Saturday 25 October 2014

What I wore: Bravissimo review

Note: I've recently decided to remove the photograph I originally used on this post - of me wearing the underwear. I still think it's important that I included it (for reasons I wrote about here) but as a teacher of web-savvy teenagers, I have to be careful about what content I share online and after some reflection, the photo felt like a step too far.

Inside the new Leicester store, on Market Street

I wrote recently about how Bravissimo changed my life. It may have sounded hyperbolic, but having a company making well-structured, well-fitting, pretty underwear at a decent price point is genuinely a miracle for those of us with big boobs. I honestly don't think it's a coincidence that I began to feel a hell of a lot better about my chubby, huge-boobed body around the time I bought my first Bravissimo bra.

Go into a Bravissimo shop anywhere in the country and I guarantee the customer service you receive will be top-notch: I've visited stores from London to Glasgow, and everywhere in between, and never once felt let down. Their staff are knowledgeable, friendly and make shopping there an absolute pleasure. 

That's why, when I discovered that a new shop was opening in Leicester, I quite literally screamed with glee (it's true: you can ask The Boy). And when the Bravissimo press office offered to make me an appointment to visit the store, my joy was unbounded. My fitting was lots of fun, mainly because my fitter, Anna, was so great. All staff are trained to fit by sight and feel, rather than relying on a tape measure. This means you can be sure your chosen bra will fit perfectly, as each bra varies and what you think is 'your' size may not be the best fit in a different style. Standing around in your underwear could be an embarrassing experience but every fitting I've had at Bravissimo has been friendly and relaxed, and this one was no exception.

When it came time to choose just one set of underwear, I was torn. I loved the bright print of the Cherry Blossom bra but I have so many cheerful, fun bras (thanks, of course, to Bravissimo). What was really missing from my collection was a seriously sexy set. And so, after much deliberation, I plumped for the Mademoiselle half-cup bra set in navy.



The quality of all Bravissimo bras is excellent. The structure and engineering of the cups and straps takes into account the weight and size they'll need to support in a way which supermarket or high street +size bras just don't. But the Mademoiselle set is really something special. The dusky pink colour underlay feels silky against my skin and the navy lace is gorgeously soft. The detailing on the set is beautiful, with ribbing and detailed embroidery that is reminiscent of upmarket lingerie from Agent Provocateur or Rigby & Peller. My absolute favourite detail is the tiny pink ribbon rosebuds that decorate the bra straps and the back of the shorts.

I'm not at all used to wearing half-cup bras and suspect this one will be kept for special occasions rather than everyday wear, as I feel more exposed that I'm used to. But for the price -  £32 for the bra and £16 for the shorts - the Mademoiselle set is incredible value: high quality, beautifully designed lingerie with fantastic attention to detail, and all for a fraction of the price of an Agent Provocateur set. 

Bravissimo sell lingerie from D to L cups, and fittings are free (although you will need to make an appointment). 

I was gifted the bra and shorts set by Bravissimo in exchange for an honest review: all opinions are my own.

14 comments:

  1. I know I said before but I also share your enthusiasm for Bravissimo. There's no way I'd have ever found decent swimwear for all these years if it wasn't for them, seriously. Love the set you chose and love that you DID include the photo of you in your pants (looking forward to reading the post about that soon). Thanks for writing a sponsored post that was heartfelt and honest rather than superficial and completely irrelevant to you as a person haha xx

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    1. Thanks! Yep Bravissimo really are the best, their swimwear is ace (no chance I could ever swim in a suit that didn't have underwired support, and I've never found anything that fits anywhere else).

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  2. Good on you for including the photo, it looks great. Really glad to hear that there is such good underwear for s larger bust! X

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  3. I love the set you chose. I really need to get down to Bravissimo soon but worry that my recent medication based weight loss might have slimmed me out of their sizing which would be a real shame!

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    1. I'd be genuinely gutted if I was ever not able to fit into their bras. They might be a bit pricier than other high street brands, but the quality is so good and they're always comfortable.

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  4. Ooh they are lovely! All I ever wear are nude coloured t-shirt bras, I need to up my game!

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    1. I've really improved my bra game recently. I definitely used to be the nude/black t-shirt bra person, but I really enjoy wearing nicer stuff now.

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  5. I've never really been because I'm a bit a non-boob person. But they always look such inviting stores.

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    1. I'm really not exaggerating when I say how friendly every store is. I love them!

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  6. I wish the had international stores (especially in NZ) as I have had one swimsuit and a few of the sleeping tops but I am reluctant to buy bras without being able to try them on - larger bust bras in NZ are hard to come by (there is 3 brands stocked nationwide that I know of that make larger than an E cup) and stupidly expensive (upwards of $85) so I am positively envious of this wonderful fitting experience you've had!! You look stunning and that set is gorgeous!

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    1. They have trained phone fitters, call and talk to them ;-) i used to work for my local store and their phone fitters are fab

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    2. I didn't know about the telephone fitters - that's pretty cool!

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  7. We don't have this brand in Spain, but I've heard nothing but good things about them. The next time I'm in the UK I will explore. I wear a 36D and my to-go bra brand is Triumph, they have a model that fits just perfectly.

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