I realized once I had it on that it is basically a copycat of the iconic Lepel Fiore:
Beauty
The lace is a large floral pattern with subtle tonal changes and lots of sheer sections, so it appears light on the body and does not read as 'a lotta bra'. The lace has a slightly raised, embossed effect that does not show through clothing for me.
Comfort
Overall, I'm a fan. This is what I consider a 'soft hold' bra. Lots of stretch, light-to-medium support. It's not going to alter - or fight against - your natural shape; it's not going to jack up your cleavage or create a lot of projection. Instead it will support comfortably and moderately. You're not going to want to run for a bus in this; it's not designed to eliminate all bounce.Claudette represents this type of bra quite well. The opposite end of the spectrum would be Cleo.
Fabric. The upper cup is a single layer of soft lace, and the lower is lined with a knit fabric, which is a lot more comfy than the usual mesh lining.
Band. Non-mesh. Which is always a huge positive for me. I find it true to size. Of note: I am pudging out a bit lately, so a 40 may not be sister-sizing these days.
Straps. A nice width, but not overly substantial. Comfy. No ring-connectors - always a plus - and no sharp edges where the fabric connects to the band, either. It would be nice if they were restricted stretch, but they're fine as-is.
Fit
Cups. These run quite large, about a full cup size so. This is also similar to Lepel Fiore, which runs huge. Because they are quite stretchy and the top is a single layer, I will actually order a cup size down next time. (If you're full-on-bottom, you'll almost certainly want to consider going down a cup.)There is a medium amount of depth near the gore, about on par with Natori. They are clearly not designed for a very projected shape, but the fabric is very forgiving, so it's quite doable for full-on-tops.
Shape. It gives a natural, rounded shape that is my usual workaday preference. There would likely be more lift in a cup size down, since I have extra room here.
Compromises
Wires. They are a bit taller than ideal for me, but then, I strongly prefer lower wires. They also are standard UK shape, with the wires winging back a bit. My firm preference is for Euro style wires that do not slant back, but rather, stay close to the boob in a U shape.
However, they are not overly wide, stabby, or rigid, just a little higher at the sides than I like. And dropping down a cup size may well solve this for me.
Higher side/pit area. This is an issue with most UK bras and it goes with the UK wire style and its higher, Nike-swoop shape. There's just more fabric than I want/need in the area between the strap and armpit. But it's less extreme than the issue can be in brands like Freya or Panache.
When Do I Wear It?
When I need a flexible fit without a lot of intense molding and shaping and I'm not going to be super active or walking several miles. So, when I'm experiencing size fluctuations from PMS swelling or a hot day. Or when I want a softer, moderate profile, such as a fitted blouse requires.Size: 40G (UK), which I found fit me like a large 40H. My actual size is 38GG. There are no double letters, so each cup size is a fairly big jump.
