The Bra Inspector

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This month's Bra Inspector is 28 year old textile teacher and mother of two, Chrissi Sharkey. The founder of A Million Jobs To Do, Chrissi is a 36DD and usually wears a full cup slightly padded style of bra, similar to the Figleaves basics bra tested here. For general everyday wear, her normal budget would be about £20 for a bra, but Chrissi would be willing to pay more for something special or for an amazing fit!

Kalyani Charisma Balconette Bra
in Salsa Red
Normally £34
On Special Offer now at Figleaves price £10.20
available in a 28E to a 36G

When I first opened this bra I was pleasantly surprised. I am not usually a fan of red underwear; however this bra managed to be both a stunning colour whilst at the same time, a very classy design.

The embroidery was both pretty and functional as it gave you a little extra coverage which really added to the overall style of the bra.

On paper I had been wary of the velvet edging, but I was really impressed with how this detail finished of the garment and made the bra feel luxurious and expensive.

When I first put on the Kalyani bra I was struck by how small it felt around the body. Of the three bras tested it was definitely the smallest 36DD of the selection. However, throughout the day the bra seemed to adjust to my body shape and I pretty much forgot that I was wearing it. The fit of the actually cups was perfect and, under clothes, I was really pleased with the shape it gave. It provided good lift while at the same time remaining comfortable and I did not need to adjust the bra at all during the day.

Overall I feel the Kalyani bra was a real winner. The bra washed really well and dried quickly due to the mesh design. The bra gave me support, lift and a great natural shape without digging in or requiring adjusting.

It did come in as the most expensive of the three bras I tested, but I defiantly think it was worth the money. I would happily purchase more of these bras in the future. I was really impressed with the bra and would say it was my favourite of the bras I reviewed.

8/10

Normally £34
On Special Offer now at Figleaves price £10.20
available in a 28E to a 36G

Pour Moi? Provence Padded Bra
in chocolate brown
Figleaves price £20

On first look at this bra I was concerned that it was too padded for me and that it would look obvious that I was wearing a padded bra. When I actually tried on the bra I found this was not the case at all. The padding was in just the right place to give a good shape and an added uplift that was pleasing.

I really liked the colour scheme of this bra, the subtle red and white embroidered details worked well with the deep chocolate brown colour of the bra.

I was slightly disappointed by this bra throughout the day. When I first put it on it had felt that it was my favourite of the three. However over time I found the label at the back to be quite scratchy and the underwire began to dig in at the sides. The actual cups needed to be readjusted quite often and I feel if I had not been wearing a fairly tight vest top over the top I could have been in danger of the dreaded ‘four boob’ look which would not have been attractive!

Having said this, the straps are connected to the bra at the front by two elastic cords which allow for a lot more movement so I could probably have afforded to tighten the straps at the back more than I would usually.

Overall, I think with a little practice, this has the potential to be a really nice bra. The shape and lift it gives are really impressive, but as an everyday bra it lacked the comfort I was looking for.

The fact that it was hand wash only and so padded did tend to mean that it took quite a long time to dry, so this could be a draw back if you wanted to wear it again in a hurry.

However this bra would be great for a night out under a tight top to give a little helping hand!

On the down side the decorative bows did fall off within minutes of me putting the bra on, but to be honest this did not detract from the attractiveness of bra at all.

The Pour Moi? bra was the most true to size of the bras I tried and at £20 was a very reasonable price.

6/10
Figleaves price £20
available in a 30B to a 38DD

Figleaves Basics Cotton And Lace Padded Bra
in black and white
Figleaves price £14
available in a 30B to 38E

When I first opened this bra I was struck by how pretty it was. The floral print of the fabric is pleasing without being too fussy, and the lace edging was a really nice feature. The fabric looked soft and comfortable and offered everything I was looking for in an everyday bra.

Of the three bras I tested this was definitely the biggest. I needed to adjust the straps fairly tightly to feel supported. The straps themselves were quite narrow which looked good, but at the same time were not so thin that they cut in or became uncomfortable over time. The cups and band were really soft and you could really forget you were wearing this bra throughout the day.

This bra was perfect for everyday wear. It gave comfort and a good shape under clothing while at the same time was attractive and stylish.

The bra is machine washable which is great for being able to wear it often and dry it fairly quickly.

The only drawback really to this bra is the size, I think I would have been better off with a 36D rather than a DD as it was quite big in the cups and I did have to do the hook fasteners up on the tightest setting to feel secure.

Having said that for £14 this bra was a real bargain and I would be happy to buy it again and again.

7/10

Figleaves price £14
available in a 30B to 38E