Exquisite Form Fully Women's Original Full Support Bra #5100532

Maybe we watched too much "Twilight Zone" on New Year's but ever since I've been coveting a bra to make me look, uh... younger, like the smartly dressed women in the offices. I'm what the ads call "full-figured," so I've been on the hunt for years: always looking for that perfect bra. The closest I've come has been sports bras, and they're not only not always cost-friendly but they also don't give me the shape I desired.When I randomly came across the Exquisite Form Fully Women's Original Support Bra, reasonably priced ($14.00 at time of purchase), I gave it a shot. As in the title of this review, the wearer has to choose between comfort and vanity.Comfort: Little. As it's not spandex, there is almost no "give." It's not as stretchy as the description led me to believe. By the end of the day, it's quite uncomfortable.Vanity: Wow. I haven't been this... I haven't been this close to looking as I had when I was 16 in a VERY long time. The support is VERY good, with nice wide straps that don't dig. You'd never guess it's wire-free.Yeah, it's uncomfortable and no, it's not my new favorite. However, vanity is, as my mom always said, a survival skill. Feeling that we look good makes many of us feel better. Not bad for $14,

I can't understand the reviews that say this bra runs small in the band size, unless maybe the manufacturing has changed. It runs huuuuuge. I had heard that the cup was a full size bigger than normal so I sized down; what I didn't expect was how big the band size is. I'm a 36C in a Doreen and a Playtex 18hr and I kept reading how small the Exquisite band is so I ordered a 38B and it is at least two sizes too big.This isn't like the bras you're going to pick up in the pink chain store in the mall. It fits like the other, er, 'full coverage' 'lift and separate' styles and the proportions are different to fashion bras. There isn't much stretch here (a little in the straps and that's about it) and there is a lot of shape. If you're used to mall bras you may worry about putting out a child's eye with this one. It's the perfect shape for wearing with vintage clothes.

Vintage clothes were cut differently than modern clothes. When wearing modern bras under a vintage dress, one can sometimes end up with little folds of fabric close to the arm seams. However, if what one is wearing is a vintage style bra (like a bullet bra, although this one isn't exactly that. I would say it's closer to 40s styles that to 50s), the darts end at exactly the right spot and the dresses and blouses fit better.Some other reviewers have mentioned that it doesn't have any spandex and it doesn't stretch. It's not meant to! The wide band will provide excellent support and give you a cleaner/smoother line.However, the fabric cup will not mold to the shape of the breast. This is one of those bras that either it fits or it doesn't. If one orders the wrong cup size, one might end up with that wrinkly bit of fabric that looks horrible and deflated. Of course, there's always the option of getting bullet bra pads to fill that little bit of extra fabric.I bought one to try (at this price, I had nothing to lose) and came back for two more. Other friends have also bought them and seem to like them too, but I'll let them write their own reviews.Great price and construction.

This thing is so darling. I normally wear a 38 B. Officially I'm a 36 C, but that doesn't fit me as well. With this bra, since it's not stretchy all the way, I think I can go down a size, the band fit fine, a bit on the loose side.The cups are conical, so they do require "filling" to make it work. Surprisingly, the B cup left some room at the tip, creating a "droopy snoopy booby". I am going to try the A cup, my boobs are more on the snoopyboob shape than round, so a smaller cup might fit me better.The straps are not stretchy, and the "buckle" thingie is plastic.There are mesh panels on the bra. The fabric is "rustling" and soft. Reminds me of old-timey taffeta slips.EDIT: I ordered a cup size and band size smaller. Those work much better. I still need to fiddle and place my girls into the cups. It's quite different than a modern bra, you shape the cup with your boobs, instead of the cup of the bra smushing your boobs into form! These are also surprisingly supportive, I wore this to ballet class under my leotard, when all of my sports bras were in the wash. It was very "The Young Girls of Rochefort". Very chic.This is an interesting bra. It's not perfect for me, the shape and seams leave some wrinkles unless I get my boobs in just right. And if your dress or top is tight, that will smush the cone shape. I had better results with the Bali bra that has an underwire, is more like a modern bra but also gives a cone shape, if not quite as sharp.These kinds of bras make me look skinnier, I feel, and get rid of back muffin tops, too. Work great under anything vintage.