PLEASE read my full review of Harlow & Fox on the Campbell & Kate blog today. Many of us can only dream of owning one of Leanna Williams’ designs, but I have tried to capture a fraction of the brand’s intricacy so that, whether you can buy your favorite piece or not, you will understand the thoughtfulness behind its creation. For those of us who need to save our pennies for a splurge, these gorgeous styles aren’t going away–Leanna understands that her pieces are a special treat that take time to afford.
Leah actually got to try the Viola longline bra! Here are her impressions of the 36E, which was the only size that Leanna had with her in New York when Patsy, Leah and I met her in February.
The band felt really good and stayed in place well despite the bigger size, due to its length and shape. But I was also wearing it on the tightest setting, so in reality I would need to go down a band from the sample. The boob shape was beautifully rounded without being too “oomph”-y. The side slings were very effective. The straps were a DREAM. It felt like I wasn’t wearing anything at all. The fabric was so light and soft and the width allowed good distribution of weight and kept them from digging into my shoulders. The cups were a little shallow on me, but that’s the case with anything but Polish bras for me. Additionally, since the fabric was so soft, the bottom edge of the band did not dig into my sides even though it stopped right at my natural waist. So I think even petite or short-waisted ladies could wear this, it would just have more of a “tankini” look to it than a bustier. You can see a funny little fold in the lace between my boobs, but every longline I’ve ever tried (three different brands aside from H&F) has done this to me. So I don’t think it’s a design flaw, I think it’s just something about the way I’m shaped.
For more about this brand, Miss Underpinnings gave an excellent introduction and review last year; Kelsey wrote about Harlow & Fox on The Full Figured Chest, and The Lingerie Lesbian has even more pretty Harlow & Fox pictures. Lost in Lingerie‘s review of the French knickers and tie-side briefs includes this amazing video.
The cups look like they fit very well on Leah! However, if the band is comfy as it is in 36E, I’m guessing Harlow and Fox kind of follow +4 sizing? If so, this sounds good for lots of people who need smaller bands!
Hi Yumi! We actually don’t tend to follow +4 in the sizing as such; though the Viola is definitely the best choice for narrower bands, as it does come up quite a bit more snug than the other styles, plus it has the anchoring of the longline shape.
All of the range is actually designed to fit with the loosest hook fastened, and with the longline band being naturally a bit tighter than our others, plus the width of the hook and eye being fastened as tightly as it could, the band worked out a better fit in the 36E for the trying on with Leah than expected, which is great, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend customers size up by quite that much if wanting to try out themselves to actually purchase, as a general rule. Depending on your own personal perceptions of comfort, and if you were happy fastening on tighter hooks (I know this isn’t an ideal solution for many women, but it’s an option if you’re happy with it) there is definitely some scope – I would say the 30’s/32’s if you prefer a less tight fit, could still fit quite well on many women who usually wear 28’s, even 26’s if you don’t mind going to the tightest hook. I think the Viola camouflages it quite a bit being longline, as I seem to recall Leah also tried on the new Augusta (which is a regular band shape) in the 32F and that showed up a lot more that the band was too loose.
So, overall I would recommend choosing your usual size, not +4, if you can, and for those below 30 the Viola is likely the best fit, though the other styles could still work quite well if fastened up on the further-in hooks.
It was a shame I only had the 36E with me to try on, but Leah did mention to me she usually takes a 28G so cup-volume wise they are only one size too big (the photo actually does make it look a closer fit than it was! If I’d had a 36DD not E, for example, it would have been spot-on in the cups I would say)
Although the shipping fees/taxes unfortunately can’t be refunded, we do offer 20 days for international returns for a refund on the garment if you don’t find the fit works for you, though of course I know this is still not perfect for overseas customers with shipping costs and so on.