I dyed the Portia/Princess hybrid

Original post can be found here.

I used Rit Dye in the purple color. As the water was boiling, I read the side of the bottle that says not to use it on polyester fabrics. I already had my mind set, so I was going to do it anyway. But I had a feeling that it was going to dye, because I the dyed a white dress with pink Rit Dye, and the back of it that had mesh, didn’t dye. So I crossed my fingers. I probably used more dye than I needed to, but I wanted to make sure that the bra came out dark. I really wanted to dye it brown, but I forgot to go to the dye section when I was there yesterday.

On to the pictures:

In the above picture it looks blackish, but it’s not. It’s very purple.

I believe the polyester warning on the Rit dye bottle was for the stitching, in my dress the stitching stayed the original color. And as you can see the thread is still white, as is the floral design and the lacing. Well it actually got tinted somewhat.

I don’t know if this occurred because I used hot water & dye on the bra, but the lacing is comIng undone form one area on both of the cups. Oddly enough, on both cups it’s on the right side (when looking at it).

Inner part of the cup

Band

The floral design

Underneath the floral design

The fit:

I don’t know if it was the dye, or it was the scorching hot water, but the bra shrunk. From my experience being a denim addict, I know that really hot water (too hot to touch) can shrink jeans.

so yeah, it shrunk, a good amount. Before I needed to alter the bra, now I don’t think there’s enough room to alter it. It shrunk enough that now it fits. The band, however feels really tight. I ordered some new extenders, so I’ll probably wait to wear this until those come in. Enough blabbering.

Right side

Left side

No gapping.

A little space in the upper panel on smaller breast.

Side view

I initially was going to make this a two part post, with the dye being one post, and the actual alteration another post, but I’m not going to alter it now.

What do you think?

Cleo Meg from Poshmark… 😒

I got the Cleo Meg 28e from poshmark today…

All I will say is, I am NOT happy with the bra. I should have went with my gut instinct, and not bought it.

This is a picture from the listing.

The top part of the pictures is how it originally looked. The bottom picture was added when I asked the seller if there was any fading there. She said ‘no that’s just the lighting’. When I looked at the second picture, I thought okay that could be the lighting. So I offered $11 for the bra, and she accepted. I actually ended up paying $16 because I had to pay shipping. Well, technically I paid a little over $2, because I sold one of my bras there and the money was available in my account.

I got the bra today….

I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

Close up. 😷

😷😷

Close up 😷

😷😷😷😷

So as you can see, this bra was not clean. And there was fading/discoloration on the closure.

When I messaged that seller she said the bra was cleaned right before it was shipped out (yeah right), and that if I wanted to return the bra, I could and she would refund me. 😒. There is no way in hell that bra was washed before bring shipped out.

It looks like there was a bunch of deodorant caked up on the armpit area, both on the inside area and the outside area. It also looked like there was something (deodorant perhaps?) caked on the bottom part of the gore. Why deodorant would be there, I don’t know. But it was gross. There was also some sort of animal hair embedded in the wires near the gore. Now, I don’t own an animal, and I don’t plan on it’s any time soon, but how does animal hair get stuck INTO your bra?

Me being the person I am, I hate going through the hassle of return, so I decided to wash the bra. This would have been the perfect bra to use a salad spinner on, but I don’t own one. So I used my nephews bucket (the same bucket I used to dye my princess/Portia hybrid bra). I filled if with hot tap water, a few drops of dish detergent (to get that grease and grime out), and some detergent. I sprayed the armpit area and gore area with this shout spray that I have. I put the bra in and swished it around, rinsed and repeated. I then rinsed the bra off with hot water, and then put hot water in the bucket with the bra, and let it soak for a few hours (I had a family gather in to go to). Came back, rinsed the bra with cold-ish water, and now it’s drying in a towel.

This isn’t dirty water, it’s water with HD detergent.

Freya Ignite 28e

Color: yellow

About the bra:

This is a bra I got as a swap via braswap. I put the 28dd up for sale, but stated I really preferred an exchange for the same bra in a 28e. I didn’t think someone would have the 28e and need a 28dd, but I got lucky. This bra wasn’t new, but looks like it is.

Every time I’ve seen this bra on a website, I’ve always looked at it as being a yellow bra with black clusters on it.

 But in actuality, there are colors other than black

There are a few shades of pink, a blue, and a pale greenish blue color

There’s a black bow at the top of the gore.

There is also a black bow where the cup meets the straps.

The beautiful top portion

The straps

There is some sort of stitching detail throughout the bra.

I just want to mention, that while this bra is a bright yellow, my pictures make it look brighter than it actually is. The picture of the bow by the straps, is the most accurate in color, since I didn’t have the flash on. The fabric has four way stretch, but it’s not overly stretchy

The review:

I am so happy I was able to swap my too small 28DD, for the 28E. This bra fits perfectly. If my breasts grow, it will be too small. But that’s probably not going to be an issue because my breasts don’t change shape/size.

Side view

There’s not any space (woohoo!)

With a cami on

Freya Arabella 28e

Color: black

About the bra:

This bra is completely sheer. It is also very sexy. I can’t even describe it, I have to just show pictures.

There’s a rather long bow at the gore.

The cute design at the top of the cup

a close up

The cup is completely sheer, there’s no double layer on the bottom part of the cups.

There is a pink small bow where the cups meet the straps

The design on the straps

I really love that the pink on this bra is a very light pink.

The review:

This bra… It fits but it doesn’t. I’m not really sure, lol. When initially swooped and scooped, there was still a little bit of room on my smaller breast, where the upper sheer part was, but not on the entire part. But when I scooped in my ‘underarm fat’, it made the bra fit, but kind of cut the tissue in the middle of my chest.

#1

Bigger breast

Smaller breast

Bigger breast

Smaller breast

When I lean over there’s gapping (I’m only mentioning this because it annoys me).

With a cami on

From the side

#2

Side view

A few things about this bra. The band is tight! I’ve read that freya bands are loose-looser than Cleo’s, but this band is almost uncomfortable. And the gore is slightly irritating me. I think it’s because the band is too tight, and the gore is higher than what I’d like. Also, when I do the second S&S, it makes the sides of the cup higher than normal, so it’s slightly irritating.

When I first got on bratabase and asked for a fit check Arabella was one of the freya bras recommended for me, as well as Siren and Oh la la. I found this on eBay for a low price. So I’m glad I was able to get it.

Cleo Jude 28e

Color: black

About the Bra:

This is a molded contour cup tshirt bra. There is lightly lined, enough to cover nipples, but not overly thick like a push up bra. Most of the bra is black, except for the bright pink bow on the front, the ribbon along the cups, the straps, and the closure.

The review:

I decided to keep this bra, since it wasn’t getting any attention on bratabase. A lot of people say this bra doesn’t fit most women, and it seems to be $15 on amazon quit often, so I’d have to lose money in trader to sell it. And even with a lower price, I couldn’t be guaranteed to sell it, since it’s not the best fitting bra.

The first time I wore this, I wore it two days in a row. I don’t even remember why. So this is a review made after the bra was worn.

So like 90% of the rest of the people that have tried this bra on, it doesn’t fit me. I get a ridiculous amount of cleavage after I S&S.

It is very closed on top, so it isn’t a good fit for FOT shapes, or probably shallow shapes either. I am FOB/even, and you can see it’s cutting into my tissue as well. I believe this is why it doesn’t fit that many women. It’s too closed on top.

The gore tacks

It’s too shallow at the bottom, so I have space between my breast and the wire.

The side of the cups come up kind of high. High enough that it bothered me every so often (but not too much)

I will admit, this bra is actually very comfortable on. One of the days I wore it, I literally forgot I was wearing a bra. I walked into my bedroom and thought, ‘I should probably put a bra on’ then I looked in the mirror and remembered I was wearing one. It was that comfortable.  Having said that, I wouldn’t buy another one. These days I prefer to wear soft bras.

Cleo Meg 28e

Click here to see the original post about this bra.

Color: dark blue with red mesh, and blue and white

The bra:

There is only one bow in this bra, and it had a small bird ornament hanging from it

**pics of the bra after it was thoroughly washed**

The review:

There is some wrinkling on the band

As well as throughout the cups

At the top

The bottom

Even though there is some space/wrinkling, I do consider this to be a bra that fits.

The gore tacks

I initially thought the wires were a little wide, so I took pictures after I took the bra off to see.

As you can see the gore does sit on my breast tissue somewhat, but all my bras do.  I think I need a gore where one wire sits on top of the other.

My breasts no longer look like this. I have dark marks from stabby gores. 😓

Pics when I wore the bra to work.

Beautiful. 😍

 

1 month later

Overall there seems to be less wrinkling/more filing out the cup.

There is still some wrinkling on the bottom, but it looks like there’s not as much as before

Another day when I wore this to work. It was undetectable under my shirt.

 

At some point since I joined bratabase/abrathatfits my measurements changed slightly. So the pictures could be before and after.

I’ve worn this bra a handful of times since getting it off poshmark. I don’t recall having any complaints with the wires. The only time the wires bothered me was when I wore a few uncomfortable bras consecutive days for like a week, then when I got to this bra, the gore bothered me after a few hours.

*The first set of pics was taken 09/15/15, the second set 10/15/15

Curvy Kate Eden 28e

Color: Rose print

About the Bra: When I firstt saw this, I said to myself, I NEED to have this. The print on it is so beautiful. Pink is my favorite color. I love roses. So therefore this bra was perfection.

The bra consists of magenta flowers, light pink flowers, and green leaves. The bra has a sheen to it.

W/o flash

W/ flash

There is a green and magenta bow at the gore.

There is a cute little scalloped design at the top of the cups.

W/ flash

W/o flash

There is also a cute little green & magenta bow where the cup meets the straps.

The upper portion of the straps has the floral design

The lower half of the straps is just magenta. This bra isn’t fully adjustable.

 

The wings and the band are magenta.

The review:

I got this from brastop thinking that at worse, this bra would be one cup big, which isn’t an issue, because it would be an easy fix. Boy was I wrong. This bra isn’t 1 cup too big, it’s more like 2, and it’s not an easy fix.

Before I get to the review I just want to say something.

I’ve mentioned being a denimaholic. I have the ability to look at a pair of jeans/pants and KNOW without even trying them on whether or not they will fit me. And 99% of the time I am correct. I actually worked at 2 denim stores, so I was blue to get it down to a T. I also had the ability to look at someone and know what size they would be in a pair of jeans- men and women. After leaving both denim stores, I’ve lost that ability (for other people). But that ability for myself, has stemmed into pretty much all forms of clothing-shirts dresses panties, and now bras. So immediately after taking this bra out of the package, I KNEW it was going to be too big. And not a little big, but very big. Like wearing my orders sister’s bra, big. 😟

When I first put the bra on without swooping and scooping, I knew there was no fixing this.

Swooping and scooping didn’t really change the appearance.

Theres a good amount of space between the top of the cup, and my breast.

A lot of space.

Oddly enough there was more space on my bigger breast.

So much space, in fact, that I could fit my whole fist in the space!

😟

I’d say it looks okay from the side, if my breasts were that big.

But they’re not. I’m pulling the fabric. And it actually looks nice– if only I could alter it to look this way.

Another issue with this bra, aside from the cups running so big, is that the side of the bra cuts into my underarms because it’s so high. It’s not the wire that’s high, it’s just the fabric. If the bra actually fit, and I could wear it, this would irritate my skin.

Before I forget, the band on this is very firm.

Curvy Kate bras are supposed to be really good for FOT women. Obviously I’m not FOT, so I can’t really comment on that. But I do feel as though for this particular bra to fit, a woman would almost have to have really round breasts. Like this:

I found this picture online. It is a woman that has just gotten implants. I’m sure this is what people mean when they say ‘cakes on a plate’.

I really wish this bra fit me because it is so beautiful.

Curvy Kate Portia/Princess 28e

Okay. If you’re confused about the title, it’s because this bra is labeled as ‘Portia’, but it’s actually Princess.

As per the CK website

• Princess: soft raised polka dot & floral embroidery with a ribbon slot. Rounded shape.
• Portia: criss cross detailing, ribbon slot & flirty bows.

Once you start looking at the pictures below, you will see that this is not a Portia, as labeled, but Princess. I don’t know of the cut is different or not.

Color: white

The bra: this was sold to me as a used bra, so it’s not as white as it once was– fine with me because I’m going to dye it.

the gore with the bow.

It has the characteristic fuzzy polka dot pattern, floral embroidery and ribbon slot.

Some discoloration on the polka dots

The straps have the same floral embroidery as the top of the cup.

The review: this is a 28e, and I knew there was a chance this bra would be too big or wouldn’t fit. I have a pink CK Princess bra in a sister size (30dd) and it’s too big.

You can see somewhat from the front that it’s too big.

And from an angle

 

But there is some space at the top on my smaller breast.

There’s a good amount of space so the top of the bra, which is why I’m going to alter it later.

The gore tacks, but it is kind of pressing into my sternum.

But for some reason there’s an area at the bottom of the bra on BOTH cups where the wire doesn’t touch my skin. It is where two seams meet, and around the area where the band connects with the wire. No matter how much scooping I do, it’s there. I got this bra used, so it is possible the previous owner(s) bent the wires.

Another issue I have is that on my smaller side, the cup kind of cuts my underarm. Now I’m one of those people that loves side boob to be completely covered, but this is a little too high for me. (Which is a first)

 

The bra does however, look very nice in the profile.

 

This is going to be a keeper. Mainly because I want to dye it and alter it. Plus I got it very cheaply.

Update: I decided to compare the wires. I’m pretty sure these were bent to give some sort of shape for the previous wearer.

The wires of the bra side by side.

When I push in the wires closest to the band. You can see the gore section doesn’t touch.

When I push the wires closest to the gore together.

I dyed the bra purple.

Curvy Kate Princess/Portia + bra extender

So I finally got my bra extenders in the mail. It took almost a month, which is one of time reasons I hate doing intl orders/shipping. I’m impatient, I want my stuff now.

Anyway, I decided to try it out on my CK Portia/Princess hybrid bra, since that was the one I felt was the tightest.

I don’t know if you can see in the picture, but the extender is actually a little wider than the band, however, the actual hook & eyes are at the same spot, so it closes with no issue. It looks funny, not no one is going to see my bra but me.

I put it on the first/tightest setting. The band feels a lot better. Not as tight as before. The cups however, feel looser. There’s space in the cups now.

**compared to before

The gore was pushing in slightly.

The biggest issue I had was that the sides of the cups were rubbing on my skin and irritating me because they were so high.

Hopefully I won’t have to wear the extender with this bra for long, as I liked the fit without it.