A Sophisticated Notion

Hello Ladies,

Former Playboy Bunny Rhonda Shear has made headlines recently with her (self-proclaimed) revolutionary Ahh bra which “enhances your assets, eliminates discomfort and trouble spots, and is perfect for everyday wear.ย  Women of all shapes and sizes will feel confident and sexy with Ahh Bra’s contoured fit, superior support, and unique wear ability.ย  Finally, a bra comfortable enough to sleep in and even work out in, keep your petals perked up!”ย  (Rhonda Shear Intimates Press Release)ย  Having seen the infomercials where Rhonda dissects legitimate bra fit issues and then puts women in as many as three Ahh Bras for adequate support, I was not convinced this design would work for “women of all shapes and sizes,” but I was never interested enough to shell out the $60 to test my theory.ย  However, opportunity knocked, and I was offered free Rhonda Sheer Intimates merchandise including the Ahh Bra, the Pin-Up Bra, a Seamless Shelf Tank, and a Sweet Tart Butterknit Gown.ย  For today’s review, I’ll be focusing on the Ahh Bra, but I’ll discuss each item later in the week with separate reviews.

When I opened my package, I was immensely pleased to see my swag was enclosed in a pretty box and wrapped in tissue paper.ย  The emphasis on presentation and the feeling of receiving a present were nice touches that deserve to be complemented:

As a standard 30H/HH, I was curious to see what size would be suggested since the Ahh Bra comes in small-medium-large sizing, and ultimately, I received the mediumโ€”a medium I was doubtful would cover my chest:

However, the fabric stretches considerably, and I managed to squeeze all of my tissue into the bra with the exception of some minor spillage near the top of the cup.ย  In all fariness, when Rhonda promises comfort, she delivers.ย  The fabric feels soft and of decent quality, and the compression provided by the design is nice.ย  Note I say “compression” as there is zero separation between my breasts which means the support is lacking:

For comparison, here are the side profiles created by the Ahh Bra and my Freya Ellie:

Since the sizing is far from perfect, I was impressed with what lift and hold the bra provided, but I would never consider this a viable “out of the house” alternative for myself.ย  The shaping and support are not sufficient for what I need, and I would feel self-conscious.ย  Fuller-busted women are likely to be in the same boat as me with women in the J+ cups suffering from a serious lack of support.ย  Additionally, the bra has molded, removable pads for nipple protection, but they were weird and small so I removed them.

Nevertheless, even though the bra won’t be worn for work, I have found other uses, and I believe it would make an excellent sleeping bra.ย ย  The design compresses and supports the tissue without uncomfortable pressure, and the stretchy quality of the fabric lets it contour and move with you.

Personally, I wear mine around the house on weekends and in the evenings, and I find it more comfortable than my Freya Rosie albeit not as supportive.ย  The Ahh Bra is now my go-to bra for when I am relaxing on the couch, but the other day, I did wear it for an hour of yoga in lieu of a sports bra.ย  For a low impact activity, I felt supported and comfortable, and the design stretched better with me than my regular sports bra.

My suspicions are the Ahh Bra would be an okay everyday alternative for women in the 34-40 B-D market, but there are still better options out there.ย  It’s little more than a shaped piece of spandex-laden fabric, but the longer band, wider wings, and fuller-coverage back offer better smoothing than traditional bras.

For a second opinion, I had Dezi try the bra, and her response was on par with mine although I think you can see the shape and support is better on her 32E/F body.

Overall, I do not think the bra lives up to the hype or that it will work for women with fuller busts, but I do feel like it makes a great sleeping bra or even low-impact sports bra.ย  Since you can buy four for $60 on the website, the price is lower, but don’t expect a miracle!

Erica