Bali just keeps on expanding the Comfort Revolution line, which has long contained my most reliable bralette. Unfortunately, they seem to lack imagination when it comes to naming the different models, so you really have to pay close attention to figure out what you're getting.
The main difference is non-removable foam padding, which I generally do not want. But there are other subtle differences between the padded models.
This version is a bra, and it looks just like the bralettes from the outside. But the structure is quite different.
Beauty
Available in lots and lots of colors and subtle tonal patterns. This is Cement Gray, which is sort of a greige.
Comfort & Support
CUPS. The main difference between the bra & bralette version is that the foam in the bra is slightly thicker and more molded. Nothing like a T-shirt bra; it's still very thin and flexible. It's a very soft, rounded shape, but with a definite apex. The cups have some stretch, but it's limited by the foam lining; still, it's enough to allow the cups to accommodate my full-on-top shape with no cutting in or double-bubble.
Another difference is that the bra version has casing under the cups. This is the stitched channel where an underwire would normally be inserted. It just gives a small amount of structure and support from below. The fabric and stitching is soft enough for my sensitive skin.
SUPPORT. Here's what unique about this bra that I wasn't expecting. It doesn't really give much support - but it looks as if it does, beneath clothing. The lift and shape provided by the thin molded foam is enough to rival the look of an underwired, non-pushup T-shirt bra. You can see here what I mean:
The weight of my boobs is clearly dragging down the cup and snug band a bit....but magically, the shape and lift look good. I also like the very low sides as this is the area that tall bands and seams really impact my sensitive skin the most.
Compromises
STRAPS. Just as all the others in the Bali Comfort Revolution collection, the straps are a nice, moderate width, but the turned-under seams are not soft and not very comfy. Because the band is actually doing more than it appears, there is not a lot of extra weight put onto the strap, so it's not a deal-breaker for me. But if I had any sewing talent, I would stitch a soft lining to the underside of the straps.
When Do I Wear It?
When I want to look supported and nip-free, but don't want to be supported by actual underwire or or a heavy wire-free structure. So under a thin knit sweater or clingy T-shirt, when I will be sitting a lot, perhaps in a professional situation like a video meeting. This style has turned out to be useful more often than I expected.
Sizing
This is in actual bra sizing - that's another distinction between the bras/bralettes. Bali is a US brand and the usual rule of thumb applies: bands run more snug and cups more generous than in Euro or UK sizing. I am a 40H US/Euro and 40G UK. A 42DD works fine for me and I can wear it on the loosest hook, which gives you an idea of how easily you can sister-side into this.
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).
Bras that have been your go-to for reliable comfort and fit suddenly feel uncomfortable. Wires that have never chafed...suddenly do. Cups that fit perfectly on Tuesday are causing double-bubble on Thursday. If you experience fluctuation in your cup or band size, this will be all too familiar.
I've always experienced a lot of size fluctuation. Whether I've been lean and buff, or soft and curvy, I've long been accustomed to the sudden 1/2 cup size increase during PMS week. Though since I began using progesterone cream (you can read about that here) that has been reduced a great deal. But my overall weight has also fluctuated a lot. This makes wearing bras with a very rigid or specific fit - such as Panache, Wacoal, or Curvy Kate - a futile exercise in discomfort. A highly structured bra generally cannot flex and adjust to all the subtle ways the fit will change with an increase or decrease in weight.
Portia, from 7 years ago, when I still tried to wear Curvy Kate.
The practically rib-puncturing gore of Panache Idina.
Higher spandex always equates to a more stretch and a flexible, 2nd skin fit. However, that is not the only factor that makes a bra a good bet during times of fluctuating size. I am again going through a period where my old favorites are no longer as comfy, even those with high spandex and softer wires.
Which Bras Did Do Well With the Changes?
Anita Rosa FaiaTwin. This one is not a surprise to me. It was the first bra I profiled in the blog 4 years ago and it remains the comfiest bra I've ever found. Period.
Proof in point: here I am wearing it this week - the very same bra.
A little more float in the gore than the usual 1/2" I get with Anita, & my right boob is definitely reaching full cup capacity, but still 100% comfy.
It still fits after 4 years and 30 lbs weight gain. And best of all, the 30% spandex and thin, wide wires can accommodate the size increase without pressure points or chafing - and the decrease, without the wide wires causing irritation on my sides.
The Anita Twin would be my desert island, end of the world bra for sure. When comfort and longevity would matter, and a perky uplifted shape not-so-much. This is one of the very few bras I do not mind paying full price for but I buy mine on Amazon, where the price often dips to $50-55: Anita Twin.
Another, more surprising, bra that has proven herself able to roll with a lot of size fluctuation: Empreinte Grace (Low Neck version).
This is Grace. Three years - & 30 lbs - ago.
I was thrilled when I found Grace 3 years ago. But with her cup structure of rigid lace with zero stretch, I had expected to be forced to say a sad goodbye to her during my recent round of size change.
But no. She is oddly able to cope adjust without causing discomfort. The wires still fit well and the only visible change is slightly more gore float and I'm aware of the side stays in a way I wasn't before. They're still soft and flexible, but I will probably opt to remove them now.
Grace also works beautifully as a T-shirt bra. Unlike the Twin, she gives a lovely lifted shape that is rounded but with a high apex. The very sturdy opaque lace is lightweight and breathable and also provides a little nip camouflage.
I've only seen the full cup style on Amazon and in my size it's always the full price. But if you're, say, a 34G, it's often much cheaper, around $95. In my world, that's pretty spendy, but mine are 3+ years old and show no signs whatsoever of any wear or stretching out. I'd normally be reluctant to spend that much on a single bra, but the comfort, plus the sizing flexibility, & the fact that she wears like iron, is worth it to me.
Honorable Mention: Delimira Floral Lace Bra. Remember that Delimira's names are confusingly literal - & all very similar. I'm talking about this bra:
Delimira's version of the iconic Fiore Lepel
As well as the 40G (fits like UK 40H) in fuschia, I also own it in a neutral beige in 40F (fits like UK 40G). For a budget option, at $20, this bra is hard to beat. The lace is flat and doesn't show through most fabrics. The shape is natural and rounded, making it quite versatile
Lots of flexible, medium-level support
Bralettes That Make the Cut
Just because it is wireless or a bralette does not necessarily mean it will respond well to size fluctuation. In fact, any wire-free bra with a rigid underband under the cups actually becomes more uncomfortable to me than an underwire. Because digging. And if the cups have no stretch, then boob swelling will simply result in feeling unpleasantly constricted. Likewise if the band is tall, the bra cannot adjust to the change and the whole fit is thrown off in tiny ways that add up to, you guessed it: discomfort.
Bali Comfort Revolution. Pretty sure you saw that one coming.
Bliss. I'm wearing this right now in blue.
In memoriam to my OG tie-dyed original. After 4 years, it finally went to that bra heaven in the sky.
I have a wardrobe of these now. In colors from charcoal to periwinkle. Everything but beige. Full price can be $50. Don't be crazy. Head over here and wait until a color you like hits $20-25. All of mine are in 2X which fits around 36H-42G.
Delimira's generic version of Bali Comfort Revolution
These fit slightly firmer, which gives more lift and may be a plus. And they have the same wonderful padded clasp. The main difference is that they have slightly less cup capacity, topping out at an XL, which should work fine for, say, 36F-40GG. And at a 2-pack for $19, they are an unbeatable bargain.
Cosabella Never Say Never Curvy Sweetie.
Looks SO much better under a shirt below.
Cup capacity and a shape that is better than expected under clothing:
I wore Sweetie to work on a day underwires were really bugging me. Under a thinnish Tshirt and shape is quite good!
I consider Cosabella spendy. Full price is around $65. I bought it here when it reached $55, which is about as good as it gets.
Honorable Mention: Delimira Soft Sleep Bra.
Soft Sleep Comfort Bra
The only reason Olivia is not my go-to for this is the small seam on the straps that sit on the top of my shoulder can get a little diggy after a full day's wear. I doubt it would be an issue unless you have ultra sensitive skin like me. But the silky fabric of cup and band is very soothing and can accommodate swelling. She comes in more specific cup/band sizing and is another bargain at under $20.
So there you have it. These are the bras that have not let me down and have held up (lots of pun possibilities in there) through significant fluctuations in my cup and band size.
Now go forth and be comfy!
Note: There are affiliate links to where I bought these bras myself. If you use them, that means I might get a few cents that help support the costs of the blog.
Yes, I am still happily on my Delimira kick. That's because I've been pleased with every bra I've tried from the brand. The consistency in sizing, the crazy low price point - which does not correlation to the fairly high quality - and the unexpected fact that their generic versions of famous bras are often better made and more comfy than the original? Well, color me impressed.
When I saw that Delimira makes a version of the epic level comfy Bali Comfort Revolution? The bralette that I have bought many times, that remains the most comfy, supportive -enough to wear out of the house, even- bralette I've found in my long searching. Yeah, I had to try that.
And I was not disappointed.
Beauty
Plain and sleek neutrals.
Black & gray or black & beige; those are your choices.
Everyone reading knows my thoughts on beige, so here's the gray:
Cups. As with the original Bali, they expand a good deal and the XL can handle a G-cup and even an H, though you'll have more cleavage. I think they are slightly more supportive than the original as they are slightly less stretchy - in a good way - resulting in your boobs being held closer to your chest. The effect is a slightly minimized, very rounded shape with impressive bounce reduction. The cups do not encourage a uniboob and there's some slight separation, which is a big plus. I'd wear this out of the house in a heartbeat.
Band. Stretchy, snug and stable, with 3 hooks. I find those pull-over styles frustrating to contort myself into, so I love that this has regular hooks. And the padded clasp of the Bali remains! In fact, they've gone one better and padded it with memory foam, which is a more dense and deliciously pillowy foam. Win! (The actual Balis I've bought on Amazon are sometimes inexplicably missing the padded foam in the clasp, which makes them likely 'imperfect' 2nd's.) One more reason to opt for this high quality generic over the original. Straps. As with the Bali, this is my sole quibble with this otherwise divinely comfy bralette. They are wide-ish and overall comfy, but have the rolled elastic edging which I don't care for, but again, it's a small quibble.
Price. The Bali Comfort Revolution goes for $35 full price. Brace yourself: a 2-pack of the Delimira version? $19
When Do I Wear It?
All day every weekend. To work when I'm feeling under the weather or experiencing PMS swelling which causes sensitivity to wires. I actually do wear this bralette under formfitting Tshirts; the thick, substantial fabric gives more nippie coverage than you'd expect and a natural, rounded shape. Also, the very rounded shape avoids boob-tenting under looser draping tops. The one time I wouldn't choose this one is with something that requires a high bustline, such as an empire waist dress, since you need some lift for that to fit properly. While I prefer to sleep free range, you could definitely sleep in this if you're so inclined; the padded clasp ensures no hooks will dig in and the 2nd skin stretch will allow it move with you. Size: XL. Like all Delimira (save the Wacoal Awareness version that runs small) this runs large. The XL fits me just like the XXL in Bali's original version.
Rough guide: the XL should work fine for 38F-42GG, the L for 34E-36G, etc. There's quite a bit of leeway in sizing.
Yes, I am still happily on my Delimira kick. That's because I've been pleased with every bra I've tried from the brand. The consistency in sizing, the crazy low price point - which does not correlation to the fairly high quality - and the unexpected fact that their generic versions of famous bras are often better made and more comfy than the original? Well, color me impressed.
When I saw that Delimira makes a version of the epic level comfy Bali Comfort Revolution? The bralette that I have bought many times, that remains the most comfy, supportive -enough to wear out of the house, even- bralette I've found in my long searching. Yeah, I had to try that.
And I was not disappointed.
Beauty
Plain and sleek neutrals.
Black & gray or black & beige; those are your choices.
Everyone reading knows my thoughts on beige, so here's the gray:
Cups. As with the original Bali, they expand a good deal and the XL can handle a G-cup and even an H, though you'll have more cleavage. I think they are slightly more supportive than the original as they are slightly less stretchy - in a good way - resulting in your boobs being held closer to your chest. The effect is a slightly minimized, very rounded shape with impressive bounce reduction. The cups do not encourage a uniboob and there's some slight separation, which is a big plus. I'd wear this out of the house in a heartbeat.
Band. Stretchy, snug and stable, with 3 hooks. I find those pull-over styles frustrating to contort myself into, so I love that this has regular hooks. And the padded clasp of the Bali remains! In fact, they've gone one better and padded it with memory foam, which is a more dense and deliciously pillowy foam. Win! (The actual Balis I've bought on Amazon are sometimes inexplicably missing the padded foam in the clasp, which makes them likely 'imperfect' 2nd's.) One more reason to opt for this high quality generic over the original. Straps. As with the Bali, this is my sole quibble with this otherwise divinely comfy bralette. They are wide-ish and overall comfy, but have the rolled elastic edging which I don't care for, but again, it's a small quibble.
Price. The Bali Comfort Revolution goes for $35 full price. Brace yourself: a 2-pack of the Delimira version? $19
When Do I Wear It?
All day every weekend. To work when I'm feeling under the weather or experiencing PMS swelling which causes sensitivity to wires. I actually do wear this bralette under formfitting Tshirts; the thick, substantial fabric gives more nippie coverage than you'd expect and a natural, rounded shape. Also, the very rounded shape avoids boob-tenting under looser draping tops. The one time I wouldn't choose this one is with something that requires a high bustline, such as an empire waist dress, since you need some lift for that to fit properly. While I prefer to sleep free range, you could definitely sleep in this if you're so inclined; the padded clasp ensures no hooks will dig in and the 2nd skin stretch will allow it move with you. Size: XL. Like all Delimira (save the Wacoal Awareness version that runs small) this runs large. The XL fits me just like the XXL in Bali's original version.
Rough guide: the XL should work fine for 38F-42GG, the L for 34E-36G, etc. There's quite a bit of leeway in sizing.
Yeah, so, I don't like minimizer styles. I'm just not a fan of the smooshed-down, wide, flattened look/feel they generally give. Except when I am.
Minimizers are way more popular in the U.S. than elsewhere; I'm not sure why. Best guess: mass market clothing options are designed to fit a C-cup or so and the purpose of minimizers is to reduce bust projection, generally around 1-3". That can make the crucial difference for crowbarring yourself into, for example, a traditional button-down shirt, or a non-stretch fabric. The other time this style is useful? PMS tenderness and swelling.
Beauty
We're skipping this category because minimizers are utilitarian, and the way they are designed to fit doesn't really lend itself to beauty of shape or form. The best you can hope for is some color.
Delmira Smooth Seamless Minimizer
This is a version of the Bali Passion Minimizer, an extremely popular bra. (I know - it is hilariously misnamed.) It also reminds me a great deal of the prettier Lilyette Keyhole Plunge Minimizer, a bra I loved 10 years ago, when I was a 36F and a 38DDD was a good fit. (However, they changed to a cheaper, scratchy fabric some years ago.) Luckily, Delmira sizing runs well beyond that.
Lilyette Plunge Into Comfort Keyhole Minimizer
Comfort
Fabric. This is where the majority of the comfort comes from: silky nylon with a high spandex content that gives lots of stretch. Because the fabric is substantial, there is no bounce. Together, these are very comforting if you have swelling and tenderness.
Wires. Flexible, foam-wrapped and sandwiched between the fabric layers. This style always gives a ridiculous level of comfort - & is ridiculously rare. I find it incredibly annoying that cushioned wires are not standard on bras. Especially large cup sizes. These wires are so soothing at PMS time as they can flex and adjust to size fluctuation without any digging.
Cups. Yep, this is really how the style is supposed to fit. You can see it on the model above, too. That space at the bottom of the cup is part of the minimizing fit.
The wires are wider than necessary, combined with a flat section just above the wire, and an elongated cup shape. All together, this acts to redistribute boob tissue vertically while also holding the boob close to the chest. Result: reduced projection; in my case, by about 2". Shape. Because the wires are medium-width, not hugely wide as some minimizer styles can be, you don't get a wide, flattened shape from the front, which is a nice plus.
Gore. I've never heard of a gore that tacks in a minimizer style. That would defeat the purpose of reducing and softening projection. It is going to float, in my case, quite a lot, and it's supposed to.
When Do I Wear It?
Specifically, under this top. That is the entire reason I bought it.
This top has an empire waist and there is a seam right below the (neither stretchy, nor especially generous) bustline. Without a minimizer bra, that seam would creep up and be sitting right across my boobs, rather than beneath them, rendering the top completely unwearable. With one, however, the top fits as it is meant to. Size: 40F (this is my size in all Delmira I've tried, so they are very consistent). Fits like a UK 40G or Euro 40H. Price point: under $20
Yeah, so, I don't like minimizer styles. I'm just not a fan of the smooshed-down, wide, flattened look/feel they generally give. Except when I am.
Minimizers are way more popular in the U.S. than elsewhere; I'm not sure why. Best guess: mass market clothing options are designed to fit a C-cup or so and the purpose of minimizers is to reduce bust projection, generally around 1-3". That can make the crucial difference for crowbarring yourself into, for example, a traditional button-down shirt, or a non-stretch fabric. The other time this style is useful? PMS tenderness and swelling.
Beauty
We're skipping this category because minimizers are utilitarian, and the way they are designed to fit doesn't really lend itself to beauty of shape or form. The best you can hope for is some color.
Delmira Smooth Seamless Minimizer
This is a version of the Bali Passion Minimizer, an extremely popular bra. (I know - it is hilariously misnamed.) It also reminds me a great deal of the prettier Lilyette Keyhole Plunge Minimizer, a bra I loved 10 years ago, when I was a 36F and a 38DDD was a good fit. (However, they changed to a cheaper, scratchy fabric some years ago.) Luckily, Delmira sizing runs well beyond that.
Lilyette Plunge Into Comfort Keyhole Minimizer
Comfort
Fabric. This is where the majority of the comfort comes from: silky nylon with a high spandex content that gives lots of stretch. Because the fabric is substantial, there is no bounce. Together, these are very comforting if you have swelling and tenderness.
Wires. Flexible, foam-wrapped and sandwiched between the fabric layers. This style always gives a ridiculous level of comfort - & is ridiculously rare. I find it incredibly annoying that cushioned wires are not standard on bras. Especially large cup sizes. These wires are so soothing at PMS time as they can flex and adjust to size fluctuation without any digging.
Cups. Yep, this is really how the style is supposed to fit. You can see it on the model above, too. That space at the bottom of the cup is part of the minimizing fit.
The wires are wider than necessary, combined with a flat section just above the wire, and an elongated cup shape. All together, this acts to redistribute boob tissue vertically while also holding the boob close to the chest. Result: reduced projection; in my case, by about 2". Shape. Because the wires are medium-width, not hugely wide as some minimizer styles can be, you don't get a wide, flattened shape from the front, which is a nice plus.
Gore. I've never heard of a gore that tacks in a minimizer style. That would defeat the purpose of reducing and softening projection. It is going to float, in my case, quite a lot, and it's supposed to.
When Do I Wear It?
Specifically, under this top. That is the entire reason I bought it.
This top has an empire waist and there is a seam right below the (neither stretchy, nor especially generous) bustline. Without a minimizer bra, that seam would creep up and be sitting right across my boobs, rather than beneath them, rendering the top completely unwearable. With one, however, the top fits as it is meant to. Size: 40F (this is my size in all Delmira I've tried, so they are very consistent). Fits like a UK 40G or Euro 40H. Price point: under $20
No Beauty or Fit categories. This is about when comfort is paramount and you have decided to just go there with a bralette that is really not meant to handle more than a D-cup. Boobs in the air like you just don't care, if you will. Well, more like boobs off the floor, you can't ask for more. Because, I mean, really, you just can't. Because gravity.
Bali basically rules this field. They've specialized in a whole range of styles that are 'comfort first'. Very little lace or scratchy elastic. But the styles all have annoyingly similiar names - and Bali keeps changing the names slightly so that it's hard to tell whichstyle you're getting.
This first bralette is what I reach for if I am experiencing serious PMS swelling and discomfort. Which will be the only time I actually want to sleep with some kind of support. This is the only style that I actually cannot feel while sleeping, and does not irritate in any way whatsoever. That is a huge deal for me.
Bali Comfort Revolution Bralette
Once I have turned it inside out, I cannotfeel the edging at all, which is the only thing that would otherwise irritate me.
The Revolution's straps are far comfier than the Bali Comfort Revolution Wirefree bra (used to be called Devotion) which I will actually wearout of the house as a bra. That one has the much thicker double fabric & heavenly padded clasp I rhapsodized about here:The Wirefree Bali
But for soft control, and pure comfort I can sleep in, I opt for this version instead. This is not about cup capacity, coverage, and certainly not about containment or proper fit.
What this bralette provides is very breathable comfort in an ultra thin layer of fabric. It just skims the body like a second skin, acting like a gentle shelf-sling that supports from below.It doesn't provide the slight compression of the Devotion, but just a very soft hold. Just enough to stop the painful bounce, or even the discomfort that rolling over in your sleep can cause. The sides are nice and low, so no chafing there. I wear this in a size Large, which is 2 sizes smaller than the Devotion. But this size provides the perfect fit for what I need it to do. It is very soft and very stretchy, so I have little trouble getting it over my head if I want to, or I can step into it. I have worn this around the house under loose pj's if I have company, but this is not one I'd wear out of the house.
Bali Comfort Revolution Wirefree
This is the definitely the bralette I wear the most. It's what I reach for as soon as I come home from work, when I'm boarding a late night flight, or when I'll ill.
The other Bali styles, such as the ones with pads (hysterically inept on large cups sizes), a floppy crop top, and a wired style (don't even try it if you're above an E cup and FOT) do not work for me.
There are a plethora of these bralettes, all basically knock-offs of the Ahh Braby Rhonda Shear. There's almost no point in taking pics of them all because they all look pretty much alike. However, they do not feel alike. So I will just run through a few easily available styles that I've tried:
The Ahh Bra, in several iterations
Yeah, I'm not really a fan. It's unusual in that it has a very snug deep band. The 2x fits like a 36. But that just causes it to roll & bunch.
The cups are quite thin and really stretchy, so they don't actually hold well, defeating the snug band.
Material: not very soft.
Finally, the dealbreaker: godawful elastic edgingalong the high sides. The elastic doesn't stretch much either, so the combo results in irritated skin for me beneath the armpit and around the back of my shoulder.
The Divine
This is the only one I still occasionally wear. It suffers from the same too-tall sides in the back; you can see how it cuts upward from the armpit toward the back. But this one is wired, and surprisingly more comfy. The fabric is much smoother & silkier on this style but the wire casing is really awful. I do have to flip the bra inside-out, which renders it fairly comfy for a few hours before the elastic on the back armholes becomes an issue. You can definitely wear this one out of the house: you will get a super-round, though wide - there's quite a gore on this thing - shape.
Just My Size Pure Comfort bra
Another one that looks really similar, but doesn't feel it. Fits similarly to the original Ahh Bra: tight band that rolls & bunches, but larger, stretchier cups. Not much lift there. I had no trouble getting good coverage in a 2x, but the very high sides and back, and smaller armholes, cause the same chafing issues.
Genie bra
I found this one to be fairly awful and the worst of the bralettes I've tried. It had the roughly stitched edging, plus the thin elastic had little stretch, so a recipe for cutting into sensitive skin. Plus the ultra-high side issue again. Really underwhelming cup capacity, coupled with a slightly abrasive fabric, and really, why bother.
Leading Lady Cami Bralette
This one surprised me. I liked it more than expected and found the fabric very soft. Unexpected at a price point of $15. This is the only bralette among the group that 1) has actual normal bra straps, and 2) covers cleavage instead of creating it. I also has 4 hooks in the back. I reviewed it here: here:
So, the Leading Lady & the Balis are the only two bralettes I have in regular rotation, and the only two that can act as actual bra replacements. I love the Revolution 'bra' style (used to be Devotion, in my original review) for its hooks and how easy it is to whip on/off, and the quite acceptable (to me) look under clothing. Personally, I'm fine going to the grocery store on a Sunday with this relaxed level of support under a comfy sweater. I have not tried any of the newer lacy bralette styles such as those from Torrid, because for me bralettes are where I go when I want complete comfort, and cheap, scratchy doesn't do it for me.
But I'm of a mind to try the Cosabella Never Say Never, which is supposedly very soft, but on the spendy side.
I'd love to hear if any fellow boobilicous folk have had success with bralettes that are beautiful, as opposed to my utilitarian go-tos.
