Review: DELIMIRA Wireless Seamless Bra Unlined Bralette (Wacoal Awareness)

 Delimira is still out here making great generic versions of some very well-known - and moderate-to-spendy - brands. And still naming them terribly. This is version 2.0 of Wacoal's Awareness, the beloved OG wireless bra. II reviewed the older version here: Version 1.0

Beauty

This version has a lace overlay, which gives an otherwise plain style some subtle prettiness, and lies completely flat and undetectable under knit fabrics.

Comfort & Fit

Everything holds true from the original review except there is a lot more cup capacity in this newer version. Hurray! The fabric is still soft and comfy enough for a long day of wear. The straps are very basic, a standard width, and not too widely set. Despite the name, this is more bra than bralette and is fairly supportive.

Shape

Rounded, natural, not boosted. It's an acceptable shape for a wire-free bra and I do wear it under Tshirts. It gives some nip coverage, although the fabric is not thick at all.

When Do I Wear It?

This is a good all-rounder. The underband is soft and flexible so it's comfy for sitting at desk and is also supportive enough for more active pursuits. So any time comfort and support are more important than shape or separation. 

Size

42F  Delimira runs generous in the cup. My size in this brand for years was 40F, which fits like a UK 40G or US 40H. Now, I'm a bit.....fluffier, and opted to go up a band size.

Price Point

Under $25. Reasonable as per usual.

Review: Delimira Seamless Soft Wirefree No Padding bra (Wacoal Awareness)

And my Delimira kick continues. Btw, I only noticed that 2nd 'i' a few months ago; before then, my brain had missed the first 'i' and my earlier reviews note 'Delmira'. Anyhoo. This is another bra with a hilariously literal name. 

But I recognized the style immediately: it is a very beloved bra by Wacoal called Awareness which comes in neutral colors and also a pretty jacquard print. Allow me to demonstrate my Generation X trivia brain: about 15 years ago, Whoopi Goldberg called it the most comfy bra ever. No, I cannot explain why that stuck in my brain. 

Beauty

Delimira's version of Awareness comes only in basics -white, beige & black- in the plain fabric version. Wacoal's version is $60 and Delimira's is $15 and I find them almost equivalent in quality. So there's that. This is a very plain style that disappears under pretty much any fabric. There is a very narrow mesh strip down the center that is meant to provide some ventilation and breaks up the look of what otherwise resembles a crop top style.

Comfort

Very, very high. This is the most comfy wire-free bra I've tried in a long time. And it is a bra, rather than a bralette, though there is some overlap in those categories. 

Band.  Wonderful. They solved the problem I often have with wire-free bras which is that the underband is either rough or constrictive. Not so here. The underband beneath the cups is quite narrow and it has stretch, so is not at all constrictive. But the best thing? It is lined with a soft fabric. No rough elastic edging or rigid fabric. This simple thing equates to a huge comfort upgrade. 

Oh, but that's not all. The band is also low, so no cutting in when sitting and no chafing during range of motion. And even better: it is not made of crappy mesh. Nope. It's kind of a unique fabric, a textured, slightly open-weave microfiber that is soft and breathable. 

Cups.  They are double-layer and provide support without a lot of bounce. Just as the Wacoal does, these do run small and shallow. They are not designed for a lot of projection. If you are full-on-bottom, this likely won't present any problems and I doubt you would experience any gaping as the fabric has good stretch and will conform to your shape. I could actually use a cup up, but that will also result in less lift. 

Straps.  Wider in the front, and no ring connectors. Very comfy and supportive.

Compromises

Shape.  You are not going to get any separation, which is just how wire-free bras roll. If you hate the feeling of your boobs being pressed against each other, my fave hack is to take one of those tiny, soft microfiber squares that are used to clean glasses, and tuck it right between your boobs. Feels soothing and eliminates that sticky, smooshed feel.

I do get a soft, natural shape that is slightly minimized, and with minimal lift.

Here it is under a thin, drapey knit.

And for comparison, here is Delimira 'Ethel', the cotton bralette with projection, which gives a better shape, but I find to be a lot less comfy.

When Do I Wear It?

All the damn time. To work and on weekends. Whenever I want to go wire-free, and when comfort matters to me more than shape, the not-Awareness is what I reach for. Particularly when I want slightly firmer support than a bralette gives.  The one time I would hesitate is under a snug, clingy T-shirt where shape will be in the spotlight. But then, that is the specific situation that T-shirt bras were made for.

Sizing.  After I sized up with Ethel-the-bralette, and it turned out there was no need, I stuck with my usual Delimira size of 40F. Hah - Psych! This turned out to the one time I actually do need to go up a cup, since this bra is so faithful to the Wacoal original, which only goes up to a DDD and definitely runs almost 2 cup sizes small. The good news is that while I am totally sized out of the Wacoal, that is not so with Delimira's version. 

In summary, if you are full-on-bottom, you will be fine with your usual size (for the brand). If you are balanced in shape, you may need to go up a cup, particularly in the black. If you are full-on-top, definitely go up a cup.

Review: Delimira Seamless Soft Wirefree No Padding bra (Wacoal Awareness)

And my Delimira kick continues. Btw, I only noticed that 2nd 'i' a few months ago; before then, my brain had missed the first 'i' and my earlier reviews note 'Delmira'. Anyhoo. This is another bra with a hilariously literal name. 

But I recognized the style immediately: it is a very beloved bra by Wacoal called Awareness which comes in neutral colors and also a pretty jacquard print. Allow me to demonstrate my Generation X trivia brain: about 15 years ago, Whoopi Goldberg called it the most comfy bra ever. No, I cannot explain why that stuck in my brain. 

Beauty

Delimira's version of Awareness comes only in basics -white, beige & black- in the plain fabric version. Wacoal's version is $60 and Delimira's is $15 and I find them almost equivalent in quality. So there's that. This is a very plain style that disappears under pretty much any fabric. There is a very narrow mesh strip down the center that is meant to provide some ventilation and breaks up the look of what otherwise resembles a crop top style.

Comfort

Very, very high. This is the most comfy wire-free bra I've tried in a long time. And it is a bra, rather than a bralette, though there is some overlap in those categories. 

Band.  Wonderful. They solved the problem I often have with wire-free bras which is that the underband is either rough or constrictive. Not so here. The underband beneath the cups is quite narrow and it has stretch, so is not at all constrictive. But the best thing? It is lined with a soft fabric. No rough elastic edging or rigid fabric. This simple thing equates to a huge comfort upgrade. 

Oh, but that's not all. The band is also low, so no cutting in when sitting and no chafing during range of motion. And even better: it is not made of crappy mesh. Nope. It's kind of a unique fabric, a textured, slightly open-weave microfiber that is soft and breathable. 

Cups.  They are double-layer and provide support without a lot of bounce. Just as the Wacoal does, these do run small and shallow. They are not designed for a lot of projection. If you are full-on-bottom, this likely won't present any problems and I doubt you would experience any gaping as the fabric has good stretch and will conform to your shape. I could actually use a cup up, but that will also result in less lift. 

Straps.  Wider in the front, and no ring connectors. Very comfy and supportive.

Compromises

Shape.  You are not going to get any separation, which is just how wire-free bras roll. If you hate the feeling of your boobs being pressed against each other, my fave hack is to take one of those tiny, soft microfiber squares that are used to clean glasses, and tuck it right between your boobs. Feels soothing and eliminates that sticky, smooshed feel.

I do get a soft, natural shape that is slightly minimized, and with minimal lift.

Here it is under a thin, drapey knit.

And for comparison, here is Delimira 'Ethel', the cotton bralette with projection, which gives a better shape, but I find to be a lot less comfy.

When Do I Wear It?

All the damn time. To work and on weekends. Whenever I want to go wire-free, and when comfort matters to me more than shape, the not-Awareness is what I reach for. Particularly when I want slightly firmer support than a bralette gives.  The one time I would hesitate is under a snug, clingy T-shirt where shape will be in the spotlight. But then, that is the specific situation that T-shirt bras were made for.

Sizing.  After I sized up with Ethel-the-bralette, and it turned out there was no need, I stuck with my usual Delimira size of 40F. Hah - Psych! This turned out to the one time I actually do need to go up a cup, since this bra is so faithful to the Wacoal original, which only goes up to a DDD and definitely runs almost 2 cup sizes small. The good news is that while I am totally sized out of the Wacoal, that is not so with Delimira's version. 

In summary, if you are full-on-bottom, you will be fine with your usual size (for the brand). If you are balanced in shape, you may need to go up a cup, particularly in the black. If you are full-on-top, definitely go up a cup.

Review: Wacoal Women's How Perfect Full Figure Wire-Free Bra

Wacoal is not really one of my favorites - with the exception of the few styles that have the glorious foam-wrapped underwires - but in my quest for more wire-free options (that can be worn outside the house) I gave the How Perfect a try. 


The details are always tougher to see in a black colorway, so here's a view of the dreaded beige (which you know I did not buy, hah):
 

It's quite plain, but the crossover style is 'faux', so there is no gaping or possibility for boobs to make like escape artists. 

Comfort & Fit

Fabric.  A very thick, smooth microfiber, with -unfortunately- only a small amount of stretch.

Cups.   Due to the lack of stretch in the fabric, the cups really have reduced capacity. 

And very little ability to mold to your shape. 




The top of the cup is surprisingly closed and is definitely cutting in on the top.

There's also a whole lotta uniboob smooshing going on.


And forcing of my full-on-top shape into a  downward ski-slope droop.





Shape.   Pretty lackluster, though not terrible. 

It's kind of compressing the boobs in from the sides, rather than lifting from the bottom.

Dealbreakers

Side Stays. They are the thick clunkers and oddly taller than the sides of the cups, so they are decidedly digg-y.

 
Straps.  It's not the straps themselves -those are actually nice and wide and fairly soft. No. It's the slider which is just obnoxious:

I tried to balance it over the curve of my hand, to give an idea of how it lays against the skin of your back, and for scale.

So you can see just how big this honker is. 

The sharp edges of that huge metal slider extend well past the strap...and cut right into my back. 

Even when I was just standing still.

When Do I Wear it?

You guessed it. Never. I really can't see who this style might work for. My back is not super fleshy, and has a fair bit of muscle, i.e. the straps are not sinking into any fluffy bits. Yet, due to the size of the sliders, they are still cutting into my skin and highly irritating. If you do have a bit more fluff on your back, then I imagine this issue would only be exacerbated. But if you don't have sensitive skin, and you are a shallow, full-on-bottom shape, this could be a workable wireless option with decent shaping. Full price is around $55.
Size: 42DDD (fits like a UK 38FF)

Review: Wacoal Women's How Perfect Full Figure Wire-Free Bra

Wacoal is not really one of my favorites - with the exception of the few styles that have the glorious foam-wrapped underwires - but in my quest for more wire-free options (that can be worn outside the house) I gave the How Perfect a try. 


The details are always tougher to see in a black colorway, so here's a view of the dreaded beige (which you know I did not buy, hah):
 

It's quite plain, but the crossover style is 'faux', so there is no gaping or possibility for boobs to make like escape artists. 

Comfort & Fit

Fabric.  A very thick, smooth microfiber, with -unfortunately- only a small amount of stretch.

Cups.   Due to the lack of stretch in the fabric, the cups really have reduced capacity. 

And very little ability to mold to your shape. 




The top of the cup is surprisingly closed and is definitely cutting in on the top.

There's also a whole lotta uniboob smooshing going on.


And forcing of my full-on-top shape into a  downward ski-slope droop.





Shape.   Pretty lackluster, though not terrible. 

It's kind of compressing the boobs in from the sides, rather than lifting from the bottom.

Dealbreakers

Side Stays. They are the thick clunkers and oddly taller than the sides of the cups, so they are decidedly digg-y.

 
Straps.  It's not the straps themselves -those are actually nice and wide and fairly soft. No. It's the slider which is just obnoxious:

I tried to balance it over the curve of my hand, to give an idea of how it lays against the skin of your back, and for scale.

So you can see just how big this honker is. 

The sharp edges of that huge metal slider extend well past the strap...and cut right into my back. 

Even when I was just standing still.

When Do I Wear it?

You guessed it. Never. I really can't see who this style might work for. My back is not super fleshy, and has a fair bit of muscle, i.e. the straps are not sinking into any fluffy bits. Yet, due to the size of the sliders, they are still cutting into my skin and highly irritating. If you do have a bit more fluff on your back, then I imagine this issue would only be exacerbated. But if you don't have sensitive skin, and you are a shallow, full-on-bottom shape, this could be a workable wireless option with decent shaping. Full price is around $55.
Size: 42DDD (fits like a UK 38FF)

Review: Wacoal Supporting Role

Nutshell: This is like a slightly prettier, more supportive, far less comfy version of my much-loved Natori Satin Fleur.

Beauty

I find this quite pretty by Wacoal standards. Which means the lace and graceful swooping curves at the gore do a great deal to mitigate the Wacoal beigeness of it all. 
(Wow, even worse than my usual photo quality. Hahaha. Sorry, there's just not much I can do to mitigate the Alaska winter light in my 1930s bathroom on the dark north side of the house.)

Comfort

Fabric.  Really nice. The cups are smooth, thick, non-stretch. Lots of support and zero bounce. Lace is non-irritating.

Straps.  Substantial and on the wide side. Not padded, but reasonably soft.

Band.  Wacoal-ultra-tight, with the +4 built in. I.e. 2 band sizes smaller than most brands. You really do need to add 4" to your actual measurement. I'm currently 37" and this 42 band fits like a snug 38 band.

Shape.  Nice & round, with decent upper cup room for my full on top shape. The cup is meant for a balanced shape, so I don't have quite enough room, but more than usual in this bra type. I'm getting a decent tack, with some usual floating at the top, but far less than my Natoris or Empreintes. 

Compromise(s)

 Well, there's really only one, but it's a big one

 
Wires.  Narrow, which is a plus for me. However. In every other way, they are...Panache-y. Which says it all for me. Sky high. Heavy gauge. Rigid AF. 

These are not the heavenly foam-wrapped, lower-height wires of the deeply comfy Wacoal Dual Control.

Just ugh. This is pretty much a dealbreaker for me.

When Do I Wear It?

Yeah, not often. With a knit top. For times I'll be standing and walking, rather than sitting - which mitigates those armpit-stabbers somewhat - and for no more than 4 hours. So, Saturday grocery shopping, basically....is pretty much it.

Size: 42DDD

Review: Wacoal Supporting Role

Nutshell: This is like a slightly prettier, more supportive, far less comfy version of my much-loved Natori Satin Fleur.

Beauty

I find this quite pretty by Wacoal standards. Which means the lace and graceful swooping curves at the gore do a great deal to mitigate the Wacoal beigeness of it all. 
(Wow, even worse than my usual photo quality. Hahaha. Sorry, there's just not much I can do to mitigate the Alaska winter light in my 1930s bathroom on the dark north side of the house.)

Comfort

Fabric.  Really nice. The cups are smooth, thick, non-stretch. Lots of support and zero bounce. Lace is non-irritating.

Straps.  Substantial and on the wide side. Not padded, but reasonably soft.

Band.  Wacoal-ultra-tight, with the +4 built in. I.e. 2 band sizes smaller than most brands. You really do need to add 4" to your actual measurement. I'm currently 37" and this 42 band fits like a snug 38 band.

Shape.  Nice & round, with decent upper cup room for my full on top shape. The cup is meant for a balanced shape, so I don't have quite enough room, but more than usual in this bra type. I'm getting a decent tack, with some usual floating at the top, but far less than my Natoris or Empreintes. 

Compromise(s)

 Well, there's really only one, but it's a big one

 
Wires.  Narrow, which is a plus for me. However. In every other way, they are...Panache-y. Which says it all for me. Sky high. Heavy gauge. Rigid AF. 

These are not the heavenly foam-wrapped, lower-height wires of the deeply comfy Wacoal Dual Control.

Just ugh. This is pretty much a dealbreaker for me.

When Do I Wear It?

Yeah, not often. With a knit top. For times I'll be standing and walking, rather than sitting - which mitigates those armpit-stabbers somewhat - and for no more than 4 hours. So, Saturday grocery shopping, basically....is pretty much it.

Size: 42DDD

Review: Wacoal Dual Control Underwire Bra

My first (accidentally) properly fitting bra was a Wacoal BodySuede 15 years ago. It was in a 38DD, and I was an actual 34F at the time. I now know that it fit perfectly; however, back then, I only knew that it was very, very comfy due to its foam-wrapped wires and high-spandex cup fabric. I didn't care for it's higher sides and gore, but otherwise loved the way it felt on the body.

Fast forward and I've rarely worn Wacoal in the intervening years. Partly because their aesthetic is well, utilitarian, but mainly because I'd thought I was sized out. The BodySuede stops at a DD. I did not yet know the magic of sister-sizing, or the fact that Wacoal uses an older system where the band sizes run much smaller so there's a lot of room to size up. Anyhoo, I decided to give the brand another try.

Beauty

Hahahaha!  Yeah, I had to give up on that one immediately. 

It's beige. 

And plainer than plain.

Comfort

Here is where I was glad I stuck it out. Because this ugly beast is COMFY.

Wires.  Ahhhhh. They are everything I remembered and have hoped for ever since. They are indeed wrapped in foam. Let's all just pause a moment and imagine that: a soft cloud of actual foam is encircling those wires. Those foam-wrapped wires are then sandwiched between the layers of microfiber cup fabric. The inside of the bra looks just like the outside: no harsh, scratchy underwire casing ever touches your skin. They are medium in width.

Cups.  Composed of two (quite thick) seamless layers of stretchy microfiber. This makes for a fair amount of opaque coverage and a very secure, no-bounce fit. 

Band.  Quite tall and deep. While the outer layer is the same fabric as the cups, the inner layer is a very soft mesh. It does not irritate my skin and means the band will remain stable and not stretch out quickly.

Straps.  Very center-pull. Zero chance of shoulder slip or dig if you are narrow-shouldered. Soft, medium width, and restricted stretch.

Shape.  Round, and a bit minimized. A lot like the Fantasie Esme, actually. 

It doesn't flatten, but rather doesn't have a lot of depth in the inner cups so it holds the boobs quite close to the chest and arranges things in a compact way. The wires are not wide at all, but actually medium-to-narrow in width.  

Compromises

The cups are not particularly full-on-top friendly in shape and don't have as much depth as I need near the gore which is floating about 1/2" at the top.

The sides are higher than I prefer. Toward the very end of a long day, I will get some slight irritation there. However, the wires stop 1/2" from the top, so the wire height causes no issues for me.

The appearance of loose wrinkling is due to the wires being sandwiched between the two layers of cup fabric. There is no empty space. Likewise with the area beneath wire. That's just caused by the hidden channel beneath.

And, as mentioned before, the Dual Control - like its name - will never be accused of being pretty. 

Ummm, ever.

When Do I Wear It?

When Comfort is queen. And I'm not wearing a wide or deep neckline; the straps will show on even a slightly open neckline. Totally workable as a T-shirt bra; the double-layer fabric gives more coverage than you'd expect. (Keep in mind I'm taking pics in a 64F house in Alaska). I would definitely wear this for travel: on a long plane trip, digging wires make me miserable, as does the sticky lack of separation of a soft-cup. The Dual Control solves both problems, and in comparison with my other top comfort choices, gives a much better shape than the Anita Twin, and better coverage than the Natori Satin Fleur.

Size: 42DDD 

Wacoal very much uses the old +4 sizing system. They are in no way kidding when they tell you to add 4" to your measured band size. The 42 fits like a 38 - just like the 38 I wore 15 years ago fit like a 34. The 42DDD fits me like a UK 38GG or a US 38I, and I'm wearing the band on the loosest hook. E.g. a UK 32G would fit quite well into a 36DD in this brand.

Addendum

I forgot to include pics of how this bra looks under clothing. So here it is under a mid-weight cotton sweater: the shape is round - but not orb-like - with softened projection; your boobs aren't so much minimized as just not emphasized. I really like this shape for work, and any time I just want my boobs to less of an focal point.

 

Review: Wacoal Dual Control Underwire Bra

My first (accidentally) properly fitting bra was a Wacoal BodySuede 15 years ago. It was in a 38DD, and I was an actual 34F at the time. I now know that it fit perfectly; however, back then, I only knew that it was very, very comfy due to its foam-wrapped wires and high-spandex cup fabric. I didn't care for it's higher sides and gore, but otherwise loved the way it felt on the body.

Fast forward and I've rarely worn Wacoal in the intervening years. Partly because their aesthetic is well, utilitarian, but mainly because I'd thought I was sized out. The BodySuede stops at a DD. I did not yet know the magic of sister-sizing, or the fact that Wacoal uses an older system where the band sizes run much smaller so there's a lot of room to size up. Anyhoo, I decided to give the brand another try.

Beauty

Hahahaha!  Yeah, I had to give up on that one immediately. 

It's beige. 

And plainer than plain.

Comfort

Here is where I was glad I stuck it out. Because this ugly beast is COMFY.

Wires.  Ahhhhh. They are everything I remembered and have hoped for ever since. They are indeed wrapped in foam. Let's all just pause a moment and imagine that: a soft cloud of actual foam is encircling those wires. Those foam-wrapped wires are then sandwiched between the layers of microfiber cup fabric. The inside of the bra looks just like the outside: no harsh, scratchy underwire casing ever touches your skin. They are medium in width.

Cups.  Composed of two (quite thick) seamless layers of stretchy microfiber. This makes for a fair amount of opaque coverage and a very secure, no-bounce fit. 

Band.  Quite tall and deep. While the outer layer is the same fabric as the cups, the inner layer is a very soft mesh. It does not irritate my skin and means the band will remain stable and not stretch out quickly.

Straps.  Very center-pull. Zero chance of shoulder slip or dig if you are narrow-shouldered. Soft, medium width, and restricted stretch.

Shape.  Round, and a bit minimized. A lot like the Fantasie Esme, actually. 

It doesn't flatten, but rather doesn't have a lot of depth in the inner cups so it holds the boobs quite close to the chest and arranges things in a compact way. The wires are not wide at all, but actually medium-to-narrow in width.  

Compromises

The cups are not particularly full-on-top friendly in shape and don't have as much depth as I need near the gore which is floating about 1/2" at the top.

The sides are higher than I prefer. Toward the very end of a long day, I will get some slight irritation there. However, the wires stop 1/2" from the top, so the wire height causes no issues for me.

The appearance of loose wrinkling is due to the wires being sandwiched between the two layers of cup fabric. There is no empty space. Likewise with the area beneath wire. That's just caused by the hidden channel beneath.

And, as mentioned before, the Dual Control - like its name - will never be accused of being pretty. 

Ummm, ever.

When Do I Wear It?

When Comfort is queen. And I'm not wearing a wide or deep neckline; the straps will show on even a slightly open neckline. Totally workable as a T-shirt bra; the double-layer fabric gives more coverage than you'd expect. (Keep in mind I'm taking pics in a 64F house in Alaska). I would definitely wear this for travel: on a long plane trip, digging wires make me miserable, as does the sticky lack of separation of a soft-cup. The Dual Control solves both problems, and in comparison with my other top comfort choices, gives a much better shape than the Anita Twin, and better coverage than the Natori Satin Fleur.

Size: 42DDD 

Wacoal very much uses the old +4 sizing system. They are in no way kidding when they tell you to add 4" to your measured band size. The 42 fits like a 38 - just like the 38 I wore 15 years ago fit like a 34. The 42DDD fits me like a UK 38GG or a US 38I, and I'm wearing the band on the loosest hook. E.g. a UK 32G would fit quite well into a 36DD in this brand.

Addendum

I forgot to include pics of how this bra looks under clothing. So here it is under a mid-weight cotton sweater: the shape is round - but not orb-like - with softened projection; your boobs aren't so much minimized as just not emphasized. I really like this shape for work, and any time I just want my boobs to less of an focal point.