Review: Glamorise Cami Wonderwire Bra

I am always on the lookout for a comfy large cup size cami-bra. Because:

1)  I am both full-on-top and fairly high-set. Result: cleavage is always a factor for me. I have no philosophical issue with cleavage as such, but I simply prefer not to display more than a minimal amount at work. 

2)  I seriously dislike wearing layers of clothing. Indoors. Because dry, overheated air is a huge pet peeve of mine. I define overheated as above 70F. Frankly, I think 68F is plenty, and my own home is kept at 65F. For some reason, gov't buildings here are always 72-75F degrees, which is ridiculous. Especially given that there are constant bulletins about 'fiscal austerity'. So what we have are moratoriums on buying pens and paper, while the heating oil bills don't merit any review. 

Digress much? Don't mind if I do. But my point is that even a camisole is just another layer I do not want to pile on. 

Beauty

Very pretty. The lace is substantial and semi-opaque, so gives very good coverage. For reference, although the cami portion appears to come up quite high, my cleavage begins juuust below that top strip of lace. If you look closely, you can see the faint tell-tale shadow.

Black is hard to photograph and the details are not showing especially well, but the colors are more muted in person:

 Comfort

When I put this on in the morning, I really expected to be writing a rave review later that day. However.....

Wires.  These are wonderful. They are medium-narrow and cushioned with a thin layer of foam which makes them very comfy indeed. This is the 'wonderwire' in the name. They tack fully. There is an additional side sling that adds a bit more padding to the side wire and shapes very nicely.

Cups.  One vertical seam, resulting in a very rounded shape, which is not wide thanks to the narrow wires and side slings. The fabric is smooth and very supportive. I had zero jiggle. In terms of capacity, they run true to size and have moderate stretch. This is a real plus. Both full-on-top and full-on-bottom shapes are easily accommodated in this style.

Shape.  The best I've seen from Glamorise, which, as a more old-school brand, tends to favor a more pointy shape. It is a far better shape than I get from my other go-to cami-bra,N by Natori Truly Soft Bra. As an aside, this pic gives a very clear example of what a full-on-top shape is.

Here is how it looks under my favorite 'cut-way-too-low-for-anything-above-a-B-cup' top.  

    Compromises

Sides & Band. The band is very tall and the sides come up quite high, which is never a plus for me. And unfortunately, the elastic edging the top of the band and armholes is not soft and caused chafing by lunchtime. I really considered taking it off at that point. The only positive here is that there are no side stays. That also means, however, that there is nothing I can do to improve the comfort. 

I don't think this is a matter of softening through washing, either. The irritation it causes is similar to what I get from 'comfort' bras like the Ahh Bra, where the sides are just cut too high for comfort. The fabric is simply covering too much skin area so that even normal motion causes chafing of sensitive skin. If you do not have sensitive skin, and are not high-waisted, this may not even present any difficulties for you. 

When Do I Wear It?

When I want to wear a blouse that, when combined with my cup size, would otherwise risk making me look like I was on my break from working the pole. So, for going out with friends on weekends, when I'll be wearing it for 4 hours or less. If you don't mind tall bands and high sides, this is a very well-made bra, that is both practical and pretty, at a decent price. 

Size: 42F  Remember that Glamorise sizing is old-school US, i.e. the bands run tight, and you must add +4". This fits me like a 38GG (UK) or a 38I (US/Euro)

Review: Glamorise Cami Wonderwire Bra

I am always on the lookout for a comfy large cup size cami-bra. Because:

1)  I am both full-on-top and fairly high-set. Result: cleavage is always a factor for me. I have no philosophical issue with cleavage as such, but I simply prefer not to display more than a minimal amount at work. 

2)  I seriously dislike wearing layers of clothing. Indoors. Because dry, overheated air is a huge pet peeve of mine. I define overheated as above 70F. Frankly, I think 68F is plenty, and my own home is kept at 65F. For some reason, gov't buildings here are always 72-75F degrees, which is ridiculous. Especially given that there are constant bulletins about 'fiscal austerity'. So what we have are moratoriums on buying pens and paper, while the heating oil bills don't merit any review. 

Digress much? Don't mind if I do. But my point is that even a camisole is just another layer I do not want to pile on. 

Beauty

Very pretty. The lace is substantial and semi-opaque, so gives very good coverage. For reference, although the cami portion appears to come up quite high, my cleavage begins juuust below that top strip of lace. If you look closely, you can see the faint tell-tale shadow.

Black is hard to photograph and the details are not showing especially well, but the colors are more muted in person:

 Comfort

When I put this on in the morning, I really expected to be writing a rave review later that day. However.....

Wires.  These are wonderful. They are medium-narrow and cushioned with a thin layer of foam which makes them very comfy indeed. This is the 'wonderwire' in the name. They tack fully. There is an additional side sling that adds a bit more padding to the side wire and shapes very nicely.

Cups.  One vertical seam, resulting in a very rounded shape, which is not wide thanks to the narrow wires and side slings. The fabric is smooth and very supportive. I had zero jiggle. In terms of capacity, they run true to size and have moderate stretch. This is a real plus. Both full-on-top and full-on-bottom shapes are easily accommodated in this style.

Shape.  The best I've seen from Glamorise, which, as a more old-school brand, tends to favor a more pointy shape. It is a far better shape than I get from my other go-to cami-bra,N by Natori Truly Soft Bra. As an aside, this pic gives a very clear example of what a full-on-top shape is.

Here is how it looks under my favorite 'cut-way-too-low-for-anything-above-a-B-cup' top.  

    Compromises

Sides & Band. The band is very tall and the sides come up quite high, which is never a plus for me. And unfortunately, the elastic edging the top of the band and armholes is not soft and caused chafing by lunchtime. I really considered taking it off at that point. The only positive here is that there are no side stays. That also means, however, that there is nothing I can do to improve the comfort. 

I don't think this is a matter of softening through washing, either. The irritation it causes is similar to what I get from 'comfort' bras like the Ahh Bra, where the sides are just cut too high for comfort. The fabric is simply covering too much skin area so that even normal motion causes chafing of sensitive skin. If you do not have sensitive skin, and are not high-waisted, this may not even present any difficulties for you. 

When Do I Wear It?

When I want to wear a blouse that, when combined with my cup size, would otherwise risk making me look like I was on my break from working the pole. So, for going out with friends on weekends, when I'll be wearing it for 4 hours or less. If you don't mind tall bands and high sides, this is a very well-made bra, that is both practical and pretty, at a decent price. 

Size: 42F  Remember that Glamorise sizing is old-school US, i.e. the bands run tight, and you must add +4". This fits me like a 38GG (UK) or a 38I (US/Euro)

Review: Rosme Marta

From what I can tell, Rosme has what they consider their 'Classic' (read: pointier) collection and their newer styles. Marta is firmly in that former category. There are real differences in shape in all of the styles I've tried, with the best shape (for me) being the newer Rosabel and (far & away) the worst being Annija with this one, the older classic Marta, being 2nd worst. Unfortunately, the 'classics' are also the most comfy with softer fabric used for the lace, band and clasp. The Mona is in between these two shapes, and is also the most comfy.

Beauty

Here is how the Marta looks on (much) smaller boobs:

Definitely no wow factor with the very basic colorways but the contrasting lace makes it less plain and the strap detailing is a nice touch. 

Comfort & Fit

Fabric.  The microfiber is smooth and the lace is on the softer side and has moderate stretch -not as much as the other styles, but enough to prevent cutting in or gaping on different shapes.

Band.  2-hooks, as with all the styles I've tried; it's not a dealbreaker, as it does not cut in like say, the dreadful band of a Cleo. It is mesh, but reasonably soft. I find Rosme bands to be true to size, maybe slightly on the loose side, but not enough to drop down a size.

Cups.   Decidedly aimed at full-on-bottom boob shapes. Though not to the  extreme that the Annija is. A balanced shape might do well with the Marta, though you are still going to get a shape that is on the pointy side--just not to the degree that I am getting here. 

Shape.

Good lord, I feel like I'm in danger of putting someone's eye out.

This is similar to the shape I get with Curvy Kate (see Dreamcatcher) though this shape is actually a bit better than CK.  




The cups are cute quite low for a balconette and are almost giving a hybrid plunge effect.

The cup is not too small, but I'm getting that squared-off triangle shape I also get with Curvy Kate.  

The shape of the cup is just not a great match for my full-on-top shape. And the lace isn't stretchy enough to overcome that, the way it is in the Mona. 

When Do I Wear It?

It's not going to be very often. Even under a structured blouse, the shape will be too projected and pointy. Under a drapey knit fabric, this shape would cause epic boob-tenting of circus proportions. Which really just leaves sweaters. Very thick ones. Which I cannot wear to my overheated office. So the usefuless of Marta is very limited for me, pretty much just to weekend grocery shopping. However, if you are full-on-bottom--and you happen to like that moderately pointy/perky shape--this would be a good choice for a fairly comfy work bra that is a bargain. 
Size: 40H 

Review: Rosme Marta

From what I can tell, Rosme has what they consider their 'Classic' (read: pointier) collection and their newer styles. Marta is firmly in that former category. There are real differences in shape in all of the styles I've tried, with the best shape (for me) being the newer Rosabel and (far & away) the worst being Annija with this one, the older classic Marta, being 2nd worst. Unfortunately, the 'classics' are also the most comfy with softer fabric used for the lace, band and clasp. The Mona is in between these two shapes, and is also the most comfy.

Beauty

Here is how the Marta looks on (much) smaller boobs:

Definitely no wow factor with the very basic colorways but the contrasting lace makes it less plain and the strap detailing is a nice touch. 

Comfort & Fit

Fabric.  The microfiber is smooth and the lace is on the softer side and has moderate stretch -not as much as the other styles, but enough to prevent cutting in or gaping on different shapes.

Band.  2-hooks, as with all the styles I've tried; it's not a dealbreaker, as it does not cut in like say, the dreadful band of a Cleo. It is mesh, but reasonably soft. I find Rosme bands to be true to size, maybe slightly on the loose side, but not enough to drop down a size.

Cups.   Decidedly aimed at full-on-bottom boob shapes. Though not to the  extreme that the Annija is. A balanced shape might do well with the Marta, though you are still going to get a shape that is on the pointy side--just not to the degree that I am getting here. 

Shape.

Good lord, I feel like I'm in danger of putting someone's eye out.

This is similar to the shape I get with Curvy Kate (see Dreamcatcher) though this shape is actually a bit better than CK.  




The cups are cute quite low for a balconette and are almost giving a hybrid plunge effect.

The cup is not too small, but I'm getting that squared-off triangle shape I also get with Curvy Kate.  

The shape of the cup is just not a great match for my full-on-top shape. And the lace isn't stretchy enough to overcome that, the way it is in the Mona. 

When Do I Wear It?

It's not going to be very often. Even under a structured blouse, the shape will be too projected and pointy. Under a drapey knit fabric, this shape would cause epic boob-tenting of circus proportions. Which really just leaves sweaters. Very thick ones. Which I cannot wear to my overheated office. So the usefuless of Marta is very limited for me, pretty much just to weekend grocery shopping. However, if you are full-on-bottom--and you happen to like that moderately pointy/perky shape--this would be a good choice for a fairly comfy work bra that is a bargain. 
Size: 40H 

Review: Wacoal Women's How Perfect Full Figure Wire-Free Bra

Wacoal is not really one of my favorites - with the exception of the few styles that have the glorious foam-wrapped underwires - but in my quest for more wire-free options (that can be worn outside the house) I gave the How Perfect a try. 


The details are always tougher to see in a black colorway, so here's a view of the dreaded beige (which you know I did not buy, hah):
 

It's quite plain, but the crossover style is 'faux', so there is no gaping or possibility for boobs to make like escape artists. 

Comfort & Fit

Fabric.  A very thick, smooth microfiber, with -unfortunately- only a small amount of stretch.

Cups.   Due to the lack of stretch in the fabric, the cups really have reduced capacity. 

And very little ability to mold to your shape. 




The top of the cup is surprisingly closed and is definitely cutting in on the top.

There's also a whole lotta uniboob smooshing going on.


And forcing of my full-on-top shape into a  downward ski-slope droop.





Shape.   Pretty lackluster, though not terrible. 

It's kind of compressing the boobs in from the sides, rather than lifting from the bottom.

Dealbreakers

Side Stays. They are the thick clunkers and oddly taller than the sides of the cups, so they are decidedly digg-y.

 
Straps.  It's not the straps themselves -those are actually nice and wide and fairly soft. No. It's the slider which is just obnoxious:

I tried to balance it over the curve of my hand, to give an idea of how it lays against the skin of your back, and for scale.

So you can see just how big this honker is. 

The sharp edges of that huge metal slider extend well past the strap...and cut right into my back. 

Even when I was just standing still.

When Do I Wear it?

You guessed it. Never. I really can't see who this style might work for. My back is not super fleshy, and has a fair bit of muscle, i.e. the straps are not sinking into any fluffy bits. Yet, due to the size of the sliders, they are still cutting into my skin and highly irritating. If you do have a bit more fluff on your back, then I imagine this issue would only be exacerbated. But if you don't have sensitive skin, and you are a shallow, full-on-bottom shape, this could be a workable wireless option with decent shaping. Full price is around $55.
Size: 42DDD (fits like a UK 38FF)

Review: Wacoal Women's How Perfect Full Figure Wire-Free Bra

Wacoal is not really one of my favorites - with the exception of the few styles that have the glorious foam-wrapped underwires - but in my quest for more wire-free options (that can be worn outside the house) I gave the How Perfect a try. 


The details are always tougher to see in a black colorway, so here's a view of the dreaded beige (which you know I did not buy, hah):
 

It's quite plain, but the crossover style is 'faux', so there is no gaping or possibility for boobs to make like escape artists. 

Comfort & Fit

Fabric.  A very thick, smooth microfiber, with -unfortunately- only a small amount of stretch.

Cups.   Due to the lack of stretch in the fabric, the cups really have reduced capacity. 

And very little ability to mold to your shape. 




The top of the cup is surprisingly closed and is definitely cutting in on the top.

There's also a whole lotta uniboob smooshing going on.


And forcing of my full-on-top shape into a  downward ski-slope droop.





Shape.   Pretty lackluster, though not terrible. 

It's kind of compressing the boobs in from the sides, rather than lifting from the bottom.

Dealbreakers

Side Stays. They are the thick clunkers and oddly taller than the sides of the cups, so they are decidedly digg-y.

 
Straps.  It's not the straps themselves -those are actually nice and wide and fairly soft. No. It's the slider which is just obnoxious:

I tried to balance it over the curve of my hand, to give an idea of how it lays against the skin of your back, and for scale.

So you can see just how big this honker is. 

The sharp edges of that huge metal slider extend well past the strap...and cut right into my back. 

Even when I was just standing still.

When Do I Wear it?

You guessed it. Never. I really can't see who this style might work for. My back is not super fleshy, and has a fair bit of muscle, i.e. the straps are not sinking into any fluffy bits. Yet, due to the size of the sliders, they are still cutting into my skin and highly irritating. If you do have a bit more fluff on your back, then I imagine this issue would only be exacerbated. But if you don't have sensitive skin, and you are a shallow, full-on-bottom shape, this could be a workable wireless option with decent shaping. Full price is around $55.
Size: 42DDD (fits like a UK 38FF)

Review: Rosme Rosabel

Because I quite liked the Mona as a practical, versatile, lightweight work bra, I decided to try another style, making sure this time that it contained stretch lace, to avoid another debacle like the Annija. 

Here is how Rosme describes the Rosabel collection:
Soft romantic collection in a colour of a light pink marshmallow. Combination of Italian base material and elastic laces makes this collection unbelievably light and elegant.

Beauty

I was looking for a light-colored neutral - which for me is not the same as beige. And the colorway of Rosabel functions very well for that: a delicate pale blue base, with the lace and pattern detailing in a shade that is referred to as 'marshmallow pink', which is a very pale -barely there- ballet pink. I find it pretty, subtle, and on the elegant, rather than kitschy, side.

None of my winter-lighting pics can show this colorway accurately, so here is one that does:

Comfort  & Fit

Wires.  Pretty perfect. Nice and low, in a straight Euro 'U' shape, with no winging UK swoop toward the sides. Medium-narrow and light-medium gauge.

Fabric.  There is good and bad news here. The lower cup is lined in a soft knit fabric, which is very comfy and supportive. The lace upper cup is meh, not the softest, but not the worst, either; just average stretch lace. The edging along the band is not soft; that may soften with repeated washings...or it may not.

Cups.  Quite deep. Less so than Gorsenia, but more deep and narrow -& certainly lower at the side- than any UK brands I've encountered. The lace has lots of stretch, and is a medium-weight, so plenty sturdy, with very good shape retention I.e. it plays nice with full-on-top boobs, but should not gape on full-on-bottoms.

Band.  There are some problems. Worst of all is the actual clasp -which is only 2 hooks, as with every Rosme I've tried. But's it's the fabric edges of the clasp and hooks that are incredibly sharp and highly irritating; it actually feels scratchy against the skin. This was not the case on the other Rosme's I tried. It was irritating enough that I tucked a folded tissue beneath the clasp to protect my skin. 

Straps.  Average. They are a bit wider in my size, so less thin than they appear in the first pic. They are comfortable enough and do not dig in. There is a semi-padded version as well, and that appears to have the wider strap style.

Shape.  Better than Annija. A little more rounded and the seams lay flatter and are not visible under knits.

When Do I Wear It?

To work, mainly. I appreciate the lightweight fabrics in an overheated office, as well as the moderate shape, low wire height, and (with the exception of the clasp) reasonable comfort. All at a price point under $30. 

Size: 40H (fits like a UK 40G or 38GG and a Euro 38I)

Review: Rosme Rosabel

Because I quite liked the Mona as a practical, versatile, lightweight work bra, I decided to try another style, making sure this time that it contained stretch lace, to avoid another debacle like the Annija. 

Here is how Rosme describes the Rosabel collection:
Soft romantic collection in a colour of a light pink marshmallow. Combination of Italian base material and elastic laces makes this collection unbelievably light and elegant.

Beauty

I was looking for a light-colored neutral - which for me is not the same as beige. And the colorway of Rosabel functions very well for that: a delicate pale blue base, with the lace and pattern detailing in a shade that is referred to as 'marshmallow pink', which is a very pale -barely there- ballet pink. I find it pretty, subtle, and on the elegant, rather than kitschy, side.

None of my winter-lighting pics can show this colorway accurately, so here is one that does:

Comfort  & Fit

Wires.  Pretty perfect. Nice and low, in a straight Euro 'U' shape, with no winging UK swoop toward the sides. Medium-narrow and light-medium gauge.

Fabric.  There is good and bad news here. The lower cup is lined in a soft knit fabric, which is very comfy and supportive. The lace upper cup is meh, not the softest, but not the worst, either; just average stretch lace. The edging along the band is not soft; that may soften with repeated washings...or it may not.

Cups.  Quite deep. Less so than Gorsenia, but more deep and narrow -& certainly lower at the side- than any UK brands I've encountered. The lace has lots of stretch, and is a medium-weight, so plenty sturdy, with very good shape retention I.e. it plays nice with full-on-top boobs, but should not gape on full-on-bottoms.

Band.  There are some problems. Worst of all is the actual clasp -which is only 2 hooks, as with every Rosme I've tried. But's it's the fabric edges of the clasp and hooks that are incredibly sharp and highly irritating; it actually feels scratchy against the skin. This was not the case on the other Rosme's I tried. It was irritating enough that I tucked a folded tissue beneath the clasp to protect my skin. 

Straps.  Average. They are a bit wider in my size, so less thin than they appear in the first pic. They are comfortable enough and do not dig in. There is a semi-padded version as well, and that appears to have the wider strap style.

Shape.  Better than Annija. A little more rounded and the seams lay flatter and are not visible under knits.

When Do I Wear It?

To work, mainly. I appreciate the lightweight fabrics in an overheated office, as well as the moderate shape, low wire height, and (with the exception of the clasp) reasonable comfort. All at a price point under $30. 

Size: 40H (fits like a UK 40G or 38GG and a Euro 38I)

Review: Curvy Studio bralettes (at Target)

This is one of the few brands that actually makes bralettes designed to fit up to an H-cup (US). Curvy Studio is a cheaper line of Curvy Couture, found at Target. I haven't found much success with bras in either version, but the bralettes looked promising.

Beauty

I tried two styles, the Perfect Lace Bralette and the (oddly -& inaccurately-named) High Apex Lace Bralette. Both styles share a similar look, and suffer from the same issues, but the shape is different. And I find the High Apex prettier, with it's laced-edged straps and deeper V-neck.

The Perfect Lace Bralette:

 High Apex Lace Bralette

The only real difference between the styles is the shape. 

The weirdly named High Apex has better shaping due to a vertical seam (more on that later) in the cup. This has nothing to do with a high apex, but simply a deeper cup - which would have been a far more sensible -& helpful- name.

 

While the Perfect Lace is more of a smooshed sports-bra style, without any defined cup shape.  

Both styles look really promising on paper:

• Soft-ish lace fabric is lined with mesh for actual support
• Longer-line band, for more stability
• Cups sized to fit up to an H-cup (US)

In reality, both suffer from the same serious design flaws: 

Straps are not restricted-stretch and totally dig in. Which is just really silly, when they went to the trouble to make an H-cup with mesh lining.

Band.   Incredibly, deeply annoying. It instantly scrunches itself up. It literally would not stay in place long enough for me to snap a pic.

Here is how long it is - if I hold it in place with my hand.

Annnnd when I let go:

It's basically like wearing a scrunchy around your chest. I have a natural figure-8 shape, i.e., a defined waist. So I can't imagine what shape rib cage/waist this would actually work for. 

Seams.  And the final flaw for the High Apex style is that vertical seam that gives such an improved shape. Take a look at the inside - this is what is actually against your boob:

Yeah. That is appalling. The last time I encountered a seam that ridged and rugged was on a canvas cushion for outdoor furniture. Not really something I want on the sensitive skin of my boobs. 

When Might You Wear These?

For lounging around the house -though the High Apex could be wearable as an out-of-the-house weekend bra- assuming you don't mind that 6" scrunchy around your ribs, and you can tolerate that crazy seam against your skin.

Sizing: A very large range for a bralette: M to XXL (36C-42H)

High Apex in XXL (per size chart, fits 40G-42H). This style definitely has more cup capacity.

Perfect Lace in XL (38G-H)

Review: Curvy Studio bralettes (at Target)

This is one of the few brands that actually makes bralettes designed to fit up to an H-cup (US). Curvy Studio is a cheaper line of Curvy Couture, found at Target. I haven't found much success with bras in either version, but the bralettes looked promising.

Beauty

I tried two styles, the Perfect Lace Bralette and the (oddly -& inaccurately-named) High Apex Lace Bralette. Both styles share a similar look, and suffer from the same issues, but the shape is different. And I find the High Apex prettier, with it's laced-edged straps and deeper V-neck.

The Perfect Lace Bralette:

 High Apex Lace Bralette

The only real difference between the styles is the shape. 

The weirdly named High Apex has better shaping due to a vertical seam (more on that later) in the cup. This has nothing to do with a high apex, but simply a deeper cup - which would have been a far more sensible -& helpful- name.

 

While the Perfect Lace is more of a smooshed sports-bra style, without any defined cup shape.  

Both styles look really promising on paper:

• Soft-ish lace fabric is lined with mesh for actual support
• Longer-line band, for more stability
• Cups sized to fit up to an H-cup (US)

In reality, both suffer from the same serious design flaws: 

Straps are not restricted-stretch and totally dig in. Which is just really silly, when they went to the trouble to make an H-cup with mesh lining.

Band.   Incredibly, deeply annoying. It instantly scrunches itself up. It literally would not stay in place long enough for me to snap a pic.

Here is how long it is - if I hold it in place with my hand.

Annnnd when I let go:

It's basically like wearing a scrunchy around your chest. I have a natural figure-8 shape, i.e., a defined waist. So I can't imagine what shape rib cage/waist this would actually work for. 

Seams.  And the final flaw for the High Apex style is that vertical seam that gives such an improved shape. Take a look at the inside - this is what is actually against your boob:

Yeah. That is appalling. The last time I encountered a seam that ridged and rugged was on a canvas cushion for outdoor furniture. Not really something I want on the sensitive skin of my boobs. 

When Might You Wear These?

For lounging around the house -though the High Apex could be wearable as an out-of-the-house weekend bra- assuming you don't mind that 6" scrunchy around your ribs, and you can tolerate that crazy seam against your skin.

Sizing: A very large range for a bralette: M to XXL (36C-42H)

High Apex in XXL (per size chart, fits 40G-42H). This style definitely has more cup capacity.

Perfect Lace in XL (38G-H)