Bralettes have surged in popularity in recent times and it’s interesting to wonder why.  With fashion magazines declaring that cleavage is dead, could it mean that no one cares for the push up and plunge effect anymore?  Perhaps it’s the eradication of confining under-wiring that’s becoming more acceptable, or maybe it’s just we want to feel comfortable and wear what the heck we like?

Whatever the reason for the current interest, there’s no denying bralettes are the most delicate and prettiest pieces of lingerie there is.

Those of us with fuller busts often draw the short straw where lingerie trends are concerned, and with divided opinion on whether a busty girl can ‘get away’ with wearing a soft bralette, it means there’s little choice to buy.  When Freya introduced their Fancies range it was interesting to see bustier ladies sharing rave reviews for their bralette, which doesn’t actually label itself as full busted.

So when the specialist retailer, Poinsettia Lingerie, approached me to try out the Freya Fancies bralette I was glad of the chance and they popped this little beauty in the post to me.

Poinsettia Lingerie gifted me the Freya Fancies Bralette
in Magenta / Large / £14 (£19.50)

The Fancies bralette is a cropped cami-style top that offers gentle support without underwiring.  In a relaxed style, this lightweight top is a delicate option when you don’t want all the baggage that comes with a bra; there’s no padding or shaping or conforming, simply gorgeous fabric with an ultra feminine aesthetic.

The bralette is a treat for anyone who loves a bit of lace because this has oodles of the stuff.  With a semi sheer mesh body, deep scalloped lace trims along the top and entire hem of the bralette creating a long line effect, while soft fabric gathering around the bust line aid a relaxed but gently tailored fit.  The super slim straps are fully adjustable and there’s no bra adjuster to clip, just pop it on over your head and the stretchy soft handle fabric glides on a fits like a glove.

A fun and frivolous collection, Fancies comes in a whole host of colours with basic black and white options to the more vibrant chilli red and electric blue, with softer hues being introduced, such as the sweet new candy pink.  Sizes range from extra small to extra large catering for size 8-16 figures.

The FIT

I was sent the bralette around the time I was just starting to develop my baby bump and since then my body has changed dramatically.  The top surprisingly still fits, but the way it fits has evolved.  Sadly I now find it a bit tight as my chest has broadened, and the bottom lace panel doesn’t lay flat anymore, instead choosing to ride up because of my bump.  But it’s interesting to see that despite my body changes the bralette is obviously an accommodating style; it’s just as well it’s super stretchy and soft to the touch, because it means even with a bit of growth I can still easily wear the bralette.

Looking back a couple of months to when the fit was best, I found the large size (which reflects a UK 14) worked especially well for me, even with a full bust.  The mesh bust shelf is a fairly generously proportioned area that is well adaptive to varying breast shapes and sizes.  From my usual pre-pregnancy 30H to my current 34H, the Fancies bralette seems to have no problem being worn by a fuller bust.

The shape the bralette gives is a super natural line.  While the stretch mesh does hold you particularly well in place, it isn’t restrictive, so the style still allows your natural shape to show.

As it’s a fairly sheer bralette you would need to be careful about what you wear over it if you don’t want show through, and it’s very thin too, so if you don’t want nip protrusion you would want to keep this one for at home lounge wear.  But if that doesn’t bother you – hey, nips are natural! – there’s nothing stopping you from rocking this under a strappy top or tee.

If I could change anything about the Fancies bralette I would probably focus on the straps.  While thin straps are dainty, I find them on the cheese wire side of narrow.  I would also love to see how the bralette could look and fit if it had an elasticated band too – sometimes extra support like a crop top has can make all the difference to the longevity of comfort level.

But the Fancies bralette really is a delightful piece of lingerie in its own right.  It’s cute, sassy, sexy and totally comfy, and it’s not often you can tick all that off under one roof.

What’s your experience with bralettes?  Do you find bralettes don’t really work with the fuller bust or do you think the bustier figure can absolutely wear a bralette?  Have you tried the Freya Fancies bralette?  What do you think of it?