The best thing about Freya Ellie? She didn’t fit me.
I promise, I haven’t lost it. Following my adventures with Figleaves Boudoir’s Black Tie, I haven’t decided exclusively to review bras that don’t meet my usually rigorous fitting criteria. I haven’t abandoned my campaign for good fit in a desperate flurry of badly fitting bras and sad, escaping nipples.
Freya Ellie didn’t fit me, because I bought it in a 28GG. And it came up true to size.
28 bras shouldn’t fit me. I measure 29 inches underbust, and have little padding on my ribs (padding is an important point. Often larger women will need to wear band sizes smaller than their ‘true’ underbust measurement, because their body naturally has more give. It’s just another idiosyncrasy about bra fitting – like muscular women often needing to add inches because tight bands can be painful…). Logic tells me that on my body type 28 backs should not be comfortable. And yet – especially with Freya – it’s often a 28 that I need.
Not so with Ellie. She is wonderfully firm in the back – and though the cup volume was perfect there was no escaping that she was unusually-for-Freya tight. On me, that meant that the wires were murder across my ribs – but also it means she’s a cracking purchase for 28-backs desperate for a firmer fit. I love this low front shape of Freya bra (an everyday classic, like Jolie or Lauren) – and I love that she’s available in such a huge range of sizes. She’s amazing.
With so few 28 back options available – and with 26 backed women sized totally out of the mainstream market – it’s essential that 28 means 28. So for once, this is one bra I don’t mind being sized out of. Although there is comfort in that there’s a 30G waiting for me, if I want to adjust for fit.
Freya Ellie is available in sizes 28D-J, 30D-36K, and 38D-J. Hurry though – she’s now usually on sale and vanishing fast…
Busts 4 Justice 
This is interesting, because I felt quite differently about Ellie! I find myself in the awkward location of needing a 26-28 backed bra, and with Ellie I needed to start on the middle hook (whereas a bra like freya’s Lacey I could start on the first hook). And the cups, while they seemed to be the right size, always had some awkward wrinkling at the sides and top. I ended up re-selling mine. A shame since it’s so darn pretty.
This is interesting, because I felt quite differently about Ellie! I find myself in the awkward location of needing a 26-28 backed bra, and with Ellie I needed to start on the middle hook (whereas a bra like Freya Lacey I could start on the first hook). And the cups, while they seemed to be the right size, always had some awkward wrinkling at the sides and top. I ended up re-selling mine. A shame since it’s so darn pretty.
Just goes to show how idiosyncratic boob fitting is – I am both the same and the opposite to you: am between band sizes, but the Lacey was horrible on me: crazy wrinkling and I couldn’t make it work. A pity, because I loved it.
Damn, you’ve got me scared. I’ve been fantasizing over this bra for months and have finally ordered it after reading only good things about it and that the cup size was generous. Your title got me going “ohhhh no!”
Yikes! Let me know if it works. Maybe it’s a boob shape thing? *clutches straws wildly* 🙂 x
I adore my Ellie bra, and you’re right that the band does feel nice and firm. I like how the design in the front is a little more v-shaped, which is fantastic when all you see in the GG+ cup sizes is straight across balcony bras. Plus, that print is just gorgeous!
Oh this is super useful to know. I’ve been admiring Ellie from afar and love it a whole lot. But I’m a large 34 band. However, given I measure 35ish and wear 34s and am squishy, I might be able to do it.
Freya is definitely a favorite bra brand for our readers. They fit women with fuller cup sizes magnificently!
Yes I have a couple Freya and they tend to fit a little snug, which is quite the opposite of what you were saying. I guess every style is different.
Third, if you have to readjust your boobs a lot throughout the day, that’s a sign that something may be amiss with your size. Ideally, a well-fitting bra should stay more or less in place—you shouldn’t feel like you are constantly tucking and pulling. If you are, you may need to reevaluate what size you should wear. It could be that you need to change your cup size, or it could be that you need to wear a tighter band.