When I tried Curvy Kate's Portia bra last time, I was dissatisfied with the shape it gave and how much of my chest it covered. But since I had tried it in a 28JJ and 28K, I decided to have a go at a few smaller sizes. I ordered a 28J, my regular Curvy Kate size, and also a 28HH since the Portia is more stretchy than the Angel or Princess bras.
The difference between the two sizes was startling and hilarious. One friend who saw the difference suggested that this image should be put up on the wall of lingerie fitting rooms everywhere! What a difference a cup size makes!
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| Left, 28HH, Right, 28J |
The 28HH was much too small, but the 28J was a good fit on me, so I guess Curvy Kate is right when they suggest that most people can wear the same size across the board in all their styles—the more I try their bras, the more I realize it’s mostly true. (I still ought to size up in the Angel, but I don’t HAVE to, and the Princess runs a little smaller too.)
The Portia has more of a V-neck appearance from the front, especially compared to the Cleo Lucy that I got around the same time. So the center gores are about the same, but the Portia has more fabric coming up across the boobs. This bothers me less and less as I get more used to my boobs, but as little as a few months ago, this extra fabric would have been the bane of my existence, so if you dislike “a lot of bra”, Panache is still a better bet than Curvy Kate:
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| Curvy Kate Portia versus... |
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| ...Cleo Lucy. |
I also found the shape couldn’t beat my Cleo bras.
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| Curvy Kate Portia versus... |
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| ...Cleo Lucy. |
The Portia gives a fairly rounded shape, but doesn't lift as much as the Lucy, and more of the weight is remaining at the bottom of the bra--you can see how the Portia's cup hangs over the underwire the tiniest bit. But it isn't an awful or embarrassing shape, quite decent really, and the bra itself is beautiful, a lot more attractive than my white Cleo Lucy, and much prettier than the Portia in black.
I think the third photo is the best evidence of both my likes and dislikes regarding this bra. You can really see the pretty colors and delicate embroidery, and the thin but well-made straps. But you can also see how large the upper section looks, and how the bra isn't lifting as much as I'd like. I wasn’t exactly blown away by this bra, but now that I’ve found my correct size, I want to withdraw the negative review I gave the Portia before. Now I’d say, if you like Curvy Kate bras or want to give them a try, this is one of the prettier ones. It's worth a shot if you like the look of it.
This post makes me want to try the Cleo Lucy!
ReplyDeleteBased on my experience with the Portia, I think I'd need a 28HH or so rather than my usual 28GG (which was FAR too small in the cup). I do want to give it another try one of these days.
Well, the Lucy is a good one! There are a lot of the pink ones lurking around eBay...
DeleteI'm fascinated by the fact that you would need to size up in the Portia! Was that compared to other Curvy Kate bras, or different brands? For me it ran bigger than some of the other CK bras I tried. I wonder if it has something to do with the cup shape.
I had a few brief blog entries a little while back about the CK bras I decided to try... I'm generally a 28GG in other bras.
DeleteBasically, the Showgirl line (Tease Me, etc) for CK is too big in the band for me (I would need a 26HH-J or so), the Angel gave me a spread-out shape and was too small in the cup in a 28GG, and the Portia was MUCH too small in the cup for me in a 28GG. I may be willing to try the Portia again in a 28HH or so. I wonder if it may be because of cup/ breast shape too...
Reading your post and seeing the difference between the two cup sizes, I really wish there was some general rule to see if you need to go up one or two cup sizes when you're sporting a quadraboob... Because just looking at your picture I would guess 2 but then just 1 worked. I guess the best professional fitters would know just by looking, though?
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I was stunned at the difference between them. I really think the best thing to do is keep sizing up until something is CLEARLY too big. The JJ I tried in this did feel a little too big, but I could have still worn it--it felt like much less of a difference than between the too-small HH and the just-right J. I guess it just comes down to a too-small cup being much more problematic than one that's too big.
DeleteYour blog is very educational. I wish more U.S. ladies knew about correct sizing.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! It really frustrates me too that there is so little knowledge in the US. Even though I tell lots of people that there are smaller back sizes and bigger cup sizes being made, most people still don't believe they could need those sizes. It seems like it would be so easy to make this information go viral--Oprah helped a little by doing a feature on it several years ago, but once again, people probably won't accept the information until the sizes are actually more widely available, but then companies don't make them yet because there isn't the demand yet. It really is a shame.
DeleteI lived in the UK for 3 years, but I was thinner & assumed loose bands meant more comfort, & I could still make a 36DD work - though I should have been in a 34E/F. So I took for granted all the higher cup sizes & just picked up the same 36DD's at Marks & Sparks. Fast-forward 20 years, & I'm a 38FF/G & living in the US - Alaska, no less - & realizing DD is the end of the alphabet here. And I have an eBay bra collection so huge I've had to file them like CD's in long baskets in my closet.
ReplyDeleteI think all the lingerie bloggers should band together & lead a bra-vacation to the UK. We could pile into a coach & tour (storm) Bravissimo & Debenhams, make an excursion to go meet Ewa Michalak. =o)
I second that! I lived in the UK for 6 years and nothing beats their bra fittings and availability of pretty larger cup-sized bras.
DeleteIs the Cleo Lucy bra really sparkly in real life like your photo suggests?
ReplyDeleteHaha, not really. The embroidery on it just has a satiny smoothness that catches the light with a flash photo.
DeleteWhere do you usually buy your large size bras? I'm quite interested. You have really nice collection.
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