I read the first review on this bra and thought the lady was being a little picky about it, so I went ahead and ordered the bra in a 40C. I really, truly love front opening bras the best. They are the most confortable to me and the easiest to get on. I never was adept enough to close one from the back, so I have to put it on backwards and then twirl it to the front if it is a back hooking bra. So, I really do prefer the front opening. I had to look at this one to see how it worked, which is true of any front opener...you have to get the gist of how it works...and once I got that part figured out, it closed just fine. The little rhinestones are cute. Do not know how long they'll stay put, but to me it is no issue. There, or not there, or partly there, the rhinestones are fun.
The straps are fine and caused no itching; in fact, the bra is pleasantly smooth and there is no itching any where.
I got the color that is tan, I am not sure what they use for their color terminology: Ah...Nude. It is a fine color. The "Real Underwear" people who tell us what color our underwear should be...you know/ the great "they" in the underwear world...say that white is for sissies and real people wear nude/tan colors. I did wear it under white the first time I wore it and it was fine. If I had had on a see'thru white, then a white bra would have been essential, but then that is true of all colors...so I guess we are supposed to have a color for every outfit...but "they" will just have to gasp and look askance because nude/beige/tan or white are the colors I generally go for in the workaday world. This nude is just fine in the color department.
I was really looking for a T'Shirt bra and this seems to be just the thing. It is a little confusing because the if you look at the examples of the diffent colors of the bra, it looks like they are selling a different bra in every color. For instance, the white bra shown looks like your usual every day bra and the black one looks like it belongs under a jogging outfit, while the nude one, indeed, looks like a T-shirt bra. And that is what I got, a T-shirt bra. It lifts the breasts and makes them rounder and bouncier than they normally are, which is a good look in a t-shirt. I tried on a t-shirt just to be certain of that. But, on the other hand, it makes them look a little smaller than normal. Since I am only a C cup, that part wasn't too exciting, but I think it is just a function of the bra type. The bra is actually doing the job it was designed to do...look smooth under a t-shirt.
The cups. The cups are moulded. There is padding at the outside, bottom of the bra cup that is about 1/4 inch thick and decreases in thickness as it comes up and around the cup so that there is much less padding, about 1/8 inch at the top and inner portion of the cup. The cups do not have the little flower to keep your nipple from showing, but with and eigth inch of padding, I am not sure it would anyway.
The straps are regular elastic with approximately 3 inch of length in them to let you find your correct length. That seems to be sufficient. The straps are thin and not thick like the ones in heavier duty bras. Thin..like the ones for T-shirt bras, but not so fancy that you have two straps on each side. Just one strap per side.
For a twenty dollar bar, it seems to have all its ducks in a row EXCEPT for one little problem...with mine:
On me THIS 40C is just too small. It seems to be too small in ALL areas. The strap under the bra is about a fourth to half an inch too short. The cups are just a hair's breadth within being big enough, but not quite. The boobs are falling over the cup. The straps are about a half inch too short. The whole thing is a very well proportioned, "too small" item.
I am not sure what I shall do. I will have to ask Amazon if it can go back. I am pretty sure it can as I have only had it two days, but they cannot resell it as I have worn it. Well, that will have to be their problem. I will look and see if a 42C is available. If it is, it should fit. Like I tried to point out. The overall bra is well proportioned. On me, it is just too small all over. Well, some bras fit and some don't. We all have dealt with that. This one just does not do the trick.
So, keep my review in mind on the fit and whatever other ones roll in and hopefully, it will help you decide if this is the right bra for you. I have been professionally measured at a 40C, so I have that on my side and almost all 40's fit. Most C's fit. Some too large, some too small. Bra straps always fit. This is the first that has not.
Well, enough. Hope his helps you. Getting bras can just be a hassle. That is just the way of life I guess. Good shopping to you.