For over a decade, I longed, nay pined, for an emerald green set. Green is my favorite color, and finding verdant shades in the lingerie world is no small feat. Other jewel tones like amethyst, sapphire, and garnet occupy more market space, even in fuller-bust styles. Imagine my delight when I checked my email a month ago to find a 20% coupon from Playful Promises. Among the highlighted products was the Rosalyn. I bought both the bra and matching Brazilian brief immediately, and today I’m sharing my thoughts on both.

Size: UK 34G/US 34I

Because Playful Promises is a UK brand, I will use the UK sizing system for the review. Be advised that Playful Promises does convert UK sizing to American on their website when you select the US shop. If you are unsure of your US size equivalent, use the chart in this article on bra fitting.

My current measurements are 31.75” underbust and 41.5” bust, placing me in the UK 32GG territory. Nevertheless, I still experience tightness issues related to Covid, and while I am gradually shifting toward 32 bands, 34s are often more comfortable. Having purchased from Playful Promises in the past, I found the bands ran firmer and opted to sister size to the UK 34G.

It was a wise decision. The band is comfortably snug on the loosest set of hooks, and the cup does not have any gaping, puckering, or overflow. The center gore tacks firmly for separation without painful pressure. If you are between band sizes, I highly recommend selecting the larger size. The cups, though, are true-to-size.

Fit & Feel

Full disclosure: The fit on this bra could have been absolute garbage, and I could justify keeping it for the color alone. However, the fit is freakin’ fabulous! A vertical seam unites two one-ply lower cup sections for vertical lift while a side panel pulls tissue forward. Stretch lace upper cup provides improved contouring, especially for asymmetry or size fluctuations

The neckline utilizes a lower coverage balconette design with a square shape and wider set straps for an exposed chest. People with narrower or sloped shoulders may struggle with the strap width. The straps themselves are fully-adjustable and restricted stretch to offer a customized fit without digging into the sensitive tissue of your shoulders.

On the side, the underwire ends slightly behind my breast tissue with minimal extra space, and the cup profile under the arm is low so as not to interfere with my ability to move. In fact, the Rosalyn is incredibly comfortable, and I love the lifted, rounded shape it creates

Materials & Price

Brace yourselves: This bra is $49. Yes, you read that correctly. If you want the Magenta version, it’s actually on sale for $15 right now, so this is a super affordable bra. But, is it the kind of bra that’s going to fall apart? No! The satin fabric on the lower and side cups is firm, and the stretch lace on the upper cup is reinforced with an elasticized strip to maintain its shape over time.

On the side, breathable power mesh wings taper to three hook-and-eye closures, and the construction easily befits a bra $20 more expensive. Have we possibly found a fuller-bust bra that is affordable, gorgeous, and high quality? I think so!

My only caveat emptor is the stretch lace. Stretch lace has some obvious benefits related to contouring, but any fabric with stretch will not allow for a firm fit or strong containment of tissue. This isn’t specific to Rosalyn but rather a hallmark of stretch lace upper cups as a whole. If you want a bra with more hold, this one ain’t it. Unless it’s a sports bra, I don’t like feeling compressed, so for me, this is perfection.

Aesthetics

If I was poetically inclined, I’d write a sonnet to Rosalyn, but breaking out the iambic pentameter is a touch too much investment for me. The color is obviously my favorite part. I can’t get over how gorgeous it is! I think Playful Promises was smart in their fabric selection. A color like this needed a fabric with sheen to reflect the light and add a textural component to the bra; otherwise, the design would be too plain and nothing special.

The soft lace complements the shiny fabric, and the gold hardware pops against the green while adding luxury and class. Combined with the lower coverage balconette shape, this is one sexy bra. If I were a pink person, I’d snag the magenta one too. I’m just hoping this style cycles back in other colors down the road.

Rosalyn Brazilian Brief

Sadly, the only two underwear options were a thong and the Brazilian brief, neither of which is my go-to style. I’m more of a high waist, hipster, regular brief, or boy short person. However, I figured this was worth having a real matching set, even if the underwear does not make it into a regular rotation.

I don’t do thongs, so the brief it was! I ordered it in size US 8 which fits perfectly. For reference, my natural waist is 31.75”, and my lower hip is 38.5”. If my hips were a little smaller, I probably could have worn the US 6, but I don’t like underwear which cuts into me.

The cut of this makes for the skimpiest pair of underwear I own. The angled back exposes a lot of cheek, and the low rise can be worn horizontal or pulled up to create a high leg look. Even the gusset part is smaller, so this is definitely the kind of knicker designed to show some skin.

I prefer to wear them with the uber low waist horizontal across, but when I say “uber low” I mean it. Being all torso, the rise in the front comes *just* above my pubic line. If you scroll through the images on the Playful Promises website, you can see how the models showcase the different ways the underwear can be styled.

Even though they aren’t my normal style, I like them. They are really comfortable on account of the super soft fabrics. I’ve been living in granny panties, albeit fashionable ones, for so long because of my thyroid and then the car accident that it’s a departure to wear something more revealing.

Overall, I am extremely pleased with the Rosalyn set and look forward to trying more Playful Promises styles. If you haven’t given the brand a chance yet, they are currently having an 85% off sale. Just sayin’.

Happy St. Paddy’s Day!