Here’s the dilemma: Kris Line makes amazing loungewear for the D cup and up crowd, but they’re focusing on introducing their basic bras to the U.S. market first. It’s very practical of them, but I don’t want to be practical. I want to wear this little dress with the lace panel . . .
and the matching fashion bra that goes beneath it!
I also want to work from home in this top. Guaranteed no boob bifurcation.
If I have to eat my dinner before I can have dessert, at least the Kris Line basics look pretty delicious. Below are photos of the Brilliant, Perle and Fortuna styles that I found at Biggerbras.com.
You can also find Kris Line bras at La Bella Intimates in Florida, which is owned by Santa LaBellman, the Kris Line importer for the United States. In fact, if you have any questions about Kris Line, Santa is the person to contact. I spoke to her by phone after Curve and learned more than you probably want to know, but that won’t stop me from sharing it.
First, the basics about the basics:
- The bands run tight with very little stretch, which is why Santa says that they rarely sell 30 bands.
- Once you know which of the 3 basic styles fits you best, you’ll know which size to order in the fashion styles because they use the same structures. The Perle is contour and lace; the Brilliant and Fortuna are all lace.
- Some may consider the profile to be “pointy”.
- The retail price is around $88/$90.
- Everything is made in Kris Line’s three factories outside of Warsaw.
For my fellow bra geeks who want to know more, I’ve put the rest of the details in Q&A format after the jump.
Question: Why do so few retailers sell Kris Line in the United States compared to in Europe?
Answer:
- It comes down to the risk factor I described last week. Santa explained that store buyers need to know that they can sell 100% of a product, which is why they will focus on what is familiar over something less known. Even if a store tries a new brand, its salespeople will often direct their customers to the brands that the salesperson is most comfortable with.
- The wholesale price that Kris Line charges is $10 more than the wholesale price that more well-known brands charge, and the retailer needs to be able to justify the higher price to her customers. (The higher price is due to labor costs in Poland. A benefit of domestic manufacturing is Kris Line’s close control over quality, but Santa has found that few Americans are aware of the existence of high quality Eastern European brands.)
- Another factor is the difference between the European and American customer base. Europeans prefer “fancy”; Americans prefer “down to earth”.
Question: How can I get my hands on a fashion style or a loungewear piece that I see on the Kris Line website?
Answer: Contact Santa and she will find out if it is available in your size. She places special orders once a month. Not all sizes are always available in all styles, especially fashion. This is because a manufacturer will only purchase fabric after it has received orders for the new line from retailers six months before the new season. Once the fabric has been cut for those orders, no more garments are produced.
Question: Which sizes are most popular?
Answer: Kris Line’s main sellers are 32-40 E-JJ. Their F/G cups sell 100% and their H cups sells quickly.
Question: How much is the loungewear?
Answer: It runs from $95-150 retail, which is comparable to Freya’s loungewear line. Santa said the pieces are perfect for spending Sunday at home without needing to change to answer the doorbell. Their best sellers are the loungewear pieces that look like dresses (women can wear heels with them and go out).
Question: How does Kris Line’s fit compare to other brands?
Answer: Kris Line uses the British sizing system. Of course, if a customer walks into Santa’s shop in a triangle-shape bra from Victoria’s Secret, Santa immediately knows to put her up three cups in a Kris Line.
Need more info? Curveissa wrote a super helpful review last November, and I’m looking forward to reading a review from FullFiguredChest soon!
[Note:Â There are great prices for Kris Line bras on BraStop, but Santa wanted to be sure that my readers understand that these are clearance/overstock items that are cheaper on a British website because of the lower shipping costs and duties between EU countries.]
I didn’t even know about the loungewear before!
I like it 🙂 http://www.krisline.com/product,products,114.html I think it’s quite har to find the ones above HH but below K in a 65 band, there aren’t as many styles to choose from, and maby they sell out quickly too, I seem to always have missed them on brastop :p
I’ve wanted to try them for awhile but am wary of their sizing because at least on brastop they stop at 30’s (so the question really is how tight are the 30s?).
Also, I’ve heard that the cups run slightly small, which would be a major problem too because they stop at 30HH on brastop, so it might be that my size just isn’t available there.
That being said, they have a soft cup nursing bra that I’m interested in as something to use for sleeping (on their website in polish). It’s pretty expensive so not something for my immediate future, but definitely on my wishlist.
Wow!
I found 2 Kris bras in Cork, Ireland while on vacation last summer. The fit is great, different from other bras. I did have to go up a size in the band; but these are the best fitting ever. Totally hold everthing in the front.
I’ve got a drawer full of Fanatsie, Prima Donna, Contourelle, Freya and more. But Kris outshines ’em all.
I have two Kris Line bras from BraStop and really love them! They’re beautiful and supportive. I do think the cups are a smidgen small, and the bands were tight at first—I did go with my usual 30—but I find them quite comfortable now.
I apologize for not knowing which ones I have, but I do like the Kris Lines I have a lot. So does my husband, for what it’s worth! I do wish Kris Line were more prevalent throughout the US. They’re gorgeous and fit so nicely!
Oooh… I’ve always wanted to try the bra peek-a-boo look, but I hate the way my cleavage always feels so exposed. That purple dress with the sheer panel seems like it might be the answer.
Catherine & Jen–that’s helpful to hear how much you like them. And more than Prima Donna and Conturelle, Catherine? Wow!
June & Lillefix–Kris Line doesn’t always produce everything in what it calls its “extended range”. It has to have the orders first. And since they don’t sell many 30 bands, there aren’t going to be a lot to begin w/, which explains their scarcity on BraStop.
Scarlett–I know! And something about a bra that’s meant to match the outerwear makes it seem less exposed. I think this is a brilliant way to adapt the lingerie-as-outerwear concept.
That’s enlightening, but not good news. On the Kris line site I do get results when I search for bras over a 65I, but when I go to them, they’re not in the list, so it’s kind of hard to order them. Maybe I got the results because they have the sizes in nursing bras. I’m not sure you can order directly from the site if you do not live in Poland, either. Has anybody tried?
It is great to see so many Kris Line fans…:)
Kris Line is wondefull company. Their products are excelent quality, fit, and style.
Lillefix – Kris Line does produce bras in 30I and up. Currently they have styles available up to size 30KK. They are working on extending the size range even more and introducing new sizes next season after all the testing has been completed. 30HH and up are considered end sizes. They produce smaller quantities in those sizes and may not have them available in all styles. If they are out of stock, then we can place a special order. Fashion collections are mostly produced in their core sizes: B through HH. However, there are few Fashion styles that will be produced also in extended sizes.
You can not order Kris Line products on their website if you do not live in Poland. They will redirect your inquiries to me. We stock their basic styles in our warehouse and can fill orders right away. We have stock in 30I;30J; 30JJ; 30K; 30KK. To preview the styles available, you can visit our website http://labellaintimates.com/shop-now/
Catherine:
I have a lot of customers who have fallen in love with Kris Line. After trying on Kris and Panache, they almost always end up purchasing Kris. We are also very excited to introduce Kris swimsuits to our Kris Line fans this summer. They will be featured also on our website very shortly.
June:
Kris cups do run about one cup size smaller than other manufacturers. So, if your are an HH, I would suggest to try I cup in Kris Line. Also, you have to keep in mind, that Kris considers their brand for 25-45 age group and that is why their styles are cut lower. We have noticed that if you want little higher coverage, go with their contour bras such as Perle collection.
If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me at 407-790-7820 or email labellaintimates@hotmail.com
I will be happy to answer all Kris Line questions for you.