Disclosure: These bras were received as a review sample. All opinions are my own and based entirely on my experience.
This week I’m reviewing two bras from Sugar Candy. You may recall how much I loved the Sugar Candy bras pre-pregnancy, and that I basically lived in the nursing version once Baby Girl was born. So I was thrilled when a representative from Sugar Candy reached out a few months ago to see if I’d like to review their two new styles, the Bestie in size Small K-M (US) and the Posh in size medium.
Note that Sugar Candy has websites in a number of countries, and for each local website, they list cup sizing per that country’s standard size scheme. So all references to Sugar Candy sizes in this review are US sizes even though I refer to my own general bra size in UK sizes.
I was so sad to size out of the basic Sugar Candy bra during my pregnancy when my bra size ballooned from (UK) 30G to 32J. I wore size small pre-pregnancy, but according to the size chart, even a medium would be too small in the cups at 32J. So imagine my excitement when Sugar Candy introduced Bestie! It features a smaller band and larger cups for all us extra-busty gals.
While the basic Sugar Candy bra is made of a microfiber-esque smooth, stretchy fabric (94% nylon and 6% elastane), Bestie has an exterior of stretch lace and interior of micro-mesh. Even though Bestie has more elastane (16%), it’s actually less stretchy, which I think is preferable for a larger bust in order to get adequate support. Both bras have similar strategically placed and shaped interior slings and structure, but Bestie also has piping that mimics the purpose of underwires without any actual boning, wire, or plastic. It’s pretty ingenious!
Bestie comes in a choice of 2 cup size ranges, H-J or K-M. Then you choose XS-XL for the band. As mentioned above, I have size Small K-M.
In these photos, I had not yet weaned Baby Girl, so I was wearing around a size UK 30J (US 30M). I’ve since weaned her and shrunk a little, though I’m not sure whether I’m a 30H or 30HH at this point. I need to buy some wired bras to figure it out! But the point is, this size fit me great at 30J, and still fits great today at 1 or 2 cup sizes down. I’m wearing the band on the tightest setting, so I could potentially go down to XS in the band when I eventually need to buy a replacement.
As you can see, Bestie gives a natural, slightly east-west shape. The straps are fully adjustable and the band has Sugar Candy’s signature six (yes, six!) columns of eyes. The interior structure and piping up the gore do an impressive job keeping the boobs separated, and the piping “wires” keep the underbust band anchored in place with no pinching or digging in. I also think the shape looks fantastic under clothing. Here are some shots of me wearing it under a heavy stretch-cotton crew-neck dress (I turned down the contrast and turned up the brightness to hopefully showcase the bust shape better):
The Posh bra is the same as the basic Sugar Candy bra, but with stretch satiny trim along the top edge that crosses over itself at the gore. It has the same extremely effective interior structure we’ve all come to know and love.
The softness of this fabric cannot be beat. It’s so smooth and almost has a “cooling” feel to it. The satin trim gives it just a bit of a luxe touch. It was a little small in the cups when I first got it, but since shrinking down a cup or two, it’s now absolutely perfect. Here is a set of recent photos of it on me at size UK 30H/HH:
And under a size medium Collectif “Dolores” dress (which is cotton with just a little stretch). Note that the Dolores sleeves are very wide-set. In a normal neckline, the Sugar Candy straps don’t stick out. Though frankly, since nursing, I basically don’t give a f*** about my bra sticking out any more!
