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)