In my quest to find more comfy wire-free bras for quarantine I tried the Olga Signature Support Satin Wire-Free 2-ply bra in the colorway Bluefog.
Beauty
The low-luster satin fabric is actually quite pretty in this ice-blue shade. The design is quite plain, the only decoration being a shiny satin V-shaped inset at the neckline.
Comfort & Fit
Fabric. Very soft and supportive. It is unlined, double-ply satin/spandex so it fits like a 2nd skin but does not provide much nip coverage, which I don't really care about, but you might.
Band. The same satin fabric - no 'power' mesh, which is good news. On the tall side, with a thick seam, which is less good news. But no poky side stays, which is always a plus for me.
Cups. Seamless, with a moderate amount of stretch, they are supportive but still allow for both full-on-top and full-on-bottom shapes. There is a foam side support that runs all along the outer cups, from the strap to the band. I forgot to smooth it down so it looks a little twisted at the top here, but it does lay flat and invisible under clothing.
I found that the cup construction did give me good lift and separation, and a very nice rounded shape under a knit shirt.
Compromises
Strap placement. This is purely a matter of preference, but I don't really care for the way the straps angle in at the back, which rises up to meet the straps with those ring connectors.
I find that this is the spot where I will get some rubbing & skin irritation after a few hours. Still, many women I know actually prefer this style.
Sizing. I have always found Olga to run very snug in the band and large in the cups. So I sister-sized to a 44DD. Which equates to a 40G US.
My actual size is a 40H US/Euro or a 40G UK so this gives you an idea of how tight the band runs and how generous the cups.
Pricepoint. Around $25 on Amazon, $40 in a department store. The construction quality is quite good.
In my quest to find deodorants that do not cause allergic reactions, or annoy my sensitive skin, I gave Drunk Elephant Deodorant a try.
Container: narrow and square. An odd design choice, as the edges are sharpish, making it not especially comfy to rub around your armpit.
Scent: a pleasant almond that is far too faint and doesn't last.
Texture: a milky liquid that, unfortunately, does not every really dry completely. Even worse, if you like to apply body powder, as I do, expect some strange caking and creamy little blobs dropping from your armpits. (Ask me how I know.)
Effectivness: 2 out of 10. That's right. You can expect two measly hours of protection - max. And that is assuming you are doing nothing more strenuous that sitting on the sofa. Incredibly disappointing, especially at this price point, around $15.
The description of Bali Beauty bra includes the words 'revolutionary' 'scientifically tested, gravity-defying' and 'multi-zone fusion innovation'. Yeahhh, I don't know about any of that - sounds like someone in marketing exceeded their caffeine limit and needs to back away from the thesaurus - but it is a new take on wire-free.
Beauty
Nice golden sand color instead of the dreaded beige, with a prettily embossed fan/shell pattern. Plunging V-shape.
Comfort & Fit
Fabric. 70% Nylon, 30% Spandex. Normally, this would give you that 2nd skin fit, with lots of stretch. But this is where that gravity defiance comes in: the cup is actually laminated and non-stretch. The fabric is very thin and smooth, so it is not that uncomfy, scratchy UK style where laminated feels like they've bonded some mesh window screen inside the cup.
You can see the result of that lack of stretch on my smaller side, where there is extra bottom room, which is not where I need it. The lack of stretch means it kinda crinkles there.
Cups. Plenty of capacity, but very decidedly designed for full-on-bottom boob shapes.
Most of the cup room is at the bottom and sides, so it's cutting into my larger right boob a bit. This would have worked a lot better for many different shapes if the bottom of the cup had been non-stretch and the top more stretchy and flexible.
Band. Made of the same fabric as the cups, laser cut to minimize seams; the only one is on the sides and is not bulky. Not too tall; this is a decent band.
Straps. Standard and reasonably soft. They do not cut in.
Shape. Surprisingly good under a thin T-shirt. Rounded, but slightly perky. There is more lift than I expected and I'd certainly wear this out of the house.
Compromises
Center Roll. That low-cut V-neck shape, together with the lack of cup stretch, means I find my boobs tumbling toward the center and have to readjust frequently throughout the day.
Shape Mismatch. As a haver of full-on-top boobs, this is something I am all too accustomed to dealing with. Sometimes it's worth it to put up with it; sometimes not. While it does look good under clothing, if I do not adjust every hour or two, I will get visible double-bubble in this.
When Do I Wear It?
Weekends when I might want to leave the house for a short errand. (Theoretically, since this is Month 7 of quarantine, and there are no errands anymore.) I don't find Beauty comfy enough for a full work day at home, mostly due to the tumbling to the center issue. I get tired of rearranging my boobs. But for bottom-full shapes, this may not be much of an issue for you.
Price point. A bargain at $12 on sale. And a decent value at twice that.
Sizing. 42DD. Bali bands are true to size, unlike Olga where I always need to size up. So I could have gone with my usual 40 here, but I needed the cup size. This fits me like a loose 40G (UK).
A very basic bralette by Calvin Klein, in the wonderfully named colorway 'Nymph's Thigh': a palest ballet pink. It's pretty and a much nicer neutral than the dreaded yellowy beige.
Comfort
The cotton fabric is heavenly. Literally the softest I've ever encountered. It is quite thin and has plenty of stretch.
The seams, however, are a different story. As you can see, I have flipped it inside out, which improves comfort greatly.
The band is, disappointingly, uncovered elastic. I mean, why. Also, there's no missing that giant logo running all the way around it. Unless your boobs are as big as mine, that is. Ha. At least it is much softer than most.
The straps are racerback, which is not a plus for me. You're forced to pull it on over your head, rather than step into it, as I prefer.
Fit & Support
Not much of either. My first thought was to laugh at the name 'Modern' - the fit is anything but. This is an old-school uni-boob style. You will get a flattened mono-boob-loaf shape. And your boobs will be stickily smooshed together.
There is actually a lot of cup capacity, but it is literally a flat piece of fabric, just like those early 'sports bras' but without the flattening compression. There is absolutely no attempt at shaping to allow for any projection.
Most of the lack of support comes from the poorly designed straps. They are super stretchy and the same thin cotton - not reinforced at all - and the weight of my boobs dragged them down in no time. If they had been restricted stretch, the racerback shape might have actually increased support. I also had to rearrange frequently due to uni-boob problem.
The shape is not terrible from the side. And there's that seam that would ruin the cloud-softness if not inside-out:
When Do I Wear It?
For a few hours on weekends, lounging around the house. I would not wear it outside my yard; there's just not enough support for that. I also don't find it comfy enough for a full day of working from home, mainly due to the stickily smooshed together effect.
It would be a great sleep bra, if you're into that, since the fabric is cloud-soft. In fact, I would have used it for that if I was still experiencing PMS swelling, but that is happily behind me since I began using progesterone cream, and especially now that I've hit the end stage of perimenopause.
Sizing. 2X. This is the Plus version, which you'll want if you're above a D-cup. The 2X fits a range of 38E-42G, I would say. The band is not snug, so I would not advise sizing up.
Pricepoint. Full price, around $35. I bought on Amazon at $21...only to see it annoyingly go down to $14 days later. You know the drill: leave it in your cart and let it age like a fine wine.
As part of my quest to find an effective deodorant that would not cause an allergic reaction, I tried Magsol Magnesium in Rose.
Texture. One of my favorites: a smooth, dry cream. Soft, non-sticky, and non-grainy. It is less cakey than other options.
The applicator is an unusual round shape. It is also oddly heavy.
Scent. A gorgeous, fresh true rose. Not candied or sickly sweet as some rose scents can be. Unfortunately, it is a bit too faint and not long-lasting enough.
Effectiveness. 6 out 10.
For me, that means I get around 6 hours of protection, maximum.
Price point: around $13. Not cheap; on the more spendy end for this class of products, but it does last for months.
When Do I Wear It?
As with the majority of natural deodorants, it doesn't last a full day, making it a weekend or bedtime option.
Comfort Choice is a brand that's been around for decades and has really upped its game in the past 5 years or so, with a large range of different styles and patterns. I bought this right at the start of quarantine - before I realized that I'd never be leaving the house, or that there would only be 3 sunny days this summer.
Beauty
Yep, that is one wacky pattern. It's called 'Pink Confetti'. Ummm, okay. It just serves to demonstrate how much I hate white bras that I opted for this instead. The pattern continues across the band and straps, a touch that's always appreciated. But fear not: there are much prettier patterns that, at the time, weren't available in my size, but are now. For e.g.
Comfort & Fit
Band. Soft microfiber - no crappy, harsh mesh in sight. Four hooks, but the band is not too tall, so it is not constrictive and doesn't roll. It does, however, provide significant support; I'd even say on par with an underwire. There are side stays, which I am on record as despising. They add nothing in the way of support, but do add serious discomfort. So I simply snipped a tiny slit near the band elastic and slid them right out.
Cups & Profile Shape. Formed of medium thickness foam, the cups are generous and give a rounded, but not flattened, shape as expected in a Tshirt bra. They are also moderately low cut and with a nice sweetheart neckline that will work under scoop neck and V-neck shirts, giving you the option to show a little cleavage if desired.
There are no wires, yet I'm getting the same support and lift I do from an underwire, which is pretty impressive. The cup is meant for a balanced boob shape, but it is accommodating my very full-on-top shape and I think a full-on-bottom shape would do fine, though you might get more of a tear drop shape that follows your natural shape.
The cups mold well to my shape, and for me, that's a huge plus: I prefer a bra to conform to my own shape and enhance it. I do find them comfy. I forgot to take a pic under clothing, but the shape is very good. Comparable to an underwired foam Tshirt bra.
Straps. Foam-padded, but not bulky. And you want that in a wire-free bra, as the straps will be taking on a bit more weight. They are very comfy and they extend enough for a tall person.
When Do I Wear It?
Any time I want underwire-level lift and shaping, and nip coverage, but don't want to wear wires. Normally I'd be happily wearing this to work under thin, clingy T's on warm summer days. But since I've been quarantining and working from home for 4 months, and our summer has consisted of endless weeks of 55F and pouring rain...
Since I can't test it under very hot & humid conditions, I don't know how well this bra will work for you in that type of climate - certainly not any worse than a traditional foam-lined Tshirt bra. But it is not spacer foam, which does work in that climate. Indoors with A/C, it'll be fine. You also get complete nippie coverage, if that's important to you.
Sizing. 42F. US, which means generous in the cups and snuggish in the band. This fits me like a 40G UK, or 40H Euro.
Price point. Full price is around $40. I bought on Amazon when it hit $25. The quality of construction is fairly high, so the price is very reasonable.
I've spent the last few years trying lots...& lots of sensitive skin products. Deodorants have been the toughest to crack. Finding the right texture and scent is not easy. But most of all: they vary wildly in effectiveness.
I'm a relatively crunchy vegetarian, but I don't particularly think that regular chemical deodorant is evil. I used Dove for over a decade. It is fairly sensitive skin friendly, & has about 30% less of the aluminum ingredient that's in most brands & I'd be happily using it still, if I hadn't inexplicably developed an allergic reaction to Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex GLY which, I soon learned, is in virtually every anti-perspirant. By reaction, I mean sudden, 4" long, tender red patches that actually scabbed over. I know. Ugh. The beginning of my quest is in this post: Deodorant Quest
Type:A in The Dreamer scent (white floral linen)
Scent. Really lovely. A non-cloying, sheer white floral. Unfortunately, it's a little too subtle. There's a crucial difference between 'understated' and 'evaporating'.
Texture. Perfect. A light, fluffy cream that sinks into skin and leaves zero residue of any kind. Very similar to the Tussy in my original post.
Application. Genius. Squeeze the tube like toothpaste, then rub in with the soft, domed applicator.
Effectiveness. On a scale of 1-10, Type:A is a 5. i.e. it lasts about 5 hours. And when that time is up, you are basically Cinderella and you need to leave the ball.
Price point. Around $10. Not cheap, but by no means the most expensive option in its category.
When Do I Use It?
On weekends, when I will not be breaking a sweat. Before bed on rare warm, muggy nights. I would not rely on this for a full day at the office - back when going to the office was a thing.
It's been 3....er, 4 months now since I've gone any further than the wild rose hedge that forms the border of my garden. I do take a drive along the water once every week or two, but other than that, I'm not going anywhere. So basically, my working-from-home wardrobe consists of yoga pants and T-shirts. I feel fortunate to be able to work from home. And even happier that my job actually discourages video meetings.
I realize I haven't worn an underwire bra in...well, 4 months. Because slouching on the sofa with a laptop is even less underwire-friendly than sitting at a desk. Instead, I've rediscovered some old wire-free friends.
Like these two all-cotton styles from Fruit of the Loom that I used to wear on weekends, about 10 years ago. I was concerned they would no longer fit me at my current 40G size, but due to the generous US cup sizing, they do.
Fruit of the Loom Style 96715
Brand new, freshly washed - and still, Sheltie fur magically found its way onto it
Band. One of the greatest factors in comfort for me is a minimal, not too tall, not too tight band. Being short-waisted, too much structured band just rolls up or digs in or constricts. It is not worth the trade-off of increased support. So this nice & low cotton band is comfy and has 4 hooks.
Cups & Shape. Difficult to see in black, but this is my favorite seam style: diagonal-shaped, and high up on the cups.
This makes for a full-on-top friendly bra, and the stretch in the cotton allows my natural upper fullness to assert itself. Result? A very nice profile shape. Rounded and with no flattening.
Straps. Built up in the front, adjustable in back. Also cotton. On the narrow side, actually. I'd prefer them wider, but they are adequate.
Compromises. While the profile shape is great, because it's wire-free the shape from the front is wider, and a little east-west. The upside is that you get actual separation and there is no smooshed together uni-boob shape.
I find the shape perfectly acceptable under clothing:
Fruit of the Loom Style 96825
I actually find this one the slightly comfier of the two, due to the simpler cup style: fewer seams across the top because it does not have that pretty satin inset. Also, it has a little more cup capacity. The trade-off is that the shape is a little less perky. But still very acceptable.
Cups. A traditional frumpy design with a single horizontal seam. The bottom 1/2 is double-layer, providing some actual support. Because the cotton has stretch, it doesn't create the unfortunate flattened yet pointy shape full on top boobs usually get from this style. In fact, under clothing, I get a nice rounded shape, as below:
The only other real difference is that the band has only 3 hooks. For some reason, the bands are only a single layer of cotton, which is a lost opportunity for support, but not a dealbreaker.
When Do I Wear Them?
Quarantine for the win! These are really great for light, simple support while working from home. Also while doing yard work outside in the humidity, because they are all cotton and do provide some separation. If you deal with hot, humid summers (I only deal with that 2nd part) then cotton bras are a practical necessity. They don't chafe and they breathe. I'm very comfortable wearing them out of the house, even in a Tshirt. Where I wouldn't wear them is with clingy, silky fabrics.
Sizing.
U.S. and very generous. I'm wearing both bras in a 40DD. Yes, I'm serious. I am a US 40H, or UK 40G. That tells you how generous the cups are and how forgiving a fabric cotton is. Ten years ago, I was a 36GG and I wore these styles in a 40D, on the middle hooks. So, say you're a 36G, you should do fine in a 38D. If you're a 34DD, I'd try a 36C. And so on.
Pricepoint.
Ridiculously affordable at $10 each. You can expect 1-2 years of good wear out of these, and you don't need to fuss too much with laundering them, either. Slip them into a mesh bag and wash with your other cottons. If you forget the bag, they're still pretty rugged.
I got mine from Walmart.com and Amazon has them as well.
Yes, Delimira's names continue to be the worst. They're basically all the same: clunky descriptions with the words 'minimizer' - whether it applies or not - and non-padded, which is accurate.
I don't recognize the specific name brand bra for which this is a dupe, but it looks similar to several styles by Vanity Fair, which used to be a favorite brand of mine before I crossed the DD threshold.
Beauty
Very simple, clean lines that disappear under pretty much any fabric. I opted for Charcoal Grey. I'm a huge fan of grey as a less harsh alternative to black. The other colors are all neutrals: the ubiquitous beige, but also a pretty bronze.
Comfort & Fit
Fabric. Very soft nylon with high spandex, almost 20%. This is perfect for comfort: you'll get a 2nd skin fit, plus bounce reduction.
Straps. Utterly fantastic. Literally the best I've ever come across in any bra, in any price range. Padded, but not bulky. Not too wide; they have a graceful shape. Best of all: the design has flat seams, is completely smooth against the skin, and the sleek foam section actually extends over the top of my shoulder. So often, with padded straps, the padding is a tiny section at the front, which doesn't even reach the top of my shoulder, so this is amazing.
Cups&Wires. Completely seamless, double-layer, and full-coverage, they have a good deal of stretch, but not too much. They stretch enough to accommodate my very full-on-top shape, but not enough to allow my natural roundness there to come through. So I get a little bit of flattening in the upper cup that will have zero effect on full-on-bottom boobs.
The wires are actually fairly narrow. This is not a traditional minimizer that flattens and spreads out the boob with wide, shallow cups. Instead, the cups are on the tall side, with no real defined apex. This allows for some vertical redistribution of boob tissue, so instead of flattening, you're getting a less projected shape that way.
Shape. Non-projected and rounded, but not wide. In other words, a great shape for T-shirts.
Under a clingy black T-shirt
Band. On the tall side, of the same soft, non-mesh fabric with lots of spandex for a snug fit.
Compromises
Lift. If you want jacked-up boobs, or your outfit requires cleavage, this is not your bra.
Wire Height. As with many brands, they are about 1/2" taller than I prefer. But this is my personal preference, and they will be fine for most, unless you are short-waisted or simply share my preference for shorter wires.
Wire Casing. The fabric channel encasing the underwires is a little stiff. It did not cause as much discomfort as I expected however, and will soften with each wash.
When Do I Wear It?
Under T-shirts and knits, particularly darker colors where shape and lift are not on display. (Note: you'll get some nip camouflage by virtue of the double-layer, high-stretch fabric, but not like with a foam-lining.) When I want to be comfy for a long day and I want to give my shoulders a break and enjoy those fabulously comfy straps.
Sizing. The cups run generous, due to the seamless style and shape. I'd strongly suggest dropping down a cup from your usual size, if you are full-on-bottom - and maybe even if you're full-on-top.
Reprising my advice on Delimira sizing: Keep your usual band size, and for cups: go down one from your UK size; and drop two from your US size. E.g. I wear 40H US or 40G UK, so I'd try 40F or 42E in this.
Because I loved everything about the Greta bralette - save her annoying X-back straps - I decided to try her sister, Loretta. Different fabric from the delicious modal of Greta, but still a very soft microfiber, and in a similar V-neck style, but with regular bra straps. Here's how that went for me.
Beauty
I tried Loretta in the awesomely named colorway of Whiskey Rose. First off, the deeper V neckline lined in lace makes her prettier than the plainer Greta. That lace continues about 1/2 way up the straps. More on those later.
Comfort & Fit
Cups. Unfortunately, they run significantly smaller than the Greta's. I'd say by a full cup size. The reviews on Amazon note that 40% say the bra 'runs large'. Yeah, no. This demonstrates that about 80% of bra reviews are left by folks who genuinely do not understand how bra sizing works. And correlates with about the same % who are supposedly wearing the wrong size anyway.
The positive: the vertical seams give a nice shape under clothing. More important: the seams are completely flat, specifically the inner layer that lays next to your skin. I can't emphasize enough how unfortunately rare this is, even in more expensive brands, and how hugely it impacts comfort.
The negative: despite the seams, the cups are needlessly shallow and lacking in lift. Though the profile is actually better than this angle would suggest.
This is due mainly to.....
Straps. They are very - inexplicably - thin, but adjustable. Leading Lady makes some great large cup bralettes, in wonderful soft fabrics, but after trying two styles - both of which have needlessly complicated or inadequate straps - all I can conclude is: they really need to have an actual person with big boobs explain to them how straps work.
Band. Very different to Greta's unique band, which I really liked. This is a more traditional band: taller, with 4 hooks. Had the straps been wider, there would have been all day support potential here.
Shape. You can certainly leave the house in Loretta. It gives a soft, rounded natural shape - not nearly as flattened as the pic above would suggest.
When Do I Wear It?
Well, I wore Loretta to work one day under a chunky sweater and the straps began to cut in annoyingly after 4 hours, making Loretta a great after-work or weekend bralette.
Sizing: Unlike Greta, Loretta comes in cup size ranges. I tried 42/DD/F/G, which I found to fit me like a 40F. Because the bands do fit snugly, you have room to sister-size up in the band, and, especially if you're full-on-top, I'd suggest you try that.
Note: I've added an affiliate link, which means that if you opt to buy this yourself, then I get about a quarter from Amazon, to help cover the costs of this blog.
OK, this is not the kind of bralette I would usually buy. Why did I? Because I was about to finalize an Amazon order when I noticed it had dropped to $5.65 in my cart. And I thought to myself: Self, why not? Because it is pretty. And it was a grim 10F outside.
Beauty
I find Josilyn to be very lovely. The lace has a luminous sheen that makes any skin tone look good. She also comes in sapphire and turquoise shades. The shape forms a portrait frame around your boobs.
Comfort & Fit
Not really the point here. Josilyn is purely for date night. The kind where you won't be leaving the house. Because there is zero support. Maybe less than zero.
But the lace is surprisingly soft. Not scratchy at all. There is a tiny-tiny bikini-style clasp at the top of the neckline, which means you can step into it and pull it on easily.
The 'band' is actually a 2" thick soft elastic, which is much deeper than that of the very supportive Tutti Rouge Eve. In Josilyn, however, the band runs quite large and the lace below is very loose; it's there for beauty, not support. It's a longline style, and they tend to bunch up on me anyway. I sized up to get more cup capacity, but I needn't have bothered. Coverage is not really the goal here.
You also will not be getting any lift whatsoever. Josilyn is really just a (very) pretty boob doily.
When Do I Wear It?
When I will be extremely active and want great shape and support. Hah! Kidding. No, I wear Josilyn pretty much at the express request of Mr. ComfyCurvy.
Size & Pricepoint: I went with the 3X and I should've dropped down a size to get a more fitted band.
The usual price is around $10, but I bought it at $5.65. You can find Josilyn here.
(That's an affiliate link, meaning if you decide to buy her too, Amazon gives me about 2 cents, which supports the blog hosting.)
I find that this is the spot where I will get some rubbing & skin irritation after a few hours. Still, many women I know actually prefer this style.
