Sunday, October 21, 2018

Brand Breakdown: What Does Delimira offer?

Where is Delimira made? Good question. No one seems to know; they're pretty mysterious. My best guess is India. 

 Where Does the Brand Excel?

Price point.  Below $20. That's in Hanes at Walmart territory, but with a far higher level of quality, not to mention size range. This is the brand I suggest you start with if you are on a tight budget, or have no idea what style you will like, or, alternatively, you do know what brands & style you want, but you want a cheaper version, or have been sized out. 

Sizing.  While the brand doesn't use either UK or Euro sizing, it's incredibly consistent. Once you know your size, it works all across the brand.

Choice!  They have a wide variety of styles, meant for a variety of shapes. Each one is a generic version of a popular bra from a US or UK brand - but in a bigger size range. So if there was a bra you wore & liked when you were still trying to cram yourself into the DD zone, you may find a version of it here, in higher cup sizes. Half the fun with Delimira is trying to identify which famous bra it is. There are a few I don't recognize, so it's like a fun puzzle.

Examples:   The 'Floral Lace Underwire' is based on the Lepel Fiore 
                  This one is also my favorite of the many Delimiras I've tried.

 

             
                 The 'Floral Sheer Unlined' is a version of the Panache Envy 
                                     It's more comfy than the brand name, too.
 
 And, the Bali Passion, here:



What Is the Brand Not So Good At?


Naming their bras. Heh. Like the name of this bralette  

They could at least give you a clue, like naming their version of the Envy 'Jealousy' or somesuch, to help you figure out what you're getting. But again, the puzzle is part of the fun.

Sizing.  This is both a plus and a minus: Delimira goes their own way and does not use either US or UK cup sizing. The good news: they are extremely consistent - far more so than the name brands; once you know your size, that's your size. Which is a huge advantage when buying online.

I give sizing advice in each of the reviews, but the general rule of thumb for finding your size in Delimira is this: bands are fairly true to size -keep in mind that I do not believe in the theory of tight bands; a properly fitting band for me is +2 inches added to my actual measurement. That said, the bands definitely don't run tight. Cups are generous and there are no double letters. Do not be put off by the smaller letter sizes.

If you are converting from your UK size: keep your band size and drop a full cup. E.g. 40G to 40F, or, 34H to 34G. For double letters, I would err on the smaller cup side, as they run so generous. 

If converting from your Euro size:  keep your band and drop 2 cup sizes, E.g. in my case, that means from a 40H to a 40F.

Who/What/Where Will Delimira Work For?

  •  Anyone on a limited budget. You can build a core bra-drobe: seamed, seamless, bralette, minimizer, very inexpensively. The bras are quite decent quality and hold up well. All of mine are still going strong 2+ years onward.
  • If you experience a lot of fluctuation in your size, due to weight or cycle changes, the extremely low price point makes it very practical to buy a bra you like in multiple sizes.
  • There is a style you like, in a brand you can't normally wear. I would never be able to tolerate the harsh, sky-high wires of Panache, but I love the subtle checkerboard and lace pattern of the Envy. Yahtzee! Delimira's version has lower, softer wires and is 1/4 the price.
  • If you hate dealing with the hassle of returns. Honestly, at this price, if you get lazy and forget to return it within the window....ehhh.

Brand Breakdown: What Does Delimira offer?

Where is Delimira made? Good question. No one seems to know; they're pretty mysterious. My best guess is India. 

 Where Does the Brand Excel?

Price point.  Below $20. That's in Hanes at Walmart territory, but with a far higher level of quality, not to mention size range. This is the brand I suggest you start with if you are on a tight budget, or have no idea what style you will like, or, alternatively, you do know what brands & style you want, but you want a cheaper version, or have been sized out. 

Sizing.  While the brand doesn't use either UK or Euro sizing, it's incredibly consistent. Once you know your size, it works all across the brand.

Choice!  They have a wide variety of styles, meant for a variety of shapes. Each one is a generic version of a popular bra from a US or UK brand - but in a bigger size range. So if there was a bra you wore & liked when you were still trying to cram yourself into the DD zone, you may find a version of it here, in higher cup sizes. Half the fun with Delimira is trying to identify which famous bra it is. There are a few I don't recognize, so it's like a fun puzzle.

Examples:   The 'Floral Lace Underwire' is based on the Lepel Fiore 
                  This one is also my favorite of the many Delimiras I've tried.

 

             
                 The 'Floral Sheer Unlined' is a version of the Panache Envy 
                                     It's more comfy than the brand name, too.
 
 And, the Bali Passion, here:



What Is the Brand Not So Good At?


Naming their bras. Heh. Like the name of this bralette  

They could at least give you a clue, like naming their version of the Envy 'Jealousy' or somesuch, to help you figure out what you're getting. But again, the puzzle is part of the fun.

Sizing.  This is both a plus and a minus: Delimira goes their own way and does not use either US or UK cup sizing. The good news: they are extremely consistent - far more so than the name brands; once you know your size, that's your size. Which is a huge advantage when buying online.

I give sizing advice in each of the reviews, but the general rule of thumb for finding your size in Delimira is this: bands are fairly true to size -keep in mind that I do not believe in the theory of tight bands; a properly fitting band for me is +2 inches added to my actual measurement. That said, the bands definitely don't run tight. Cups are generous and there are no double letters. Do not be put off by the smaller letter sizes.

If you are converting from your UK size: keep your band size and drop a full cup. E.g. 40G to 40F, or, 34H to 34G. For double letters, I would err on the smaller cup side, as they run so generous. 

If converting from your Euro size:  keep your band and drop 2 cup sizes, E.g. in my case, that means from a 40H to a 40F.

Who/What/Where Will Delimira Work For?

  •  Anyone on a limited budget. You can build a core bra-drobe: seamed, seamless, bralette, minimizer, very inexpensively. The bras are quite decent quality and hold up well. All of mine are still going strong 2+ years onward.
  • If you experience a lot of fluctuation in your size, due to weight or cycle changes, the extremely low price point makes it very practical to buy a bra you like in multiple sizes.
  • There is a style you like, in a brand you can't normally wear. I would never be able to tolerate the harsh, sky-high wires of Panache, but I love the subtle checkerboard and lace pattern of the Envy. Yahtzee! Delimira's version has lower, softer wires and is 1/4 the price.
  • If you hate dealing with the hassle of returns. Honestly, at this price, if you get lazy and forget to return it within the window....ehhh.