Hello Ladies,
Last year, I was nominated for a BraStop Blogger of the Year Award, and while I lost to the very deserving and incredibly gorgeous Georgina of Fuller Figure Fuller Bust, I was given a free set of lingerie as a consolation prize. Since I had the opportunity to experiment risk-free, I opted to test Polish brand Kris Line. Holly of the Full Figured Chest posted a fabulous Christmas Round-Up which included the Sharon set, and I was instantly smitten. The unique silver color seemed like a potential flesh-tone alternative for my pale skin, and given my poorer luck with padded bras in the past, I was eager to branch out to a new designer.
Sizing: From reading reviews in the bra blogging community as well as on Bratabase, I knew Kris Line cups ran at least two sizes smaller than standard UK ones. However, Kris Line also has an I (“eye”) cup following the HH, and after speaking with someone more knowledgeable on the subject than I am, I learned retailers selling Kris Line products often convert the sizing system into the more traditional UK. The end result of which is you can order a J cup bra and have it fit more like a HH. Given my measurements and size preferences, my friend recommended ordering the size 30K, and despite all of my assurances to customers that the letter does not matter, I felt myself instantly struck by the dreaded letterphobia. How could I possibly wear a K cup??? In fact, I was so nervous about ordering the K cup I wavered on the decision for several days before taking the plunge. Thankfully, the Sharon fits rather well! On my larger side, the bra is perfect, but the smaller side does have a hint of wrinkling.
However, the bra features a vertical opening on the interior of the cup where you can add or remove pads to improve fit. The bottom cup is lightly padded but also includes a removable pad too. Without the removable pads, the bra is slightly large on my bigger side, but there is serious gaping on the smaller side. In the future, I would love to compare the fit with a 30JJ, but overall, the K cup works fine. To improve the fit on my smaller breast, I added one of the removable pads I kept from my Ahh Bra, which corrected the problems perfectly.
Furthermore, the band of the Sharon sports stiffer fabrics with less stretch, making the 30 firm but still comfortable. My ribcage measures exactly 30″, but women between band sizes or who find firm bands to be uncomfortable may want to size up.
Fit: With the extra pad in the cup, the fit of the bra is fabulous. With narrow underwires and a deeper cup shape, the Sharon is the first padded bra I have tried which fits my shape. Usually, padded bras have shallower designs, leaving me with extra space in the bottom and overflow at the top. My only complaint with the fit is how tall the cups are, and I wonder if the cup height was lower if my sizing issues would be resolved. The side of the cups, in particular, hit rather high near my arms, but the material is soft and flexible enough that the bra never abrades or chafes. Moreover, the profile of the Sharon is an unusual combination of round and pointy that provides incredible lift—lift which makes it impossible to wear this bra underneath certain button-front shirts.
Materials: All of the materials used in the Sharon are amazing quality. In fact, the intricacy and threading of the embroidery on the top cup reminds me of a Fantasie or Fauve bra, and I love the inclusion of an elastic band at the top to help the mesh and embroidery contour. The bottom of the cup is lightly padded but can be made more so with inserts, and while the interior features a soft, cotton-like fabric, the exterior is a luxurious satin simplex. Perhaps it is the lighter color, but the satin finish does show sweat stains easily, and while they do wash out quickly, I have never had a bra trap stains like this. The straps are not fully-adjustable which I would have preferred, but the embroidery on the top half is stunning. Lastly, the material on the wings is firm with minimal stretch, and flexible side stays combine with three hook-and-eye closures for increased anchorage and support.
Design: The artful mix of elegance and sophistication drew me to the Sharon, and both the materials and aesthetic are on par with a luxury label. Iridescent floral embroidery in both silver and gold complements the subtle polka dots on the satin, and the silver color only adds to the unique, upscale quality. Interestingly, the color is actually labeled “cocoa,” and while there does seem to be a warm, copper undertone in certain lights, the bra reads as silver. While not related to the aesthetic, I love the decision to add a pouch where you can add or remove padding. All women have a little asymmetry between their breasts, and an option like this would enable us to discreetly customize the fit of the bra to each breast rather than relying on alterations or bra pads to assist. I hope more UK companies take note of this feature and find ways of implementing it in their styles.
The Matching Briefs: For the matching bottoms, I had a choice between a bikini and a brief, and I admit that I have been silently, secretly, and slyly lusting after a pair of high waist briefs for months. I gave into my desires and ordered the medium. My 41″ booty and softer hips place me somewhere between a medium and a large depending on the brand, and the medium works fairly well here. They do have the dreaded elasticized top which I don’t like because no matter what size I get, the underwear always seem to indent my hips. The theoretical look of the underwear is gorgeous, and the design complements the bra while still feeling elegant and sophisticated in its own right. With this in mind, I came to realize quickly I do not like high waist underwear on me. They do weird things to my backside while looking way too matronly in the front. Maybe my distaste for these is because they look like an opaque solid color in the front and back. Perhaps if there were some sheer panels or cut-outs I would like the design better. Of course, if you already like a high waist brief, then these are definitely very pretty.
Overall Grade: A
For more details, check out my video review below:
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