The big question: Did they fit? And were they true 26 bands? The answer is yes!!! They truly were a vast improvement over the 28 bands I have been wearing. It is amazing what a difference going down a band size can make. :-) I had mentioned that I was getting sores/blisters/calluses from where the underwires were rubbing under my breasts, and I am delighted to report that I am no longer getting this irritation from the current, tighter, bras. I think it just goes to show that even a bra that's "almost right, but not quite" can still have big problems. I feel especially sorry for women who get improperly fitted using the add 4 inches method, since I wonder how many of them think they have the right size, but then have the same painful rubbing. As for the improvement in appearance, see for yourself:
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| Comparison of 3 band sizes for you all... click photo to see bigger. |
I ordered 3 styles: Toffik, Black Emerald halfcup, and the nude Strapless bra.
The Black Emerald bra is gorgeous- pictures cannot do it justice. It's the sheer, delicate-looking, beautiful bra that so many big busted girls dream of. It's very low cut- my nipples were actually under the very top edge of the cups (and yes, the cups fit perfectly!) and the line across the cups and center gore is almost completely straight, which has an unusual and flattering look. And yet, with all of this, it offers wonderful support and comfort, I would not hesitate to wear it as an everyday bra under clothes. I am quite enamored with this bra, as you can tell. :-)
The Toffik is a nice, everyday bra. It is slightly padded, (enough for modesty, not for adding size.) The fabric is soft, silky microfiber and the color is sort of a dark nude/caramel beige color. The unusual seams and lace edging give it a sort of retro look. I kind of love about Ewa Michalak that they never make a bra that is just plain- they always have to add some special little detail. However, although the seams and lace are subtle and soft, they would show under especially clingy fabrics. I didn't have too much of a problem with it showing through Biubiu's soft, t-shirt material, however, and I personally wouldn't want to wear anything clingier than that. My only negative about this bra is that it ran a bit large, both in band and cup, compared to the black Emerald- although truthfully it still fit much more snugly and comfortably than 28 bras and so perhaps I should really be saying that the black ran a bit snug in the band- after all, I lean towards a 24 in band size. :-) The Toffik was most secure on the tightest hook, though, and I will order a 50/24 in this style next time.
The strapless was very impressive- I found it to be quite comfortable for a strapless bra and although I wouldn't want to wear it all day, it didn't cut in or rub too much. The cups are made of an odd, very stiff material. This bra had a very strange-looking fit on its own, it seemed almost like the cups were too small, and the bottom of them seemed more hollow. But, under clothes it was great. It gave nice cleavage and shape- something other strapless bras I have tried before failed at miserably. And even when I moved around quite a bit in it, and wore it for several hours, it stayed snug and secure. Although some people told me the strapless ran snug, I didn't find it to be uncomfortably tight, though I don't think I would want to go down a band size in it... it was just perfect.
The only negative to ordering 28 or under bands from Ewa Michalak is that you cannot return them if they do not fit. For this reason, if you need a smaller band size, you may wish to order some bras in the band size 65, just to figure out your correct cup size, and then return them and order special bras with the equivalent cups. A bit of a hassle, and it's a shame you can't just try things on before buying them, but IMHO it's totally worth it to get smaller band sizes if you need them.
If you decide to research Ewa Michalak, you may find that many people seem to think the bands run extremely tight. I find that the bras run fairly true to size, however, compared to brands like Freya, Panache, Fantasie, etc. I have shown this to be true this in the photo below. I recommend taking your usual band size, or maybe one size up in styles like the Black Emerald, which is a bit tighter. If in doubt, though, it is probably better to accidentally order a too-tight bra, and have to use an extender, than it is to order a too-loose one, for which there is no hope.
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| Top: Panache Cleo bra, size 28H. Bottom: Ewa Michalak Denim bra, size 28H (60H) |
Even if you do not need a smaller band size, I highly recommend Ewa Michalak as a brand. The bras are gorgeous and extremely well made- I personally think that they are better constructed than Freya and Panache bras. The bras are also highly affordable if you live in the United States- they run about $30-$40, and shipping is just $10. You can also get matching undies for around $10 a pair, so a set is pretty affordable, especially compared to some of the fancier British brands which can be $80 for a bra and $40 for matching undies!
I really hope this helps those of you that need a smaller band size to feel supported enough, and I hope that the rest of you will consider giving this wonderful brand a try. If you do, I would love to hear from you. :-)
I really hope this helps those of you that need a smaller band size to feel supported enough, and I hope that the rest of you will consider giving this wonderful brand a try. If you do, I would love to hear from you. :-)
