps are nice and long; I never have to extend them all the way, but they still work for petites. The straps are graded by size and are slimmer in the smaller cups; in mine, the lace cup tapers up into the strap, adding lots of support without cutting too close to the armpit and chafing UK-style. I did not get a good pic of that, but you can see it here:

 

Shape.  Rounded, slightly minimized, but not wide, due to the narrow wires. 

You can see how it compares to the near-perfect shape of the 1,000 times less comfy Prima Donna Divine. 

Aurelia on a rare sunny day

Divine

You can also see how Divine sits nicely below what I call my 'line of demarcation fluff in the sand'. I like wires to sit below that horizontal line of muscle 'n fluff to avoid the digging & discomfort it virtually always causes me when wires sit there. But Aurelia is an exception.

When Do I Wear It?

Aurelia is a great bra. My single quibble is the wire height, but I still find her very comfy for a full day's wear. She is a perfect choice for work: both flexible and securely non-bouncy. And a fine summertime bra, giving a rounded, non-projected T-shirt shape that is not too wide, and in a light and cool open lace fabric. The lace is very sensitive-skin friendly, but substantial enough to lend some helpful nip-camouflage. She is also very useful with empire waists and button-downs, as a not-really-minimizer, but more a 'projection softener'. And the more narrow wires actually make it more balanced and full-on-top friendly than the Twin. And, of course, this is a very comfy choice for PMS size fluctuation and tenderness. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a pic of how it looks under a blouse. 

Sizing:  42G. This fits me like a UK40G or a roomy Euro 40(90)H. I opted not to go for my usual 40H because the bands run snug and I suspected the wires would run high, so I dropped down a cup & went up a band in order to drop the wire height. Good plan. Because the cup runs a little large, I may even drop to a 42F next time. If you are full-on-bottom, you're going to need to drop a cup.

Price point: Full price runs $65, which is more than reasonable for this level of quality, which is much higher than, say, Panache or Wacoal, and obviously, much, much higher than budget brands like Delimira or Rosme. Still, I  buy a lot of bras. Clearly. =o)  And I do not have the benefit of personalized service in a local boutique (where I would happily pay full price); I have to do the research and order online. So if you do the same, I'd advise putting it in your Amazon cart and letting it sit there until it drops to $50 or so due to their super-annoying 'dynamic pricing'.

Review: Rosa Faia by Anita: Aurelia

Beauty

Aurelia is very similar in design to the Twin, but done completely in lace, and seamless inside & out. Although I am a lover of lace, I can't say the particular pattern of the lace is my favorite, but it's pretty enough. Aurelia reminds me a bit of both Empreinte Grace and Prima Donna Divine, but I find it far superior to both in every category but shape.

The color is a dark cream with a hint of blush, which is not exactly 'skin tone' but works well as a neutral for me under lighter colored clothing.

Comfort & Fit

Fabric.  Though sturdy, the lace is very soft and lays completely flat. It has a bit of stretch -but is not overly stretchy & therefore very supportive- and is very comfy against the skin and undetectable under clothing. If you find lace scratchy and uncomfortable, the Aurelia would likely be the exception you can wear. It is unlined and does snag against my fingernails a bit when I swoop & scoop, but this lace is not flimsy and won't tear. Still, I do the lean & jiggle instead, just to be safe.

Cups.  Like all Anita/Rosa Faia, they are meant for a balanced or full-on-bottom shape; though they do have quite a bit of room at the top, they don't have much space near the center to accommodate a lot of projection or inner fullness. So I was surprised when I got a nice soft tack. They do run 1/2 cup large, so if you're between sizes or very FOB, I suggest dropping down a cup. 

Band.  The usual Anita silky, stable, 3-hook hand. No power mesh; very comfy.

Wires.  These were surprising. They are on the narrow side! Anita wires generally run wide. They also run an inch taller than I prefer, but are still the usual more flexible wires in a complete 'U' shape, so they stay very close to the boob and do not poke the armpit or move around. They are designed to be supportive without resorting to a harsh rigid Panache-y or Elomi-esque style wire. I did opt to sister-size to mitigate what I suspected would be higher wires, & I'm glad I did.

Straps.  The usual wide, flat, very comfy and supportive straps you'll find in this brand. Anita straps are nice and long; I never have to extend them all the way, but they still work for petites. The straps are graded by size and are slimmer in the smaller cups; in mine, the lace cup tapers up into the strap, adding lots of support without cutting too close to the armpit and chafing UK-style. I did not get a good pic of that, but you can see it here:

 

Shape.  Rounded, slightly minimized, but not wide, due to the narrow wires. 

You can see how it compares to the near-perfect shape of the 1,000 times less comfy Prima Donna Divine. 

Aurelia on a rare sunny day

Divine

You can also see how Divine sits nicely below what I call my 'line of demarcation fluff in the sand'. I like wires to sit below that horizontal line of muscle 'n fluff to avoid the digging & discomfort it virtually always causes me when wires sit there. But Aurelia is an exception.

When Do I Wear It?

Aurelia is a great bra. My single quibble is the wire height, but I still find her very comfy for a full day's wear. She is a perfect choice for work: both flexible and securely non-bouncy. And a fine summertime bra, giving a rounded, non-projected T-shirt shape that is not too wide, and in a light and cool open lace fabric. The lace is very sensitive-skin friendly, but substantial enough to lend some helpful nip-camouflage. She is also very useful with empire waists and button-downs, as a not-really-minimizer, but more a 'projection softener'. And the more narrow wires actually make it more balanced and full-on-top friendly than the Twin. And, of course, this is a very comfy choice for PMS size fluctuation and tenderness. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a pic of how it looks under a blouse. 

Sizing:  42G. This fits me like a UK40G or a roomy Euro 40(90)H. I opted not to go for my usual 40H because the bands run snug and I suspected the wires would run high, so I dropped down a cup & went up a band in order to drop the wire height. Good plan. Because the cup runs a little large, I may even drop to a 42F next time. If you are full-on-bottom, you're going to need to drop a cup.

Price point: Full price runs $65, which is more than reasonable for this level of quality, which is much higher than, say, Panache or Wacoal, and obviously, much, much higher than budget brands like Delimira or Rosme. Still, I  buy a lot of bras. Clearly. =o)  And I do not have the benefit of personalized service in a local boutique (where I would happily pay full price); I have to do the research and order online. So if you do the same, I'd advise putting it in your Amazon cart and letting it sit there until it drops to $50 or so due to their super-annoying 'dynamic pricing'.

Brand Breakdown: What does Anita offer?

Anita is a German brand, a family-owned company founded in 1886. And if comfort is your top priority, they are worth a look, particularly their Rosa Faia line. 

Where the Brand Excels:

• High quality materials and construction. You are not going to find rough seams or crappy elastic in an Anita.

• Very popular with pregnant women; many styles are also available in nursing versions.

• Seamless styles with silky microfiber and high spandex that fit like a second skin.

• Wide wires that are on the soft and on the flexible side, yet supportive. These are the only wide wires I have ever found to be non-irritating on me.

• Well-designed bands that are soft, stable, and have 3 widely-spaced hooks; their support does not rely on a tight, constrictive fit as many UK brands do.

Their flagship style is the beloved Anita Twin, one of the first bras I profiled here as the most comfy I'd found. It still holds up well years later. It is an outwardly seamless bra, with a single very flat seam on the inside of the cup.

The Twin is the only style I have found to be super-comfy - and it is really comfy. 

Anita Twin   Anita.com

It comes in other versions, including a wireless, the Twin Firm (less spandex) and the Twin Art, which is just a pattern, always on the tasteful side, that changes every few years.  

Anita Twin Art       Anita.com

The regular Twin and Twin Art are the comfort queens; the other styles have different fit and fabric. I do find the wireless version to be less comfy, simply because I don't like the pressure a non-stretch underband causes for me when sitting, but that's just a personal preference. If you like wireless, this is a wonderful choice due to the very generous cups (their F fit me like a G, not the case with the wired versions) and flat, wide straps.

Twin Wireless      Anita.com

 Annnnd What the Brand Does Not-so-Well

Lift and Shape.  You are not going to get a boosted, lifted shape from Anita. That is just not how they roll.

Beautiful colors or flashy patterns. They are proudly focused on basic neutrals and the occasional quietly elegant pattern.  

Seamed and balconette styles. These are pretty much all dreadful, with horizontal seams and a high frumpitude factor, especially in the larger cup sizes. See Exhibit A.  

All styles are meant for a balanced or full-on-bottom shape. The Twin can accommodate some upper fullness, but none are built for inner fullness. But if you have lots of side-boob, you're in luck; the cups are very friendly for that. 

Who/What/Where Will Anita Work For?

For me, the comfort far outweighs the shape mismatch for projected full-on-tops, but the brand will be a great fit for:

• Wider boobs that are on the shallow side
• Lots of size fluctuation  
• Sensitive skin
• Pregnancy & PMS
• Long hours of travel or work
• A more natural, slightly minimized shape

 Sizing & Pricing

European sizing. Bands run slightly snug. When I measured 36" and wore a 38 band in most brands, I was able to wear a 40 in Anita quite easily, on the loosest hook. Now that I'm 37-1/2", I can still wear it due to the high spandex. Cups run true to size and are forgiving due to the high stretch, supportive fabric.

The Twin has the widest size range, from 32C - 40H, and bands up to 46 going only to an F cup. The Wireless stops at an F, but runs about a cup size large, and sister-sizing works well here. The Art likewise stops at around a G.

Full price is between $70-80. They are well worth that. The high-stretch fabric is buttery soft and still lasts for years. The bands do not stretch out at all and the cups keep their shape. You will frequently find them on sale for around $50, on anita.com and amazon or eBay, but I have rarely seen them go any lower than that.

Brand Breakdown: What does Anita offer?

Anita is a German brand, a family-owned company founded in 1886. And if comfort is your top priority, they are worth a look, particularly their Rosa Faia line. 

Where the Brand Excels:

• High quality materials and construction. You are not going to find rough seams or crappy elastic in an Anita.

• Very popular with pregnant women; many styles are also available in nursing versions.

• Seamless styles with silky microfiber and high spandex that fit like a second skin.

• Wide wires that are on the soft and on the flexible side, yet supportive. These are the only wide wires I have ever found to be non-irritating on me.

• Well-designed bands that are soft, stable, and have 3 widely-spaced hooks; their support does not rely on a tight, constrictive fit as many UK brands do.

Their flagship style is the beloved Anita Twin, one of the first bras I profiled here as the most comfy I'd found. It still holds up well years later. It is an outwardly seamless bra, with a single very flat seam on the inside of the cup.

The Twin is the only style I have found to be super-comfy - and it is really comfy. 

Anita Twin   Anita.com

 

It comes in other versions, including a wireless, the Twin Firm (less spandex) and the Twin Art, which is just a pattern, always on the tasteful side, that changes every few years.  

Anita Twin Art       Anita.com

The regular Twin and Twin Art are the comfort queens; the other styles have different fit and fabric. I do find the wireless version to be less comfy, simply because I don't like the pressure a non-stretch underband causes for me when sitting, but that's just a personal preference. If you like wireless, this is a wonderful choice due to the very generous cups (their F fit me like a G, not the case with the wired versions) and flat, wide straps.

Twin Wireless      Anita.com

 Annnnd What the Brand Does Not-so-Well

Lift and Shape.  You are not going to get a boosted, lifted shape from Anita. That is just not how they roll.

Beautiful colors or flashy patterns. They are proudly focused on basic neutrals and the occasional quietly elegant pattern.  

Seamed and balconette styles. These are pretty much all dreadful, with horizontal seams and a high frumpitude factor, especially in the larger cup sizes. See Exhibit A.  

All styles are meant for a balanced or full-on-bottom shape. The Twin can accommodate some upper fullness, but none are built for inner fullness. But if you have lots of side-boob, you're in luck; the cups are very friendly for that. 

Who/What/Where Will Anita Work For?

For me, the comfort far outweighs the shape mismatch for projected full-on-tops, but the brand will be a great fit for:

• Wider boobs that are on the shallow side
• Lots of size fluctuation  
• Sensitive skin
• Pregnancy & PMS
• Long hours of travel or work
• A more natural, slightly minimized shape

 Sizing & Pricing

European sizing. Bands run slightly snug. When I measured 36" and wore a 38 band in most brands, I was able to wear a 40 in Anita quite easily, on the loosest hook. Now that I'm 37-1/2", I can still wear it due to the high spandex. Cups run true to size and are forgiving due to the high stretch, supportive fabric.

The Twin has the widest size range, from 32C - 40H, and bands up to 46 going only to an F cup. The Wireless stops at an F, but runs about a cup size large, and sister-sizing works well here. The Art likewise stops at around a G.

Full price is between $70-80. They are well worth that. The high-stretch fabric is buttery soft and still lasts for years. The bands do not stretch out at all and the cups keep their shape. You will frequently find them on sale for around $50, on anita.com and amazon or eBay, but I have rarely seen them go any lower than that.