Bolero Beachwear DD+ Hanky Dress Review (and a special discount for you!)

For ladies with larger busts, finding a proper fit in a dress can be a difficult task.  Its frustrating to see a pretty dress on a store rack but, if you are like me, you quickly assess it for stretch and usually then just walk away.  Clothing designed especially to accommodate larger breasts can be daunting to source out and so I am pleased today to bring you a new dress review from Bolero Beachwear!

A few months ago, we interviewed Bolero’s owner Patricia McCaw and that interview was featured in our Retailer Spotlight which you can read HERE.

Bolero offers a fun and fashionable line of unique, high quality DD+  dresses and tops which are manufactured ethically in the United States, where the Company is based.  Supporting a woman-owned business and ethical manufacturing is something we can all get behind, isn’t it?!   I was kindly sent the Style #12 Hanky Dress in size X-Small in the DD+ line, in the blue peacock colourway (this dress can also be ordered in black & white, purple or turquoise peacock prints).   The Bolero website picture below shows the black and white version.

To give you a little bit of background info, I asked Bolero’s owner Patricia what her inspiration was in designing this dress:

This style was inspired by a hanky dress that I made for myself years ago and every time I wore it, I got so many compliments and people asking me where can they get it?

I  realized that was just the perfect dress for events and parties and so I designed a hanky dress especially for our line.  Since so many women prefer sleeves, I added the sexy peekaboo sleeves thinking that would  be perfect for any season.

When I received the peacock print material, it was like the fabric was talking to me and telling me it wanted to be a hanky dress 🙂  The movement of the dress, the fit, the sheer trim at the bottom, the lined top, all was technically designed to fit and flatter our busty and curvy customers with love<3

Close Up of Fabric (at hem of skirt):

 

I love the ‘cold shoulder’ trend but one thing I typically have trouble with is that my bra straps always seem to end up exposed and I really detest that look.  This dress thankfully was thoughtfully designed and the fabric lays perfectly over my bra straps (for reference, in my pictures I am wearing my Ewa Michalak S Kleks bra under my Bolero hanky dress).

I also adore the asymmetrical handkerchief hem on the skirt.  This cut gives a very flattering drape over the hips.  The flared skirt is perfect for a twirl on the dance floor, or just a sexy swish as you walk!

The fabric content on this dress is 90% polyester and 10% spandex, making it easy care –  completely wrinkle free and quick drying.

 This dress will make a great travel-friendly holiday dress but alas, I am currently in cold Canada, in the dead of winter, in a deep freeze 😦  Still, I thought to myself – I bet this pretty little piece could easily be styled into something perfectly suitable for a day in the Great White North, no? Yes!

I decided to play up the black in the dress pattern for my winter look, and to play up the white and silvery sequins in the dress fabric for my summer look.

Winter Styling:

I’ve easily given the dress a completely different look by covering the top with a simple black sweater and tall black boots.  The sweater is from Canadian company Rickis (no longer available) but I’ve found a very similar one HERE.   A black cardigan or blazer would be great options too.   My black suede Cole Haan boots are from a past season but I’ve found a similar pair HERE.  In keeping with playing up the black, I’ve accessorized with my beautiful black pearl  choker (similar one HERE).

Now lets take a look at how I’d wear the dress if I was somewhere with better weather than Canada has right now . . . say for example the Caribbean!  Fingers crossed for a holiday soon!!!

Summer Styling:

For this look, I’ve simply added a pair of strappy silver wedges (similar style HERE), a white gold multi-strand necklace (similar style HERE), and my Raymond Wiel Jasmine watch.   A white or silver/grey shawl or cardigan would be a nice addition for cooler evenings.

Its worth noting that Bolero will happily customize their dresses.  By emailing with instructions / questions,  skirts can be made shorter or longer and tops can be adjusted for proportion.  You will find that they really love to hear from potential customers and get as much information as they can before they ship orders out.

As far as sizing goes, I would say this runs true to size for an Extra Small, and would fit well for those in  the approximate size 2 to 4 range.  I’ m currently wearing a 30GG UK bra and there wouldn’t be too much more bust room in the XS size.   I’ve packed on some extra pounds (blame a combination of menopause / Christmas indulging / laziness) and am currently around 130 lbs and I’m 5’4″.   I think the length of this dress is perfect for me but next time I order, I will choose a Small as the Extra Small is slightly snug at this weight.  Either that or go back to the gym and quit eating junk food! 😛

Be sure to check out the DD+ line on Bolero’s website.  I bet you’ll find something you like!  And, especially for our AEE readers, Bolero has kindly provided a discount code!  Use code ENHANCED15 when you place an order and enjoy 15% off!   Bolero Beachwear dresses can be purchased online through the Bolero website HERE or at select retailers.  Don’t forget to like Bolero’s Facebook page as well so you can keep abreast 🙂 of new styles and info!

 

 

Lovin’ my Lilly & Lime!)

Several months back An Enhanced Experience was approached by an Australia-based swimwear company, Lilly & Lime who cater to those of us women with fuller busts, asking if we would be interested in trying out and reviewing their suits .  After checking out their website as well as learning more about their company (read their company Spotlight HERE),  several of us decided to jump on the opportunity!  My fellow bloggers MsDizz and Jelz have already posted their reviews (HERE and HERE) and now it’s my opportunity to let you all know my thoughts 🙂

First off, the packaging when I received my suit was absolutely adorable!  It came in a cute (and functional) tote, which I thought was a very nice touch.  The suit that they picked out for me was their Floral Full Cup top in size 30GG and Floral Basic Brief in size 8 (which is a US size 4).  The design is beautiful with bright blues, corals, and oranges, and looks almost like the pattern was painted on in watercolors.  The material is sturdy and feels very well made, not at all flimsy and cheap, and the top comes with removable pads as well.  As far as quality goes, I am very impressed!

To be honest, when I first examined the top I was a bit concerned that the wires were very wide.  As any of our loyal readers know, we love our narrow wires!  And when I tried the top on for the first time, as I suspected, the wires are quite wide in comparison to the bras that I am used to wearing.  However, since this is a swimsuit and not something I would be wearing under clothes all day, the wide wires really don’t bother me at all.  Plus, they are not super firm so I don’t feel any digging in my armpits.  I also love the clasp in the back.  When you close it, you can feel it snap into place so there is no fear of it coming undone!   I do however think that I will get a size 28 band next time, since once suits get wet they tend to stretch just a little and a 30 band is already on the looser side for me.

The bottoms are just as they are called, basic briefs which I love!  They cover just enough, but aren’t too full coverage with the waist band sitting a little below the navel. I ordered these in a size 8 (US size 4) but after trying them on I felt like they were a bit on the small side for me so I ended up ordering a size 10.  However, the 10 didn’t arrive before I left for my honeymoon, and I couldn’t imagine not taking this suit with me to Mexico so I ended up taking the 8s, which actually ended up fitting pretty well!  I really do love these bottoms, and don’t have anything but great things to say about them.

As I had mentioned, I took this suit with me on my honeymoon to Mexico and I loved wearing it!  The bright colors are gorgeous, and I never had to worry about my boobs popping out either ;).  My husband loves it as well and complemented it often!  It wore well in the water and unlike some suits made with thinner material, even when wet it stayed in place and didn’t start “sagging” at all.   Overall, I am very impressed with this suit and it is one of the first ones I grab out of my suit drawer!  If you have struggled with finding a bikini that will accommodate a larger bust, or are just looking for one that is sexy and fun (not always easy to do in the big bust market), I would highly suggest checking out Lilly & Lime!

Review: The Dark & Mysterious Ewa Michalak S Kleks

I remember the day that I spotted BM Kleks on the Ewa Michalak website.

It is described on the site as follows:

What’s left after Ink run out in the inkwell? – blot of ink => Kleks 😉
Do you happen to like dark-coloured underwear but feel fed up with black bras? …so there’s a bra ideal for you.
Bra made of fine elastic lace in deep navy blue with black knitwear underlayer will definitely meet your expectations.

I was intrigued.  That colour!  That perfect, mysterious shade of midnight blue.  As dark as the night sky, as deep as the darkest secret.  I was hooked.   I wanted it.  Except that Kleks is currently offered in BM style only.  The BM style, in case you don’t know, is an unpadded balconette bra with stretch lace on the top section of the cups.  If you are unfamiliar with the various styles, click HERE and read our blog post on this subject.  I have a thing for S and SM style bras, but I don’t have a thing for BM style bras.  So, I tried to just not look at the BM Kleks but oh that colour!  As dark as my very heart!  It was calling me.  I needed it.   So I did what any reasonable woman would do.  I wrote to Kaska who takes care of emails at Ewa Michalak and I begged to have Kleks made as an S style  ….and my wish was granted!  Note:  style change requests are at the sole discretion of Ewa Michalak, cost an additional 40 PLN and will make the item a final sale (not returnable).  

You might notice that the stock picture of this bra in BM style shows bows on the shoulder straps and mine has only the bow at the gore.  They are described on the site as ‘bows with bijou pendants just like stars in cloudy sky brighten this murky colour.’  I wanted those shoulder stars so I was a bit sad to see that they had not been included on my S Kleks, but beggars can’t always be choosers and when you deviate from the original, sometimes there can be changes.  I will try to survive without my shoulder stars.

My custom S Kleks is in size 30GG.  The cups fit me well and in typical fashion for S style in that size.  The band measures approximately 25 inches unstretched and approximately 30 inches stretched without cup distortion and feels comfortable on my 27″ rib cage.  I will say though that I can stretch it to 32 without much trouble although there was wire distortion present.  Ladies who like their bands extra firm may want to take that into consideration.

If you read my blog posts regularly you will know that I am a sucker for a matching set.  I only like full brief style panties and I really prefer elastic around the leg band.  That style has been in short supply lately in the newest EM offerings but I have to admit that the appearance of these panties with the black tulle peeking out from beneath the blue lace is pretty much to die for. I ordered the Klek full briefs in my usual size 36.  They fit well and I love this look, even though it isn’t my top style for comfort.

Here is the stock picture:

And here is a close-up of mine.  See what I mean about that black tulle peeking out from under that navy lace?  Just beautiful.  ❤

Kleks is a welcome addition to my collection with its unexpected and unusual dark colour combination.  I do adore it, even without all of its stars, and am looking forward to wearing it once the weather cools.  (In hot weather, I prefer the cooler, unlined SM style bras).

 

At time of writing, Kleks is still available on the Ewa Michalak site as a BM style bra.  The matching panties are currently available as well, offered in both full brief and thong styles.  Have you made this pretty set part of your collection?

 

Feeling Fab in Lilly & Lime!

Something I didn’t realize when deciding to get larger implants was how it would affect swim suit shopping.  It’s truly a pain!!  I was already wearing my proper fitting bras but when wearing swimwear you are very exposed and there’s always a chance of something showing that you would rather keep covered.  Showing off copious amounts of cleavage can be a bit awkward in public, especially when I’m with my 2 youngest kiddos and they are boys!  Suffice to say it’s been a struggle trying to find a cute and modest swim top as I prefer bikinis and triangle tops are much too revealing unless I’m staying in my own pool and not allowing visitors.  I have also struggled with very, very close set breasts so I was doubtful that anything other than a low plunge would work.  In fact, at first I told my fellow bloggers that I shouldn’t even try the suit for fear of it not working for my shape but boy am I glad I did after all (hint…I love it!).   I was kindly gifted the Stripe Balconette and the matching Stripe Hipster Tie Bottom by Lilly and Lime, a new Australian based swimwear company specializing in swimwear for D cup and up.  I was pleasantly surprised when I opened my package to find a very cute tote with my bikini inside, a special touch by the company that stood out to me.  I was even happier once I tried on my suit and my doubts soon faded as I finally found a modest and super cute bikini top that I can proudly wear in public.

I was sent the Stripe Balconette style in a 30GG which is my UK size and it’s the size I usually wear in Ewa Michalak unlined styles as well (this might help my fellow Polish bra junkies out there..wink…wink!).  The Balconette is the only style that has the option to be worn with or without straps which are fully adjustable.  For fun you could even cross the straps in the back!  As for fit…The band has a plastic clasp closure and is rather loose so I would definitely prefer a 28H so I could safely and securely wear it as the strapless option to avoid those extra tan lines.  The cups fit almost perfectly with nice projection and I would say they are comparable to my other 30GG bras but I would prefer the wires to be just a bit narrower.  The cups are lined with foam and there are no removable pads making it a stiff fit at first but the longer I had the top on the more it molded to my breasts and I must add that when the top is wet it kept it’s shape nicely.  I’m  also happy to report that my breasts were nicely separated  and the gore was actually comfortable!  This really shocked me as I have a very difficult time with high gores and this one is pretty wide too …good thing I didn’t judge it until I tried it 🙂  The wires are on the softer side so that probably contributes to the comfort, a huge bonus since that’s just as important as being cute for me.  As for support, I can’t accurately comment since the band is too loose for me to properly judge.  The bottoms are very cheeky for me;  I received a size 12 in the Stripe Hipster Tie bottom,  I usually wear a large or size 8 in US sizes.

I am an older mom of four and I nervously told my fellow bloggers that I didn’t think there was any way on Earth I could wear these cheeky bottoms after seeing pictures of other,  much younger girls in them.  Guess what …shocked again,  they look pretty decent and the ties are just the right fun touch.  I would still prefer more coverage in public and definitely in the waves but for floating in my pool they are perfect.  The fabric is very high quality, nicely lined and there’s a very cute Lilly and Lime signature metal tag detail that I love!  The stripes are a vibrant purple/blue shade and white…very hip and fun and for a twist this pattern would look super cute interchanged with either the Nectarine top or bottom.

Overall I am ecstatic about this new suit,  I feel young and confident in it…nothing could be better then that right?!  I look forward to more from Lilly and Lime!  There aren’t many larger cup options in swimwear so I am thrilled to find this new choice…super cute vibrant prints and high quality!  A huge Thanks to Lilly and Lime for this beautiful bikini!  My Stripe Bikini was graciously provided for review by Lilly and Lime.  All opinions are my own. Peace! 🙂

Insider’s Scoop – Ewa Michalak Fairytale Purple!

Hey Ewa Michalak lovers! I have a bit of fun insider’s exclusive information for you today!   I bet you are wondering about the beauty in this picture and I’m not going to keep you suffering.  Allow us to present to you the ultra exclusive  to Bra Obsessed Ewa Michalak FairyTale Purple!

Only 13 have been made so far.  Mine and MsDizz’s, Yoomee’s is in the mail on its way to her, and ten other people in the world currently have one.  This gorgeous bra is a true exclusive to Bra Obsessed.  It will not be released by Ewa Michalak at any time in the future.  Would you like to have one too?  Then I have great news for you!  I’ve just heard that up to 20 more sets can be made with this special fabric.

Standard cut on Fairytale Purple is PL style.  MsDizz is modelling her PL for you in size 30H (65H) below.

For an additional $15 CAD you can request it in S style which is what I did.  I am modelling my S in size 30GG (65GG) below.

Take a look at these gorgeous details:

I love a bit of contrasting colour on the straps.

Its purple.  Need I say more?

The lace overlay goes all the way around the back of the band.  Unexpected and pretty!

My 30 (65) band measures approximately 23.5″ unstretched and approximately 31″ stretched before I notice any significant wire distortion.  MsDizz also noticed that her band felt loose so you may want to consider sizing down in the band on this one.  Tip:  Remember that if you size down in the band, you need to size up in the cup to compensate.  For example going from a 65GG, to get the same volume in a 60 band you would increase the cup one size up and order 60H.

Matching panties or thongs are available.  Here are my panties:

Note that they have the frilly, non-elastic finish on the bum.  Beautiful set / not my favourite style of panties but a girl has to do what a girl has to do to have the matching set.

Yoomee will show off hers when it arrives but we wanted to get this information to you today so that you don’t miss your opportunity to order this very special, extremely limited set.  You can place your order by emailing Bra Obsessed at bras@braobsessed.com.  Don’t forget to take a look on the Bra Obsessed site at the other two exclusive limited edition Ewa Michalak offerings, the Chalet and the Blekitek !

SM Triumf a Nude Necessity

Where do I begin….well there was a long time in my life that I only wore nude or black bras with the most padding I could possibly find to help even out my figure.  I’ve always been extra small on top and after nursing 4 kiddos I was very deflated and lacked fullness.  Couple that with larger hips and I was left feeling disproportionate  until I had my breast augmentation.  I recently went through revision surgery and now I am very happy with my new proportions and I love wearing unlined bras for the first time in my life, no more thick  padding for me!  So my Polish bra obsession kicked in and I will admit that I need to have every shade of the rainbow and I also swore to never look for a beige bra again.  I often find myself matching my vibrant, colorful sets to whichever top I’ve chosen that day,  a beautiful red strap peeking out of a red blouse is fine with me 🙂  Alas there are times when those brilliant pops of color just won’t work under a white tee-shirt or light blouse and not having a completely nude bra just won’t suffice.  Just as I started my search Ewa Michalak released the gorgeous SM Triumf  (an unlined balconette style) and immediately knew I had to add it to my colorful collection.  Little did I know just how stunning this bra would be in person and you just can’t beat the trademark Ewa Michalak fit.  Narrow wires and great projection. are perfect for my augmented breasts and with it hitting 115 where I live in the summer months an unlined bra is a necessity!

The floral patterned lace of Triumf is intricate, but not too delicate and it is the perfect shade to completely disappear under a white top on my complexion.

The gore is narrow and the wires overlap slightly so it’s a wonderful fit for my very close set breasts.  I’ve noticed that Triumf along with a few other SM styles I’ve tried have a firmer band and the wires feel stronger,  I’m not sure if it’s literally a stronger wire or if it just feels that way since it’s an unlined bra lacking padding.  It’s as if there is wonderful support with an almost airy,  freeing feeling since there isn’t extra fabric and I absolutely love the lightness!  I get a nice lifted round shape with forward projection that looks great under a fitted tee-shirt so it is exactly what I needed for my collection, a very un-boring nude bra with a subtle sexiness.

I ordered SM Triumf in a 65gg after reading that the unlined styles by Ewa Michalak ran on the firm side and I found this to be very true as I stated previously.  It’s a perfect fit on the loosest hooks for my 26.5 underbust.  The 65gg has a 3 hook closure for added band support and in my experience I prefer the extra stability and comfort it provides.

The cups are a strong non-stretch lace and where the cup meets the strap the lace is doubled-up I assume for strength so the lace won’t tear.  The band itself is a satiny, stretchy material that is soft and luxurious.  Ewa Michalak never disappoints when it comes to adding the perfect little extra touches on her bras… from the tiny bow and round crystal gore detail to the scalloped lace edging on the tops of the cups,  this nude bra is a stunner.

In my pictures it may seem as if it’s cutting in a bit when in actuality that’s just my relaxed skin after 4 pregnancies,  I call it my bra roll,  in a grumbled voice of course.  The bra sits nicely in my crease and the gore tacks well, although after a few hours the gore sort of folds to the right or left over itself since my breasts sit so close together.  It’s not uncomfortable and I’m not sure if it’s just an augmented breast issue but I could see others experiencing the same thing if they are very center heavy.  The cups are the perfect depth and filled nicely.

I’m thrilled to have another well-fitting work of “bra art” by Ewa Michalak in a nude shade and just in time as we’ve had a few 100 degree days already!  Have you tried Triumf?  I would love to hear your thoughts and if you’ve been eyeing this beauty I suggest adding it to your collection,  you won’t be disappointed.

Ewa Michalak Saint-Tropez Swimsuit Review

Ever since I first became acquainted with the Ewa Michalak brand, I had been hoping that a swimsuit would be released for sale.  I had even written and asked (pleaded!), to no avail.  So, when Spring 2016 rolled  around and I saw the first Facebook hints that some sort of swimwear would be released, I was super excited.  However, when I first saw the photos of the Saint-Tropez swimsuit I actually felt a bit disappointed.  I didn’t think that the retro style would suit me.  I had never tried high waisted bottoms and I just couldn’t see myself pulling off that look.  Still, I had waited soooo long for EM swimwear that I  couldn’t miss the chance to own my very own set, regardless of my initial reservations.    Anyway, its good to try new things.   Change is good!

I asked the lovely Jaimie of Bra Obsessed to please order a set for me right away.  Truth be told, I asked Jaimie to please order two sets for me to try because my size has fluctuated a bit as of late.  I’ve heard other adult  women say that their breast size has increased because of a ‘hormonal growth spurt’or  simply that their ‘breasts grew’ (and I can only assume that they mean ONLY their breasts).  Maybe that is true. Regardless, the truth of my own situation is that my breasts grew.  So did my gut.  What can I say?  I ate a lot of snacks over the winter and didn’t go to the gym as often as I had intended.  I confess!  That, my friends, is the reality of my situation.  It is what it is.

I purchased this set with the top in size 65GG (one cup up from my pre-winter indulgence size 65G) and the bottoms in size 36.  The band measures approximately 22.5″ unstretched and I actually couldn’t stretch it past 29″.   This is good news because it means it will stay put when it is wet.  It felt comfortable on my 27″ ribcage. The swim top is in my favourite S bra style.  It gives that wonderful up front and centre, lifted appearance that has made the S style so popular with so many women.

The suit is made of Lycra so that it is appropriate for pools and oceans (if you’re so lucky).  The inside of the cups are lined with nylon instead of the usual cotton  of EM bras and the swimsuit does have the removal ‘cookies’ for correcting asymmetry or boosting cleavage.

An interesting feature of the swim top is the removable cleavage strap detail.  The cleavage straps are elastic, with metal hooks and eyes for easy on / off and they feature adjustable sliders so that you can custom set the length yourself.  The straps attach to a metal ring on the shoulder straps and to a fabric loop at the centre of the gore.

Adding or removing these straps allows the wearer to choose from two quite different looks, as shown below.

The back (in size 65GG) has a regular 3 x 3 bra hook and eye closure, but these are disguised by a simple fabric tie that you do up over top of the bra closure.

Its almost like Ewa knew I’d been stuffing my face all winter because the bottoms actually have a sort of tummy control lining and they smooth any lumpiness that might have otherwise shown, which is nice.  Because of this lining, the bottoms feel snug and firm without much stretch, similar to how any type of tummy control underpants might feel.

I doubt I’ll get to wear my suit in Saint Tropez, but watch out Puerto Backyarda, the weather is getting warmer and I’ll be ready!

 

 

 

 

 

The Panache Sports Bra Review

I always thought a sports bra would be the easiest type of bra to find after having my BA. But as it turns out, this may not actually be the case. I try to exercise every day and have been making do with a cheap sports bra I bought from Kmart (an Aussie budget department store) in a 12DD (34DD). I usually wear a 6HH (28HH). Yeah. Clearly it’s time for an upgrade. So I looked to my much appreciated email pen-pal at Brava Lingerie, Becky, to see what she could recommend in my size. I was presented with three potential options and decided to go with the Panache Sports Bra, which through Brava costs AUD$79.95 and comes in a huge variety of colours – some of which you can see modelled here by the lovely Jelz (30G) and Baby (28H & 28GG) respectively.

 

 

 

I am a sucker for anything coral and so I fell in love with the coral/grey colour and as there were no 6 (28) bands in stock, I opted for an 8H (30H). The 8H however was far too roomy. It fit over my boobs but felt like a lot of bra, and not exactly supportive. I had since conferred with my fellow bloggers and discovered the sizing can be a little off in this range. So thanks to Brava’s free and easy return/exchange system, I was able to swap out my 8H for an 8GG with no problems. It arrived beautifully wrapped as always 🙂

 

But also as always, it didn’t stay that way for long 😉

  

I really do love the coral and grey combo of this bra. It’s bright and fun but still says “let’s get sweaty”. The material is pleasantly soft and extremely comfortable, and is punctuated by breathable fabric along both of the straps and the length of the centre gore. For a sports bra, it’s actually very pretty. I was also excited to note the J hook located on the left strap. It’s always handy to have the option to go racerback.

 

My first moment of terror came when I really looked at the gore. It is wide, high and appears pretty unforgiving for a close set gal like me. The idea I presume is to provide solid separation and therefore maximum support while working out. Which would be fantastic, if it fit.

It actually is a decent fit. It looks awesome on (if I do say so myself) and unlike the H cups which swam on me, the GG’s give the perfect amount of encapsulation.

  

I was very impressed with the side profile. You wouldn’t have to worry about this looking pointy or squashy under a top, it gives a great round and uplifted shape.

The band is snug but not as snug as I would like, which I should have expected as it is a band size up from what I normally wear. But being a sports bra I thought this might not matter. However it seems I was wrong, as to get the firm feeling I like I’ve already got this on the second set of hooks (of which there are 3 in total).

  

So it all seems to be going rather well so far, don’t you think? Well so did I, until I looked directly down. And shock horror, the gore floats. It doesn’t even come close to tacking between my close set cleavage. I can almost see the bra trying to come in at that point, but it just cant do it, so instead I can see right through to my toes. Sadface 😦

I could just deal with it and wear it anyway. It’s still a great bra in my opinion but I just don’t think it works for me. I could always try a 6GG or H perhaps and see if the tighter band helps pull everything in. But after more chatter with my blogging buddies I don’t think so. They have reported the same issue with the floating gore in a variety of sizes. This is a real shame, but one which I think is just an anatomy thing and not an actual fault of the bra itself. This bra would most likely be perfect for ladies who are not so narrow, projected and close set. Which means for me that the sports bra quest will continue – watch this space for more adventures to come! 🙂

Comexim Arabella from Zathiya Lingerie

This is my second purchase of the Comexim Arabella. The first was a sizing flop, and was sold on via Bratabase. I usually order a 60L with reduced cup and gore, this bra is a 65K with no alterations. I ordered from Zathiya Lingerie instead of direct from Comexim. I already had the matching panties, so I wanted to get the bra quickly. Zathiya is located in Texas, so shipping in the US is pretty quick. At a cost of $50 (USD) it is priced higher than a direct order through Comexim. Direct through Comexim this bra retails at 130,00zl ($34.30 USD as of July 30, 2105). Shipping through Zathiya is $7, or free for orders over $100. 
Any bra ordered through an authorized Comexim retailer will have a hang tag. Bras ordered direct come new, without tags.

Looking at the online image on the Comexim website, the band fabric looks to be a simple basic band. You have to really zoom in if you want to see the real detail here. The band is a textured floral fabric that coordinates with the cup fabric in pattern. I was surprised to see the texture to this when I pulled it out of the package.  
The cup fabric is also a floral type fabric. The fabric of the band and the cups are not the exact same pattern, but a coordinating pattern. I’m not a floral person, at all. But I am a fan of this. It is almost like a floral/damask/paisley pattern; it works for me.

So lets go on to the fit. Like I said before, I usually do a 60L or 60K with reduced cup and gore. My first order was for exactly that but in a 60K, placed with A Sophisticated Pair. The band was very small when compared to my other 60 bands. The cups were also smaller than any 60K I had.  I believe this is because of the alterations. The 60K was wearable, if I wanted mega cleavage.  The goal for this bra was super sexy cleavage, but I had a bit too much! And the quad boob! Being all implant it is hard for me to quad boob, but that 60K did.  When fellow blogger Tanzilove found Zathiya and I saw a 65K in stock I debated ordering it for a good week. My best fit is with the reduced gore and cups.

Because the gore is not reduced I have an awkward gap going on in the cleavage by the gore of the bra. Hard to capture on photo and hard to explain. Reducing the gore height does the trick for this.  The problem I had is that the gore sits too high to firmly tack on my sternum. Close cleavage with firm breast tissue (that’s most of our ladies with implants!) almost always makes for the need to have the gore reduced.

You can see the unfilled lower portion of the cup in this photo. Really that is an acceptable fit issue for me. I will never have that filled lower cup. Why? Because I have almost zero natural breast tissue, and pre-surgery I had no breast crease. I have self supporting breasts with very little lower pole and no natural hang shape. So I just cannot settle into the bottom of the cup like a natural breast will.

You can also see the low wings on this bra. They are lower than many other Comexim I have, and not altered. You can also see that the wire is slightly shorter than most bras that I wear.  There are no alterations to strap placement or cup height, both of which I could probably benefit from. The straps are a soft material with minimal stretch, but the material is smooth. Some women with heavier breasts may find that their straps easily loosen. The band does fit a bit firm for a 65 band, as indicated by the measurements below. Pleas note- The stretched band measurement is taken to the point of wire distortion. The band of this bra will stretch past that, but the wires will start to distort and bend backwards, widening.

You can find the comparison measurements of the 65K and my original 60K here.  Last but not least, the matching bottoms. I don’t always buy matching bottoms, but this was one I wanted to have. But they are a fail on me. Sizewise, I probably should have gone for a small and not a medium. They are wearable, but the flouncy edges have too much movement. I think a tighter fit would help with that, but I don’t love this style bottom.
This style of bottom looks like a standard bikini brief fit. Which it is, almost. The flouncy edges and cut of this bottom make it less full coverage in the back than a bikini bottom. This does not work for me. These are the type of bottoms that will ride up on you until you pull them down if you have a flat booty like I do. Maybe a lady with a different booty type can weigh in, but I would generally consider these to be a better cut for someone that prefers a cheeky fit to their bottoms. Cheekies and I do not get along, these are not the right cut for me.

Overall, I would give this bra a rating of A-. I love it, but there is some issues that may make it not work for other women. If you need higher/wider wings this is probably not a bra for you.