You’ve never read about Simone Perele here because even though I think their bras are gorgeous, their size range never stood out to me. That changed when I met a Simone Perele rep at their trunk show at Linda’s two weeks ago. The best takeaway from the event was hearing that Simone Perele is listening to the U.S. market because of the importance of their sales here. So even though they don’t seem to have any French women who need an H cup, American women are demanding–and getting–them.

Here are two styles I think you’re going to be very interested in.

1. Revelation, Style #12R320

 

This new bra ships for the first time on October 15 and is available in 34H-40H and a 30G- 42G. The 30G offering is thanks to Linda’s insistence, and the rep is even asking her company to provide a 30H next.

The other exciting feature about this style is the super soft cotton lining inside the bottom half of the cup. It is specially treated so that it won’t shrink, and it has no vertical stretch. Since I know that 28G Leah is always looking for a cotton bra, I asked how tight the 30G band runs. “French women like to be comfortable,” the rep told me. In other words, a 30 band is going to be too loose for a woman who wears a 28 (and perhaps even for a woman accustomed to a snug 30).

If you fall within its size range and are looking for a classic well-made three-part bra to lift your breasts front and center, the Revelation looks very promising. My size wasn’t available to try at the trunk show, but I’m hoping to try it when it becomes more widely available.

2. Caressence T-shirt Bra

On its surface, it looks like just another molded tee shirt bra, but here are the details that tempt me to add one of these to my collection.

  • It has a rectangular connector thing in back AND a wide band–two improvements over the Andorra pictured below. As you know from my discovery last week, the rectangular connector requires more labor but keeps the strap in place. A wider band requires more fabric but gives better support.  Simone Perele is trying to create affordable quality by offering features like these in a bra for under $100.

  • It is constructed of spacer fabric. Personally, I don’t care about spacer fabric, but the Simone Perele rep explained that many American women do because “It’s forbidden to show your nipples.” Linda’s Bra Diva Kim Arce shared that they sell a lot of nipple covers, especially to teachers and women who work mostly with men.
  • The lace on the band is also infused with aloe, another feature I don’t particularly care about, but I might once I try it!
  • The strap is a center pull in front, a feature that may help women whose breasts aren’t very full on top to get rid of the empty space underneath the top of the cup.
  • The straps are substantial and super soft.
  • There’s a tulle sling inside each cup to help center and support the breasts.
  • It comes in 32H-36H.

On a tangentially-related subject, the Simone Perele rep shared an interesting trend taking place in their customers’ purchases: re-coloration. Prior to 2008, 70% of Simone Perele’s sales were basics and 30% were fashion (one shot styles that must be ordered six months in advance). Now 90% of their sales are basics. As a result, instead of pushing fashion styles, Simone Perele offers basics in limited edition fashion colors, or “recoloration”.  It’s less of a risk in this economy for women to purchase the basics that they know fit them. Buying them in fashion colors (instead of fashion styles) spices things up without costing any more than they would usually spend.

Finally, speaking of fashion and indulgences, here’s one of my favorite sets from the event. Unfortunately, it does NOT come in an H cup.