Thursday, July 26, 2012

It's All Structural

Ah, the joys of renovation. The project has hit a couple of snags in the last 24 hours. I'm not going to talk about them because a) they stress me out all to shit and b) it's really important not to over react. Every human being who's ever undertaken a structural reno says (s)he hits some pretty piquant moments. Thing is, those moments often disappear as quickly as they arrive. So I've decided to just truck along, structural reno veteran-in-the-making. Is there a t-shirt for that?

As luck would have it, I arrived home to a little present from Figleaves on the porch. Note: It was a present from me, to me, via Figleaves. They didn't comp me anything.

You know how I love to try out new brands and how this blog makes me feel like I'm not so much supporting a habit as performing a public service? Well, I've noted the house brand "Midnight Grace" for quite a while, and I've often wondered how the product would wear.

For starters, Midnight Grace is a stupid name. What is it with brands and their stupid names these days??

Specifically, I went on the site to find something inexpensive. Often, people ask me for lingerie advice and I direct them to brands I love, but which might not be in the optimal price range. This time, I went looking for cheap (price-wise only, natch), and this is what I found:


Midnight Grace Posy Non-padded Plunge Bra and Shorts
Who doesn't like a nice floral print?

I chose it because a) it seemed easy to wear under things b) was cute c) seemed supportive and d) it cost (on sale, and that sale continues) £8.40 for the bra and £4.80 for the undies. Including shipping, this whole thing cost me under 40 bucks CDN. You can't find a set at Target for that price.

So, what do I think?

For starters, I've been buying up 1 cup size lately. I'm experimenting in light of changing breast volume and shape, but I've found that, when one buys a new brand in a new size, everything's a surprise.

I would say, just from my minimal experience of this one style of bra, that it fits small in both cup and band. I'm glad I went up a size, though it's a bit roomy in the upper cups for me. The gore sits perfectly flush with my breastbone and the wires are the right size to encase the fullness and deepness of my breasts. I suggest this style is good for someone with upper bust volume and breasts that aren't too closely set. It does seem to separate the breasts quite a bit, which gives a flatter profile (not my fave). This bra does not promote cleavage (not something I particularly care about attaining in every bra).

The fabric is not luxe, nor is it yucky. On this front, I think you get what you pay for. If I'd bought this at full price, I'd be satisfied by the fabric quality, but not impressed.

Where this falls down, no pun intended, is on supportiveness. Don't get me wrong, it's not a disaster. I can totally wear this thing, though I wonder how often I will, in light of the exquisite and sizable cache I already own. I just think it would be better on a younger, not-so-dense bust. In this respect it has a Panache Cleo quality - really pretty to look at, but not so well engineered, at least not for heavy breasts. I sense the brand is catering to a youth market in that the cups are very sheer (and as such, not so strong, though my Miss Mandalay bra is just a sheer and much more supportive. Note, the Mandalay bra has really grown on me. What I've learned, in my travels, is that younger, proportionately full-busted purchasers are very dismayed when they buy bras online, only to find that those bras - in their size - are made differently than the photos which initially enticed the purchase i.e. with wider straps or underlayers of fabric etc., to improve structural support.)

The undies fit nicely. They're true to size, IMO. Note that I do not have a particularly large derriere or hips. The waistband sits just below the navel for a look that flatters a stomach that's not quite flat. For what it's worth, I don't think the photo above does them justice. I don't think they flatter the proportionately thick upper legs of the model shown and I think, for the pic, they should have sized up.


Would I buy this brand again? No - I can afford better and I value quality and support. In truth, as I've said many times, I'd go without many things for luxe lingerie. It more than pays for itself. For optimal design / value / cost ratio, I maintain that that you cannot do better than Freya (if you have a proportionately large chest and narrow frame).

Would I recommend this brand for those who don't want to or can't spend a lot, but who need a "larger" cup size and cute design? Yes, if the woman were slim(ish), young(ish) and not in need of too much support.

If nothing else, it's taken my mind off third floor renos. Has anyone tried this brand? Thoughts or feelings?

16 comments:

  1. Too bad the fit isn't perfect because the floral print sure is nice! Oh well, at least it's a distraction as you say :-)

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    1. I don't know that any distraction is enough at this point.

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  2. I haven't tried (or heard of) this brand. Most of my bras are bought from Bravissimo - even though they are on the opposite side of the planet, it's still cheaper than sourcing the same brands locally.

    It's so critical to have underwear that does what you want, especially for fuller breasts. I find that Freya bras put me in the shape and direction I want to go... but everyone is shaped differently.

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    1. So true about how the bras manage to be less expensive, despite the shipping fees. And fortunately, there are so many online choices - it's democratic for all the breast shapes!

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  3. This is such a great review and really informative! I work at a bra boutique and defiantly agree that the Freya line is perfect for narrow frame/large bust women. As a heavier frame/heavier bust woman I've had success with the Elomi and Goddess lines (both have a good collection of cup sizes).

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    1. Thanks so much Renae! You know, I've seen a number of the Goddess and Elomi offerings and heard many great things about Elomi, specifically. Goddess does some awesome long line options. I bought one once in the wrong size, just to be able to try it! (Since then Freya and Panache have reintroduced the style for my shape.)

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  4. I just recently entered the world of getting a real bra fitting and it has changed my life. I credit you & a couple other people for making me get out of my 34 bands & into better-fitting 32s & 30s. So thank you for that.

    I love matching bra+panty sets, and I can't wait until I'm financially in the position to afford them again :) Until then - I enjoy living vicariously through your bra posts haha.

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    1. Oh, I'm happy to be implicated!! You know, for you, I do think this bra would work. You're the target market (young, narrow-framed, slender). And the price is seriously right for ladies having to be fiscally prudent.

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  5. We suffered through the (major) reno from hell -- seriously, roof still not done months after promised so house filled w. snow and we had to rent expensive heaters and fans for weeks to dry it out! -- and now, it's just a memory, sometimes a good party anecdote. Your attitude is a wise one, and/but I hope you don't have to distract yourself to the tune of too many sets of lingerie. . . .

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    1. Egad. I can't get into what's going on right now without hyperventilating. It's a stressful weekend here but I'm trying to practice renovation brahmacharya. I've committed to this life experience and I intend to learn from it. I may have to pull out the big guns and go window shopping. Gotta get out of this house - and this head space.

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  6. In the very last days of our 2005 reno our electrician accidentally bumped a piece of our kitchen granite during its critical 24 hour setting phase. He claimed it must have shifted in an earthquake but there was no earthquake. And so, until the end of our days living here, there's a gap between the right side of our range and the granite that gets wider towards the wall. When it first happened, I felt homicidal. The error is less than a 1/4 inch in total but the line isn't straight and that's what freaked me out. Now it hardly matters, we just have to be careful about food spills. I can't believe I ever got upset about a slightly crooked line.

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    1. Really?! He tried to blame it on an earthquake?? I know I have to keep some perspective, and I intend (once things settle down) to get a lot of blog mileage out of this reno!

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  7. For the body type you describe, have you tried the Paramour brand? It fits me perfect, and is not terribly expensive... not totally cheap, but seriously great fit.

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    1. I haven't. I'm off to look it up. I actually don't recall having seen this brand before...

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  8. So... what you're saying is, if I bought that bra in my size, it might actually look like that?

    I've been recently burned by online bra shopping. I really, really wish that there was a massive bra store here that just carried everything so I could try it on. (I also, FWIW, wish that these stores were set up like a LaSenza where I could sort through styles and sizes myself. I understand proper bra sizing and I don't need my choices to be filtered through a salesperson. I always feel like there are styles being withheld from me. Meh.)

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    1. Well, with this one, I really urge going up a back size for you. It's super tight, even by my standards :-)

      And I am totally with you on the bra store for trying everything on. Mind you, I'd still be inclined to take my changes online (at least half the time) because of the potential savings and the surprise factor.

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