Review: Leading Lady cami bralette

Houseguests in summer = I need some comfy bralettes. That I can easily put on before I stagger out for coffee in my usual semi-conscious morning condition. And that means I need hooks. Nothing would be more ill-advised than me trying to balance on one foot to step into an Ahh Bra style, or even worse, trying to pull one over my head. I'd end up with an elbow to the eye, or another knee injury.

I wanted something lighter weight than the Comfort Revolutions that provide heavier support (with less comfy straps). But more substantial than the ultra-minimal Bali sleep bra. Because cleavage. I needed something light & soft that I wouldn't mind wearing early in the morning, and again for hours of late evening socializing until bedtime. 

Leading Lady is a brand I'd never tried, but their bralette looked promising. I first opted to try the bralette in a 3x (in blue), the size that corresponded to my bust measurement. I then tried a size down (in grey), to compare the support.

Comfort

Fabric.  Wonderful! Very soft cotton. I really did not expect that at this price point ($15); I was braced for cardboardy cheap cotton along the lines of Hanes sports bras. But this fabric has a very soft hand and moderate stretch. 

Straps.  Regular, adjustable bra straps. They are center-pull. More comfy than the rolled & doubled straps of my Bali Comfort Revolution. 

Band.  More snug than I expected, which is a nice surprise, since I ordered by my boob size, expecting I'd have to put up with a very loose band. But nope. It's a bit too loose for me, but not unwearable. It is not, however, the usual deep knit-fabric band found on bralettes like these. It is actually just an band of covered elastic. So you don't get that wide, anchored effect, but you also don't get any annoying roll up or dig in. 


Cups. Well, there actually aren't any. But there is shirring at the bottom and of course, stretch, so no uniboober look. The cup capacity was much bigger than I'd expected, and without the usual intense flattening of these styles.

Neckline.  The lace is completely non-irritating, and the high neckline was perfect with my deep V-neck pj tops. Complete cleavage coverage, and the narrow band of lace looks like a pretty cami peaking above. It does come up quite high.

Compromises

Support.  Um, well, yeahhhh. There isn't much of that, especially in the larger size. 

I did find that it was enough for gentle containment under loose pj's; definitely better than nothing. The lack of compression or uplift meant no crazy cleavage. 

 


The support was significantly better in the size down, because I got a bit more compression-effect, and the band was basically a normal 38 in the 2x size. 

However, I also got less comfort. In this size, I was more aware of the edging around the arm/sides and band, and just the general - though mild - compressed feeling.

Band.  Also, some may prefer the more secure anchoring of a knit-in deep band. It was not uncomfy, but doesn't add much support. It does have 4 hooks,  so I think they missed an opportunity by using such a thin elastic band. Just a 2-inch band of elastic would have really increased the anchoring and support.

When Do I Wear It?

When I don't want to go totally braless (as I normally would, say, like now, when I am just sitting on my sofa in jammies drinking coffee), but I want to be absolutely comfortable, and will not be leaving the house, I choose the 3X. So, for early a.m./late p.m. when I have houseguests, or PMS time. Also for reading in the garden in my bathrobe. (Something about that combination of activities virtually ensures that the Fed Ex guy will show up and I'll have to sign for a package over the garden gate.)  If I want more support and to be able to mayyyybe even leave the house for a quick errand, I'll opt for the 2X

Size: 2X or 3X  (cups run large)
The cup capacity and stretchy material mean the larger size is more than I need, but very comfy. 

Review: Leading Lady cami bralette

Houseguests in summer = I need some comfy bralettes. That I can easily put on before I stagger out for coffee in my usual semi-conscious morning condition. And that means I need hooks. Nothing would be more ill-advised than me trying to balance on one foot to step into an Ahh Bra style, or even worse, trying to pull one over my head. I'd end up with an elbow to the eye, or another knee injury.

I wanted something lighter weight than the Comfort Revolutions that provide heavier support (with less comfy straps). But more substantial than the ultra-minimal Bali sleep bra. Because cleavage. I needed something light & soft that I wouldn't mind wearing early in the morning, and again for hours of late evening socializing until bedtime. 

Leading Lady is a brand I'd never tried, but their bralette looked promising. I first opted to try the bralette in a 3x (in blue), the size that corresponded to my bust measurement. I then tried a size down (in grey), to compare the support.

Comfort

Fabric.  Wonderful! Very soft cotton. I really did not expect that at this price point ($15); I was braced for cardboardy cheap cotton along the lines of Hanes sports bras. But this fabric has a very soft hand and moderate stretch. 

Straps.  Regular, adjustable bra straps. They are center-pull. More comfy than the rolled & doubled straps of my Bali Comfort Revolution. 

Band.  More snug than I expected, which is a nice surprise, since I ordered by my boob size, expecting I'd have to put up with a very loose band. But nope. It's a bit too loose for me, but not unwearable. It is not, however, the usual deep knit-fabric band found on bralettes like these. It is actually just an band of covered elastic. So you don't get that wide, anchored effect, but you also don't get any annoying roll up or dig in. 


Cups. Well, there actually aren't any. But there is shirring at the bottom and of course, stretch, so no uniboober look. The cup capacity was much bigger than I'd expected, and without the usual intense flattening of these styles.

Neckline.  The lace is completely non-irritating, and the high neckline was perfect with my deep V-neck pj tops. Complete cleavage coverage, and the narrow band of lace looks like a pretty cami peaking above. It does come up quite high.

Compromises

Support.  Um, well, yeahhhh. There isn't much of that, especially in the larger size. 

I did find that it was enough for gentle containment under loose pj's; definitely better than nothing. The lack of compression or uplift meant no crazy cleavage. 

 


The support was significantly better in the size down, because I got a bit more compression-effect, and the band was basically a normal 38 in the 2x size. 

However, I also got less comfort. In this size, I was more aware of the edging around the arm/sides and band, and just the general - though mild - compressed feeling.

Band.  Also, some may prefer the more secure anchoring of a knit-in deep band. It was not uncomfy, but doesn't add much support. It does have 4 hooks,  so I think they missed an opportunity by using such a thin elastic band. Just a 2-inch band of elastic would have really increased the anchoring and support.

When Do I Wear It?

When I don't want to go totally braless (as I normally would, say, like now, when I am just sitting on my sofa in jammies drinking coffee), but I want to be absolutely comfortable, and will not be leaving the house, I choose the 3X. So, for early a.m./late p.m. when I have houseguests, or PMS time. Also for reading in the garden in my bathrobe. (Something about that combination of activities virtually ensures that the Fed Ex guy will show up and I'll have to sign for a package over the garden gate.)  If I want more support and to be able to mayyyybe even leave the house for a quick errand, I'll opt for the 2X

Size: 2X or 3X  (cups run large)
The cup capacity and stretchy material mean the larger size is more than I need, but very comfy. 

Review: Comexim Basic T-shirt Bra

Nutshell: This is a very surprising bra, but not my holy grail.

I have it in two sizes: Beige in 40H (which is a cup size too small) and Bronze in 40HH. Let's analyze:

Beauty

This style is very plain. The only element of beauty is in the satiny lustre, I mean luster of the fabric. (Three years of living in the UK still pops out at odd times, even 20 years later, like when I say 'hy-dranj-ya' instead of 'hy-drain-geeya') 

40H

40HH

 Comfort & Fit

Cups.  Cotton-lined, which is an unusual find. Now, the cotton is not particularly soft - far less so than the linings of the Parfait Casey or the Natori Pure Allure - but it is breathable. It is lightly padded: a bit more than Pure Allure, but far less than Deco or Casey. There is serious projection here, and plenty of room for a full-on-top shape, yet also slightly compact. Yeah, I know - projected...yet compact. This is odd magic. The cups are not too tall, which I really appreciate since I am high-set.

Straps.  Very average and not restricted stretch, which allows a bit of bounce.

Gore.  This is a plunge, and is intended to soft-tack. So the gore causes no issues for close-set boobs.

Wires.   Very narrow indeed. On the flexible side. And wonderfully low. More narrow than Natori, which is medium-to-narrow.  

And definitely more narrow than Ewa Michalak. There is basically zero danger of any armpit-stabbing or side-wire chafing. 

I really enjoyed having my boob sovereignty respected by allowing them to remain where they belong, which is: completely on the front of my chest. I am not a believer in 'tissue migration'.

I am pretty clear on tissue that is boob vs tissue that is, er, fluffy bits. I have no wish to corral side-chub into the cup. I prefer it to remain in its homeland: my back and sides. I just want boob in my cups. 

But that's me. If you feel differently, or are shaped differently, Comexim is probably not your brand. 




Band.   OK. Describing the band as 'running tight' is the equivalent of saying my hair is 'slightly wavy'. Uh, no. The sizing of the band bears no relationship to actual measurements in our dimensional universe. This 40" band does not even come close to stretching to 36 actual inches. When I say I need an extender with this bra, I don't mean I need a standard non-stretch version that adds an extra 2", such as I would wear with a Cleo. Noooo. I mean I require a full-on 3" extender - complete with a large elastic inset - and even then, I can only fasten it on the loosest hook. I don't think even a 42 band would allow me to actually close the bra. Perhaps a 44.....maybe.

Shape.  Gorgeous. Truly. Because the cups are so projected and front-and-center, I feared a serious jacked-up boob tent effect under loose, flowy tops. But that is not what happened. At all. Here is the bra under two very different fabrics:

A loose airy open-weave knit, with a very floaty, open shape:

 Yeah, I don't know how they accomplished that, either.

And tight-weave knit with a draped, boxy silhouette:

Compromises

OK, this one makes me sad. It stops this Comexim from being a full day of comfort bra, and relegates it to a special occasion bra.

Underband.  This is not a bandless style, but the underband is very minimal. Due to the projected shape of the cups, and the non-restricted stretch straps, the full weight of the bust is suspended like a shelf - centered directly above the underband. And it simply doesn't have enough structure to take the weight comfortably, so distributes a lot of it to the bottom of the wires. Basically, the effect is the same as a heavy wall shelf suspended by two small horizontal braces, rather than L-brackets. To be fair, I am at the upper edge of their size range, so if you are below say, a UK 36F, this may not even be an issue for you.

When Do I Wear It?

When I want the girls to look their best under flowy tops or very low necklines. Formal wear or a special occasion. The bra is a lot more comfortable for standing than sitting. So while it would give the perfect look for the opera or symphony, I would hesitate to wear it to a much longer event like a protracted wedding, unless I was going to spend a lot of time standing or dancing.

Size: 40HH (true size more like a 42H)

Review: Comexim Basic T-shirt Bra

Nutshell: This is a very surprising bra, but not my holy grail.

I have it in two sizes: Beige in 40H (which is a cup size too small) and Bronze in 40HH. Let's analyze:

Beauty

This style is very plain. The only element of beauty is in the satiny lustre, I mean luster of the fabric. (Three years of living in the UK still pops out at odd times, even 20 years later, like when I say 'hy-dranj-ya' instead of 'hy-drain-geeya') 

40H

40HH

 Comfort & Fit

Cups.  Cotton-lined, which is an unusual find. Now, the cotton is not particularly soft - far less so than the linings of the Parfait Casey or the Natori Pure Allure - but it is breathable. It is lightly padded: a bit more than Pure Allure, but far less than Deco or Casey. There is serious projection here, and plenty of room for a full-on-top shape, yet also slightly compact. Yeah, I know - projected...yet compact. This is odd magic. The cups are not too tall, which I really appreciate since I am high-set.

Straps.  Very average and not restricted stretch, which allows a bit of bounce.

Gore.  This is a plunge, and is intended to soft-tack. So the gore causes no issues for close-set boobs.

Wires.   Very narrow indeed. On the flexible side. And wonderfully low. More narrow than Natori, which is medium-to-narrow.  

And definitely more narrow than Ewa Michalak. There is basically zero danger of any armpit-stabbing or side-wire chafing. 

I really enjoyed having my boob sovereignty respected by allowing them to remain where they belong, which is: completely on the front of my chest. I am not a believer in 'tissue migration'.

I am pretty clear on tissue that is boob vs tissue that is, er, fluffy bits. I have no wish to corral side-chub into the cup. I prefer it to remain in its homeland: my back and sides. I just want boob in my cups. 

But that's me. If you feel differently, or are shaped differently, Comexim is probably not your brand. 




Band.   OK. Describing the band as 'running tight' is the equivalent of saying my hair is 'slightly wavy'. Uh, no. The sizing of the band bears no relationship to actual measurements in our dimensional universe. This 40" band does not even come close to stretching to 36 actual inches. When I say I need an extender with this bra, I don't mean I need a standard non-stretch version that adds an extra 2", such as I would wear with a Cleo. Noooo. I mean I require a full-on 3" extender - complete with a large elastic inset - and even then, I can only fasten it on the loosest hook. I don't think even a 42 band would allow me to actually close the bra. Perhaps a 44.....maybe.

Shape.  Gorgeous. Truly. Because the cups are so projected and front-and-center, I feared a serious jacked-up boob tent effect under loose, flowy tops. But that is not what happened. At all. Here is the bra under two very different fabrics:

A loose airy open-weave knit, with a very floaty, open shape:

 Yeah, I don't know how they accomplished that, either.

And tight-weave knit with a draped, boxy silhouette:

Compromises

OK, this one makes me sad. It stops this Comexim from being a full day of comfort bra, and relegates it to a special occasion bra.

Underband.  This is not a bandless style, but the underband is very minimal. Due to the projected shape of the cups, and the non-restricted stretch straps, the full weight of the bust is suspended like a shelf - centered directly above the underband. And it simply doesn't have enough structure to take the weight comfortably, so distributes a lot of it to the bottom of the wires. Basically, the effect is the same as a heavy wall shelf suspended by two small horizontal braces, rather than L-brackets. To be fair, I am at the upper edge of their size range, so if you are below say, a UK 36F, this may not even be an issue for you.

When Do I Wear It?

When I want the girls to look their best under flowy tops or very low necklines. Formal wear or a special occasion. The bra is a lot more comfortable for standing than sitting. So while it would give the perfect look for the opera or symphony, I would hesitate to wear it to a much longer event like a protracted wedding, unless I was going to spend a lot of time standing or dancing.

Size: 40HH (true size more like a 42H)

Review: Parfait by Affinitas Casey

Nutshell Review: Casey is very similar to the Freya Deco, except more comfy. 

I have found Parfait's sizing to be all over the place, and because of that, a hard brand to crack. But on the theory that the Deco runs a cup large, I tried Casey in a cup size down, and got a good fit. 

Comfort

Band.  Parfait bands run tight & Casey is no exception. They also run wide and stable; again, no exception. It is taller than I prefer, and as always, I could do without the obnoxious side stays.

Fabric.  Quite soft, actually. The cups are fairly thick foam. This is a traditional T-shirt bra style.

Beauty

There is good and bad news, here - depending on your personal tastes, and your skin tone. The beige color is very, very yellowy. My crap phone camera does not reflect just how yellow the color skews. This would be my natural skin tone only if I had jaundice. The only other colorways are a super-deep tan color, or an ice blue (my first choice, but tough to find). 

The gore is extremely low. This is a true deep plunge. 

The vertical lace covering the outer 1/3 of the cup is a pretty touch that makes the bra significantly less plain. 

 Compromises

Shape.  Decent, but not great. It is not as round as the Deco; though there is plenty of room in the upper cup, the apex reads strangely low. 

The cups are medium-width, but the shape under clothing - in this case a thin 'tissue' T-shirt almost appears wide and slightly pointy. Odd.
 

Tall Sides.  I dislike them, but a drawback for me may be a plus for some. 

Side Stays.  These simply, in every case, detract from the comfort of a bra for me.

When Do I Wear It?

Under very thin knits or very low necklines. Most likely under a low-cut formal number, but in that case I'd be more likely to choose the Comexim T-shirt bra, which I'll review soon.

 
Size:  40FF

Review: Parfait by Affinitas Casey

Nutshell Review: Casey is very similar to the Freya Deco, except more comfy. 

I have found Parfait's sizing to be all over the place, and because of that, a hard brand to crack. But on the theory that the Deco runs a cup large, I tried Casey in a cup size down, and got a good fit. 

Comfort

Band.  Parfait bands run tight & Casey is no exception. They also run wide and stable; again, no exception. It is taller than I prefer, and as always, I could do without the obnoxious side stays.

Fabric.  Quite soft, actually. The cups are fairly thick foam. This is a traditional T-shirt bra style.

Beauty

There is good and bad news, here - depending on your personal tastes, and your skin tone. The beige color is very, very yellowy. My crap phone camera does not reflect just how yellow the color skews. This would be my natural skin tone only if I had jaundice. The only other colorways are a super-deep tan color, or an ice blue (my first choice, but tough to find). 

The gore is extremely low. This is a true deep plunge. 

The vertical lace covering the outer 1/3 of the cup is a pretty touch that makes the bra significantly less plain. 

 Compromises

Shape.  Decent, but not great. It is not as round as the Deco; though there is plenty of room in the upper cup, the apex reads strangely low. 

The cups are medium-width, but the shape under clothing - in this case a thin 'tissue' T-shirt almost appears wide and slightly pointy. Odd.
 

Tall Sides.  I dislike them, but a drawback for me may be a plus for some. 

Side Stays.  These simply, in every case, detract from the comfort of a bra for me.

When Do I Wear It?

Under very thin knits or very low necklines. Most likely under a low-cut formal number, but in that case I'd be more likely to choose the Comexim T-shirt bra, which I'll review soon.

 
Size:  40FF

Review: Bravado Designs Essential Embrace Nursing Bra

While I know some have had success in wearing nursing bras for wirefree comfort, I have never gone that route - mainly because I cannot stand hard plastic clasps rubbing against my skin. That defeats the comfort of wirefree. But I tried this one after reading a great review of it on StackDD+ (whose blog seems to be gone now). In particular, because it seemed to give a great shape. But the main reason I hoped it might work? The unique feature of the conversion kit it comes with: you can remove the plastic nursing clips and convert it into a regular bra. Win!

I took no pics of the bra on me because, well, I just couldn't stand wearing it. Even for that long. 

It's easier to see the details in white, but I tried it in black, with purple piping:

Comfort

(in which the news is all bad)

 

Fabric.  A roughly 50/50 cotton/nylon blend that seemed promising. But in reality, had a canvas-like texture, and virtually no stretch. My first thought was scuba material. The fabric is not rough, but rather....industrial. Both band and cups are of the same material.

Band.  Oh dear-mother-of-god, it is awful. The material has virtually no stretch.
Besides the single blog review, I had only amazon reviews to go on. Enough of them mentioned the tightness of the band (in a negative light) that I did take heed and ordered up a band size. Which I thought would be sufficient because hello! Nursing bra. Fluctuations in band size are a major part of that process. Also, the extra columns of hooks should have provided ample adjustment. 

Oh, I was so, so wrong. The band was insanely, ridiculously tight. The 40 fit like a 34. I cannot imagine a nursing mother being comfortable with that kind of constriction, let alone me. Because of the material, I didn't even feel it was worth trying a larger band size; the lack of stretch, or even comfortable give, would have made this torture to wear if, as I often do, you experience any kind of size fluctuation throughout the day.

Elastic Edging.   Bravado actually lists this as a 'feature': rough, raised edging that covers the top and bottom of the band. The finishing of the straps connecting to the band was also abrasive. Pretty much the opposite of what you need when you have sensitive skin that is undergoing a lot of changes. 

Sides.  Extremely high. So that 'feature' of biting elastic pretty much guarantees chafing for me.

Positives?

Shape.  There's one. That's it. The shape is indeed very good: rounded, lifted, fairly natural. You could wear it under a T-shirt and feel comfortable - with the shape. You likely wouldn't be feeling any other kind of comfort.

Clip conversion.  Oops. I was so deeply annoyed by the discomfort of the scuba-bra that I had it right back on its way to amazon that same day....totally forgot to even assess that feature.

When Do I Wear It?

Hahahahahaha! Ha.....ha.

Size:  40H