Some products show up everywhere — subway ads, Instagram, celeb endorsements. With this series, we're testing such products to conclude one thing: Does it live up to the hype?
What's everyone talking about?
The Lively Busty Bralette, a cost-effective and comfortable wire-free bralette that's strategically designed to support DD and DDD sizes without spillage or sagging.
What's the buzz about?
Shopping for bralettes when you're bigger than a certain size will land you into a bottomless search pool of itchy inch-thick straps, matronly colors, full-coverage cups, and secure four-clasp closures that turn you into a fumbling 15-year-old boy every time you try to take it off.
The Busty Bralette breaks free of the standard 50 shades of boring beige with modern mesh peek-a-boo panels, thin, yet, supportive straps, and dare I say lively patterns that any woman would want to sport. Add in dependable reinforcement with wear-all-day comfort to give extra-blessed babes their dream bralette.
Where's all the hype coming from?
- An Instagram following of 244K
- Reviews from BuzzFeed, Cosmopolitan, and Refinery29
- Sold out within the first 24 hours upon launching, resulting in a massive 3,000-person waitlist
So does it live up to the hype?
How'd we come to this conclusion?
After spending the past decade donning a very demanding pair of DDs, it's safe to say that I've learned a few things about dealing with big boobs.
First, running, jumping, skipping, and ... well, honestly any sudden movements without the right support might cost you an eye.
Next, going braless is really a no-go if you plan on moving (a lesson I've learned the hard way). Oh how desperately I wish I could search for cute summer dresses without averting my eyes from all of the backless, strapless options, but support is essential when gravity isn't on your side.
Finally, finding a comfortable bralette that can even fully fit over my boobs is a near miracle. Thankfully, with the rise of several size-inclusive start-up brands, the selection of bras for big-chested women isn't just Victoria's Secret or bust.
But suppliers haven't quite caught up to the same expectation of extended sizes with bralettes, considering that many max out at a stingy 36D — if cup sizes are offered at all.
So when I spotted an ad for the Lively Busty Bralette on my Instagram feed right after complaining to a friend that I had my eye on a similar style that didn't come in my size, I was: 1) Creeped out because OMG IS MY PHONE LISTENING!? and 2) Relieved because someone out there finally figured out that ladies who have to sling around DD-sized boobs all day deserve a gold medal, let alone a bralette that actually fits.
That someone was Michelle Cordeiro Grant, Lively's founder and CEO, formerly a senior merchant at Victoria’s Secret (aka she knows a thing a two about bras!).
Upon first glance, I was a little skeptical about the look and features of this bralette. At an affordable $35.00, its flirty triangle-shaped cups, skinny barely-there straps, and delicate two-clasp back closure defied everything I knew about bras for bigger boobs. For so many years, my brain had been trained to think that a too-tight, cover-it-all bralette could be the only wireless option that would ever work for me.
Where were the thick, industrial strength straps? Where was the too modest, never-show-this-to-a-man-type matronliness? Where was the beige?
The Lively Busty Bralette is perhaps not what you'd expect from a bralette made for DD- and DDD-sized dames, and that's what I love about it. It combines the comfort, support, and sturdiness you want from a fit-focused bralette with the style-forward sleekness and sexiness that you deserve to feel good about.
It offers just as much support as a cotton T-shirt bra, though with a comforting fit that I wasn't itching to take off. A super soft liner with an inner sling gives you enough reinforcement for activities with milder movement, like yoga and walking, and a slim, supportive link between the cups will prevent you from falling out of its plunging triangle-shaped coverage.
Unlike similar bralettes from other brands that claim to be cozy, the Lively Busty Bralette is actually comfortable enough for lounging, sleeping, or casual wear. My sensitive skin particularly appreciated its pockets of breathable mesh and stretchy spandex-blended material that don't chafe or irritate fussy areas. Its sporty under-the-boob band doesn't dig into your rib cage, even through hours of wear, and its no-slip adjustable straps are sturdy enough to keep you sufficiently lifted.
The bralette is available in three unconventional sizes: 1, 2, and 3, which includes sizes 32DD through 40DD. Though, be advised, sizes do run small. I typically wear a 36DD, which according to the Lively site, should be a size 2, but had to request a larger size upon receiving. Regardless, I'm just grateful for finding a bralette that's even available in my size.
What's the bottom line?
The Lively Busty Bralette is a dependable and affordable, wire-free option for DD- and DDD-sized ladies on days when you just can't deal with cups. It's cozy enough for endless lounging, supportive enough for extended activity, and cute enough to show off (if and when you want to).
