So I finally decided to try Cosabella's Curvy Sweetie. After experiencing the equally spendy Hanky Panky floppy, lacy scratch-fest, an all-lace bralette was not very appealing.
Nutshell Review: I am pleasantly surprised.
Beauty
The Sweetie comes in many colors. I chose Platinum, which is actually more of a gunmetal grey, which, because I am all about the deeper jewel tones, was fine with me. The lace is dense and substantial, not sheer in any way, and continues up the straps so they will look great peeking out.
Oddly, the style of this bralette does not look especially flattering. On anyone, really. Two reasons: it is cut quite high and there is a rather frumpy horizontal seam across the lower portion of the cup. However. These features also make Sweetie practical for big boobs; there is some actual support here.
Let's just say Sweetie will not be your sexy time go-to on her own. But she will look very pretty peeking out from the tops of shirts or tanks.
Comfort & Fit
Fabric. Here is where I was pleasantly surprised. The entire bralette - cups and band (no hooks) is lined in a fine, soft mesh. This adds significant support while also eliminating any scratchiness from the lace.
Equally important: the elastic is the softest I've ever encountered. It has a soft, fuzzy finish that feels wonderful against your skin. Sharp, cheap, cutting elastic (thanks for that, Freya & Curvy Kate) has ruined many a bra for me, so this feature alone is noteworthy and goes a long way toward justifying the price.
Cups. They come up quite high; you'll get a crop top effect, rather than a triangle plunge. Decent cup depth and plenty of room in the upper cup due to the stretchy fabric and higher neckline. Part of this is due to that frumpy seam, which, in another victory for comfort, is on the outside of the cup, not against your skin. Win.
Shape. Compact, rounded, a little flattened. A more diagonal seam would have given a more perky shape, but I'm guessing they wanted zero risk of pointy-ness and so erred on the side of a rounded boob-loaf. It's not extreme and you do still get some separation.
Why no, I've never been accused of being a great photographer, now that you mention it.
Straps. Medium width, like a regular bra strap. They do have the dreaded ring-connectors, but in this case I do not hate them. They are done correctly and lay well over my shoulder and onto my back. Also, as with the elastic, the finishing details are great and there is no bulky wad of fabric or rough stitching. Nicely done.
Compromises
Band. There are no hooks, so you will either have to pull it on over your head or step into it like a swimsuit. Because the band is not overly tight, I did not find the Sweetie as difficult to put on as I do most one-piece bralettes.
Shape. As always, this is an individual preference. You are not going to get a boosted, perky shape in this, or even a defined apex. But that's not really a fair ask for a stretchy bralette.
When Do I Wear It?
When I care more about comfort and beauty than shape, especially when the straps or neckline will be showing. Very welcome in warm weather as the combo of lace and mesh is very breathable while still providing opaque coverage. Sweetie is also useful with tops that are a little too low-cut for work as she will read like a pretty camisole that you intentionally layered.
Sizing & Pricepoint
XL, which is 40G-40H (US). I found the Cosabella size chart to be accurate.
The full price runs around $65. I purchased mine on Amazon for $41. And - for the first time ever - here is an affiliate link: Curvy Sweetie (i.e. if you end up buying this for yourself and use the link, I get a (teeny) amount which helps cover the costs of hosting the blog)
No comments:
Post a Comment