Tag Archives: Basic Beauty

Product Review: Wacoal Basic Beauty

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Hello Hello,

I haven’t posted any blogs in a while since I’ve been super busy with work lately, but I wanted to take time this week to review the Wacoal Basic Beauty:

Sizing and Fit:  Since Wacoal tends to cut tighter in the band than the usual UK styles, I opted for the 34DDD, which fit perfectly.  Nice and snug band that wrapped around my side pulling in all the side boob/fat for one smooth look.  The cups were spot on too with no gaping or spilling, but they are a bit on the full coverage, even minimizing, side.  However, the neckline is v-shaped and pretty open.

Materials:  The Basic Beauty uses this wonderful fabric on the cups that feels sooooo nice against the skin.  This is the second Wacoal bra I’ve tried, and I have to admit they really pay attention to the kind of materials they use on the cup to keep everything comfortable.  I also love how the wings are stretchy so they really pull in and smooth the sides and back.  Finally, the 3 hook-and-eye closures give awesome support.

Design:  Okay, so the Basic Beauty is more basic than beauty even in the pretty pink color.  The embroidery along the cup and wings is okay, but we’re not talking a fashion style here (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing).  However, the design really makes up for it because the bra has straps set closer to the hook-and-eye closures so they sit further from the ends of your shoulders and closer to your neck.  It’s perfect for women with narrow shoulders or for women who need a break from where the standard bras usually sit.  Also, love that the bra is bandless so that there isn’t a whole lot of material extending onto the stomach.

Other Comments:  At $48, you can’t really beat the price, especially for a wear-under-everything-everyday kind of bra.

Grade:  A

Reader Question: Bras and Narrow Shoulders

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I have a bigger bust but my shoulders are so narrow that even being in the right size bra doesn’t always stop the straps from slipping off my shoulders.  What should I do to fix this? – Denise

Hi Denise!  Unfortunately, many manufacturers assume that women with bigger busts also have the big shoulders to match, which means finding a style that suits a narrower build can be a struggle.  One way to solve this problem is to look for bras that place the straps closer to the hook-and-eye closures in the back, such as the new Fantasie Esme or the Wacoal Basic Beauty:

These bras are designed to pull the straps closer to the neck, which can be a lifesaver for women with narrow shoulders.  To expand your options beyond these two styles, you can also use a clip (like this one) to convert a regular bra into a racer back, which pulls the straps away from the shoulders to prevent slippage.

Finally, most true balcony bras have straps set further apart; as a result, you may want to either avoid these styles altogether or use the racer back converter.  However, many plunge bras often have straps pulled in closer to the neck, which could work beautifully for your frame.  Look for designs that have a V-shape in the front since this will typically indicate that the straps are inset and have less risk of falling off your shoulder.  But remember:  Plunge bras come in varying levels of coverage, so don’t be dissuaded from trying the style for fear that it won’t be supportive enough or will give you too much cleavage.  In fact, the Fantasie Esme is considered a plunge style, and it offers a moderate amount of coverage.

Hope that helps!

Erica