I was going to finish up my Curve Expo A/W18 this week with Curvy Kate and Adina Reay, but the two brands are so different that I’m going to do separate posts after all—starting with Adina Reay.

This is a brand that Darlene was aware of prior to Curve and I was not, but after meeting them, they are completely on my radar! First some history…

Adina Reay is a luxury British brand that produces sizes 28DD to 38G. They already have some distribution in the US, where they’re carried by Bare Necessities, Journelle Stores, Brooklyn Fox (Brooklyn), Supernatural (Detroit), and Alla Prima (San Francisco), as well as shops in Holland, Belgium, Russia, and (of course) the UK.

Founder Sharon Lake started the brand because she was tired of other full-bust brands changing the design aesthetically (usually for the worse) as the cup size increased. Adina Reay’s claim to fame is that the details remain the same no matter the cup size, including cup construction, fabric, fastenings, straps, and gores.

Additionally, rather than fitting the most common size first and then grading up and down, the brand fits both the smallest and largest sizes at the start, to ensure that any given design will work for the full size spectrum. The pattern cutter and garment technologist are part of the process the whole time; and if a design is just not working for the full size range, then they’re not afraid to scrap it.

Sharon and designer Tiffany Taylor told us the most difficult part of production is the fit process, and it typically takes six months to go from design to the actual bra. They also said they spend as much time on the knickers as they do on the bras—and it really did show in how thoughtful the panty designs were, rather than providing the same style with every bra over and over.

Adina Reay’s bras starts at $135 for their more basic designs, up to $375 for a bodysuit. I’d say this is in line with, or even slightly under, comparable luxury brands. And considering how much effort goes into getting the right fit, the ridiculous attention to detail, and the top quality materials, I actually think this price range is surprisingly reasonable for what you’re getting. I was expecting these pieces to start a bit higher, around, say, $195 for the bras.

So let’s get to some of my favorite designs, shall we?

I love how incredibly sheer Kiki is. The seams, band, and underwire channels are all made of luxurious satin, and the lining features a subtle sparkly sheen.
Kiki on a model.
I was crazy about the bright Austrian embroidery on Veronica, which also offers silk details.
I liked Veronica’s new black colorway even more.
Veronica in “Neon Hit” and “Black.”
Another sheer beauty! This is Lula. It’s at the $135 price point, and features satin details and a double layer of tulle intended to virtually disappear against any skin tone.
Lula with her two different bottoms.
The Fran strapless is the first unmolded full-bust strapless bra I’ve ever encountered. It took a year to develop. This model is wearing size 32F.
Here’s a shot of the interior construction. There’s boning on the sides where a side sling would be located on a normal bra. Sharon said she designed this bra because molded strapless bras don’t fit unless you have the exact shape they’re designed for. While you shouldn’t plan on doing cartwheels in this bra, we were still impressed by its shape and support.

Finally, we come to my absolute favorite piece, the small-run Marilyn (named for Ms. Monroe). It’s made of couture quality organza with tulle lining. The tiny rhinestones are heat sealed onto the fabric. My photos seriously don’t do this bra justice. It was simply drop dead gorgeous.

This photo is the most color-accurate.