Hello Everyone,
Can you believe how prolific I am with blogging this week? The muse must be upon me! Anyway, today I am venturing into the backlog vault, which I am proud to announce has decreased considerably, to discuss the Freya Rapture Side Support Plunge. When the promotional shots released, I was instantly intrigued because I am a huge supporter of Freya branching out into new styles. For the last several years, Freya rested on the success of its plunge balcony bras and the ever-popular Deco rather than tackle fit issues and requests from customers under-served by the brand’s offerings. With Rapture, the use of a side panel and four-section cup seemed to indicate a shape change to provide more lift, an improved shape, and more forward projection.
Sizing & Fit: Since Rapture was only available up to an H cup, I opted for the UK 32H instead of the 30HH I needed at the time. The band felt firm but comfortable on the loosest set of hooks, but I was also in the throes of weight fluctuations and illness recovery. Since Freya bands sometimes stretch quickly, I would have liked to see how the bra performed long-term. (Whoops, I gave away the fact I didn’t keep it.) The cups did not have any gaping although I did have a smidge of overflow on the larger side which was not noticeable under a t-shirt; as a result, I felt the 32H was an ideal size for me.
Let me preface my analysis of the fit of Rapture by noting Freya was my go-to brand for awhile, and the plunge balcony styles worked well for me, creating a natural but lifted shape under tops. When my breast shape changed and I teetered more into HH cup territory, the sides of the cup clipped my arms, and the shape was not as flattering. Then, I discovered Cleo and later Comexim and Anna Pardal. Freya faded into the background, but when I saw the use of a side panel to pull breast tissue toward the front, I hoped to rekindle “that old feeling.” However, I was skeptical because the last bra I tried from Freya’s foray into new shapes was Marvel—a wide, shallow style which fit poorly for me. 
While Rapture was superior to Marvel, fit issues persisted. The underwire and cup were so wide that the side panel rested on ribcage rather than tissue, meaning it had no ability to pull my breasts inward or provide side support. While the center gore is both narrow and low, the cups at the center are shallow, forcing my breasts into the east-west look. At the bottom of the cup, I have extra space between tissue and underwire, again on account of the shallow shape. The top of the cup also darts inward more, which I worry will create issues with full-on-top breast types, and with me and my balanced shape, the profile forces top tissue downward into a point. It’s no secret that parent company Eveden has been reworking Fantasie frames for Freya as well as absorbing now defunct Fauve frames into both brands, and I feel like the fit issues here are similar to the ones experienced with Fantasie. In fact, my initial impression was that Ratpure was a Freya-fied version of Elodie/Susannah . . . and I just so happen to have some pictures to demonstrate why.
Consequently, if frames like Elodie/Lois/Susannah work for you and/or you have softer, bottom heavy breasts with a wide root, consider Rapture. My experience in the shop indicates many women (not all of course) in the H+ cup size range need depth toward the center, even if they still need a wider wire on the side. Rapture isn’t a terrible bra, but it’s a disappointment for me. It’s symbolic of something both consumers and lingerie professionals have come to expect with this industry: Companies routinely ignore the requests/feedback of consumers. Not only does Eveden posses some exceptionally talented designers with years of experience, but they also have the financial clout to experiment. When Marvel and Rapture debuted, I thought the company was moving in a more inclusive direction. Let’s be honest: Freya boasts adorable prints and lovely hues, but it also offers basics more frequently than major competitor Cleo. Similarly, Fantasie creates a sophisticated palette and classy designs which could cut into Panache Superbra sales. Neither brand is for every taste, naturally, but season-to-season, customers are always talking about how they love what those companies offer but the fit/shape is not what they want.
To be fair, there are some women for whom the bras are great as is, but I think it would be wonderful for the company to offer some alternative styles, to listen to customers and reshape their designs to include more breast shapes. Why not gather feedback and look at how they can improve the fit for higher cup sizes or certain breast types? Or, why not be honest with themselves and with consumers on who the ideal size market for the bra is? My fiery passion here arises from a personal desire to mix Freya back into my wardrobe. The new colorway for the Ignite bra is so perfect for what I want right now, but I am not going to compromise on fit. Freya has so much potential, and I truly want to see them reach it. More quality options for a variety of breast shapes would be fabulous, and I want see Freya make that happen.
Ranting aside, the Rapture is really comfortable. Despite being wide, the cup is not tall, especially under the arm where I tend to be the most sensitive, and the lower gore feels amazing for me. The coverage is enough to keep tissue contained without taking too much real estate on my chest, which I enjoy. The other fit issues were just too much for me to ignore in a brand new bra.
Materials & Design: Freya, along with the other Eveden brands, often uses top quality materials, and Rapture is no different. The band felt firmer with less stretch while the cups were soft but stiff enough to provide support, and the fully-adjustable straps and three hook-and-eye closures were perfect. Furthermore, lately I have been craving a few solid color bras with minimal details (maybe I overdid it on prints in past seasons), and Rapture ticks off all the right boxes here. The subtle pattern on the cup keeps the style interesting, and the accent bows and flat embroidery detail are the perfect amount of flair to a basic black bra without feeling over-the-top. You may have guessed by now how disappointed I was not to keep this bra.
Final Thoughts: Rather than give a traditional grade, I am instead offering a final thought (but not in a Jerry Springer kind of way). For women like myself who have close set breasts, I would pass on Rapture, especially if you are in the G+ cup sizes. With that said, if you wear under a G cup and prefer a wider wire and/or have found Freya bras work well in the past, it could be worth picking this bra up.
For more information, check out the video below:
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