Review: Bali Comfort Revolution Wirefree Bra

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.

Price Point: under $25 on Amazon

Review: Delimira Wireless bra

It's been a long while since I've reviewed any actual bras here. That's because since the pandemic began I've been working from home in yoga pants and bralettes. My OG standbys 32 Degrees and Bali Revolution have been all I've needed during this unprecedented time of quarantine. My own state continues to lead the nation in Covid cases (oh, the pride) and since I don't fancy being medivaced down to Seattle for 20K, I won't be eating in restaurants any time soon or going anywhere that merits an actual bra.

Still, there are times I need a bit more support and want something with more bra and less 'lette'.

Beauty

That's It. Right there. That tonal embroidery and odd V-neck strip of lace. That's all you get.

I opted for Mochaccino over the dreaded beige, but that's as flamboyant as this style gets.

Hahahahaha. OK, yes, I know: this baby is a flat-out frump fest. But stay with me if comfort is your jam. Because this generic version of the Triumph Doreen, which, since the 1950s, has consistently been the most popular bra in the world, is a comfy workhorse. 

I've been aware of the Doreen for a long time. It was popular in the early-80s, when I was in high school; it was a favorite of friends when I was in the Philippines for my foreign exchange year. Back then, I was all about thin, silky, front-close triangle bras and would never have worn this style; I just thought it was a funny retro thing. Then in the early-90s, when I lived in the UK, my 30-yr-old neighbor loved this style. By then, I was all about my Vanity Fair underwires, so again, I passed. Fast-forward 30 years, many lbs, sensitive skin, and bigger boobs later, & I've reconsidered.

Comfort

FABRIC. Satiny nylon on the outside means clothes will glide smoothly. Cotton lining on the inside means soothing comfort for sensitive skin and a huge win if you're in a hot, sticky climate.

CUPS. Old school 3-part seamed design. A more diagonal seam will always give a better shape. That horizontal seam does no boob shape any favors, but in this case, it also doesn't do much harm. The cups are generous and, while not stretchy, they do have a bit of give. They are not actively flattening my full-on-top boobs - and while not exactly flattering my natural shape, they are also not cutting into it, which is always a nice surprise. But the biggest plus for me is that the seams are flat and smooth; not rough or irritating in any way.

BAND. Smooth, soft fabric; no nasty, rough power-mesh here. It also nice and low at the sides, so no chafing or cutting into soft skin there.

STRAPS. Very nicely done. Soft and wide, with no sharp, cutting edges. And no obnoxious ring connectors to dig in.

Shape

Mediocre and acceptable. Not round, but not pointy, either. But that horizontal seam is going to be visible in anything but a chunky sweater, including the thin sweater I'm wearing below.

Oh, & that's the other hobby I've been working on during the pandemic: growing out my silver curls.

When Do I Wear It?

When I want more support than a soft bralette can give, especially in terms of bounce control and lift, but I don't want bust out the underwire. I wouldn't choose this for a thin T-shirt, but it's fine under cotton blouses or loose sweaters. This is what I'd choose if faced with a long day at work, followed by going out afterward, with no time to go home and change. I might choose it for travel if faced with a lot of walking to connecting flights where bounce control and firmer support would be welcome

Price Point: around $25

Sizing: my usual with Delimira. I went up to a 42F, which fits me like a 40G UK, or 40H US.

Review: Lume Deodorant

I've tried a lot of new natural deodorants during the pandemic because I've been working from home, which makes it the perfect time. Because there's only myself to offend if they fail.

Recap: I started on my epic quest to find non-aluminum deodorants when I suddenly developed an angry allergic reaction to the Dove solid I'd used for the last decade or so. Which left me pretty dismayed since I'm kinda crunchy, but in a very pragmatic way. Deodorant is one thing that simply needs to work, and chemicals are a lesser consideration for me.

 

I had high hopes for Lume, since I like cream formulas and you can use this anywhere on the body. Not a feature I was looking for, but cool nonetheless. I tried a sample pack so I could try five scents.

The first thing I noticed was that this is not a cream like Type:A is, but rather a watery, slow-drying lotion, like Drunk Elephant. The second thing I discovered is that all of the scents share the same underlying scent, a kind of cloying, cling to the back of. your throat, chemical undertone. I noticed the same thing beneath the pleasant almond scent of Drunk Elephant. I assume this is due to the ingredient of mandelic acid that both share. And unfortunately, the third thing I learned is that this ingredient simply doesn't work on me. I mean, at all.

Rating: 2/10.  Thats right. On a scale of 10 hours, Lume worked for 2 hours. And that's time spent typing on my sofa - not mowing the lawn or going to the gym. Just sitting here, respirating and typing. 

The upside is that once you know a main ingredient does not work for you, you can strike all other products based on that from your list. So anything with mandelic acid is a complete fail for me: Drunk Elephant, Lume, Kopari, etc. These are all very spendy as well, so that saves me time and money. Since I'm not about to risk baking soda on my sensitive skin, that really just leaves the magnesium-based options, which have been effective to varying degrees. 

32 Degrees Comfort Racerback bralette

The 32 Degrees bralettes have been my best quarantine find. All of them are incredibly comfy. And ridiculously affordable at under $10. I tried them on a whim, not expecting much, as I do not fit into the brand's size range. But am I ever glad that the bralettes are an exception to that.



There are four or five colors available and I chose this one in soft violet and another in navy. I am also pathetically overjoyed when offered options other than black, white, or the dreaded beige.

Fabric:  A thick, very soft, very stretchy nylon/spandex. The thickness was a nice surprise, as it is enough to increase the support while still allowing for all kinds of shapes. It is a different feel from the buttery modal of the fabulous 32 Degrees Cool Bralette

Seams and Band: Non-obnoxious! Band is not loose and is of the same fabric as cups; no exposed elastic. Seams are not irritating and are quite small, but, being me -with the most sensitive skin of well, anyone I've ever met- I do flip the bralette inside out for ultimate comfort. It is tagless, so bonus there.

Shape: a soft, rounded shape, on the better end of what you can reasonably expect from a soft, wireless bralette.



Sizing.   A pleasant surprise, indeed. The XXL easily accommodates my 40H full-on-top boobs. And the band is not too big, either. If you're a 34-38F/G, then the XL should give you plenty of room.

Compromises:  although these are certainly comfier than most, I am not a fan of racerback straps. At a larger cup size, they just put more weight on the neck/inner shoulder than I prefer. I find that I get tired of that after 6 hours or so.

When Do I Wear It?  When I want another option from the Cool Bralette, which I am tempted to wear every single day.

Note: Also, all of the 32 Degree bralettes come with those ridiculous little foam frisbee nippy covers. Luckily, they are designed to just slide out, so I do that immediately. I now have a huge stack of them, and am trying to figure out some upcycle purpose for these useless foam discs.

Review: 32 Degrees Cool Bralette

I was actually looking to try the Flowy Camisole, but grabbed the 32 Degrees Cool Bralette on impulse because it was on sale for $8. Once I tried it, I went back and grabbed two more. Which is a spoiler alert that it worked out.

Beauty

Ruching and delicate straps (more on those later) lend an understated prettiness to an otherwise plain style.

Comfort & Fit

Straps.  I was not expecting this to work as they are soooo thin - literally, spaghetti straps. Adjustable, with tiny sliders. Frankly, it's a silly design choice and usually a recipe for cutting in and discomfort. And, of course, it still would have been far better with wider straps. However, in this case it actually works because of .....

Band.  The band is tall. In fact, it is the same height as the cups, all the way around. This means it functions pretty much as a strapless bandeau would, rendering the silly tiny straps superfluous. I still dislike tall bands, but in this case it works because of ...

Fabric.  Buttery soft modal and seamless. I can't comment on its cooling properties since it's the middle of the Alaskan winter, but the fabric is wonderfully soft and makes even soft cotton seem rough by comparison.

Support.  I was surprised by the amount of light support it provided. Due to the height of the back and the 1" bottom band - completely covered in fabric - the bralette is really anchored.

There is no smooshing and the uniboob is a little less than usual, thanks to the ruching. I certainly don't have to rearrange every hour, like I do with the Calvin Klein bralette.

Shape.  I get a soft, round shape. Natural and without lift.

When Do I Wear It

I totally wear this outside the house, usually under a sweater or hoodie. It also combines well with jammies and soft cardigans, i.e. pandemic workwear. The straps look prettier peeking out than most do. It's definitely comfy enough to sleep in, if that's your thing. I might wear it under a looser T-shirt, but you'll likely prefer something more shaping under anything form-fitting.

Sizing.  XXL.  (range is XS-XXL) It's pretty impressive that there is enough cup capacity for big boobs. I'd say that the XXL would fit 38F-42G (US). I'm a 40H and it's rare to find a good fit in this kind of generic size range.

Price Point.  Currently still on sale for $8. Full price is $18. For the good quality materials and serious comfort, that is a real bargain.

Update: It is now April, and this has become my all-time favorite bralette. I wear it 4 or 5 days a week. And I have found that I do wear it under pretty much everything, and out of the house, too - which has really only consisted of two vaccination appointments, so far. It has replaced my Bali Comfort Revolution because the fabric softness just cannot be beat.

 

Review Olga Signature Support Satin Wire-Free bra

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.

 

 

Review: Drunk Elephant Deodorant

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.

Review: Bali Beauty bra

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).

Review: Calvin Klein Modern Cotton Bralette

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.

 

Review: Magsol deodorant

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 Microfiber Wireless Tshirt bra

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.

Sensitive Skin Review: Type:A deodorant

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.

Favorite Quarantine Bras: Old Cotton Faithfuls

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.