Ewa Michalak Reviewed – Half Cup Nina
Ewa Michalak Explained
Having heard of Polish lingerie brand Ewa Michalak on the blogging circuit for a little while I was really keen to try them out and judge for myself just how they compare to the bigger names in the game. At first I wasn’t too sure how someone not Poland based went about buying from them, because when you initially visit their website the language is set as default Polish. However located at the top of the main page is an option to switch to English by clicking on the UK flag.
Once you’re looking at the site in a language comfortable to you, the next task is to look for bras. Something that is pretty refreshing and definitely unique to the Ewa Michalak brand is the immense range of sizes; all bras in the shop are available from cups A right up to L, from 24 to 46 backs (with some being tailor made specially for you), so fabulous news for everyone who doesn’t like choice restriction based on your size.
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| Ewa Michalak website |
You’ll notice from the easy to navigate side menu that sizes are gauged as european, but UK conversions are placed along side the Ewa Michalak sizes so there’s no need to worry about translating. It is worth bearing in mind though that Ewa sizes aren’t exactly like for like, as I found out for myself. Often the bands are found to run small, and sometimes the cups.
Before you order anything you are recommended to fit yourself according to the sizing calculator found under the Sizing Help tab. You are required to enter three figures in cm: your underbust tightly measured, your underbust loosely measured and then your overbust measurement, where you measure round the fullest part of your bust standing in a bent over position.
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| Ewa Michalak website – Sizing Calculator |
Personally I think the calculator is very hit or miss. The measurements I entered for myself gave me a very way out bra size result of 75DD or 34DD in UK conversion, which I just had to disregard. It concerned me that it gave me a back of 34, when I fit a 28 or 30 back in the UK, translated as giving me a +4 fit which we all know is not the way to fit these days. Which is why I say you should note the inconsistency with UK sizes and take this into account when finding your own size. Judging by my usual 28GG-H I decided to go with 30GG which is a 65GG with Ewa Michalak.
Following three trials with some of Ewa Michalak’s best selling bras I’ve come to realise that fitting myself for the brand isn’t quite so simple. This is the first of three reviews so you can see how I faired with them.
Ewa Michalak Reviewed
Having been asked which bras I would like to review, I first opted for the HP Nina, which is a gorgeous half cup. As I mentioned earlier, I went with the 65GG (UK 30GG).
The Look and Fit
HP Nina is an ever so lightly padded black bra with silky smooth cups offset with three section dark floral ribbon trim and edged with pretty lace. The ribbon also trims the side wings and continues up half way of the front of the straps making this part less stretchy to the back half section. I find that the design of the ribbon in this way actually benefits the wear of the bra, making it more supportive and less bouncy. The hook and eye fastener is 3 hooks wide with four levels of adjustment to play with.
I love the look of balconette bras but don’t get on well with them, so when I saw the HP Nina looked very similarly styled but with a lower centre gore I thought I would give it a go. It’s fits perfectly for my shape and sits in the right place without nipping between my boobs. I’ve not really worn a half cup before so now I know it’s a good option for me.
When I first put on the HP Nina I was aware how snug the band felt; definitely a little closer than I’d usually wear. It didn’t feel overbearing so I decided to keep it on. The cups felt a little on the small side but didn’t dig in. I wore it quiet happily throughout the day although I increasingly became aware that the cups were feeling too small. I could feel the underwire prominently at the side of my boobs, which indicated to me that I needed more room. When I bent over (sorting laundry for the washing machine) my boobs would raise up and try to leave the cups, creating a quadra-boob effect.
The Result
I love the look of this bra because it’s quite sexy and modern looking. You don’t often see bras in this kind of design for the larger bust which is a treat. The half cup design really does suit me being a close set boobed girl so this has opened up more options of style to me.
The downside really is the tightness of the band, and even more so, the smallness of the cups. I feel if I increased the cup size to the H (making it a 30H) then I would have more room and it will probably reduce the tight feeling too. So in this respect, regarding the sizing of Ewa Michalak bras, I would suggest going up in the back and up in the cup than your usual size.
Keep an eye out for more Ewa Michalak reviews to come.
Becky x
contrary kiwi
June 12, 2012 at 1:00 amGood review, thanks. Anything that helps me work out EM sizing is helpful, because when I commented on another blog that the calculator had given me 75D/34D – my +4 size that is way too big in the back and way too small in the cup – I was told that it was correct because of the discrepancy between European sizing and UK sizing. I’m glad to see you disagreed with it too! I’m disappointed that although EM make such a wonderful range of bras, their calculator is so misleading.
Although I usually wear a 30FF (and find it too tight, usually) I think I’d go for a 32FF in EM, but I’m not yet sure enough to go for it, because it’s going to be expensive!
Cavy.girl
June 12, 2012 at 1:06 amHi 🙂
Yes I noticed it myself that nobody else seems to say anything about the sizing calculator. If it’s way off the mark for me (and you) then it must be happening to other people too. The bras are great once you manage to get your sizing sorted out, but the calculator really needs some work.
The brand is really forward thinking in recognising the need for 30 and under backs but falls right back into the dark ages when it comes to the calculator.
It is a concern like you say, because the delivery costs and then the time returning and exchanging can make the system tedious and off putting. I hope you do go for it though, you know it’s worth it! 😀
Becky x
austenlady
June 17, 2012 at 3:33 pmHi 🙂 I’m Polish and I love EM bras, so when I saw your review I just felt that I have to explain something which will help you understand Polish sizing. You’re writing that EM’s calculator does not work, which is not true – it works, and it works the same in Polish and English version, I checked it myself a minute ago. (Of course, it does not work all the time, it usually works with the band, it may work not as well when it comes to cup size – Ewa Michalak said herself that cup size depends on the shape and condition of breasts, this size should be just a starting point).
You say that the calculator gives you +4 fit, which I have to disagree with… You need to remember that 30 band is not simply 65 band in Polish, it is just a corresponding size. 30in is, in fact, 76 cm… If your underbust measurment was 76cm (30in), I may assure you that there is no way you could fasten EM’s 65 band, you would have to wear 75 band (corresponding UK size – 34). 65 cm is ca. 25,5 in.
I have 67-68 cm (26,5-27 inches), and I wear 65 and 70 bands in EM.. (I looked into my drawer and I have to say that I have more bras with 70 back size from EM than with 65 band!). I think this shows that they are really tight. My UK band would be 28 or 30, but I have to admit that I don’t buy British bras any more, I simply don’t have to 🙂
I hope what I just said will help you to understand Polish sizing and EM’s calculator.
P.S. HP Nina is one of my 2 favourite bras, you should try HP Bella as well, it’s even more beautiful!
Cavy.girl
June 20, 2012 at 11:07 pmHi AustenLady 🙂
I understand it seems to work for some people but it just didn’t add up right for me which was a little frustrating! Saying I am a DD was just ridiculous as I’m a lot bigger than that. I got all three of the bras in a 65GG which Ewa says is a 30GG. They fastened up okay and I managed to wear a couple but throughout the day the discomfort was too apparent. Sadly I’ve had to return them for a wider band and larger cup and I’ve opted for the next size up to the 70 and then up to the H and I’ll see how I get on with them then. Hopefully they’ll fit next time round. I can see what you mean about the bands and how they must differ to UK sizes, I may find yet that even the 70 (32) isn’t sufficient. I will have to see. The cup measuring definitely didn’t work though, I can’t figure how it was so way out.
I’ll have to try out Bella, like you say. Ewa bras are so unique and different to anything else on the market so I can understand where the addiction to them comes from! 🙂
Becky x
austenlady
June 21, 2012 at 6:55 pmSome time ago, on one of our bra-forums, Ewa tried to explain what to do with the size from the calculator:
“If your bust (in bent-over position) looks like:
UU – the cup size will be probably correct
00 – the cup may fit, but you may need a cup size more
OO – the cup will be too small for sure, order a bra at least one or two cups bigger in size
VV – the cup may fit, but you may need a cup size less
W – the cup size will be definitely too big, 2-3 cup sizes
^^ – probably 2-3 cup sizes less as well”
I think you belong to “OO” group 🙂 I cannot help you with the band more than I already did, I may only add that with the correct cup size the band would not feel as tight, so may be 70 will be ok 🙂
Hope that you’ll soon find your size in this brand and that you’ll be able to try out more bras from EM 🙂
Cavy.girl
June 22, 2012 at 5:03 pmAh now that’s a clever tip! Thanks for letting me know. I’ve not thought about what my boobs look like in that position as an addition to the sizing. I will certainly go and try that later on and see which I look like. I must fall into the OO category then as I have needed several sizes bigger than that quoted.
Anyhow, I’m currently awaiting the new sizes so fingers crossed this time round I’ll have got it right!
Becky x
bjamuna
August 14, 2012 at 3:15 pmThanks for creating this post! I have yet to read your continuation for the Ewa Michalak bra fitting experience. I wanted to share my recent small experience with the bra calculator… but first a little information about the ladies! I have not ordered any bras from the site yet but I have been gazing at them for the past month 🙂 I live in America and in UK size I am 34FF-G depending on style and brand. For example- in Fantasie and Panache I am 34FF, in Freya (deco in particular) I am a 32GG which doesn’t always feel quite right but after trying on tons of sizes it seems to be pretty close to correct. Actually in the offshoots of deco like hatty, taylor and others 32GG seems to fit a little better (probably cuz they have slightly tighter cup dimensions with very slight variation in shape).
Back to the calculator- I have noticed in general that (maybe due to my general skin softness and soft tissue) when I measure my under bust I have to make it very tight, after exhaling, to get the correct number, if the measurement is taken too loosely then the bra fit won’t be good for me, the back will ride up while I’m wearing it. With the calculator I input a very tight fitting for the first number (after exhaling), I inhaled and did a comfortable loose fitting for the loose number. For the over bust number I followed the video instructions to not include the nipples in the measurement when leaning over and most importantly all this was without any bra or clothing on. Guess what size I came out with! 🙂 75GG (34GG).. This seems close enough that I am questioning if I should really buy this size or buy 75G in case these bras have larger cups or even 80, etc.
I am continuing to read online reviews in case there is more advice regarding general sizing and fit and that’s how I found your blog and am very grateful! My breast tissue is very soft with not much shape on their own. To be a good fit, a bra would not be extremely low in the center (because I will fall in towards the middle)and the cups also shouldn’t be too short either (double boob thing). The funny and annoying part of bra shopping is that a number of styles/sizes look and feel correct in the dressing room, when using them in everyday life it’s a different story. I refuse to wear super high granny styles. I am currently using the deco bras but they fit better a couple years ago, I think they must have been re-engineered them and now they are not great for me anymore.
These bra shapes mentioned by austenlady are totally cool. Thanx!
Thank you ladies! I am closer to finding the answers I was looking for :))