Guess
it’s time to close the loop on the online lingerie purchase disaster of
2012. It doesn’t end well, but I’m officially done.
The Fantasie Smoothing Balconette bra arrived – it’s the right model – but the size is
off. Based on the horrifying
bigness of the full-cup version (see post linked to in the para above), I opted to order the balconette
version (purchased many times in the past) one
size smaller in the cup, and one size smaller in the band, than that which I
usually wear.
Though that's worked before, this one is too small, if just barely. What I mean is that it fits in the cup but the back is leaning
towards too tight and it pushes the flesh up under my arms and at
the side of the bra. To
qualify – the underwire fits and the cups fit, there’s just not quite
enough corollary fabric at the side band. It will probably stretch and be just fine. Or maybe it won't. I don't care.
I’d cry from frustration if this weren’t sort of funny.
I’m
not returning it. I’ve already spent twice the amount the bra
cost on shipping alone (6 returns?!). At least now I know for sure what
size to order in this bra should that occasion ever recur. Note to self: Write it the fuck
down. Along with the
model number (vis a vis this wise comment).
I’m
changing gears. Next time I order bras – when discretionary spending is back on the table - it will be to test for a new basic. (Pls. recall that I intend to write about the process, it just hasn’t fully come
together.)
Point is, I had a hideous online shopping experience but I'm happy to move on. I mean, it's the only one that's ever fit that description. I won't let it deter me in the future.
Posts
The Sophisticated Pair website says the Fantasie 4520 is available in 30E, 30FF, 30G, 32F, 32FF, 32G, 34E, 34F, 34FF, 34G, 36G, 38G. However, Erica, the owner, said they generally have more sizes than the website reflects. They may be on sale because they won't be carrying this in the future. This isn't because the model's been discontinued but because it's not as easy to fit as some bras. The puckering issue you mentioned apparently puts customers off it.
ReplyDeleteI got it myself in 30F, and it fits okay. I really like that it's not padded and that it's seam-free. There is some wrinkling at the top of the cups if I don't stand absolutely straight. The cups are a little too tall for me, I think. This may be because I'm quite petite. I may alter the bra slightly or wait to see if my size changes again. It's amazing what wearing the correct bra size for a year will do to your boobs.
Anyway, you may be able to get the band size you actually want from Erica.
Hi Erica: I actually could have got the larger band size. Figleaves had all the sizes. It's just that the sizing on the bra (in light of a complex chain of events I've written about over the past month or so) led me to believe I should go down in the back size. I've bought this bra many times so I'm quite familiar with the wrinkle. However, this is the first time it's occurred to me that maybe it's there because the cups are long. Good insight!
DeleteKristin, you have showed a lot of patience and perseverance with this shopping episode... I'd have given up at 2 return! Too bad it didn't end well.
ReplyDeleteUsually, so would I. But this whole thing had such a bizarre and dramatic element, that I had to see it through :-)
DeleteWell, I don't know if this will make you feel any better, but your description of this online shopping experience has actually inspired me to give the whole experience a try--so there!
ReplyDeleteYou've convinced me that Figleaves really tries to make it a good experience and that, mostly, it turns out well. And the prices mean that I can buy a couple of bras for the price that I paid for a single one at your former bra store (which shall not be named!)
I've ordered the Fantasie 4520 in my regular size because I've been searching for a basic unpadded bra for my T-shirts. And I fell in love with the Gem, so in it went as well, plus another color of a bra that I already own that was on sale.
Sometimes knowing the dark side is important; it made me realize that I could handle it if things didn't work out, but, if things work out, I'm going to be sold on this way of bra shopping forever!
If this experience has given you the inspiration to online shop for bras, you are a very nervy woman, Marilyn! :-) Seriously, though, I am thrilled if the series gave you confidence to give it a go. I have generally had entirely stress-free shipping and sizing. I hope that the Fantasie fits you. It's a fussy one on some frames, but if it works, it's truly excellent. Don't be dismayed if it doesn't. It's a tricky fit. You chose another tricky fit, IMO, in the Gem. I hope you ordered a cup and back size lower than what you usually wear because I can assure you that it fits large.
DeleteHaving said this, if the sizing doesn't work - and sometimes that happens - you'll have enough info to order again in the right sizes (or to return with the knowledge that that style just isn't for you). It's extremely rare to have the kind of sizing and shipping bizarreness that I had.
Remember, Figleaves has good customer service. So you can feel relaxed.
PS: I so hope your first purchase works perfectly because that's SO fun. And addicting. :-)
I think it hearing about how you coped with all that could go wrong that reassured me. If you could handle it, so my thinking went, then what was holding me back. And I did take your advice regarding sizing down on the Gem so we'll see what happens.
DeleteGlad to hear about the Gem. Let us know how it goes.
DeleteWhew! I've had some trouble with finding bras too, but that probably has a lot to do with inexperience about my size and what suits me. To think that you had trouble and don't have that inexperience.....! Anyway, glad you stuck it out, I would have given up after the first couple of returns and tried something else for a while.
ReplyDeleteYeah - but this was totally weird for so many reasons out of my control. Some of it was just human error. Some of it was my body changing in size and shape over that time frame. Some was bizarre fitting bras. It was an unholy convergence :-)
DeleteYou are a real trouper with this, 6 returns? Ouch. I am glad you ran the series, it gave me the push to do something about the sad state of my bra collection.
ReplyDeleteI really am! :-) The series is entirely valid, despite my ridiculous experience. It would have been much more inspiring if I had my usual good experience, but you can't have everything. At least you got my honesty!
DeleteOOh, I'm so sorry this was a disaster! I'm willing to bet that most women would have declared that it fit or was good enough sometime before version 4. But good for you for insisting on correct fitting bras.
ReplyDeleteRemember that many of the returns were on account of having received the wrong bra twice - in the wrong size. So there was no pretending there :-) But, as you can see, at this point, with this bra, the fit is good enough.
DeleteGlad to have helped! It takes me awhile to figure out if a certain purchase really works for me, but unfortunately, by the time I feel that I've had it long enough to judge it on utility/hardiness/etc., it's long gone from stores! Since last year, I've been tracking all my clothing purchases (and removals) in a spreadsheet so it's a handy place to put in the style numbers exactly, because I've discovered that a good system for something that might be hard to find is to set up a saved search in eBay for the brand + style number + my size + any price thresholds. That way, I'll get an email if it actually does get listed, even if I can't buy it from stores anymore at the price that I want.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very smart idea but I just don't have the will for it right now. I'm sure you will gain many times over from having written everything down.
DeleteOh one more thing--just wanted to also add that the reason I've been lurking around this week in particular is I finally decided that I have HAD IT with the bras I have that don't fit well anymore and scheduled two different bra fitting appointments, where I hope to try on the Fantasie 4520. I've only ever really worn molded bras and you've convinced to try some with seams or no padding :) I think if I find ones that fit, I'll at most buy just one of each style and see how they actually wear in real life--I find that sometimes it's fine in the fitting room but starts digging in uncomfortably after a few hours.
ReplyDeleteThat's very true - and more so for some than for others. I find that if a bra fits, it continues to fit for the entire day. My mother gets fussy after a couple of hours until she's totally broken it in. I think some are more sensitive.
DeleteHave any of y'all put your bra measurements into bratabase.com? The more data, the easier it is for the rest of us to have better online experiences. My experiences have been more like K.line's and I'd like to have a better experience too!
ReplyDeleteI've joined it but I haven't had a chance to enter in the info. I do think it's a great resource for lots of people.
DeleteArgie - just to clarify, in case you didn't read the many posts associated with this one, I generally have really good experiences with online bra shopping (after years of buying in bricks and mortar shops and really knowing my size). This was an anomaly. Just want to make sure everyone realizes this.
K-line
ReplyDeleteYes, but so many of your readers haven't had such a wonderful experience. And we're jealous that you have.