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Parfait Charlotte Balconette: The Verdict
Just received my 30G Parfait By Affinitas Charlotte Balconet Bra (6931), after having to send back a 32FF for being too loose in the band. (I could very easily pull the the 32FF's band four or five inches away from my back and it rode up even on the tightest hooks. I only ordered it in a 32 because I try 32 first in bras that truly run tight, such as unlined Cleos.)
The 30G fits perfectly, in all its wide-winged, tall-wired glory! (I'm really hoping no one ever convinces the manufacturer to lower the wires/wings on the 6931, since some of us need super-tall wires and very wide wings, and bras like that are extremely hard to find — and getting harder to find every day, it seems.)
Note: I'm talking strictly about the balconette version, not the Parfait By Affinitas Charlotte (6901) plunge, which I haven't yet tried (but intend to try soon).
My conclusions:
• The Charlotte balconette lives up to its reputation of running a cup size small.
• However, I did not find that it runs tight in the band.
Both the 32 band and the 30 band fitted true to size. The 32FF was clearly too loose; the 30G fits just right on the loosest hooks, nicely firm and passing all fit tests. So I am puzzled that this bra is said to run a band size small. (Could a too-tight feeling be related to sensations caused by the unusual wideness of the wings and band? Perhaps it truly does fit differently outside of my medium-ish band/medium-ish cup range?)
• I would suggest sticking with your usual true-to-size band size (unless you prefer loose bands) and ordering one cup size up. YMMV, of course.
Filed under Bra sizing and fit
12 comments
Tall-wing-high-side sister, here! At this point, Parfait is my best-fitting, favorite line. I can wear different styles from Parfait and they all fit reasonably well!
I have both the balconette and padded Charlotte bras in size 30DD and except for the fabric these bras are completely different. The balconette is like a moulded bandeau for me, and I totally agree, the cups run super, super small. Honestly I think it's more than a cup size small, but I have wide roots, so the shape of the cups isn't ideal for me anyways. I also have a Parfait Tamara, which is quite similar to the Charlotte balconette in its cut. I bought a 30E, and it's a little large in the cups, but it's definitely not as large on me as the 30DD Charlotte is small on me. I can wear it without push-up pads, but with a bit of push up it's a "va-va voomer". Perhaps very firm breasts can wear these styles with small cups and get uplift...On me the small cups make my quadboobs get quadboobs.
I LOVE the Charlotte padded bra...so much that I wear it for an "everyday" bra all the time. (I'm wearing it now in fact, under a t-shirt!) The side-support on the Charlotte is fantastic, and the tall sides are exactly what I wish more bras would have. As far as I can tell the regular Charlotte is basically "true to size", plus the straps are fully adjustable. I have a Parfait Fiona in a 30DD that is a similar shape to Charlotte, but Fiona's cups are taller and stiffer and the straps don't adjust short enough. Charlotte wins for comfort and prettiness, hands down. I hope you get to try it soon - I think you'll love it! :-)
Thanks, ShaniSunAZ. I'll try my usual 30FF in when I order the 6901.
The 6931 in one cup size up seems to agree well with my even fullness, average projection, wide-ish roots, and fairly firm tissue.
I think people who are quite FOT might very well need to go up two cup sizes rather than one in the 6931, assuming they can get its shape to work for them at all.
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